Tserha Tsion St Mary of Zion

On this day the Teachers of the Church have decreed that we commemorate the feast of the innumerable Angels.

Now these bodiless spiritual beings are intercessors for the whole world. Concerning them, Enoch said, ‘While I was in Heaven, the winds caught me up into the clouds, and brought me to a house made of tongues of fire. There I beheld thousands upon thousands of Angels standing in the blazing fire, and their robes were as white as snow.’

[Likewise,] Jacob said, ‘I beheld a ladder reaching from Earth to Heaven, and the Angels of the Lord ascended and descended thereon.’ And on his return from Syria, he said, ‘I beheld a company of Angels.’

Moses said, ‘When the Most High separated the sons of Adam and scattered them, He established the nations in their regions, according to the number of the Angels of God.’ Furthermore, he said, ‘The Lord came from Mount Sinai and appeared to me in Seir, and with Him were His spiritual Angels.’

David also said, ‘He it is who makes His Angels spirits, and those who serve Him flames of fire.’ Furthermore, he said, ‘The chariots of the Lord are thousands upon thousands of those who rejoice.’

Elijah saw the chariot of fire, with fiery horses round about him.

Daniel said, ‘I watched until the thrones were set in place and the Ancient of Days was seated thereon. His garment was white as snow, and the hair of His head was like pure wool. His throne was a burning fire, and its wheels [were like] live coals. A river of fire issued forth before Him, and thousands upon thousands served Him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before Him. He took His seat in the court, and the books were opened.’

Luke writes, ‘Suddenly there was with the Angel a multitude of the hosts of Heaven, praising the Lord, saying, “Glory to God in the Heavens, on Earth peace, His goodwill towards humankind.” ’

Matthew writes, ‘Behold, the Angels ministered to Him.’ Again, he says, ‘When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the holy Angels [are] with Him, then He will sit upon the throne of His glory.’

Among the words of Our Lord Jesus Christ, John says, ‘Truly, truly, I say to you, hereafter you shall see the Heavens opened, and the Angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of Man.’

The Apostle Jude also says, ‘Behold, the Lord comes with ten thousands of His holy Angels to execute judgement.’

And the Scholars of the Church describe the degrees of their hierarchies, saying, ‘Angels, Principalities, Powers, Virtues, Thrones, Dominions, Archangels, Cherubim and Seraphim.’

Glory to God!

May He have mercy on us through the intercession of the holy Angels.

And may their blessings be with us to the ages of ages. Amen.

ʾArke

Salutation to you, who came into being at the [appointed] time,
On the day the Lord said it.
Cherubim and Seraphim, hosts of the thousands upon thousands,
From the burning fire, and from the cold of great tribulation,
Let your wings be our shelter.

መጽሐፈ ስንክሳር ለኅዳር ፲፫ (ገጽ ፪፻፹፱-፪፻፺) [The Synaxarium for the 13th of Ḫədar (pp. 289-90)] translated by Archdeacon Täsfa Mikaʾel Williams.

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Tserha Tsion St Mary of Zion

On this day Our Lord Jesus Christ—glory to Him—arrived at Mount Koskam. [He came there] with Our Lady Mary, the Holy Virgin, Joseph the old man, and Salome, as they were returning from [their] sojourn in Egypt; [and there] they rested from the weariness of their journey.

Likewise in later days Our Lord gathered the holy Apostles at Mount Koskam, consecrated the ark and the church, celebrated the Eucharist, and administered His holy Body and precious Blood [to them]. Our Holy Fathers, [Popes] Cyril and Theophilus, the Archbishops of Alexandria, bear witness to this.

Glory to God!

And may the blessings of Our Lady Mary, the Holy Virgin, be with us to the ages of ages. Amen.

ʾArke

Salutation to Your feet, which journeyed to Mount Koskam
When You, Christ the Child of Mary, fled to the district of Nehisa.
Exalted salutations also to Joses, the son of Joseph [the old man],
Whose soul You were pleased to take [to Yourself] in peace.
When he arrived there, he received the strength of a lion.

መጽሐፈ ስንክሳር ለኅዳር ፮ (ገጽ ፪፻፷፭) [The Synaxarium for the 6th of Ḫədar (p. 265)] translated by Archdeacon Täsfa Mikaʾel Williams.

