3 El Nasiy
(The Third Day of the Blessed Month of El-Nasi)
1. 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.
The intercession of this honorable angel be with us.
Amen.
2. On this day also, St. Andrianus, one of
the commanders of the army of the emperor, was martyred. This saint, whenever he
saw a martyr he would ask him, "Why do you do that to yourself?" They answered
him, "In the hope of the eternal life, and the everlasting kingdom." He went to
the emperor and confessed the Lord Christ. The Emperor tortured him much then
imprisoned him with many martyrs. Anatolia, the wife of this saint, cut off her
hair, and dressed in a man's apparel. She came to the prison and ministered to
the martyrs. She strengthened her husband, comforted and consoled him. When
other women heard about what she did, they did the same.
Later on the emperor ordered the legs of the prisoners
broken until they die. This saint came and encouraged her husband until he
delivered his soul to the hand of the Lord. After all the martyrs had delivered
up their souls, the emperor ordered their bodies burned, but God brought down
dew which put out the fire. Some believers carried the bodies to Pisidia. A
prince asked to marry St. Anatolia, but she refused. When she finished her
strife, she departed in peace.
May their prayers be with us. Amen.
3. On this day also, of the year
1302 A.M. (September
6,
1586 A.D.), and during the reign of the
Ottoman Sultan Mourad III, Pope Yoannis XIV,
96th Pope of Alexandria, departed. He was
from Manfalout, and he was known by Yoannis El-Manfalouty. He became a monk at
El-Baramous monastery, in Wadi El-Natroun. He was ordained Patriarch during the
reign of the Ottoman Sultan Selim II, on the
22nd day of Baramoudah,
1287 A.M. (April
17th,
1571 A.D.). During his Papacy the
Christians were forced to wear black turbans (head cover). He received a letter
from the Pope of Rome and he answered him back. Sultan Selim asked him to
collect head taxes from the Christians, and every one complied. He went to
Alexandria, and on his way back, he felt weak and ill at the city of El-Nahrawiah.
He departed there and was buried at the Church of St. George in Birma. His body
was relocated later on to El-Sourian monastery. He was on the Chair for fifteen
years, four months, and nineteen days.
May his prayers be with us and Glory be to our God
forever. Amen.
Days of the month of Pi Kogi Enavot (the Little Month):
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2
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3 |
4
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