The 1st Day of the Blessed Month of Kiahk
Departure of St.Peter Elrahawy Bishop of Gaza
This day marks the departure of St.Peter Elrahawy Bishop of Gaza. He was born in the beginning of the third century in the City of Raha, to a noble family. When he was twenty years old, his parents gave him to the Emperor Theodosius, to be in his company. He practiced asceticism and worship while living in the king's palace because he had forsaken the world and its glories. He had parts of the bodies of the holy martyrs of Persia with him. Abba Peter left the royal court and became a monk in the monastery. He fought a great spiritual fight. Shortly after, they ordained him Bishop of Gaza and its surroundings, against his will. It was said that when he celebrated his first liturgy, a lot of blood flowed from the Holy Body and filled the Paten. Abba Peter took the body of St.James, the mangled, and relocated it in a monastery in the city of Raha. When Marcian the Chalcedonian Emperor, started persecuting the Orthodox Bishops, Abba Peter took the body of St.James and went to Egypt where he dwelt in a monastery in El-Bahnasa. There he met Abba Isaiah the Egyptian. At the end of Marcian's reign, Abba Peter went back to the land of Palestine and went on confirming the believers. One day while he was celebrating the Divine Liturgy, a few of the people present in the church were distracted from listening to the prayers through conversation. The angel of the Lord appeared to him and reproached him because he did not admonish those who were talking in the church. Emperor Zeno heard of him and longed to see him, but was not able to do so becuase Abba Peter did not like the glory of this world. He went to the area between Jerusalem and Damascus in Palestine, called Gawer. On the feast day of St.Peter, the Pope of Alexandria Abba Peter celebrated the Divine Liturgy during which St.Peter appeared and told him : "Christ the lord is calling you to be with Him." Abba Peter called the people and commanded them to be firm in their Orthodox Faith, then he stretched out his hand and delivered up his soul in the hands of the Lord.
May his prayers be with us. Amen.
Consecration of the Church of the Saint, Abba Shenouda
On this day also, we commemorate the consecration of the church of the great saint Abba Shenouda the Archimandrite.
May his prayers be with us and Glory be to God forever. Amen.