✞And he became very powerful at war, was loved by the people and became a man of prayer and fasting. And at that time because Decius the Emperor had renounced Christ, death was decreed upon the faithful. And also because the Berbers had declared war on the Roman Empire Decius and St. Mercurius went out for war.
✞But when the Emperor saw the Berbers were as numerous as the sand, he was afraid. And when St. Mercurius prayed during the night as the battle was postponed for the next day, St. Gabriel descended and gave him his sword (that’s why he is called Abu-Seifein - the holder of two swords).
✞And the next day when they (the officers) asked, “What should we do?”, St. Mercurius responded saying, “I am a servant of Christ, I alone will stand before them”, they all laughed.
✞But he went up his black horse (which grew up with him) and said to the Berbers “You should not do battle but go in peace”. They also laughed at him. And at that instant, after praying, when he pulled out the angel’s sword, many fell. Not even one was left to deliver the news.
✞And when the news was heard in Rome, a great jubilation took place. But because the apostate Emperor, Decius, said “Victory was of the idols like Apollo”, St Mercurius spent the night in sadness.
✞And on the 3rd day, an order came to him from the Emperor that said, “Sacrifice to the idols”. But the Saint went to the square and took off his honorary clothing and gild and threw it before the Emperor.
✞Saying, ”My honor is Christ. May your property be for your demise”, he rebuked the Emperor in public. Then, Decius in anger got fire lit and ordered for a hot iron bed and placed St. Mercurius on it.
✞And as if that was not enough, when soldiers beat him taking turns, his blood flowed and extinguished the fire. And because of that the scholars say,
“They, who were of accursed, lit fire upon thee
And blood came forth from thy flogged body
And it quenched the flame as rain that was heavy”
✞Then, they took him to prison and threw him in. And so the Saint forsakes Christ, the Emperor tortured him with hunger, lashings, fire and blades. But finally he sent him to Asia in order that they kill him after afflicting him. And there, they tormented him much and beheaded him on Hedar 25 (December 4).
✞And after he was martyred, his blessed horse preached for years. And it destroyed heathens with fire that came out of its mouth. It is believed that the Mighty Martyr St. Mercurius was born in 200 AD, started enduring tortures from 220 AD and was martyred in 225 AD.
✞The Martyr, on this day, is commemorated for slaying the Emperor Julian the Apostate who used to torture and kill Christians in the 4th century.
The Saint’s honor is great!
✞✞✞ May the God of St. Mercurius safeguard us by his covenant and may He not displace us from his inheritance. And may He grant us from his blessing. And may the good God give us years for repentance and joy.
✞✞✞ Annual feasts celebrated on the 25th of Tir
1. St. Mercurius the Martyr of Rome
2. Sts. Basil and Gregory
3. Blessed Abba Peter the Ascetic (one who sold himself to give alms)
4. St. Sebastianus the Martyr
5. St. Askala the Martyr
✞✞✞ Monthly Feasts
1. St. Abakragoun Martyr
2. St. Domadius El-Souriani (The Syrian)
3. St. Thecla Apostolic
4. Abune Abib (Abba Bula)
5. St. Abba Abu Fana the Righteous
✞✞✞ “and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection: And others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment: They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented; Of whom the world was not worthy”✞✞✞
Heb. 11:35-38
✞✞✞ Salutation to God ✞✞✞
(Translated by Mhr. Esuendale Shemeles with the permission of Dn. Yordanos Abebe)
✞But when the Emperor saw the Berbers were as numerous as the sand, he was afraid. And when St. Mercurius prayed during the night as the battle was postponed for the next day, St. Gabriel descended and gave him his sword (that’s why he is called Abu-Seifein - the holder of two swords).
✞And the next day when they (the officers) asked, “What should we do?”, St. Mercurius responded saying, “I am a servant of Christ, I alone will stand before them”, they all laughed.
✞But he went up his black horse (which grew up with him) and said to the Berbers “You should not do battle but go in peace”. They also laughed at him. And at that instant, after praying, when he pulled out the angel’s sword, many fell. Not even one was left to deliver the news.
✞And when the news was heard in Rome, a great jubilation took place. But because the apostate Emperor, Decius, said “Victory was of the idols like Apollo”, St Mercurius spent the night in sadness.
✞And on the 3rd day, an order came to him from the Emperor that said, “Sacrifice to the idols”. But the Saint went to the square and took off his honorary clothing and gild and threw it before the Emperor.
✞Saying, ”My honor is Christ. May your property be for your demise”, he rebuked the Emperor in public. Then, Decius in anger got fire lit and ordered for a hot iron bed and placed St. Mercurius on it.
✞And as if that was not enough, when soldiers beat him taking turns, his blood flowed and extinguished the fire. And because of that the scholars say,
“They, who were of accursed, lit fire upon thee
And blood came forth from thy flogged body
And it quenched the flame as rain that was heavy”
✞Then, they took him to prison and threw him in. And so the Saint forsakes Christ, the Emperor tortured him with hunger, lashings, fire and blades. But finally he sent him to Asia in order that they kill him after afflicting him. And there, they tormented him much and beheaded him on Hedar 25 (December 4).
✞And after he was martyred, his blessed horse preached for years. And it destroyed heathens with fire that came out of its mouth. It is believed that the Mighty Martyr St. Mercurius was born in 200 AD, started enduring tortures from 220 AD and was martyred in 225 AD.
✞The Martyr, on this day, is commemorated for slaying the Emperor Julian the Apostate who used to torture and kill Christians in the 4th century.
The Saint’s honor is great!
✞✞✞ May the God of St. Mercurius safeguard us by his covenant and may He not displace us from his inheritance. And may He grant us from his blessing. And may the good God give us years for repentance and joy.
✞✞✞ Annual feasts celebrated on the 25th of Tir
1. St. Mercurius the Martyr of Rome
2. Sts. Basil and Gregory
3. Blessed Abba Peter the Ascetic (one who sold himself to give alms)
4. St. Sebastianus the Martyr
5. St. Askala the Martyr
✞✞✞ Monthly Feasts
1. St. Abakragoun Martyr
2. St. Domadius El-Souriani (The Syrian)
3. St. Thecla Apostolic
4. Abune Abib (Abba Bula)
5. St. Abba Abu Fana the Righteous
✞✞✞ “and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection: And others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment: They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented; Of whom the world was not worthy”✞✞✞
Heb. 11:35-38
✞✞✞ Salutation to God ✞✞✞
(Translated by Mhr. Esuendale Shemeles with the permission of Dn. Yordanos Abebe)