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Tserha Tsion St Mary of Zion

On this day also was martyred Saint Demetrius, in the days of Emperor Maximian the infidel.

Now this Saint was [a native] of the city of Thessalonica. He learned the holy teachings of the Church and grew strong in the Orthodox Faith. He taught the people, preached to them the Faith [which is] of Our Lord Jesus Christ—glory to Him—and converted many from the error of their [ways]. For this reason, certain men laid accusations against him before the infidel emperor. And he commanded them to bring Saint Demetrius before him, [and had him imprisoned].

Now before the emperor stood a large man, mighty in body. He seemed invincible to all the people, for none could defeat him. The emperor loved him dearly and boasted in him, saying, ‘I shall give much money to whoever can defeat this strong man.’ At that time, a certain Christian man named Nestor arose, went to Saint Demetrius, and asked him to pray for him, and to seal his body with the sign of the victorious Cross; and Saint Demetrius did so. He came before the emperor and requested to wrestle the strong man. The emperor permitted him, and when they wrestled, the Christian cast down the strong man and defeated him. Thus the emperor was [very] sorrowful; he marvelled [at what had happened] and was greatly ashamed by the defeat of the strong man, for he had boasted in him.

Then the emperor enquired of his soldiers about the matter, and they told him that Saint Demetrius had prayed over Nestor and sealed his body with the sign of the Cross. When the emperor heard this, he became very angry with Saint Demetrius and commanded that he be whipped and [made to] offer incense to the gods. They did as he commanded, but when he refused to obey, the emperor gave the order that he should be pierced to death with lances. The soldiers told Saint Demetrius of the sentence [of death], thinking he would renounce his Faith and worship the gods; but he told them, ‘Do as you wish, for I shall neither bow down to polluted idols nor offer incense, except to my Lord Jesus Christ, the true God, the Son of the living God.’ Thus they pierced him with lances until he yielded up his pure spirit into the hand of the Lord. And when they disposed of his body, the faithful took it from them, made a coffin for it, and secretly laid it in their houses until the days of persecution had ended.

When the days of persecution had ended, the Lord made it known [to His people]. Then the faithful brought out his body from [the place] where it had been kept, built a beautiful church for it in the city of Thessalonica, and set it therein. It remains there to this day, performing great signs and wonders. From his relics there streams forth very fragrant oil, which heals all the sick who are anointed with it in faith. Moreover, on the feast of his departure, more oil pours forth from it than any other day. Many people travel from every region, receive [some of] the oil, and place it in bottles. And righteous Priests have been martyred, bearing witness that this sign exists and shall remain [there] until the end of the world.

Glory to God!

May He have mercy on us through the prayers of this Martyr.

And may his blessings be with us to the ages of ages. Amen.

ʾArke

Salutation to you, Demetrius the Martyr,
Whose side was pierced with a lance. I beseech you, encompass me with the flowers of holiness,
Lest the vile honeycomb of adultery embitter my throat,
And reward [me] with a sharp sword and a bitter death.

መጽሐፈ ስንክሳር ለጥቅምት ፳፱ (ገጽ ፪፻፵፰–፪፻፶) [The Synaxarium for the 29th of Ṭəqəmt (pp. 248–50)] translated by Archdeacon Täsfa Mikaʾel Williams.

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Tserha Tsion St Mary of Zion

On this day was martyred the Evangelist Saint Luke, the iconographer and physician.

Now this Saint was numbered among the Seventy-Two Disciples spoken of in the Holy Gospel. He ministered to the Apostles Peter and Paul in all things for the sake of the preaching of the Gospel. He also wrote the Gospel [addressed] to Theophilus and the [Book of] Acts of the Apostles.

After the martyrdom of Saints Peter and Paul, he began to preach throughout Rome, and to write epistles to the faithful that they might remain firm in the Orthodox Faith. For this reason, the worshippers of idols made an agreement with the Jews. They stood before Emperor Nero and, concerning the Apostle Luke, cried out, saying, ‘This Luke is converting many people to his teachings by sorcery.’ Then Emperor Nero commanded that Luke be brought before him in the court of judgement.

