Synaxarium

On this day, the blessed and great ascetic Saint Tekle Haymanot the Ethiopian departed. He was born in a village near Jerusalem, which was the inheritance of the priests Zadok and Abiathar during the reign of King Solomon son of David. Zadok begot Azariah, Azariah begot Zadok after his father's name, and this Zadok begot Levi, and so on until the father of this saint was born, whose name was Segaz (meaning the grace of the Father).

Then he married a woman named Sarah; both were righteous, God-fearing, and very wealthy. They commemorated the chief archangel Michael on the twelfth day of every month and gave alms to the poor and needy. Sarah, the mother of this saint, was beautiful in appearance and character, adorned with many virtues, so they called her Exehiarieh (meaning chosen by God). However, she was bitter in spirit and heartbroken along with her husband because they were not blessed with a child to comfort her eyes. Her husband also went to church at the time of incense offering and taught the people the fundamentals of faith. Each time, he would bring from his own money an offering to the house of God. They agreed to distribute their wealth among the poor, the needy, monasteries, and churches. At that time, the king died and another king who worshipped idols reigned. He destroyed churches, built pagan temples, oppressed, robbed, and captured women, including Exehiarieh, the mother of Jerusalem, but she returned safely to her husband, glorifying God and praising His holy name. Afterwards, the angel of the Lord appeared to them in a night vision and announced the birth of this saint. When he was born and reached one and a half years old, a famine occurred in Ethiopia. It was the twelfth day of the month of Baramhat, the commemoration of the glorious chief of the heavenly hosts. The child's mother wept sadly over her empty hands and her inability to perform the commemoration. The child wiped her tears with his small hands and, unable to speak, signaled her to take him to where there was a plate with a little flour. She put him there, and he placed his hand in the little flour, which became abundant and began to overflow onto the ground. She brought baskets, and whenever the plate emptied, it was filled again. This continued until twelve baskets were filled. His mother realized that the Lord was with him. She presented empty pots of butter and oil, and he placed his hand on them, and they were also filled by the power of God. When his father returned from church and learned of this, he glorified God greatly, then performed the commemoration and fed the poor and all the neighbors. God honored him with many miracles during his life and after his death. When he completed his good course, he departed in peace.

May his prayers be with us. Amen.

On this day, the struggling father, Saint Thomas, Bishop of Marash (Syria), departed. He was a devout ascetic, constantly engaged in prayer and fasting, full of mercy. Therefore, he was appointed bishop over the city of Marash, a branch of the people of Christ, to care for them well. When the pagan Diocletian reigned and sent one of his deputies to Marash to torture Christians, he began with this saint. He summoned him and offered him to worship idols, but he did not obey; rather, he rebuked him for his worship. He was tortured with painful punishments, beaten, and had his limbs cut off. Afterwards, he was thrown into an abandoned prison, and from time to time, they ordered the cutting off of one of his limbs. First, they cut off his ears, nose, lips, and legs, and they also pulled out his teeth. Then they left him in prison for twenty-two years. His people thought he had died, so they commemorated him every year. A faithful woman used to come to him at night and throw him a small basket with food to sustain him. He remained like this until the reign of the righteous Constantine, who manifested the glory of the Christian faith and ordered the release of believers from prisons. The woman informed some priests of the saint's location; they came to him, carried him to the church with hymns and praises. The people came forward, were blessed by him, and accepted the parts of his severed limbs.

When King Constantine convened the Council of Nicaea, this father was among its attendees. The king entered, bowed before the fathers, and kissed their hands. When he learned about this father, he blessed him. When the council finished its work and the bishops returned to their seats, the father returned to his seat, gathered his priests and people, read to them the Creed established by the council, and explained to them what was difficult to understand. He lived a little longer and then departed in peace. His episcopate lasted about forty years.

May his prayers be with us. And to the Lord be glory always. Amen.