February 02
Entry of Christ into the Temple
The Lord of the law refused to him the glory except that the Mosaic law, the law of purification and atonement, be fulfilled with his virgin mother (12/6-8).
Accordingly, Luke the Evangelist said: “And when the days of its purification according to the law of Moses were completed, they took him up to Jerusalem, to offer him to the Lord, according to what was written in the law of the Lord.” (Luke 2/22-23).
On this day, the Holy of Saints stands with his innocent virgin mother from the stigma of sin and offers the offering of the poor to teach us to renounce murderous pride and submit to his divine laws. On his arms he said: “Lord, now let your servant go in peace, according to your word. For my eyes have seen what you have prepared for the salvation of all peoples, a light for the guidance of nations and glory for your people.”_5cc78190 -5cde-3194-bb3b-136bad5cf58d_ And Simon said to his mother Mary: “He is appointed for the fall of many people, and for the rise of many of them in Israel, and for a sign they deny.” and a sword will pierce In yourself until thoughts unfold from many hearts.
أعياد القديسين
2
شباط - فبراير
ماروني
03 Feb
Commemoration of Simon the Sheikh and Hannah the Prophetess
Simon the sheikh, whom Luke the Evangelist described as a righteous and pious man, was confused by the sign of Isaiah the prophet who said: “Behold, a virgin will conceive and bear a son, and she will call his name Emmanuel” (Isaiah 7: 14). The word “virgin” was replaced by the word “lady.” However, soon to his surprise the next day, he saw the word “lady” erased and replaced by the word “virgin” as it was before._cc781905-5cde-3194-bb3b -136bad5cf58d_ Then he became certain that there was no difficult matter for God. and it was revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. and for this reason he became attached to the temple, persevering in fasting. And praying, until the miracle was seen by the eye, so he carried the child in his arms with firm faith and a heart overflowing with love and hope, and exclaimed: “Lord, now release your servant in peace!”
And the prophetess Hanna, the daughter of Penuel, did not leave the temple, worshiping with fasting and prayers day and night. She confessed to the Lord and talked about him to everyone who was waiting for the redemption of Israel (Luke 2/ 36-38). -5cde-3194-bb3b-136bad5cf58d_ Amen.
05 Feb
Memorial of the martyr Agatha Al-Batoul
She is an Italian girl of great beauty and rich in money. She turned away from the earth’s charms and glories and attached herself to heaven and the love of Christ. Contianus, the Roman consul, taught her, and he was rude and immoral._cc781905 -5cde-3194-bb3b-136bad5cf58d_ So he began to harass her while she was repulsed by him, so he stopped her under the pretext that she was a Christian and put her in prison, on the grounds that she would submit to him submissively.
So he returned it to him and asked her: Who are you and what is your identity? Are you a slave or a free woman? An honorable family, but I am the handmaid of Christ, and I have the supreme honor to serve the true God. 5cde-3194-bb3b-136bad5cf58d_ You have lost your honor and become slaves to sin and deaf deities of wood and stone. Contianus got angry and threatened her and returned her to her dark prison, where she asked Jesus for the blessing of steadfastness in his love.
08 Feb
Souvenir of the Prophet Zakaria bin Yoda
He is the eleventh of the minor prophets. He was in the days of King Joash. He predicted the coming of the Messiah and his entry into Jerusalem meek and humble, riding on a colt of an ass. and after he returned from The captivity began to incite the people, along with the prophet Haggai, to build the temple and restore the walls of Jerusalem.
And when the rulers of Judah left the house of the Lord, the God of their fathers, as it came in the Book of Second Chronicles, and worshiped Astarte and the idols, the wrath of God came upon them for their disobedience. 3194-bb3b-136bad5cf58d_ “Thus says God: Why do you transgress the Lord’s commandments? You will not prosper, because you forsake the Lord, and He forsakes you.”
So they allied against him and stoned him by the king's command, in the court of the house of the Lord.
And that was in the year 656 before the advent of the Messiah.
09 Feb
Saint Maron
Its lights shone on the mountains of Cyrus in northern Syria, and it guided souls to the truth, on a day when heresies were wreaking havoc in those parts.
The father of the Maronite community and the banner of its faith and glories for generations.
