Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church

“ And now, O my son, it is meet for us to fight for the salvation of our souls, for we know not when we shall die. But, blessed is the man who hath dominion and money in this world! And let him abandon riches if he would received great honor in the heavenly Jerusalem, the city of all the saints.” When Abba Pawli (Paul) heard these words he cried out in his heart, saying, “What have I to do with the possessions of this fleeting world, which after a few days I must leave, and depart naked?” ”

“ Through his prayers the world is kept in a right course, and the earth giveth its fruit. Through him the dew falleth on the earth, and the sun riseth upon all the sinners of the earth, and because of his goodness God beareth all the creation of the children of men.” And when Abba Anthony heard these words he rose up, and went into the Inner Desert, believing that God was with him, and that He would make straight his road. ”

“ There are left only three days before thou shalt have peace. Behold, I will send unto thee three men; tell them all the story of the fight of Abba ‘Ebelo, the shepherd, so that they may tell it unto others, that those who have fallen into sin must not despair of the mercy of God.” And on the following day three men came unto him, and he told them the history of the fight of Abba ‘Ebelo, the shepherd, and they marveled exceedingly, and they wrote down everything and they remained with him until the third day. And then the desert monk prayed and delivered his soul into the hand of God. ”

“ How can I lift up my face which is blackened with much sin to the heaven of Thy holiness?” And he prayed a long time, and before he finished his prayer much rain fell, and he knew that God had accepted his prayer and his repentance, and had forgiven him his sin. And after this he doubled his fasting, and his prayers, and vigils, and prostrations, and he admonished himself, saying, “Fight and take care that thou dost not fall a second time.” And he ended his days at a good old age, and he pleased God and died in peace. Salutation to Jacob. ”

“ This honored and learned and wise saint and fighter was appointed Archbishop of the city of Rome, and he sat upon the throne of Peter, the chief of the Apostles, for twelve years in quietness and peace; and he taught the people the beauty of piety, and he preached to them the Faith of righteousness. And Claudius, the emperor and governor, having risen up against the Emperor Philip, and killed him, and began to reign in his stead. This infidel stirred up great trials and many tribulations for the believers, and he martyred very many people. ”

“ One day when the holy men were hungry Mar ‘Eulog (Eulogius) commanded the lions to seek some food for them, and when the lions had set out they found al old man carrying a load of bread on a donkey, on which was a child; and the lions took this donkey and brought him to the holy men. Now the child died of fright, but when Abba ‘Eulog (Eulogius) had prayed, he restored him to life. And then he returned to his cell, and fell sick a little, and he died and was buried with great honor. And the lions continued to watch by his grave for twelve years, and then they returned to the desert. ”

“ When he saw her he rose up straightway, and without mercy seized the hair of her head, and threw her on the ground, and took a knife and ripped up her belly, and saw how the child was lying in her womb. And after this the child died, and his mother died in great agony. And when the shepherd saw the great sin which he had committed, he was exceedingly sorry, and he rent his garments forthwith and cast dust upon his head, and he cried out and wept bitterly and said, “Woe to me, for I have committed the great and unforgivable sin.” ”

“ And moreover, when the time arrived wherein our holy Lady the Virgin Mary conceived the Word of God Who existeth for ever, John, being in his mother’s womb, preached Him, and he bowed before Him, even as his mother saith, “The child leaped in my womb with joy and gladness when our Lady Mary came to me.” And when she and her husband Zachariah were grown old, God sent His angel Gabriel, and announced to him concerning his son John, and informed him what would happen to him. And this Saint Elisabeth conceived and brought forth the saint, the prophet, the preacher and Baptist John ”

“ At that time the abbot of their monastery died, and [the monks] wanted to appoint as abbot the elder Abba Lucianus, his teacher. And Abba Lucianus took his disciple Longinus, and they went forth from Cilicia, and came to a city of Syria, and they took up their abode in a church. And our Lord Christ did not wish that their righteousness should be hidden, for a city which is set upon a hill shall not be hidden; and God wrought many signs and wonders by their hands, and they received praise and honor from men. ”

“ This saint having gone into the sanctuary (i.e. the temple) of Jerusalem to pray, came out and went to Imahus (Emmaus) , to a holy elder, and after they had saluted each other they sat down and began to tell stories of the great deeds of God until the sixth hour. And there was in that city a certain believer, who used to visit the elder [and take him] bread and water. One day when he was carrying his food to him, one told him that his son was dead, and he took him and wrapped him up in cloth and laid him in a coffer, on the top of which he placed the elder’s food ”

“ Then the emperor commanded the soldiers to cast their bodies to the wild beasts of the desert, and to the fowl of the heavens, but there were certain believers there who took away their bodies secretly, and they swathed them and laid them in coffers until the days of persecution should be ended. And at length a church was built for them, and the believers laid their bodies in it, and very many signs and miracles took place through them. ”

“ And those wicked men in their craftiness made a pact with that woman and accused her of speaking lies against the saint, and they debated with her, and said unto her, “Thou art a liar, and dost speak lies against this saint, and we will neither believe thee, nor accept thy word against him, unless thou takest an oath by the Holy Gospel that it is this saint who committed fornication with thee; if thou dost not swear we will not believe thee.” ”

“ Forty days after His glorious birth Joseph, the just man, who was the messenger of this mystery, and Saint Mary, His mother, brought Him, that they might fulfill the Law with which He, to Whom be glory! had commanded the people of Israel, and to offer up offerings as the Law ordered. And this Simeon, the priest, was a righteous man, and he carried Him upon his shoulders and held Him up in his hands. And when King Ptolemy, who was called the “Conqueror,” was reigning in the five thousand nine hundred and fourth year (?) ”