السنكسار

On this day in the year 64 AM (348 AD), the holy father Anba Pachomius, father of the spiritual community, departed. This father was born in Thebes (Luxor) to pagan parents who forced him to worship idols. He mocked this worship and then became a monk under Saint Palamon, staying under his obedience for several years during which he mastered the matters of monasticism well. Afterwards, the angel of the Lord appeared to him and commanded him to establish a holy monastic community. A large number of monks gathered around him, and he built for them a group of monasteries, placing them under one rule concerning manual labor, meal times, and prayers. He was the father over them all and appointed a head for each monastery. He would visit them all from the farthest Aswan, Edfu, and Donnasa to the end of Upper Egypt on the western side. He did not allow any of his sons to become priests so that they would not compete for the priesthood and the intended purpose of worship and separation from the world would be lost. He would appoint a secular priest for each monastery to perform the sacraments. When Pope Athanasius wanted to ordain him a priest, he fled from him. He said to his sons: "Tell your father who built his house on the rock that does not shake and fled from vain glory, 'Blessed are you and blessed are your children.'"

Once he desired to see hell and in a night vision he saw the abodes of sinners and places of torment. He was head of the community for forty years. When his departure time approached, he strengthened them and appointed someone to manage them after him, and he departed in peace.

May his prayers be with us. Amen.

On this day, Saint Abimachus was martyred. This saint was born in Farma and was a weaver along with his companions Tadros and Kellenix. When he heard of the coming of Julames, the governor of Egypt, to torture Christians, he exhorted his companions, explaining to them the futility of this world. Then he bid them farewell and went to Bakrouj near Damira, where he found the governor torturing a woman. After torturing her, the governor threw her into a fire, but she became like cold dew. He took her out and beheaded her.

When Abimachus saw this, he approached the governor and confessed the Lord Jesus Christ the Glorious. The governor tortured him severely. At that time, he was twenty-seven years old. Then the governor ordered him to be pressed in a press. A drop of his blood fell on the eyes of a blind girl, and she immediately regained her sight. Her people believed in the Lord Jesus Christ and received the crown of martyrdom. The governor became angry and ordered Abimachus to be crucified, then beheaded. The executioner obeyed the order but his strength failed and he could not raise his sword. Another came and the same happened. This continued with fourteen executioners. When they failed to behead him, they tied a rope around his neck and dragged him until he gave up his spirit to the Lord and received the crown of martyrdom.

A soldier carried the body to throw it away. This soldier was deaf, but when he touched the body, his ears opened and he heard immediately. People from the city of Edko came and took the body, from which many signs appeared.

The people of Damira came to console the family of the martyr. When they saw the wondrous signs, they believed and were baptized, numbering one thousand seven hundred and fifty souls, men, women, and children. Then his family carried him to Bermon with great honor. The governor of Bermon shrouded him in expensive shrouds from his own money and built a church in his name.

May his intercession be with us, and to our Lord be glory forever. Amen.