Luke the Apostle, through the Holy Spirit, knew that the time for his departure from this world had arrived. So he went [down] to the seashore, and there he met a certain old fisherman. He delivered his books and epistles to him, and said to him, ‘Keep these writings, for they shall [greatly] profit you and guide you in the way of the Lord.’

When he stood before Emperor Nero, he said to him, ‘How long shall you lead the people into error with your sorcery?’ Saint Luke answered, ‘I am not a sorcerer; rather, I am an Apostle of Our Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of the living God.’ Again, Emperor Nero spoke to him, [saying], ‘I shall cut off your hand that has written these books to lead the people into error.’ When he had spoken thus, he commanded a soldier to cut off his right hand. When he had done so, Saint Luke said, ‘Know, O emperor, that we do not fear the death of this world. Rather, I shall demonstrate to you the power of my Lord and my God.’ Having said this, he picked up his severed right hand with his left, and joined it back in its place, and it became whole as before. Then he severed it [again], and all who stood there marvelled. [At that moment,] the general and his wife, together with a great crowd of four hundred and seventy-seven souls, came to faith in Our Lord Jesus Christ—glory to Him! [Upon seeing this,] the emperor commanded his soldiers to behead them, together with Saint Luke, and they did so. And the Saints received the crown of martyrdom in the Kingdom of Heaven.

Afterwards they put Saint Luke’s body in a sack and cast it into the sea. And by the will of God, it was carried to a certain island, where the faithful found it, took it up, enshrouded it, and buried it in a beautiful shrine.

Glory to God!

May He have mercy on us through the prayers of this Apostle.

May his blessings be with us to the ages of ages. Amen.

ʾArke

Salutation to Luke, [the man] of righteous tongue,
Who wrote the divine Gospel when many [others] had begun.
To demonstrate [God’s] power before Nero and his court,
He rejoined his severed right hand and severed it [again],
For upon him was poured out the authority of Christ.

መጽሐፈ ስንክሳር ለጥቅምት ፳፪ (ገጽ ፪፻፳፯–፪፻፳፱) [The Synaxarium for the 22nd of Ṭəqəmt (pp. 227–29)] translated by Archdeacon Täsfa Mikaʾel Williams.

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Tserha Tsion St Mary of Zion

On this day was martyred Saint Pantaleon of Nicomedia.

Now the father of this Saint was a worshipper of idols, and his mother was a Christian. They instructed him in the art [of medicine]. Afterwards he met a certain Priest whose name was Hermolaus, who taught him the Orthodox Faith of Our Lord Jesus Christ—glory to Him! He baptized him with Christian baptism. And Saint Pantaleon performed great feats of asceticism, such that the Lord granted him to work signs and wonders.

One day a certain blind man came to him, [seeking] that by his art he might heal his eyes. Saint Pantaleon made the sign of the Cross over the eyes of the blind man, saying, ‘In the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.’ Immediately his eyes were opened, and he could see; and he was made whole. When the king heard the report of the blind man whose eyes were opened, he had him brought before him and questioned him, saying, ‘Who opened your eyes?’ He answered and said, ‘Saint Pantaleon healed me. He laid his hands upon my eyes and made the sign of the Cross, saying, “In the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit”; and at once I could see.’ And when he had declared this, he cried out before the king and excalimed, ‘I am a Christian!’ So the king commanded his soldiers to behead him with the sword, and they did so; and he received the crown of martyrdom in the Kingdom of Heaven.

After this, the king sent his soldiers and had Saint Pantaleon brought before him. When he questioned him concerning his Faith, he confessed before him, saying, ‘I am a Christian.’ Then the king sought to persuade him in many ways, and promised him [many] things; but the Saint would not hearken to him. The king became very angry with him, and [cried out] with a loud voice, saying, ‘If you will not hearken to me, I shall torture you severely!’ Saint Pantaleon answered and said to him, ‘I shall not renounce my God, nor fear your torture.’

Then the king began to torture him in many ways and for many days—sometimes by flogging, at other times by hanging, and by casting him into the sea and into the fire. In the midst of these torments, Our Lord Jesus Christ—glory to Him—appeared to him in the form of Hermolaus, the Priest who baptized him, and spoke to him a joyful word, saying, ‘O Pantaleon, My chosen one, I have prepared [a place] for you in the heavenly Kingdom.’ When the king’s soldiers heard this word of joy, they came to faith in Our Lord Jesus Christ—glory to Him—and confessed Him before the king as the Son of the living God. At once the king commanded his men to behead them with the sword, together with Saint Pantaleon. Thus he completed his martyrdom with the soldiers, [who were] a hundred and fifty-eight in number; and they all received the crown of martyrdom in the Kingdom of Heaven.

