Synaxarium
Daily Stories of the Saints
for the Blessed Month of Baramoudah
The Third Day of the Blessed Month of Baramoudah
Baramouda 3
Departure of St.John, Bishop of Jerusalem
On this day Anba John, Bishop of Jerusalem,
departed. He was born to Jewish parents, who kept the Law of the Torah.
They instructed and taught him well and he excelled in the Law of Moses.
He argued and disputed with the Christians until he became convinced of
the coming of the Lord Christ, and that He was the true God. He believed
on the hand of St. Justus, Bishop of Jerusalem, who baptized and ordained
him a deacon. Because of his knowledge, and virtues they chose him a bishop
of Jerusalem after the departure of St. Justus. When Andrianus reigned,
he commanded to rebuild the ruined parts of the city, he built a tower
on the western gate (The gate of the Jewish temple) and he hanged an engraved
tablet with his name on the door of that gate. He prevented the Christians
from praying at the Golgotha and even passing through it. The Jews and
the Gentiles became powerful and troubled the Christians much. Because
of that many tribulations and sorrows befell this father, so he asked God
that He might receive him. His supplication was accepted and he departed
in peace after he stayed on the Episcopal Chair for two years.
May his prayers be with us. Amen.
Departure of the Holy Father Anba Michael,
the Seventy-First Pope of the See of St.Mark
On this day also of the year 862 A.M. (March 29th.
1146 A.D.) the holy father Pope Michael, the seventy first Patriarch of
the See of St. Mark, departed. He longed to the pure life since his young
age so he became a monk in the monastery of St. Macarius. He lived in the
desert until he was an old man, in a good pleasing life to God. When Pope
Gabriel (70) departed, the bishops, the priests and the lay leaders spent
three month searching for who was best suited to succeed him. A monk from
the monastery of St. Macarius, called Yoannis Ebn Kedran, came forward
nominating himself supported in that by Anba Yacoub, bishop of Lekanah,
Anba Christodolus, bishop of Fowa, and Anba Michael, bishop of Tanta. Nevertheless,
the bishops of Upper Egypt, the priests of Alexandria and the lay leaders
of Cairo did not accept that choice. Finally they all agreed to choose
three of the monks and those were: Yoannis Abu El-Fatah, Michael of St.
Macarius monastery, and Soliman El-Dekhiary of El-Baramous monastery. They
cast a lot among them, and the lot fell on the monk Michael, and they ordained
him a Patriarch on the 5th of Mesra, 861 A.M. (July 29th, year 1145 A.D.).
He was an honorable old man loving for the poor and the needy. He took
for himself a scribe to write his sermons and teachings that he sent to
the bishops and priests. When he fell sick, he went to the monastery of
St. Macarius, where he departed in peace, after he stayed on the Chair
for eight month.
May his prayers be with us and Glory be to God forever. Amen.