Week 7 - Saturday
Bible Passage
Mark 14:35-36
He went a little farther, and fell on the ground, and prayed that if it were possible, the hour might pass from Him. And He said, “Abba, Father, all things are possible for You. Take this cup away from Me; nevertheless, not what I will, but what You will.”
Commentary
St. Augustine of Hippo
To show sufferers that they need not despair, the true Savior became the good teacher by himself epitomizing the truth in his own person. He participated in our suffering in an empathic way, knowing that through human frailty sorrow might steal in upon our hearts amid afflictions, and knowing that we would overcome it if we yield to God’s will above our own, mindful that God knows best those whose wellbeing he superintends.
Week 7 - Friday
Bible Passage
Isaiah 58:3-6
‘Why have we fasted, but You did not see it? Why have we humbled our souls, but You did not know it?’ Because in the days of your fasts, you seek your own wills, and mistreat those under your authority. If you fast for condemnations and quarrels, and strike a humble man with your fists, why do you fast to Me as you do today, so your voice may be heard in crying? I did not choose this fast, and such a day for a man to humble his soul; nor if you should bow your neck like a ring and spread sackcloth and ashes under yourself, could you thus call such a fast acceptable. I did not choose such a fast,” says the Lord; “rather, loose every bond of wrongdoing; untie the knots of violent dealings; cancel the debts of the oppressed; and tear apart every unjust contract.
Week 7 - Thursday
Bible Passage
Ephesians 4:2-3
“...with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love, endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.”
Quote
Tamav Ireni insisted on the importance of living in a community. "While it is up to each nun to decide on the level of austerity appropriate for her, our life is still essentially built on partnership and love."
Tamav Ireni didn't run a convent like a traditional mother superior -- she emphasised the importance of leading a community in a democratic way.
"I don't like to point to the sisters' faults and shortcomings. Words of love and encouragement are more effective." Still, despite her non-confrontational, non-aggressive philosophy, Tamav Ireni was anything but a submissive, introverted woman. She was reputed for being outspoken and not budging once she took a stand.
Week 7 - Wednesday
Bible Passage
1 Peter 1:7
“...that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ”
Story
From the life of Tamav Irene
She spoke with her nuns and gave each of them the appropriate advice. She did not let despair, boredom, or anguish overcome them. She taught her daughters that the Kingdom of God is neither obtained by silver nor by gold but by humility, purity of heart, and true love for all without distinction. She advised the nuns who are seeking the salvation of their souls to adhere to the teachings of the Christ. While implementing communal life, conducting the spiritual revival, and directing the constructional expansion, Tamav always received Divine Support. This was the secret of her success.
She relates: “One night, while I prayed for a specific matter, I saw the Blessed Virgin Mary emerge from the anointed picture that I have in my cell. The cell was lit with a marvelous heavenly light. The Virgin Mary made the sign of the cross and approached me smilingly saying:
"With the grace of my Beloved Son, you will succeed!... you will succeed!... you will succeed!"”
This is how heaven consoled Tamav and blessed her steps to make her feel the love of the One who has died for her. Her desire was to offer an insignificant spark of love in return for that wondrous love.
Week 7 - Tuesday
Bible Passage
1 Samuel 15:22, 23
But Samuel replied: “Does the Lord delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the Lord? To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams. For rebellion is like the sin of divination, and arrogance like the evil of idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the Lord, he has rejected you as king.”
Story
From the life of Tamav Irene
“One day, the mother superior gave permission to all the nuns to attend the Vespers of the feast of St. Mercurius (the service of evening prayers preceding the day of the feast) in his ancient church but she asked me and another nun to attend Vespers at the Virgin’s church which is next to it.
On my way to the Virgin’s church, I thought of quickly lighting a candle in St. Mercurius’church then go to the Virgin’s church. I heard an inner voice saying: “St. Mercurius will be cross about it.” I wanted to obey my mother superior so I asked St. Mercurius to guide me to take the right decision. I found that whenever I headed towards the ancient church ofSt. Mercurius, I was unable to move my legs and whenever I headed towards the Virgin’schurch I was able to move them. Thus, God’s will was clear. I said: “ Forgive me Lord, I will obey blindly.” When I returned to the convent, I told the mother superior about it. She said: “God and St. Mercurius wanted to show you that obedience is better than offering sacrifices; it is good to be obedient.” I was very happy and I learned the lesson that obedience is the gem of monastic life and that God will listen to those who obey.
