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THE SIXTH MONTH
YEKATIT 24
(March 03)

IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER AND THE SON AND THE HOLY SPIRIT, 
ONE GOD.  AMEN.

On this day died the holy father, Agapetus the bishop.  This holy father lived in the days of the Emperors Diocletian and Maximianus, the deniers [of Christ].  The parents of this saint were believing Christians, and they taught him the doctrine of the Church and he was made a deacon.  And after this he left his parents and went to a monastery, and he ministered unto the monks, the holy elders who were in it, and he learned from them good piety, and the strict observance of the ascetic life, and the knowledge of how to fight the fight; and he fasted frequently and he prayed and kept vigil ceaselessly.  And he used to feed himself daily on the wasted lupines, after he had fasted from dawn until sunset.  When he wanted to fight against sleep he ate for a period of eighty days ashes mixed with lupines, and his strength was increased whilst he was fighting the fight of the ascetic fight, and he ministered to the wants of the company of the monks, and called them his masters.  And he carried out to perfection every practice and observance of the ascetic life, and God wrought many great signs and miracles by him, among which are the following:  He healed a certain maiden of a sickness, with which she had been sick for many years; through the severity of her sickness she was dried up like wood, and the physicians were unable to heal her.  By his prayer he slew a huge serpent, which had destroyed many men.  He drove off from men and from lions, unclean spirits, and many severe and painful diseases.  And Lekatinu the governor heard of his devotion to God, and his excellences, and his righteousness, and the strength of his body, and he had him brought against his will to Kuerh, and he made him a soldier in his army against his will.  But he ceased not to devote himself to ascetic practices, and to fasting and prayer, nay he even added to his practice of righteousness and ascetic excellence.  And he remained [a soldier] for a few days only, for God blotted out Diocletian, the infidel, and the righteous and God-loving Emperor Constantine reigned [in his stead].  And this saint tried to find a pretext for leaving the army and the service of the emperor.  Now by the Will of our Lord Jesus Christ, there was with Constantine a certain young man who was of goodly appearance, and whose deeds were good, and the emperor loved him exceedingly.  And Satan the Evil One took possession of the young man, and tortured him very severely, and the young man cried out by day and by night.  And when one of those who knew Saint Agapetus saw him, he said unto him, “O youth, if thou couldst obtain the help of Saint Agapetus, he would heal thee of thy sickness.”  And the youth said unto him, “Is it possible for a man to attempt to do this being only a soldier in the Imperial Army?”  And the friend of Agapetus told the youth all about his spiritual fight, and his righteousness, and said unto him, “Verily he is able to heal thee of thy sickness.”  And the young man cried out, saying, “Bring hither to me Saint Agapetus, the soldier, that he may heal me of this severe sickness.”  And when the emperor knew this he commanded his servants to bring Saint Agapetus, and when he had come before him he prayed over the young man, and made over him the sign of the Honorable Cross, and God healed him of his sickness.  And the emperor rejoiced in this with great joy, and he paid great honor to the saint, and he said unto him, “Lay upon me whatsoever thou wishest me to pay, and I will do so.”  And the saint said unto him, “Release me from military service,” and the emperor released him, and sent him away, and the saint returned to the place wherein he had lived formerly.  And he lived by himself, and devoted himself to God and to spiritual fighting, which was much more severe than formerly, for many years; and the bishop of the neighboring city made him a priest.  And when that bishop died, the people asked the archbishop to make Agapetus their bishop, and he did so.  And Agapetus shepherded his rational flock carefully and well, and God gave him the gift of prophecy, and the gift of working many signs and wonders.  And he rebuked sinners for committing sin in secret, and he rebuked the priests for forsaking the teaching of the people; and he rebuked them and repelled them from the sanctuary until they repented.  And it is found written in the history of his strife that during his lifetime he performed one hundred miracles, and among them he made a river to stop flowing, and by means of his cross turned it into another bed.  And he opened the eyes of a blind man, and cleansed a leper, and healed many sick folk, and then he died in peace.

Glory be to God Who is glorified in His Saints.  Amen.