Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church

“ And he passed all his time in reading the Books of the Church, and especially the Psalms of David, and the histories of the ascetic labors of the fathers and the stories of their abstinence. And because of this he loved the life of abstinence and purity, and he spoke to men profitable words, saying, “Without purity no man can see the kingdom of God by day and by night for seven days, and God received his petition, and he taught the people Christianity. And God performed many signs and miracles by his hands, and on many occasions made manifest to men his extraordinary spiritual fight. ”

“ And if any man shall do a good deed to another man, who is in tribulation upon earth, for my name’s sake, or shall write a book about my office, or shall remember any of the poor in my name, or shall offer up an offering or incense on the day of my commemoration, which is the third day of Paguemen, whereon God appointed me, and crowned me with the office of the angels, I will bear them and transport them on the chariot of light, until they enter the heavenly Jerusalem. ”

“ And God shows patience towards us, and He hath mercy upon us, and He waiteth for us to turn from our transgressions and from our evil works. And He doth not destroy us, as He destroyed many nations who were before us, but He abideth us patiently, and He waiteth for us to turn from our sins, an our transgressions, and our folly, and for us to rouse ourselves up out of our sluggishness, and for us to rise up from our fall. ”

“ And when he arrived in the city of Alexandria he enquired for the bodies of his brother and mother, and certain men guided him and brought him to them; and when he saw them he wept with a bitter weeping, because of his separation from them. And then he went to the governor and confessed our Lord Jesus Christ before him, and he made known to him that he was the brother of Abba Hor. And the governor commanded the soldiers to set a great pillar on his belly, and straightway he delivered up his soul into the hand of God. ”

“ What shall it profit a man if he hath gained the whole world, and destroyed his soul? And what shall a man give [as] a ransom for his soul? Verily, verily, I say unto you, the Son of the children of men shall come in the glory of His Father, with His holy angels, and shall reward each one according to his works (Mark vii, 35 f.) .’” And the saint went outside the city, and did as Job the Just did, and sat upon a dust heap for five years, in the heat of summer and the cold of winter, and he wore no clothing on his body, but went naked ”

“ And preach ye unto all men in all the world that they must celebrate my commemoration, and I will make intercession with God on their behalf, and I will deliver them from their tribulation, and they shall never see punishment.” And having said these words Rufa’el (Raphael) bowed low to the Lord. And this glorious angel Rufa’el (Raphael) , the archangel, hath performed many miracles, and it is meet that we should celebrate his commemoration at all times, for he maketh intercession with God on our behalf. ”

“ And this father composed works on Doctrine, and many Homilies, and profitable Admonitions on piety, and the spiritual fight, and the path of the monastic life. And he said in his teaching, “If thou seest a brother who hath transgressed, despair not of him, but wake up his soul, and comfort him, and lighten his heaviness, so that he may rise up from his fall.” And he also saith, “Teach thy heart so that it may do what thy tongue sayeth.” And one of the brethren said unto him, “If I see a brother who is good, I rejoice in him, and bring him into my abode, and make him to rejoice. ”

“ And many signs and wonders were made manifest, and great healings of sick folk took place in that church. And this church continued to exist until the time when the Muslims reigned, and then it was destroyed, and the whale moved, and the sea flowed back again and drowned many people who dwelt in that place. This story was told by John, Archbishop of the city of Constantinople, to Honorius, the righteous emperor. ”