Anne the Prophetess
The Departure of St. Peter the Worshiper
The Martyrdom of St. Askala (Asela, Asclas) the Fighter
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Anne the Prophetess

Prophetess Anne was the daughter of Phanuel from the tribe of Asher, one of the twelve Patriarchs, the sons of Jacob. She was married for seven years, but after her husband died, she lived in the Temple and prayed and fasted throughout her life.

She saw our Lord Jesus Christ, when he was offered as a forty-days-old infant to the Temple by His Most Holy mother Mary and righteous Joseph. So, she thanked and praised God and she openly prophesied about Christ to all those who were in the Temple speaking thus: "This infant is that Lord who firmly created heavens and earth; this infant is Christ, about whom all of the prophets have spoken".


Departure of St. Peter the Worshiper

St. Peter the worshiper was a tax collector who was very cruel and had no mercy. Because of his stinginess, he was nicknamed "the merciless."

However, the Lord Jesus had compassion upon him and wanted to turn him away from all his bad deeds. Therefore, the Lord Jesus sent a poor man to Peter to ask for some food, and, as it happened, Peter's servant arrived at the same time with bread. Peter took a loaf of bread and hit the poor man on his head..

That same night, Peter saw a vision in his sleep: it was the Last Day, and he saw the scale of justice and people clothed in black. These people put all Peter's sins and injustices in the left pan of the scale. Then a group of the angels of light, with beautiful countenances and in white clothes, came and stood beside the right pan of the scale. The angels were perplexed because they could find nothing to put in the pan. Finally, one angel came forward with the loaf of bread which Peter had used to hit the poor man and said, "There is nothing good about this man except this loaf of bread."

At this moment, Peter woke up from his sleep trembling and started to rebuke himself for all that he had done. He started to be exceedingly merciful and compassionate, and he even gave his own tunic away. When nothing was left of his property, he left his town, sold himself as a slave, and gave the sale price to the poor. When his good deeds became well known, he fled to the wilderness of St. Macarius. He became a monk and lived an ascetic life with great devotion and good repute that made him worthy to know the day of his departure. He called the elders, bade them farewell, and departed in peace.


Martyrdom of St. Askala (Asela or Asclas) the Fighter

On this day also, we commemorate the martyrdom of the struggling saint Askala (Asela).

Glory be to God forever, Amen.

Prayer

Almighty God, you have surrounded us with a great cloud of witnesses: Grant that we, encouraged by the good example of your servants Anne, Peter, and Askala may persevere in running the race that is set before us, until at last we may with them attain to your eternal joy; through Jesus Christ, the pioneer and perfecter of our faith, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

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  • The twelve patriarchs refers to the twelve sons of Jacob, the famous ancestors of the Jewish race (see Genesis 35:23-26).
  • monk
  • ascetic