Glory to God!

May He have mercy on us through the prayers of this Martyr.

And may his blessings be with us to the ages of ages. Amen.

መጽሐፈ ስንክሳር ለጥቅምት ፲፭ (ገጽ ፪፻–፪፻፪) [The Synaxarium for the 15th of Ṭəqəmt (pp. 200–2)] translated by Archdeacon Täsfa Mikaʾel Williams.

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Tserha Tsion St Mary of Zion

On this day was martyred Saint Matras the Elder, together with many others.

Now this Saint was a faithful Christian, [a native] of the city of Alexandria. When Decius the infidel became emperor, he established the worship of idols, and persecuted all Christians. Then an order came to the city of Alexandria, and he brought affliction upon all its inhabitants, shedding the blood of many of the faithful.

At that time, before the governor, certain people accused Saint Matras of being a Christian. The governor had him brought before him, and Saint Matras confessed his faith in Our Lord Jesus Christ—glory to Him—[declaring] that He is the only true God. The governor said to him, ‘Worship the gods, and I shall give you abundant riches and great honour.’ But Saint Matras did not accept his promises, and said, ‘Let your promises and your riches perish with you!’ The governor was exceedingly angry with him, and declared, ‘Then I shall torture you severely!’ Yet Saint Matras was not afraid, and did not turn back from his good resolve, but said, ‘I worship the living God, Who created Heaven and Earth. In what way is it right to bow down to polluted idols of wood and stone, which cannot see, or hear, or speak, or smell, or move?’

Upon hearing this, the governor was put to shame, and commanded his men to whip him severely. Then they hung him by his arms, and with dry canes split open his sides. But the Lord Jesus—glory to Him—healed him and raised him up sound and unharmed. Then, when the governor grew weary of torturing him, he commanded them to behead him with the sword, and to cast him out of the city. So they cut off his venerable head, together with the heads of many other Martyrs, and they received crowns of martyrdom in the Kingdom of Heaven.

Glory to God!

May He have mercy on us through the prayers of the holy Martyrs.

And may their blessings be with us to the ages of ages. Amen.

ʾArke

Salutation to Matras, together with his companions the Martyrs.
When the governor promised to give him the riches of his honour,
He turned not back at all from his good resolve,
Such that they split open his sides with [sharp] dry canes
And beheaded him with the sword.

መጽሐፈ ስንክሳር ለጥቅምት ፰ (ገጽ ፻፷፩–፻፷፪) [The Synaxarium for the 8th of Ṭəqəmt (pp. 161–62)] translated by Archdeacon Täsfa Mikaʾel Williams.

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Tserha Tsion St Mary of Zion

On this day was martyred Saint Anastasia, the Ascetic of Rome.

Now the parents of this Saint were Christians, and they raised her honourably, with good manners and profitable instruction. When she was grown, they desired to give her in marriage; but she was not willing [to consent], for from her youth she had longed to put on the monastic habit, and chose the spiritual life of asceticism.

For this reason she departed secretly and entered one of the monasteries of Rome. She was invested with the monastic habit while yet a young woman, and afflicted her body with the ascetic discipline of prayer, fasting, hunger, and thirst, cutting off all thoughts of this world from her heart. She would fast until the evening, remaining without food or drink two days at a time. During the Fast of Our Lord, she ate nothing except [on] the Sabbaths. After the midnight prayer on the Sabbath day, her food was dry bread and salt; and throughout all the days of her monastic [striving], she never tasted a cooked meal.

Now there was another convent near hers; and when the [patronal] feast of that convent arrived, the Abbess took Saint Anastasia and her sister Virgins with her, and they went to celebrate the feast day [there]. Along the way they saw the soldiers of Emperor Decius, who were dragging Christians along the ground in chains with [furious] anger. Her heart was kindled with love for her Faith, and she rebuked the soldiers, saying, ‘You hard-hearted rejectors of the true God, why do you do this [evil] to those created in the image and after the likeness of the Lord—those for whose sake He yielded up His own soul?’ When she had said this, the soldiers were greatly enraged, and they seized her and brought her before the prefect [of the city].

