1 SEPTEMBER
SAINT SIMON THE STYLITE
Simon is the most famous of the stylites or Saints who spend their days seated on high platforms or pillars. The immense monastery which had been built around his pillar still exists around of Aleppo. The celebrated historian Theodoret who was a contemporary of Simon, had personally met him and wrote about his life. Simon was born near Antioch in 392AD. While still a young man, he gave himself over to the service of God in the desert. When he later sought solitude away from the crowds that pressed around him, he established himself on a pillar which grew higher and higher above the crowds. He thus lived between heaven and earth for about forty years, preaching and exhorting the crowds from high upon his pillar. Numerous individuals who came to him were converted by his preaching. He died in 459AD. Devotion to Saint Simon spread throughout Syria and Lebanon. The monastery was named after him and the sights of his pillar were the objects of pilgrimages throughout the east.
2 SEPTEMBER
SAINT MAMMAS
Saint Mammas was born of Christian parents; his mother brought him into the world while in prison for her faith in Christ. After his mother’s death, another Christian woman took care of him. He was a shepherd and was loved by all the peasants for his good humor. He was arrested because he was a Christian and the judge demanded that he burns incense to idols, but Mammas refused. After undergoing severe torture, he was beheaded in 279AD at the age of 15. Many miracles are attributed to him: the church of Saint Mammas at Ehden dating from 748AD. May his prayers be with us. Amen.
8 SEPTEMBER
BIRTH OF THE VIRGIN
A tradition which comes from the apocryphal Gospels tells us that the parents of the Virgin Mary were childless. When their prayer was heard and Mary was born, her parents brought her to the Temple where she passed her days up to the time when she was engaged to Joseph. Today the church honors Mary, who is blessed among women, and considers the 8th of September as the beginning of our salvation in her Son, Jesus Christ. The name, ‘’Mary’’, comes from Aramaic and signifies ‘’the elevated one’’ or ‘’queen of the sea’’. May the prayers of the Virgin, our Queen, protect us. Amen.
9 SEPTEMBER
SAINT JOACHIM AND SAINT ANN
As the early Church began to reflect on the privileged role of Mary as Mother of God, it naturally began to wonder about her parents and the other members of her family. Various traditions regarding the early life of Mary were collected and published in what have become known as the apocryphal Gospel. Although the church has never accepted writings as being inspired, they give us some insight into the popular stories which circulated about Mary and her parents.
A fourth century AD manuscript of the protoevangelium of James gives the names Joachim and Ann to the parents of Mary. Joachim, according to this tradition, was a Levite from Nazareth and from the lineage of David. He and his wife Ann wanted to have children, but remained childless. Ann made a vow to the Lord that if He would grant her a child; she would offer the child to the service of the Lord in the Temple. When Mary was born, her mother fulfilled her vow and Mary was accordingly raised in the Temple.
Whether this story is accurate or not we have no way of telling, however, we can be sure that Mary’s parents must have prepared her for her role as the Mother of the Savior by sharing with her their faith and love.
Devotion to Joachim and Ann spread throughout the east and it was eventually introduced into the western church. A lot of churches are dedicated to the parents of Mary in Lebanon. May the prayers of Joachim and Ann be with us. Amen.
26 SEPTEMBER
SAINT JOHN THE APOSTOLE
John was born in Bethsaida on the sea of Galilee. He was the brother of the apostle James and the son of Zebedee and Salome. He earned his living as a fisherman. At first he was a disciple of John the Baptizer, later he became a follower of Jesus and His beloved disciple. During the Last Supper, it was John who rested his head on the chest of the Lord and followed him up to the cross. After the death of the other apostles, John lived at Ephesus and according to tradition, spent his last days on the island of Patmos where he died at an advanced age. The fourth Gospel, three Epistles and the Book of Revelation are attributed to him. May his prayers be with us. Amen.
29 SEPTEMBER
SAINT RUHANA (CYRIACUS)
Ruhanna is the Syriac name for Saint Cyriacus who was called ‘’the spiritual one’’- in Syriac, Ruhanan. He was born at Corinth 446AD and became a monk in Palestine under the direction of Saint Euthymus. He became the superior of his monastery and was a model for all because of his piety, wisdom and exhortations. He died at the age of 107. Certain Maronite calendars refer to him as Ruhana, ‘’the singer’’. Many churches and monasteries in Lebanon are dedicated to him. May his prayers protect us. Amen.
