Synaxarium

On this day, the holy Sna the soldier, companion of Saint Isidros mentioned on the eighteenth of Parmhat, was martyred. After both were tortured and Isidros was martyred, Sna was kept in prison until the governor of Farama was deposed and another took over with the instruction not to spare anyone who confessed the name of Christ. When the new governor heard of Sna’s presence and that he was one of the chief soldiers and had been greatly tortured without renouncing his faith, he immediately ordered his beheading. He received the crown of martyrdom while his mother was beside him at the time of his martyrdom. She saw his soul ascending, just as she had seen the soul of Isidros at his martyrdom earlier. Then they took his body, wrapped it in a shroud, and placed it with the body of his friend Saint Isidros in the city of Samannoud, and miracles appeared from them.

May their prayers be with us. And to our Lord be glory forever. Amen.

On this day in the year 596 A.M. (April 19, 880 A.D.), the great father Pope Sanouthius the fifty-fifth of the patriarchs of the Markian preaching departed. This saint had become a monk in the Monastery of Saint Macarius, and as he increased in virtue and worship, he was appointed a priest over the monastery church. Shortly after, he was chosen for the patriarchate by the endorsement of the people and bishops, and he ascended the throne on 13 Toba 575 A.M. (January 8, 859 A.D.). He endured many hardships and severe persecutions. God performed many signs through him and healed incurable diseases.

Once, rain ceased in the city of Mariout for three years until the wells dried and the lands became barren. This father came to the church of Saint Aba Mina in Mariout, served the liturgy, and prayed to God to have mercy on His creation. At sunset that day, rain began to fall as drizzle, then stopped. The father entered his cell and prayed, saying, 'O Lord Jesus, have mercy on Your people.' Then there were flashes of lightning and thunder, and a downpour fell like a rushing flood, filling the fields, vineyards, and wells. The earth was watered, and the people rejoiced, glorifying God the maker of miracles.

While this father was in the wilderness visiting monasteries, Bedouin Arabs from Upper Egypt raided the monasteries to kill and plunder. He went out to meet them holding his cross. When they saw the cross, they retreated and fled (this miracle is also mentioned under the ninth of Parmoudeh).

In the village called Boukhensa near Mariout, some people claimed that the suffering on the cross was a man separated from divinity. This pope wrote a letter during the Great Lent and ordered it to be read in churches, saying: 'The one who suffered for us is the Word of God in His body without separation from Him. But the suffering did not affect the essence of divinity. Just as heated iron is struck by fire without the fire being affected, but the effect is on the iron, so for the sufferings of the humanity to have value, divinity had to be present in it. Through these sufferings, Christ atoned for all humanity.'

Others said that the nature of the humanity died, and these were a trial for the bishops. When this father heard of them, he wrote to them saying: 'The nature of the Word of God is not comprehended, not tangible, nor does it suffer. Pain cannot affect its essence, but the sharing of divinity with humanity in suffering was a figurative sharing to give value to these sufferings, thus paying the debt of humanity to the infinite God. This can only be if divinity participates figuratively without its essence being affected. Therefore, it is said: Holy God, who was crucified for us, have mercy on us.'

When his letter reached them, they returned from their error, and the bishops confessed this before the pope and asked for forgiveness.

This pope was very concerned with church affairs and the places of strangers, and whatever he had left over he gave in charity. When he completed his good work, he departed in peace after having sat on the Markian throne for twenty-one years, three months, and eleven days. May his prayers be with us. Amen.