The prefect questioned her, saying, ‘Are you a Christian—one who worships the Crucified One?’ She answered, ‘Yes, I worship Him Who was crucified for us. Glory to Him!’ Then the prefect ordered that she be severely tormented, and his men cast her body into the fire, and afterwards crucified her upside down, with the fire beneath her. But when she would not waver in her faith, he commanded that she be beheaded by the sword, even as she endured these great torments. So they cut off her head, and [thereby] she received the crown of martyrdom in the Kingdom of Heaven.

Glory to God!

May He have mercy on us through her prayers.

And may her blessings be with us to the ages of ages. Amen.

ʾArke

Salutation to Anastasia, who remained steadfast all [her] days,
That she might not partake of any [food] cooked by fire.
I offer salutations [likewise] to her final beheading,
After she had completed the contest
of those who renounce [the world].
I also venerate Susanna the Virgin.

መጽሐፈ ስንክሳር ለጥቅምት ፩ (ገጽ ፻፵፩–፻፵፪) [The Synaxarium for the 1st of Ṭəqəmt (pp. 141–42)] translated by Archdeacon Täsfa Mikaʾel Williams.

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Tserha Tsion St Mary of Zion

On this day departed Abba Gregory, the holy Monk of Upper Egypt.

Now the parents of this holy and blessed Gregory were very generous and wealthy according to the riches of this world, and they built for their son Gregory a fine house. They [instructed him] in wisdom, teaching him the mystery of the Incarnation, together with all [the other] spiritual doctrines of the Church. Then they took him to [Abba] Isaac, the Bishop of the land, and he laid his hands upon him, ordaining him an Anagnost. After that, his parents determined to give him in marriage, but he was not pleased with this matter. So they took him to the Bishop again, and he was ordained a Deacon in full [orders].

[From that time onward] he would often go to Abba Pachomius and learn from him the ordinances of the Lord. He inherited great riches from his parents and offered it to Abba Pachomius, beseeching him many times to build monastic buildings. Then Abba Pachomius built a church and an abode for the Monks of his cenobium. Afterwards Saint Gregory renounced the world with all his wealth and possessions and went to Abba Pachomius, who invested him with the monastic habit. He began to practice asceticism in fasting, prayer, and prostration, together with watchfulness, meekness, humility, and love. And even adulterers, beholding his demeanour and appearance, learned the fear of God, forsook their evil [ways], repented, and became pure.

He dwelt with Abba Pachomius thirteen years, and when Saint Abba Macarius came and dwelt there a few days, he wearied himself, contending in great asceticism, and wished to return to the Desert of Scetis. Then Abba Pachomius instructed Abba Gregory to journey with him, and he departed and remained with him for many days. Afterwards, he besought Saint Abba Macarius to permit him to dwell alone in a cave, and he said to him, ‘Do as you will.’

So he went to a mountain, dug [for himself] a small cave, and remained there for seven years. Abba Macarius would visit him twice yearly: first, on the glorious Feast of the Nativity, and second, on the Feast of the Resurrection of Our Lord Jesus Christ—glory to Him! He took the Holy Mysteries to him, and then returned to his monastery. Abba Macarius enquired of him concerning all his work, and Abba Gregory told him all he had seen and what had befallen him; and Abba Macarius taught him all the right practices of the monastic life.

When he had completed twenty-two years of contending, the Lord wished to grant him rest from the toil of this world. He sent him His Angel, who told Abba Gregory that after three days he would depart from the world and enter eternal life. Then Abba Gregory called to the Elders of the Desert of Scetis, embraced them, and besought them to remember him in their prayers; and they in turn asked him to remember them before the Lord. And after three days he departed [in peace], and entered eternal life.

Glory to God!

May He have mercy on us through the prayers of this righteous man.

And may his blessings be with us to the ages of ages. Amen.

ʾArke

Salutation to Gregory, and to Quadratus his companion,
Who drank of the Spirit, just as the Apostles did.
When in his presence, he cast away even his daily food,
Which was his—an inheritance from his parents —
[Abba] Pachomius established the monastic rule with his wealth.

