Coptic Synaxarium
Daily Stories of the Saints
Sat, 2nd July 2022 -- Baounah 25, 1738 AM
The Twenty-Fifth Day of the Blessed Month of Baounah
Baounah 25
Martyrdom of St. Jude, one of the Seventy
Disciples
On this day, St. Jude, one of the Seventy disciples,
was martyred. This Apostle preached in many cities, and in the islands,
where he built a church. He went to Edessa, healed its king Abgar from
his sickness and baptized him. After this he went to the city of Araz,
preached there, and baptized many of its people. The governor of the city
seized him, and tortured him with many tortures. Then, they shot at him
with arrows, so he delivered up his pure soul. He is the writer of the
Epistle attributed to his name in the New Testament which is filled with
wisdom and grace.
May his prayers be with us. Amen.
Departure of St. Peter the Fourth, the
34th Pope of Alexandria
On this day also, the holy father and fighter St. Peter
the Fourth, 34th Pope of Alexandria, departed. His predecessor Pope Theodosius
was exiled by the orders of Emperor Vespasian because he did not agree
with him on the resolutions of the Council of Chalcedon. When the Pope
departed in exile, the Emperor did not permit the ordination of a new Patriarch.
The lay leaders of the city of Alexandria went to its governor, who was
an honorable and forthright man, and expressed to him their grief because
of the vacancy of the Patriarchal chair. He advised them to go to the monastery
of El-Zogag as if they were going to pray, there they could then ordain
the patriarch of their choice. They rejoiced at this counsel. The bishops
took Abba Peter to the monastery of El-Zogag and ordained him Patriarch
on the first of Mesra, 283 A.M. (July 25th, 567 A.D.). Before this, Anba
Severus had departed and the Antiochian chair remained vacant. When the
people of Antioch heard that the Egyptians had ordained for themselves
a patriarch, they also ordained for themselves a patriarch called Theophanius.
He and Pope Peter exchanged letters concerning the Orthodox faith. Each
one mentioned his brother in the Divine Liturgy, nevertheless they did
not dare to go to their official seats. Pope Peter resided in the monastery
of Epiphaniah south of El-Zogag monastery, as Theophanius was residing
in the monastery of Aphtonius in the outskirts of Antioch. In those days,
there were six hundred monasteries and thirty-two villages on the outskirts
of Alexandria; all their inhabitants were Orthodox. The city of Alexandria,
the cities of Upper and Lower Egypt, the monks of the monasteries of the
desert of Scete, Ethiopia and Nuba were under the authority of Pope Peter.
He did not cease sending Epistles to the believers to confirm them in the
Orthodox faith. He went around visiting the monasteries of Alexandria and
its villages, teaching, admonishing, and strengthening them. He chose a
holy and learned man called Damianos and appointed him as his scribe. Pope
Peter delegated to him the care of the churches, and he became a patriarch
after him. Pope Peter went on caring for his flock, confirming them in
the Orthodox faith until he departed in peace.
May his prayers be with us and Glory be to our God forever. Amen.
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