Week 7 - Monday
Bible Verse
Psalm 34:17-19
The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears them; He delivers them from all their troubles. The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. The righteous person may have many troubles, but the Lord delivers him from them all;
Quote
From the life of Tamav Irene
One day, early in the morning, I went to the kitchen. I filled the stove with kerosene and lit it up. The kerosene tank was next to it. When I tried to make the fire stronger, the flame rose higher and in a moment the tank caught fire. I was in a corner and to get out of the kitchen I had to cross over the fire. The flames grew higher and higher and were about to reach the wooden ceiling. With faith, I cried:
“Help me, O God of Abu Seifein… Help me, God’s martyr and take care of your convent”
Immediately, I saw the martyr before me making the sign of the cross towards the fire and at once it was extinguished. I was very happy that the convent was saved and thanked God and His martyr.
When I told the mother superior about it, she said: “The sad one (meaning the devil) is constantly trying to fight you.”
Week 6 - Saturday
Bible Passage
Psalm 141:3
“Set a guard over my mouth, LORD; keep watch over the door of my lips.”
Commentary
The same Abba Theophilus, the archbishop, came to Scetis one day. The brethren who were assembled said to Abba Pambo, 'Say something to the archbishop, so that he may be edified.' The old man said to them, 'If he is not edified by my silence, he will not be edified by my speech.'
Abba John said, 'Who sold Joseph?' A brother replied saying, 'It was his brethren.' The old man said to him, 'No, it was his humility which sold him, because he could have said, "I am their brother" and have objected, but, because he kept silence, he sold himself by his humility. It is also his humility which set him up as chief in Egypt.
Week 6 - Friday
Bible Passage
Proverbs 10:19
“In the multitude of words sin is not lacking,
But he who restrains his lips is wise.”
Commentary
A brother who lived with other brothers asked Abba Bessarion, 'What should I do?' The old man replied, 'Keep silence and do not compare yourself with others.'
Abba Poemen said, “'The victory over all the afflictions that befall you, is to keep silence.”
Week 6 - Thursday
Bible Passage
James 1:26
If anyone among you thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this one’s religion is useless.
Commentary
A brother asked Abba Sisoes, 'If we are walking along the road and the guide leads us astray, ought we to tell him so?' The old man answered, 'No.' Then the brother said, 'Should we let him lead us astray then?' The old man said to him, 'What else? Will you take a stick to beat him? I know some brethren who were walking and the guide misled them the whole night. There were twelve of them and they all knew that they were lost and each one struggled not to say so. When day came and the guide realized that they had lost their way and said to them, "Forgive me, but I am lost," they all said to him, "We knew that but we kept silence." Hearing this he was filled with wonder and said, "Even to the point of death, the brothers control themselves so as not to speak," and he gave glory to God. The length of the road on which they had gone astray was twelve miles.'
Week 6 - Wednesday
Bible Passage
Proverbs 18:21
Death and life are in the power of the tongue.
Commentary
Placeholder of Carthage
Abba Daniel used to say this about [Abba Arsenius]: 'He never wanted to reply to a question concerning the Scriptures, though he could answered well if he wished, just as he never readily wrote a letter. When from time to time he came to church he would sit behind a pillar, so that no-one should see his face and so that he himself would not notice others. His appearance was angelic.
Week 6 - Tuesday
Bible Passage
James 3:8-9
No man can tame the tongue. It is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. With it we bless our God and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the similitude of God.
Commentary
Story of St. Moses the Strong
Another day when a council was being held in Scetis, the Fathers treated Moses with contempt in order to test him, saying, 'Why does this black man come among us?' When he heard this he kept silence. When the council was dismissed, they said to him, 'Abba, did that not grieve you at all?' He said to them, 'I was grieved, but I kept silence.'
Week 6 - Monday
Bible Passage
Matthew 15:11
Not what goes into the mouth defiles a man; but what comes out of the mouth, this defiles a man.
Commentary
Paradise of the Fathers
Having withdrawn to the solitary life he made the same prayer again and he heard a voice saying to him, “Arsenius, flee, be silent, pray always, for these are the source of sinlessness.”
It was said of Abba Agathon that for three years he lived with a stone in his mouth, until he had learnt to keep silence.
Week 5 - Saturday
Bible Passage
Luke 15:7
I say to you that likewise there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine just persons who need no repentance.
Commentary
From The Life of St Paesa
[Paesa] asked him, "Is there any repentance for me?" [St. John the Short] replied, "Yes, but not in this place." She said to him, "Take me wherever you wish.”
Then he took her to one of the convents close by the wilderness of Shiheet. On their way it became dark. St. John told her to sleep in one place, while he slept far away from her. When he stood up to pray the midnight prayer, he saw a pillar of light coming down from heaven to earth, and the angels of God were carrying the Soul of Paesa.
He heard a voice saying, "Her repentance was accepted in the moment that she repented."
Week 5 - Friday
Bible Passage
1 Corinthians 15:33-34
Do not be deceived: “Evil company corrupts good habits.” Awake to righteousness, and do not sin.”
