+ The peace and love of our Lord Jesus Christ be with us all. I would like to congratulate you on the beginning of the holy forty day fast, during which our spirits transcend the level of our weighty bodies, and join the heavenly beings in the presence of the Divinity's radiance. As we transcend, we feel more compassionate towards our brothers and sisters who are in need, and thus this holy fast is associated with the works of mercy. The Divine Inspiration speaks on the mouth of Isaiah the prophet saying: "[Is] this not the fast that I have chosen: ...to share your bread with the hungry, And that you bring to your house the poor who are cast out; When you see the naked, that you cover him, And not hide yourself from your own flesh?" (Is. 58: 6,7). Our beautiful church, who is led by the Holy Spirit, chants all throughout this holy fast with a spiritual hymn saying: "Blessed are those who have mercy on the helpless, for they will obtain mercy. And Christ will show them mercy on judgment day and fill them with His Holy Spirit."

+ We spoke in previous newsletters about how God rewards those who have merciful hearts toward the needy and poor by delivering them in their times of trouble (Ps. 41:1). We mentioned the examples of David the Prophet and King, and St. Paul the Apostle. Now we mention St. Abraam, the Bishop of Fayum and Giza.

St. Abraam, the Bishop of Fayum and Giza:

+ This saintly bishop, who led a noble life, was known for his love and compassion towards the poor and needy. Surely the Divine Inspiration's words: "Blessed is he who considers the poor; the Lord will deliver him in time of trouble" (Ps. 41:1) always rang in his ear and were always a part of his being.

+ St. Abraam, along with all of the servants and workers in Fayum, faced a day of great tribulation. It happened that two merchants came to Fayum to sell their products. At night, they went to lodge at the guesthouse in the bishop's residence. St. Abraam paid much attention to hospitality of guests, remembering the words of our Lord: "I was a stranger and you took Me in" (Matt. 25:35), and as the Divine Inspiration mentions: "A bishop must then be...hospitable " (1Tim 3:2). Tragically that night, one of the merchants brutally killed his fellow merchant, who had much money, by cutting his head off while sleeping and taking it with him so that no one identifies the body. He then left quietly for the train station early the next morning to take the first train out of Fayum. Shortly afterward, one of the servants entered the merchants' room to discover the headless man, bathing in a pool of blood. He was extremely shocked and became very disturbed and agitated. The servant immediately informed St. Abraam. The saint bishop calmed the frantic servant and immediately notified the authorities, who began investigating everyone at the bishop's residence. The situation became very difficult and complex and it was a day of trouble on St. Abraam and all of Fayum.

+ St. Abraam lifted his heart to God to resolve this difficult situation. God, who delivers in times of trouble those who consider the poor, intervened mightily and amazingly. St. Abraam gave his staff to his disciple and told him to go with the authorities to the train station. He instructed them to pass amongst all of the passengers, and whomever the staff clings to, is the murderer. Some believed the saint, while others were astonished and asked in amazement: "how can it stick to the murderer!" Upon arriving at the train station, they followed the saint's instructions. To everyone amazement, the staff clung to the murderer, and the authorities opened his luggage to find the head of the murdered merchant.

+ Peace and order were restored to the Bishopric, and all gave praise to God saying with David the prophet: "Blessed is he who considers the poor; the Lord will deliver him in time of trouble" (Ps. 41:1). God willing, we will continue speaking of other people who had merciful hearts and how the Lord delivered them in their times of tribulations. May our Lord compensate you with the incorruptible instead of the corruptible, the heavenly instead of the earthly and the eternal instead of the temporal.

Bishop Youannes
General Bishop and Secretary of H.H. Pope Shenouda III