መጽሐፈ ስንክሳር ለመስከረም ፳፬ (ገጽ ፻፲፩–፻፲፫) [The Synaxarium for the 24th of Mäskäräm (pp. 111–13)] translated by Archdeacon Täsfa Mikaʾel Williams.

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Tserha Tsion St Mary of Zion

On this day [we commemorate] the Feast of the Glorious Cross of Our Lord Jesus Christ—glory to Him!

Now the glorious Cross was uncovered by Empress Helena, the mother of Constantine the righteous Emperor. She discovered it when she had the refuse removed from the hill of Golgotha. This is the reason why it had become a great heap: for many signs and wonders were made manifest from the tomb and from the Cross of Our Lord Jesus Christ—glory to Him! The dead were raised, and all the sick and infirm [there] were healed. For this reason, the Jews were [very] angry, and they issued an order and set it forth in Jerusalem and in all the province of Judea, that whoever cleared refuse from their house should cast it upon the tomb of Jesus of Nazareth. So it was that they continued thus for about three hundred years, and it became a great heap until Empress Helena arrived [there]. When she came [to Jerusalem], she seized the Jews and afflicted them until they revealed to her the place of the tomb of Our Lord Jesus Christ—glory to Him! Then she forced them to remove the refuse from that heap, and the glorious Cross was uncovered.

A beautiful church was built [there], and they consecrated it and kept a feast on this day, the seventeenth of Mäskäräm. Then [each year] all Christians would come to Jerusalem from every land and celebrate a great feast in honour of the glorious Cross, even as the Feast of the Resurrection of Our Lord Jesus Christ—glory to Him!

Now as [certain] Christians were on their way [to the feast], there was with them a Samaritan named Isaac, accompanied by many of his people. He began to mock the Christians and to laugh them to scorn, saying, ‘Why do you weary yourselves in vain? Why are you going to worship [a piece of] wood?’ Among the Christians was a Priest named Eudoxius, and as they were journeying along the road they became thirsty, for they found no water to drink. They came to a well, but found foul and bitter water therein, and they suffered greatly [because of this]. Then Isaac began to mock them again, saying, ‘If you had the true Faith, this foul and bitter water would be changed into sweet water.’ Upon hearing these words, Eudoxius the Priest was moved with spiritual zeal and contended with Isaac the Samaritan, who said, ‘If I see a miracle in the name of the Cross, I will believe in Christ.’ Eudoxius the Priest prayed over the foul water, and immediately it became sweet. Then all the people and their animals drank of it. When Isaac the Samaritan became thirsty, he wished to drink from the water in [his] waterskin, but found it to be foul and crawling with worms. He wept bitterly, came to Saint Eudoxius the Priest, fell down at his feet, and confessed his faith in Our Lord Jesus Christ—glory to Him! Then he drank of the water that had been made sweet by the prayers of blessed Eudoxius. Great power was wrought in this water, for it became sweet for the faithful, but bitter to the Pagans and [other] unbelievers. A cross of light appeared upon it, and they built a beautiful church there. And when Isaac the Samaritan came to the city of Jerusalem, he went to the Bishop and was baptized with Christian baptism together with his [entire] household.

We have also recorded the history of the Finding of the Glorious Cross on the tenth of Mäggabit. [For] when the faithful could not keep this feast in the middle of the Great [Lent] Fast, they transferred it to the seventeenth of Mäskäräm, the day of the consecration of the Church [of the Holy Sepulchre], dedicated to it. And it was first uncovered from the Holy Sepulchre by the hand of Empress Helena.

Glory to God, Who redeemed us through His Cross.

For to Him belong glory and thanksgiving to the ages of ages. Amen.

ʾArke

Salutation to the tree of life, whose overshadowing was unlike
The rod of the Prophet Moses, which swallowed the rods of Egypt.
The Cross of Christ turned back many from unbelief.
It changed the bitterness of the drink of the faithful,
And produced [foulness and] worms for the unbelievers.

መጽሐፈ ስንክሳር ለመስከረም ፲፯ (ገጽ ፸፰–፹) [The Synaxarium for the 17th of Mäskäräm (pp. 78–80)] translated by Archdeacon Täsfa Mikaʾel Williams.

