The Month of Pagumen
The world countries have a number of twelve months in a year, grouped into the four seasons of spring, summer, autumn and winter. These occasions have their own limited features embracing climatic natural as warmth, coldness and rain for the growth of seed and fruit. Most are known to have a cold weather almost for the entire twelve month of the year. Unique to her nature though, our country Ethiopia is bestowed a calm, warm and sunny season of thirteen month of sunshine.
In different to the last month Pagumen, Holy Church commemorates it for various reasons. The word Pagumen means “additional, extra.” It is contains five days except in the ending of the year of Luke and the beginning of year John, which is six days accord the calendar of the church. On this month, there are feast that are celebrated in order of the Orthodox Incarnation Church. The first one is the feast of Archangel Saint Raphael.
Archangel Saint Raphael
The story as in scripted in the Homily of Archangel Raphael and Synaxarium of Pagumen 3, states on this day, the church celebrates the commemoration of the honorable Angel Raphael, the third of the Archangels, and the dedication of his church outside the city of Alexandria. During the time of Pope Theophilus, the twenty-third Patriarch, a faithful woman came from Rome, with her children and had with her a picture of the honorable Archangel Raphael. She had inherited much money from her husband. She revealed to the Pope her desire to build many churches. He showed her a large heap, which was in front of the patriarchate, which she removed and built a church in its place. Then she built another church in the name of the Angel Raphael, which was consecrated on this day. (Book of Coptic Synaxarium Pagumen 3)
Another story that the Archangel Saint Raphael is commemorated with, is in scripted in the Book of Tobit, in the Holy Bible. In the story of Tobias and the Angel, God sent the Angel Raphael to guide Tobias to collect a debt in a distant country. Saint Raphael gave Tobias a set of instructions all of which he obeyed in the order they were delivered in. The Angel instructed Tobias to: catch a fish, make a medicine out of the fish’s heart, gall, and liver, and to take a wife at a relative of Tobias’. Also, when the Archangel Saint Raphael told Tobias to apply the medicine on the eyes of his father he did so. Ensuing this act of obedience, Archangel Raphael, disclosed his identity to Tobit and Tobias.
The Second Coming
Lord and Savior Jesus Christ will come at the end of time for the judgment of both everlasting Kingdom of heaven or punishment in hell. Prophet David says, “The Mighty One, God the LORD, Has spoken and called the earth. From the rising of the sun to its going down. Out of Zion, the perfection of beauty, God will shine forth. Our God shall come, and shall not keep silent; A fire shall devour before Him, And it shall be very tempestuous all around Him.” (Psalm 50:1-3)
Even though it is not known the day and time that the Lord Jesus comes for judgment, but He has told us He will come for the second time. it is stated in Saint Matthew’s Gospel “Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.” (Matthew 24:44)
The Apostle Saint Peter has told as, “The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward] us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.” (2 Peter 3:9). Therefore, we shall be ready living in repentance for we do not know the time of the Lord’s second coming, so as to be ready for His judgment and be called “Come, you blessed of My Father.”
The Opening of the Sky
The third day of this month is the opening of the sky, (the opening of the windows of the sky). Patristic Fathers mentions about the four occasion which the sky opens and the prayer of laities ascends. One of these days is Pagumen 3. This day is the commemoration of opening of the sky, where Archangel Saint Raphael ascends the prayer of laities before God. It is the day the gate of God’s mercy is opened. Elderly fathers and mothers put out their furniture for the blessing of Rain of Mercy on this day. Laities use the rain of this day as a holy water.
The Commemoration of Archpriest Melchizedek
The name Melchizedek refers to “King of righteous, King of peace.” He is the grandson of Noah and was king of Jerusalem. He was the priest of the Most High God and that he brought out bread and wine. He blessed Abraham and Abraham gave him his tithes.
As it is said, “Your father Abraham rejoiced to see My day, and he saw it and was glad.” Then the Jews said to Him, “You are not yet fifty years old, and have You seen Abraham?” Jesus said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM.” Archpriest Melchizedek was in the likeness of the Son of God, Lord Jesus. (John 56-58) Saint Paul says also about him “without father, without mother, without genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but made like the Son of God, remains a priest continually.” (Hebrew 7:3).
In his life as hermit, he was order not to cut his hair, nails and wed. He has lived without revealing him being hermit until the meeting with Father Abraham, by the safeguard and nurture of the Angel of God. “Then Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine; he was the priest of God Most High.” (Genesis 14:18)
The Fast of Judith
Judith was very deeply religious with the obedience all the requirements of the Law of Moses to be described as “religious.” She was a brave widow who saves her nation by cutting off the head of Holofernes, the general of the enemy arm, when the Jewish nation was about to be destroyed by an enemy army. Her ”wisdom” in battle strategies helped to save the Israelites. Judith’s wisdom most likely was gained through years of fasting and prayer.
The prior to going to the enemy camp, she went home and put ashes on her head as a sign of penance and prayed for God’s help. She asked God to make her strong and brave that she might save her people. Each night that she stayed in the enemy camp of the Assyrians she prayed to God to guide her in the dangerous work before her. Before she took down the sword of Holofernes to cut off his head she asked the Lord to strengthen her to act according to His Will.
When the people of Bethulia depended only upon their city walls and armed men they were unable to protect their city. When Judith trusted in the help of the Lord, she was able to help defeat the strong army of Assyrians. The prayer and fasting took place in this month of Pagumen. So, willing laities fast it in the commemoration of her struggle and victory.
May God’s mercy be with us, Amen!
Source: Coptic Orthodox Diocese of Southern United States