• Departure of Pope Athanasius II, the 28th Pope of Alexandria
  • Martyrdom of St. Malatini the Virgin
  • Departure of St. Theopesti


On this day in the year 512 A.D. the righteous father Athanasius II, the 28th Patriarch of Alexandria departed. He was Metropolitan over the churches of Alexandria. When the saintly father Abba Peter III departed, the bishops and elders agreed to ordain him Patriarch for what they had perceived about his knowledge and his Orthodox faith. He was filled with the Spirit and faith and when he became Patriarch, he shepherded the flock of the Lord Jesus exceedingly well. He sat on his throne for three years and nine months and departed in peace.




Today also is the commemoration of the martyrdom of St. Malatini the Virgin.




Also today we commemorate the departure of St. Theopesti. She was married and had a son and her husband died while she was still young. She took it upon herself to become a nun. She started to practice a spiritual life and persisted in fasting, prayer and worship day and night. She went to the saintly father Abba Macarius Bishop of Nekios in the Province of Menoufia, bowed to him, took his blessings, and asked him to pray over her and ordain her as a nun.

The Bishop advised her to try for a year and he promised to ordain her a nun after that. She returned to her house, enclosed herself in a small room and closed its door after making a small opening in it. Her son, who was twelve years old took care of her needs. She embarked in strenuous worship with asceticism and devotion and the year elapsed.

The Bishop had forgotten that he had promised this saint that he would ordain her. He saw her in his sleep as a shining figure telling him: "My father how did you forget me till now, and I am passing away tonight?" He felt as if he were awake and he prayed over her the prayer for ordination and when he did not find a Kalansowa (cover for the head), he took off his own and put it on her head. Then he put on her the holy Eskeem (monk's robe). He asked his disciple for another Kalansowa and put it on his own head. In the dream, she had a silver cross in her hand which she gave to him saying: "My brother accept this from your disciple". It was said that when he awakened from his sleep he found the cross in his hand and that the cross was very beautiful. He was amazed and glorified God.

Early in the morning he went with his disciple to the house of this blessed woman. Her son received him crying with tears. He said to the Bishop: "My mother called me in the middle of the night, bid me farewell and told me whatever the Bishop tells you to do, do it. I will depart this night and be with the Lord Jesus. She prayed over me and advised me to obey what the Bishop commands me to do. I am now here at your command".

When they opened the door they found the saint had departed and she had the Eskeem over her as well as his own Kalansowa which the Bishop put over her head in the dream. His eyes were filled with tears and he praised and glorified God who works out the satisfaction of His saints. The bishop shrouded her as one of the monks and called the priests who carried her to the church and prayed over her with great honor.

In the city there was a paralytic infidel man, suffering from evil spirits. When he heard the chanting of the priests, he asked his people to carry him to where the body of the saint was. When they brought him to the church, he drew near to the holy body with faith and he was cured instantly as the devil departed from him. He believed in the Lord Christ with his household and the bishop baptised them all.

Again, everyone who had a disease or an infirmity would come to the church and touch the holy body and would be healed instantly. When the Governor heard about these wonders, he and most of the city believed in the Lord Jesus. He came to the church and carried the holy body and buried it with honour.