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Short Stories (Stories for the Youth), book by Father Tadros Yacoub Malaty

512- Who is the Saint?

 

St-Takla.org Image: Many Saints and martyrs of the Coptic Orthodox Church. صورة في موقع الأنبا تكلا: صور قديسين وشهداء كثيرين في الكنيسة القبطية الأرثوذكسية.

Young Mark entered St. Anthony the Great’s Cathedral. He walked with his mother looking at the windows of the church on which there are icons of the saints made of the beautiful graved glass. The child was asking his mother, “Who’s this saint?”

Mother answered, “St. Matthew the Evangelist, St. Mark, St. Anthony, St. Demiana etc.”

Mark went home and told his elder sister about the beautiful icons of the saints which he saw. Sister asked Mark, “Who’s the saint?”

“When someone stands at the courtyard of the church and looks at the window one’ll see the saints radiating the lights of the church.”

Thus, the saint is the person radiating the light of the church. These are the saints in whom Christ’s light is transfigured. When we glorify and praise Virgin Mary, a prophet, a disciple or a martyr, we see our Christ glorified through the work of His Grace in them. As for you, it is necessary to follow their example. Ask that God’s Grace may work in you thus, what Lord Jesus Christ said would be fulfilled in you: “You are the light of the world” (Matt. 5.14), and “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven” (Matt. 5.16).

→ English translation of the story here at St-Takla.org: من هو القديس؟

May Your Light shine in me. May You make me light before men.

I will then proclaim Your Glory reflected in my depths so that Your Holy Name will be glorified in my weakness.

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