Synaxarium

On this day in the year 327 AD, Saint Helena the Queen departed. This saint was born in the city of Edessa to Christian parents around the year 247 AD. They raised her with Christian upbringing and educated her in religious manners. She was of good appearance and beautiful in aspect. It happened that Constantine, the king of Byzantium, came down to the city of Edessa and heard about this saint and her beautiful appearance, so he requested her and married her. She bore him Constantine, who later became the first Christian king. He raised him with the best upbringing and taught him wisdom and manners. When he became king, she saw in a night vision someone saying to her, "Go to Jerusalem and search carefully for the glorious Cross and the holy places." She informed her son of this, and he sent her with a retinue of soldiers to Jerusalem. She searched for the wood of the glorious Cross until she found it, as well as the two other crosses on which the thieves were crucified. She wanted to know which one was the Cross of the Lord Jesus. Saint Macarius, Bishop of the See of Jerusalem, informed her that it was the Cross inscribed above, "This is Jesus, King of the Jews." Then she asked him to show a sign to reassure her heart. By the providence of the Lord Jesus, a group of people passed by a dead body at that time. They placed each of the crosses on the dead man, but he did not rise. When they placed the third cross, the dead man immediately rose. Her faith increased and her joy grew. After that, she began building churches as mentioned under the seventeenth day of the month of Thout. Afterwards, she gave Bishop Macarius the necessary money for construction, took the glorious Cross and the nails, and returned to her son, the righteous King Constantine. He accepted the Cross, placed it in a golden case adorned with precious jewels, and put some of the nails in his helmet.

This saint lived a pleasing life, arranged many endowments for churches, monasteries, and the poor, and departed at the age of eighty. May her prayers be with us. Amen.

On this day in the year 1168 AM (May 4, 1452 AD), Pope John XI the Patriarch (89) departed. He is known as John al-Maqsi because he was from al-Maqsi in Cairo. His name was Faraj before ascending the patriarchal throne. He was ordained Patriarch on 16 Bashans in the year 1143 AM (May 11, 1427 AD) and sat on the throne for 24 years, 11 months, and 23 days. His residence was in the patriarchal citadel in the Zuwayla district. He departed and was buried in the cemetery of the Monastery of al-Khandaq. The throne was vacant after him for four months and six days. He lived during the reigns of the kings Al-Ashraf, Al-Aziz, Al-Zahir, and Al-Mansur. Many hardships befell him, which led to mediation by the kings of Ethiopia and threats to the Egyptian Sultanate to cut off the Nile because of the persecution of Christians. Government delegations were exchanged between Ethiopia and Egypt. He was prevented from corresponding with the kings of Ethiopia and Nubia without the knowledge of the rulers of the state. May his prayers be with us. Amen.

On this day in the year 1319 AM (May 14, 1603 AD), Pope Gabriel VIII the Patriarch (97) departed during the reign of Sultan Ahmed I of the Ottoman Empire. He was a monk and ascetic at the Monastery of Anba Bishoi in the desert of Sheheit. His name was Shenouda. He was ordained Patriarch on Sunday, 16 Paoni in the year 1303 AM (June 20, 1587 AD). The chief ordainer was Anba Zacharias, Bishop of the Holy See of Jerusalem, and Anba Kyrillos al-Khiyami, with the approval of Mercurius Abi Sevin in Old Cairo. Regarding his patriarchal tenure, there was a dispute among the Christians, and they made four patriarchs and deposed him, but he later returned to his throne during the reign of Sultan Murad III of the Ottoman Empire, and his patriarchate was confirmed. It is mentioned in the book of letters and the Catholicon manuscript in Arabic at the Monastery of Saint Anthony that this patriarch ordered that the Apostles' Fast be from 21 Paoni to 5 Abib, that there be no fast on the three days of Nineveh, that the Nativity Fast begin from the first of Kiahk, and that the Virgin's Fast be optional. All the Copts at that time agreed to this amendment. After his departure, they returned to the old fasting arrangement. This pope departed at the Monastery of the Virgin known as the Syrians after he had sat on the throne for 15 years, 10 months, and 24 days.

May his prayers be with us, and to the Lord be glory forever. Amen.