Commentary
From The Life of St Paesa
When her parents died, St. Paesa turned her house into a shelter for the poor and the sojourner. She accepted everyone that came to her fulfilling their every need until she ran out of money.
After a time, evil people gathered around her, and eventually turned her mind to the ungodly way. She turned her home into a house of prostitution. When this news reached the elders of Shiheet, they sorrowed for her with great sorrow. The elders called upon St. John, the Short, and asked him to go to her, as an act of mercy, and to aid her in saving her soul, in turn for the good that she had done for them in opening her home.
Week 5 - Thursday
Bible Passage
1 John 1:9
If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
Commentary
St Pope Kyrillos VI
If you happen to fall into temptation, do not let the guilt of sin be an obstacle to prayer. If you cease praying till you repent, you will never repent, for prayer is the door to genuine repentance.
Week 5 - Wednesday
Bible Passage
Hebrews 12:1
Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us.
Commentary
St Mary of Egypt
I always had her [the Mother of God] as my Helper and Intercessor of my repentance…even till now the Mother of God helps me in everything and leads me as it were by the hand.
Week 2 - Tuesday
Bible Passage
2 Corinthians 4:6 NKJV
For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
Commentary
St Mary of Egypt
Sighing from the depths of my heart, I saw above me an icon of the Most Holy Theotokos. Turning to Her, I prayed: "O Lady Virgin, who gave birth in the flesh to God the Word! I know that I am unworthy to look upon your icon. I rightly inspire hatred and disgust before your purity, but I know also that God became Man in order to call sinners to repentance. Help me, O All-Pure One. Let me enter the church. Allow me to behold the Wood upon which the Lord was crucified in the flesh, shedding His Blood for the redemption of sinners, and also for me. Be my witness before Your Son that I will never defile my body again with the impurity of fornication. As soon as I have seen the Cross of your Son, I will renounce the world, and go wherever you lead me.
Week 5 - Monday
Bible Passage
Isaiah 1:18
“Come now, and let us reason together,” says the Lord, “Though your sins are like scarlet, They shall be as white as snow; Though they are red like crimson, They shall be as wool.”
Commentary
From the life of St. Mary of Egypt
St. Mary lived a life of sinful conduct and prostitution for seventeen years until the mercy of God touched her life, she met people going to Jerusalem and she went with them. Since she did not have what to pay for the trip, she gave herself to the owners of the ship in return, until she came to Jerusalem. She also went on doing the same there. She wished to enter through the door of the church of the Resurrection, but she felt a hidden power pulling her from the back preventing her from entering the church. Whenever she tried to enter she felt as if someone was preventing her from doing so, and right away she realized that was because of her uncleanliness. She lifted up her eyes with a broken heart, and she wept interceding with St. Mary and asked her to intercede on her behalf before her Beloved Son. She felt encouraged and wished to enter with those entering, nothing prevented her from entering, and she prayed therein to God asking Him to guide her for what was pleasing to Him.
Week 4 - Saturday
Bible Passage
1 Peter 4:8
Above all things have fervent love for one another, for 'love will cover a multitude of sins.'
Commentary
Abba Macarius and the Hiding of the Prostitute
Once, a woman who had lived a life of prostitution came to Abba Macarius in great distress. She was being pursued by some men who were angry with her for fleeing, and she sought refuge from him in the desert. Seeing her in deep shame, the saint took pity on her and, without hesitation, took her into his cell to hide her from the men.
When the men came searching for the woman and asked Macarius if he had seen her, he replied: “I have not seen her, nor do I know where she is.” They trusted his word and, seeing him as a holy man, left without questioning further.
Afterward, Macarius spoke to the woman kindly, offering her comfort, counsel, and the hope of redemption. He encouraged her to turn to God, repent of her former ways, and live a life of purity and humility.
In some versions of the story, it is said that the woman later chose to enter a monastery, leaving behind her former life and seeking true transformation. Saint Macarius’ mercy and refusal to judge her led to her spiritual renewal.
Week 4 - Friday
Bible Passage
1 Peter 2:23
Who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously.
Commentary
Abba Macarius and the False Accusation
It was said concerning Abba Macarius that some people in the village falsely accused him of fathering a child. When the woman who had been led astray became pregnant, the people seized Macarius and beat him mercilessly, calling him a hypocrite and a fraud. Yet he said nothing to defend himself. Instead, he bowed his head and accepted the punishment.
Later, when the woman was in labor, she suffered greatly and could not give birth. At last, she cried out and confessed: "I have slandered the holy man! He is innocent! It was another who caused my downfall!"
The people, realizing their sin, were struck with fear. They rushed to Abba Macarius' cell, seeking to beg his forgiveness—but they found that he had already fled deeper into the desert, avoiding their praise just as he had endured their insults.