Coptic Synaxarium
The Twenty-Fourth Day of the Blessed Month of Hatour
Hatour 24
Commemoration of the Twenty-Four Priests
On this day, we commemorate the
twenty-four incorporeal priests of the Most High, who are sitting around
His throne. They are exalted above all the saints and the spiritual hosts.
Because of their closeness to God, they intercede on behalf of the human
race and offer the prayers of the saints as incense, in the golden censers
in their hands, before the Glorious and Blessed Lord. St. John the Evangelist
said in Revelation, "After these things I looked, and behold, a door standing
open in heaven. And the first voice which I heard was like a trumpet speaking
with me, saying, 'Come up here and I will show you things which must take
place after this.' Immediately I was in the Spirit, and behold, a throne
set in heaven, and One sat on the throne. And He who sat there was like
a jasper and a sardius stone in appearance; and there was a rainbow around
the throne, in appearance like an emerald. Around the throne were twenty-four
thrones, and on the thrones I saw twenty-four elders sitting, clothed in
white robes, and they had crowns of gold on their heads.
(Revelation 4:1-4)
... each having a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the
prayers of the saints"
(Revelation 5:8) who are on earth raising it to
the Almighty. St. John continued saying, "I heard the Four living creatures
praising God and saying, 'Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God Almighty, Who was
and is and is to come.' Whenever the living creatures give glory and honor
and thanks to Him Who sits on the throne, Who lives forever and ever. The
twenty-four elders fall down before Him Who sits on the throne and worship
Him Who lives forever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne,
saying, 'You are worthy, 0 Lord, to receive glory and honor and power,
for You created all things, and by Your Will they exist and were created.'
(Revelation 4:8-11) And when a command went forth from God they fell down,
and worshipped saying, 'Great and marvelous are Your works, Lord God Almighty!
Just and true are Your ways, 0 King of the saints, who shall not fear You,
0 Lord, and glorify Your Name? For You alone are Holy. For all nations
shall come and worship before You, for Your judgments have been manifested.'"
(Revelation 15:3-4) The fathers of the church arranged this feast to commemorate
them.
May Their intercession be for us and Glory be to our God forever.
Amen.