Synaxarium

On this day, we commemorate the holy father, the martyr Anba Isaac, priest of the Copts. This father was born in an Egyptian village to poor parents but was rich in good deeds. He took advantage of the presence of elders in the countryside who sold their handiwork and followed them to the wilderness, where he entered under the yoke of obedience. When he became a monk, he was extreme in asceticism and worship, to the extent that he did not own two garments at the same time. Once they asked him, "Why do you not own two garments?" He said, "Because when I was in the world before monasticism, I did not own two garments together." He wept much in his prayers, mixed his bread with ashes, and ate it. He once became very ill, and some brothers prepared food for him, but he did not eat any of it. A brother advised him of the benefit of food and urged him to eat, but seeing he did not eat, he said, "Believe me, brother, I desire to remain ill for thirty years." When he grew old and his virtues became known, all the fathers agreed to ordain him a priest, but he fled from them and hid in a cultivated field. While they were searching for him, they happened to pass by that field and sat to rest a little. An animal that was with them entered the field and stood where this father was. When they went after it to take it, they found him and wanted to bind him so he would not escape. He said to them, "I do not flee now because I know this matter is from God." He went with them and was ordained a priest. He increased in obedience to the elders and in teaching beginners virtue. When his time of death approached, they asked him, "What should we do after you?" He said, "Do as you have seen me do if you want to remain steadfast in the wilderness." Then he departed in peace. May his prayers be with us. Amen.

On this day, we commemorate the martyrdom of Saint Isidore. He was born in Antioch to a father named Bendelaon, who was a high official in the reign of Diocletian, and his mother was named Sophia. He had a sister named Ophimia, whom they taught and disciplined in Christian manners. When Diocletian apostatized, Saint Bendelaon and his son Isidore left all their possessions and secretly went to a mountain, where they stayed with a holy man named Anba Samuel. The king learned of them, summoned them, and treated Bendelaon kindly and promised him, then threatened him, but he paid no attention to his words and finally ordered his beheading. As for Saint Isidore, they tortured him in many ways when he was twelve years old. His mother and sister encouraged and strengthened him to endure. The king ordered the beheading of all of them, and thus they received the crown of life. God performed many signs through this saint, and many believed through him and received the crown of martyrdom. May his prayers be with us, and glory to our Lord forever. Amen.