St. Mina and St. Abanoub Coptic Orthodox Church

The Twentieth Day of the Blessed Month of Tute
Tute 20

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Departure of Pope Athanasius the Second, the Twenty-Eighth Patriarch of the See of St. Mark

      On this day of the year 512 A.D., departed the righteous father St. Athanasius the Second, the twenty-eighth patriarch of the See of St. Mark. This father was the steward of the churches of Alexandria. When the saintly father Abba Peter departed, the bishops and elders and the people agreed to ordain him patriarch for what they had known about his orthodox faith and knowledge. He was a good man, filled with the Holy Spirit and faith. When he became patriarch, he shepherded the flock of the Lord Christ exceedingly well, and he protected them from the snatching wolves with his teachings and prayers. He sat on the episcopal throne for three years and nine months. Then he departed in peace.

May His prayers be with us all. Amen.

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Martyrdom of St. Malatini the Virgin

       On this day also is the commemoration of the martyrdom of St. Malatini the Virgin.

May her prayers be with us all. Amen.

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Departure of St. Theopesti

       Also today we commemorate the departure of St. Theopesti. She was married and had a son. Her husband died while she was still young. She took it upon herself to become a nun. She started to practice the spiritual life. She persisted in fasting and continual prayers and worshipping day and night. She went to the saintly father Abba Macarius, bishop of Nekios, she bowed to him and took his blessings, then she asked him to pray on her and put on her garb of monasticism. The bishop advised her to try herself for a year and he promised her that would put on her the garb of monasticism after that year.
        She went to her house and enclosed herself in a small room and closed its door, and then made a small opening in it. Her son, who was then twelve years old, was taking care of her needs. She embarked in strenous worships with asceticism and devotion. The year elapsed, and the bishop had forgotten that he had promised this saint that he would put on her the garb of monasticism. He saw her in his sleep in a shining figure, telling him, "My father, how did you forget me till now, and I am passing away tonight?" and he saw as if he were awake. He prayed on her the prayer for ordaining monks, and he did not find a Kalansowa (cover for the head), he took off his own and put it on her head. Then he put on her the holy Eskeem. He asked his disciple for another Kalansowa and put it on. She had a silver cross in her hand which she gave to him saying, "Accept this from your disciple." And it was said that when he awakened, he found the cross in his hand and he looked attentively at the cross which was beautifully made. He was amazed and glorified God.
        Early in the morning he went with his disciple to the house of this blessed woman. Her son received him crying with tears. When he asked him why he was crying, he replied saying, "My mother called me in the middle of the night and bid me farewell and told me whatever the bishop tells you, do and do not break it. I will depart this night to go to the Lord Christ. She prayed over me and advised me saying, 'Keep all that I commanded you and do not go against the opinion of our father, the bishop, and here now I am in your hands." The bishop came to where the saint was lying and knocked on the door, but she did not answer. He said this blessed saint had departed indeed, and he ordered his disciple to open the door. When the bishop entered, he found she had given up her soul. She had on her the Eskeem that he had put on her in his vision and also the Kalansowa that he had on. His eyes were filled with tears. He praised and glorified God who works out the satisfaction of His saints. The bishop shrouded her as was the habit of the monks and called the priests who carried her to the holy church and prayed over her with great honor.
        There was in the city a paralytic infidel man, suffering from evil spirits. When he heard the chanting of priests, he asked his people to carry him and take him where the body of the saint was. When they brought him to the church, he drew near to the holy body with faith and he was cured instantly. The devil came out of him, and he became well straightaway. He and his people believed in the Lord Christ and the bishop baptized them. And everyone who had a disease or a deformity would come to the church and touch the holy body and would be healed immediately. And when the governor heard about these wonders, he and most of the city believed in the Lord Christ. He came to the church and carried the body and buried it with honor.

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