December 23, 2023 - Kiahk 13, 1740

Departure of St.Abracius

On this day also, the father St. Abracius (Apraxios) departed. He was from upper Egypt and became a monk in one of the monasteries when he was 20 years old. He fought a perfect fight until Satan grew tired of tempting him. Satan faced him saying, You still have 50 more years to live in this world, wishing by these words to cast the saint into despair. The saint replied, You have made me sorrowful for I have thought that I had another hundred years to live and I have slackened in my fight and in my worship. If this is the case, I have to fight harder before I die. In this way, he overcame the devil that tried to put slackness in his heart. He fought strenuously and departed in peace in the same year after spending 70 years of worship and asceticism.May His prayers be with us. Amen