Abba John the Short was a holy man and a native of the city which is called Tansa and is in Upper Egypt. He had one brother and his parents were righteous people who feared God. They were not rich in the goods and possessions of this world, but rich in good works.
Dear Children of God! How are you? How are you doing in this term of education? We hope you are doing well! Children, education is very essential for our future and spiritual life. It is the foundation of Christianity and salvation. Church education especially guides us into the right path and way of life. Dear Children of God! this week, we are going tell you the story of Saint Stephen. Do you know him? You might have heard his name in the everyday service of Church; Divine Liturgy if you have paid attention. So, now we will narrate the whole story for you so be with us!
Light is the first thought of God as His first recorded words are; “Let there be light.” He created the light three days before creating any of the heavenly bodies. The light in Genesis is not a by-product of solar energy. It is rather, the principle of intelligibility in the structure of Creation. The light that God calls into being at the beginning of Genesis is that inner form of meaning that the mind of man, in due course, will be created to discover and investigate.
The world of angles occupies heavenly hosts whom are the seven archangels Saint Michael, Saint Gabriel, Saint Raphael, Saint Suriel, Saint Zedekiel, Saint Serathiel and Saint Ananiel. The Holy Scriptures also mentions the Seraphim with their six wings who filled the house with smoke and the cherubim that provide the throne for the Lord.
The human mind cannot comprehend a miracle, since it is the extraordinary phenomena. But it is the will of God to witness it in our lives as well as in others. Within this manner, we understand that it is God who does the miracles upon each of us as it is written in Psalm 77, “Who is so great a God as our God? You are the God who does wonders.” (Psalm 77:13-14) In the Second Canticle of the Midnight Praises, Psalm 136 (135), we praise God “Who alone does great wonders.”
The miracle that is from God has is essential since it supports the true faith. Many teach strange beliefs and support their teachings with miracles to dazzle people. This is the main role of the Anti-Christ: to introduce new teachings that contradict the teachings of our Lord Jesus Christ, and he uses true miracles to support his false teachings. Therefore, if one concentrates on the factuality of the miracle, then it is easy for him to accept new teachings, since he will see the miracle as a fact, for example fire coming down from heaven or an image moving and speaking. However, if one concentrates on faith, then he will reject the teachings that contradict the true faith, even if they were supported by tens of miracles.
The miracle, which is from God, has a primary goal: to lead people to the true faith. The secondary goal of a miracle is an act of mercy towards a needy person, whether it is a sick person or someone in trouble, and God may save such a person in a miraculous way. As for the miracles that are for exhibition and dazzling people, they are not from God. Therefore, when we hear of a miracle, we should examine not only the factuality of it, but also more importantly whether it is from God or Satan.
Abune Gebre Menfes Qidus was an Egyptian Christian saint, and the founder of the monastery of Zuqualla. The fifth day of every month in the Ethiopian calendar is dedicated to this saint. The reason for his commemoration on the 5th date of every Ethiopian month is: • His The entry of the saint from Egypt to Ethiopia;
• The day on which he went out from the lake where he received the covenant from God;
• The day on which he raised the dead lions;
• The first mass of his church built in his name
There were false prophets among the people, even as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Lord who bought them, and bring on themselves swift destruction. Many will follow their destructive ways, because of whom the way of truth will be blasphemed. By covetousness they will exploit you with deceptive words; for a long time their judgment has not been idle, and their destruction does not slumber.
Dear Children of God! how are you? how was holiday? We hope it was all good and well for you and your parents! Children as the ‘Summer’ season has passed, we started the new season ‘Autumn’ which is filled with the bloom of flowers. It is also the time of the commemoration of the migration of Holy Mother Saint Mary and her baby Jesus, our Lord to the land of Egypt the and Ethiopia.Children! you might have seen your parents and other Christians coming from Holy Church carrying red, rose, white and other combined colors of flowers in this season. This is because we symbolize Saint Mary and Lord Jesus with flowers. It has its own story and so we might tell it to you another time. But for now, we will tell you the story about Saint Arsema, so be with us!
Our Lord Jesus Christ came to the land of Egypt when He was a two years old child, as the Bible says in Matthew 2:13 that the angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream, saying: “Arise, take the young Child and His mother, flee to Egypt, and stay there until I bring you word; for Herod will seek the young Child to destroy Him.”
The home of the light of life, the sign of peace and the world’s mark of salvation ‘Holy Cross’ Gishen, is the hope for Ethiopian Christians who also travel to the holy place found in northwest of Dessie, Wollo in seeking of mercy and blessing on September 21. The portion of the Holy Cross was placed in the Church of ‘Egiziabehr Ab’ by Emperor Zar’a Ya’ eqob.