The famous historian, Theodoretus, Bishop of Cyrus, in his book "History of the Monks and Hermits" discusses the works of the great ascetics, and at the forefront of them is "Maron the Divine" as he calls him.
“Maron adorned, says the historian, the group of saints clothed with God and practiced various austerities and mortifications under the atmosphere of the sky, without a roof except for a small tent that was rarely shaded.
“There was an ancient pagan temple, and Maron consecrated it, as Theodorisson says, and dedicated it to the worship of the One God.
February 14th
Commemoration of the martyr Walentinos the priest
The origin of this saint is from Rome. He was famous for his abundant knowledge, priestly virtues, and his strong zeal for the salvation of souls. King Claudius II arrested him and put him in prison, chained. Then he began to flatter him. And he begged him to leave the Christian faith and worship idols, and said to him:
"Why not be our friend so that we may raise your rank, rather than an enemy so that we may be angry with you?" He boldly replied: "If you knew, O king, that the God who created heaven and earth is one God, whom every creature ought to love, you and your kingdom would be happy too."_cc781905-5cde-3194 -bb3b-136bad5cf58d_ One of the judges present asked him: “What do you say about Jupiter and Mars?” He replied: “These are statues made by human hands. and that, according to your belief, they are gods of lusts and bodily refuges from which there is no good. The judge exclaimed, "He has blasphemed the gods and the government!" So the governor commanded that Judge Asterius should hand him over to punish him for his blasphemy. and this one took him to his home. and his daughter had lost her sight two years ago._cc781905-5cde-3194d5193-6bb3b Her father presented her to Walentinus the priest, hoping that he would heal her, so the saint prayed over her, raising his eyes to heaven, saying: “O Lord Jesus Christ, O Light of the World, enlighten this nation of yours.”_cc781905-5cde-3194-bb3b -136bad5cf58d_ And immediately her eyes were opened and they saw the light! Then Asterius believed he and his wife, so he taught them the truths of faith and baptized them all. They killed them, so they won the wreath of martyrdom. As for Walentinus, he put him in prison for a long time, and after that they beat him dryly until his limbs were broken and his blood gushed out. bb3b-136bad5cf58d_ His prayers are with us._cc7 81905-5cde-3194-bb3b-136bad5cf58d_ Amen.
February 18th
Souvenir of Saint Leo the Great, Pope of Rome
This great pope was born in Rome from an honorable Tuscan family. cultivated a high culture in which he combined religious and temporal sciences. Pope Sixtus III made him his advisor._cc781905-5cde- 3194-bb3b-136bad5cf58d_ Following the death of this pope in the year 440, Leo was elected, unanimously, as his successor.
And as soon as he assumed the throne of the Petrine presidency, a mighty lion (like his name) appeared, defending the right of the Church with all courage, knowledge and virtue.
And his wonderful messages roamed the East and the West and eliminated the heresies that appeared in his days, especially the heresy of Eutyches. It contains the teachings of Dioscorus and Eutyches, and they adopted the teachings of Pope Leo and Flavianus, the Patriarch of Constantinople. And the Pope wrote a letter that he delivered to his deputies and sent them to preside over this council in his name. and that delicious religious message was a constitution When it was read, the synod fathers exclaimed with one voice: Peter spoke through Leo’s mouth. and the assembled fathers sent a letter saying to the assembled popes In it: “You are the one who heads us, just as the head heads all the members.”
February 26th
Commemoration of St. Alexander, Patriarch of Alexandria
Saint Alexander was born in Alexandria and was educated in the sciences and virtues. His bishop Theona separated him to the priesthood. He suffered persecution and torture for the sake of his mission during the days of the two kings Diocletian and Maximian._cc781905-5cde-3194-bb3b-136bad5cf2 He was elected to succeed Patriarch Achylas. Arius the priest was spreading his malicious heresy among the people. Patriarch Alexander advised him in vain. -5cde-3194-bb3b-136bad5cf58d_ and drove him out with some of his followers from Alexandria. so he went to Palestine and deceived some of the bishops with his heresy and wooed them to him. so St. Sylvester wrote to the first Pope So the Pope agreed with King Constantine the Great to hold the first Nicholas Council in the year 325
