Commemorations
Paoni 5, 1742
The Martyrdom of Saint Jacob the Eastern Confessor
On this day, Saint Jacob the Eastern Confessor departed. He used to worship in one of the monasteries of the East. He lived during the time of Constantine son of Constantine the Great, Julian the Apostate, and Jovian the believer. When Jovian was killed, his brother Valentinian, who was Arian in doctrine, took over. He allowed the Arians to open their churches and close the Orthodox churches. By the grace of God, this saint moved and came to Constantinople. He met the king as he was going out to war, stood before him, and said: 'I ask you to open the churches of the believers so they may pray for you, that God may grant you victory over your enemies. If you do not do this, God will abandon you, and you will be defeated by your enemies.' The king became angry and ordered him to be beaten and imprisoned. The saint said to him: 'Know that you will be defeated by your enemies and will die by fire.' The king’s anger increased and he ordered him to be detained until he returned from the war. The saint said: 'If you return safely, then the Lord has not spoken through my mouth.' The king went to fight his enemies, and when the two armies met, the Lord abandoned him, and he was defeated by his enemies. They pursued him until he entered a village, where they set fire around it. The villagers fled, but he and some of his followers remained, and they burned them. Those soldiers who survived returned to Constantinople and informed the believers of what had happened. Thus, the prophecy of the saint was fulfilled. The believers gathered and released him from prison with great honor. The Arians realized that the Spirit of God was upon him and believed in the truth of his faith. They turned from their error, confessing the equality of the Son of God with the Father in essence. This saint spent the rest of his days struggling and living a monastic life until he departed in peace.
May his prayers be with us. Amen.
The Martyrdom of Saints Anba Pshai and Anba Peter
On this day, the two great saints Anba Pshai and Anba Peter were martyred. Their relics are present in Sidfa, Assiut Governorate. May their prayers be with us. Amen.
Commemoration of the Consecration of the Church of Saint Pqtir in the Region of Shu
On this day is the commemoration of the consecration of the church of the great saint Anba Pqtir in the region of Shu, east of Khosous, his birthplace.
May his prayers be with us. And to our Lord be the glory forever. Amen.