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Tserha Tsion St Mary of Zion

On this day was made manifest the miracle of Our Lady Mary, the Virgin Theotokos, in the city of Saidnaya, when oil dripped from the panel of her icon, [appearing] as though clothed in [human] flesh.

Now this icon was said to be painted by Luke the Evangelist; and the history of its arrival [is as follows]. There was a certain widow named Martha, who prepared her house as a lodging-place for travellers. She loved Our Lady Mary, the Virgin Theotokos, greatly, and served her with all her might. One day a Monk named Theodore stayed with her, and she welcomed him [gladly]. The next day, as she was bidding him farewell, she asked him, ‘Abba, where are you going?’ He told her, ‘To Jerusalem, to worship in the holy places.’ She said, ‘Accept a small sum of gold from me, that you may buy me an icon of Our Lady Mary and bring it back to me on your return.’ He answered, ‘I shall buy you an icon with my own money and bring it to you.’

Then, when he arrived in Jerusalem, he was blessed in the holy places and went back on his journey, without buying her icon. At that moment he heard a voice that filled him with fear, saying, ‘Why have you forgotten to buy the icon?’ Then he returned [to the city, entered] the marketplace, and found an icon of Our Lady Mary, whose form was beautiful and pleasing to behold. He purchased it at that time and wrapped it in fine pure cloths. Then, as he travelled along a fearsome road through the wilderness, thieves rose up against him, and he sought to flee; but a voice went forth from the icon, saying, ‘Continue on your journey!’ So he continued on his journey, and none pursued him. Again, a lion rose up to snatch him away, but immediately a terrifying voice went forth from the icon and drove the lion away. When Abba Theodore saw all these wondrous miracles, he sought to take the icon to his own country, and not to deliver it to the woman who told him to buy it for her. Then, as he set sail on a boat in another direction, a great wind arose and took him to Saidnaya, the city of Martha. He disembarked and went to the house of the widow with many travellers; but he did not make himself known to her, and she did not recognise him.

The next day, when he sought to depart secretly to his country, he could not find the gate of the courtyard, and he spent the day searching [for it]. At evening, he returned to his lodging, and when the widow saw him she marvelled. He remained thus for three days, and at dusk [on the fourth day] he saw the gate. In the morning he sought to go forth in secret, but the path to the gate was hidden from him. Then the widow seized him and said, ‘O Abba, what has happened to you? Have you gone out of your mind? For I see that you are restless.’ After that, he revealed his identity to her, recounting all that had happened on account of the icon. He delivered the icon to her. She received it, unwrapped the cloths [from it], and found it dripping with oil. And for the greatness of her joy, she kissed the hands and feet of the Monk.

Then she took the icon into her prayer room, set it upon a stand with great reverence, and had a metal screen made for it, that no one might touch it. She hung lamps that burnt before it night and day. Before the lamps she had a linen veil drawn, and beneath the icon she put a marble dish to collect the oil that exuded [from it] and dripped down. And the Monk remained with her, ministering to the icon of Our Lady Mary, the Virgin, until the day of his death.

Upon hearing the report of the icon in that city, the Archbishop went there with the Bishops, Priests, and all [his] people. When they beheld the icon [that appeared] upon the panel as one clothed in flesh, they marvelled at this divine work. They drew oil from the dish and shared it for a blessing, and immediately it was refilled. And when they sought to take it to another place, there was a great earthquake, and many fell down [on their faces] in fear. Thus the icon remains there to this day.

Glory to God!

May He have mercy on us through the prayers of Our Lady Mary, the Virgin Theotokos.

And may her blessings be with us to the ages of ages. Amen.

ʾArke

Salutation to your icon, painted by the hand
Of the wise Luke, of the [holy] Evangelists.
O Mary, when those who suffer from malevolent maladies
Are anointed with the exudation from your [wondrous] icon,
The afflicted of the world are healed and greatly strengthened
[in their frame].

መጽሐፈ ስንክሳር ለመስከረም ፫ (ገጽ ፵፮–፵፱) [The Synaxarium for the 10th of Mäskäräm (pp. 46–49)] translated by Archdeacon Täsfa Mikaʾel Williams.

9 months ago | [YT] | 11