#Feasts of #Miyazia_18
✞✞✞On this day we commemorate the departure of the Righteous Martyr Abba Peter✞✞✞
✞✞✞In the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, one God. Amen!✞✞✞
✞✞✞Righteous Martyr Abba Peter✞✞✞
=>Martyrdom is the highest price a Christian pays for his/her faith. A person can subdue his body in the service of God or give away his wealth and property. However, the greatest gift is offering oneself.
✞Giving oneself is possible in matrimony or asceticism. Nonetheless, its peak is martyrdom. As Saint Ephraim the Syrian said, “…the martyrs rejected the desire of this world, and poured out their blood for God, and have endured bitter death[s] for the sake of the kingdom of heaven”, martyrdom means enduring unpleasant death for the love of God. [Theotokion of Thursday]
✞Did not our Redeemer, Christ, while being the Lord of heaven and earth endure the humiliation of the Cross and die for us! Many religions in the world speak about killing directly or indirectly. But Christianity does not have a rule that puts forward or indicates killing [others as an option].
✞That is because He Himself told us, “Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you” (Matthew 5:44). But if we do not nourish ourselves with faith and virtues daily, Christianity is not a belief where one becomes perfect in a day hence there might come failures in trials.
✞Particularly, we the Christian youths of today should give due attention, since the chronicles of the youth martyrs of the past are articulated to us in order that we steadfast.
[Let’s see the account of Abba Peter in short for today.]
✞Abba Peter was one of the fruits of the Era of Persecution. In those days of tribulation (the 3rd century), because Egypt and Syria were in much adversity, many saints were martyred. Particularly in Egypt, many pure fathers and holy mothers, enduring the afflictions, were glorified [in martyrdom].
✞And one of them was Abba Peter who learned the tang of Christianity while he was a child from his caretaker (his aunt). He had a brother and a friend that he loved dearly. And his name was called Abba Bishoy. Both after being raised ethically, despised the world, entered the desert and lived for many years devoted to prayer and fasting.
✞And during the Era of Persecution, they were accused and imprisoned for just worshipping Christ. They were lashed and were beaten. They have also endured in patience excruciating pains. In the end, Abba Peter was martyred on this day and was glorified. And his friend and brother Abba Bishoy honorably shrouded and buried him.
✞✞✞May the God of the martyrs let us partake from their diligent strife, their much longsuffering, and their perfect blessing.
✞✞✞ Annual feasts celebrated on the 18th of Miyazia
1. St. Eusebius (St. Arsenius) the Martyr (Slave of St. Sousnyous)
2. St. Peter the Martyr
3. Martyrs of Tarsus
✞✞✞ Monthly Feasts
1. St. Philip the Apostle
2. Abune Ewostatewos/Eustathius/Eustathios, preacher of faith
3. Abune Anorios/ Honorius of Debre Tsegaga
4. Mar James of Egypt
✞✞✞ “I am more; in labours more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequent, in deaths oft . . . In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness. Beside those things that are without, that which cometh upon me daily, the care of all the churches.”✞✞✞
2 Cor. 11:23-28
✞✞✞ Salutations to God ✞✞✞
(Translated by Mhr. Esuendale Shemeles with the permission of Dn. Yordanos Abebe)
https://t.me/zikirekdusn
