The First Martyr

By Andrew Gueruis

Today, I will take you on a journey in the life of one of my favorite saints. This saint was a young man who was filled with the Holy Spirit, faith, and power. His life is very unique and it shows us how we should be as Christians, and how our lives will be filled with joy and peace when we know God. By now you are probably saying to yourselves, “but isn’t this all saints,” well in generalization about saints, yes, however this saint is different. His story is written, even in the Bible and documented in the Book of Acts and the Synaxarium of the Church. Hopefully you know who this saint is, if not, allow me to tell you. The story of St. Stephen takes place when the number of the disciples was multiplying and they chose him to serve. “Then the twelve summoned a multitude of the disciples and told them ‘It is not desirable that we should leave the word of God and serve tables. Therefore, brethren, seek out from among you seven men of good reputation, full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business; but we will give ourselves continually to prayer and to the ministry of the word’” (Acts 6:2-4)

The Strong

By Kyrillos Rezkalla

The Church has provided her children with numerous stories of heroes who have overcome the world through their love for Christ.  The Church has offered an abundance of martyrs to the Lord as an expression of this great love.  St. Moses the Strong, also known as St. Moses the Black, exemplifies the transforming power of the Gospel; his story of victory over the evil that once was ascribed to his name, inspires listeners and readers over many generations to pursue the life of repentance.

St. Moses was born from a Berber tribe in the year 332 A.D. and little is known of his youth and early years.  He excelled in the life of evil, and contrary to the stories of his virtue that were to spread concerning him later in his life, he earned a reputation as a murderer, fornicator and thief among the many examples of his

The young monk knocked gently on the door of the cell of the solitary monk saying, "Agapy ¹. "But the solitary monk didn't answer. He repeated himself a second and third time, but there was still no response. The monk had no choice but to enter as he knew that the solitary was very sick. The monk was surprised when he found, sitting next to the solitary, a very distinguished man.

The solitary asked the monk, "Why did you enter without permission?" But the visitor interfered saying, "Let him in, for God wants him to take the blessing!"

The visitor then

وهم غلبوه بدم الخروف وبكلمة شهادتهم ولم يحبوا حياتهم حتى الموت
رؤ12: 11 

And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death. 
(Rev. 12: 11)

بطرس وبولس سحقا قوة الشيطان وردوا الأمم للأيمان بالثالوث أبونا بطرس أكمل بموت الصليب فى مدينة روما العظمى لأجل اسم ربنا يسوع المسيح وهكذا أيضا بولس نزعت رأسه هناك من قبل الملك نيرون فى يوم واحد نالا المجد من الملك المسيح واستراحا معه فى ملكوته الأبدى والحياة الدائمة
ذكصولوجية للقديسين بطرس بولس  

Peter and Paul, trampled the power of Satan, and restored the nations, to the faith of the Trinity. Our father Peter completed, his struggle with death on the cross, in the great city of Rome, for the name of Jesus Christ. Paul also likewise, was beheaded in that place, by Emperor Nero, all in one day. They received glory form Christ, the King and they rested with Him, in His eternal kingdom, in the everlasting life. 

(St. Peter & St. Paul Doxology)