How to Benefit from the Holy Liturgy - Pope Kirillos Scientific Family

“…The forty nine martyrs, the elders of Scetes...”, who
were martyred by the hands of the barbarians on one of their
raids in the desert. Their bodies are buried in a large tomb in
the Church of the Elders, in the monastery of St. Macarius in
the wilderness of Scetes. They were a good example in their
readiness for death at any moment without fear; we wish to
learn from these heroes.
“…The strong saint Abba Moses…”, whose example is one
of true, pure repentance. He was transformed from the
depths of evil to the highest level of purity and holiness, so
that he may become a witness of the work of God's grace
that works and renews all people, if the Lord finds them
ready. We remember Abba Moses for his repentance,
repentance with all its significance and benefits. The greatest
virtue we learn from St. Moses is the life of repentance
without which no one can see the Lord.
“…and John Kame the priest…”, he was a pure saint who
loved virginity so much that when his father forced him to
marry against his will, St. John made an agreement with his
wife to live in celibacy. They lived together in purity to an
extent that each night, they deserved to see an angel
protecting their bedroom. Also, the Lord planted a vine to
overshadow them as a visible symbol of their angelic purity.
Finally, St. John sent his wife to a nunnery and he himself
went to become a monk in the wilderness of Scetes,
completing his life in purity, and becoming a father of a
monastery. We can learn from Abba John Kame the virtue of
purity, either in celibacy or in marriage, as St. Paul described
in the seventh chapter of his first epistle to the Corinthians.
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