St. Takla Haymanot the Ethiopian: "Poor in Spirit"

St. Takla Haymanot was a blessed person always full of joy. He was blessed not with riches, not with mightiness and strength, not with worldly influence but with being poor in spirit. St. Takla's joy was found in his total dependence upon the Lord Jesus Christ.

The great saint, Takla Haymanot has a very prominent position in the Coptic Orthodox Church. The church celebrates an annual feast to commemorate the greatness of this seventh century saint.

His father was an Ethiopian priest who loved Archangel Michael and his mother was a rich and righteous woman who also loved Archangel Michael. Together, they always celebrated the archangels' feast on the twelfth of each month. After many years of prayer and supplications a son, "Feseha Zion" (the joy of Zion) was born into this family, for St. Takla's mother was barren until his birth.

The tidings of Archangel Michael were fulfilled when he said to Tsega Ze-Ab, Feseha Zion's father, "You will be the father of a child who will be an apostle in Ethiopia." His parents were overjoyed with his birth and celebrated by holding a feast for the poor. Three days after his birth, the Holy Spirit descended upon Fesha Zion and the infant opened his mouth and said, "One is the Holy Father. One is the Holy Son. One is the Holy Spirit."
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St. Mary, Mother of God: "Humble Hands"

Two thousand years have passed since the time of our Lord Jesus Christ on earth leaving behind much room for intellectualization as well as speculations; but above all casting a perpetual illumination on the type of life our dear Mother of God had led and the duties carried out by those "humble hands".

The Holy Scripture does not provide detailed accounts of the day-to-day incidents during our Lord's growing periods from infancy to manhood; but through simple deduction we get to know that St. Mary played a vital role in our Lord's life. This article will consider the various stations at which St. Mary stood and proved herself to be of humble yet miraculously achieving hands.
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Prayer, Enigmatic of the East
Nathanael: Under the Fig Tree