Prayer of the Month

• Hosea was instructed by God to marry a harlot (prostitute) who would cheat on him.  He also accepted her back and did not blame her in anyway.  This symbolized the relationship of Israel with God and His acceptance of them when they come back to him.
• He is one of the 12 prophets of the children of Israel and his book is one of the minor prophecies of the old testament.
• He prophesized about the evil that will come upon the children of Israel if they continued in their wicked ways.
• He also prophesized about the suffering and resurrection of Christ.

Departure of Pope Kirollos VI

Finding of the head of St. John the Baptist.

Departure of Pope Kirollos:

• Pope Kirollos had distinct characteristics.  Though he lived a life of simplicity, he acted with firmness and with a strong personality.  His smile warmed everyone visiting him, and he dealt with them in a down-to-earth manner.  He was the first pope in modern times who totally opened his doors for the entire public.  Everyone, no matter what age or social level were always welcomed.

• May his prayers be with us all.  Amen.

Finding of the Head of St. John the Baptist:

• St. John was killed by Herod the king, who had to cut off his head to fulfill the promise he made to Herodias' daughter (Mark 6:14-28).

• Regretting his actions, Herod hid the head of St. John in his house.

• Years later, St. John appeared to two men who were resting from their journey and sleeping in the area where Herod's house was.  The men dug into the ground and found the head.  

• They took it to their house and many wondrous things happened because of its blessing.  The head was passed on from person to person until it got to a believer of the Arius heresy, who used the wondrous work of the head to confirm the heresy.  

• God confused him and the head was lost again, only to be found later by Bishop Mertianos.

• This is the 2nd annual celebration of the cross in the Coptic Calendar; the first occurs on the 16th of Tout when the Cross was found by St. Helena, the mother of Emperor Constantine (she determined which of the 3 cross found belonged to Jesus by using it to raise a man from the dead)
  • St. Helena, after finding the cross, constructed a large church there and placed the cross in it.  
  • On this day we celebrate the return of the cross to Constantinople by Emperor Heracious, after it was stolen by a Persian prince who took the cross while retreating defeated in a battle in Egypt. The prince could not steal the cross himself, because it would burn any non-Christian who would try to touch it.  So he bribed two unfaithful Christians to steal the cross and follow him back to his city.  Emperor Heracious went with his army and fought the Persians for the return of the cross.

Departure of St. Sedhom Bishay of Dimiat

Commemoration of St. Mary the mother of God.