St. Mina and St. Abanoub Coptic Orthodox Church

The Eighteenth Day of the Blessed Month of Tute
Tute 18

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Martyrdom of St. Bropharius

      On this day we celebrate the martyrdom of St. Bropharius. He was a comedian and jester and non-Christian. When Constance, the son of Constantine departed, Julian the infidel reigned after him and was killed by St. Macarius. This infidel was the nephew of Constantine. On his birthday, he gathered jesters, comedians, and people of the circus; Bropharius was one of them. The infidel emperor ordered him to imitate the Christians. When he came to the ritual of the holy baptism and made the sign of the Cross over the water in the Name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, the Lord enlightened his mind and he perceived a divine grace coming down on the water and light shone from it. He immersed into the water three times, then went up from it and put on his clothes. He confessed that he became Christian. The Emperor rebuked and threatened him. Then the emperor promised to give him many gifts. In spite of that, the Saint went on saying, "I am Christian. I am Christian." Finally, the emperor ordered his neck to be cut off and he earned the crown of martyrdom.

May his intercession be for us all. Amen.

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Commemoration of Stephen the Priest and Niceta the Martyr

        On this day also is the commemoration of Stephen the priest, and Niceta the martyr.

May their prayers and blessings be with us all, and Glory be to God forever. Amen.