1. St. Abanoub August 1, 2009

2. Objective To learn that no matter how young we are we can still witness and have faith in the Lord.

3. Memory verse: “Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven.” (Matthew 5:12)

4. St. Abanoub(Abba Nob) One of the youngest martyrs of the church 12 years old. He had courage and through his suffering many believed in Jesus Christ

5. St. Abanoub was born of good Christian parents who died when he was a young child. When he was 12 years old, Abanoub heard the priest at the church say: “remain faithful to God during this time of persecution, even unto death.” Persecution = attacks against the Christians during the Roman rule of Diocletian.

6. St. Abanoub prayed to God to guide him to where he can tell about his faith in our Lord. He remembered what the Lord said in the bible : “ The world is passing away, and the lust of it” (1 John 2:17) He got up and gave all the money his parents left to him of (gold, silver, and clothes) to the poor and needy. And he began walking along he river bank to the city called Samanoud.

7. On his way he saw Archangel Michael He fell to the ground when he saw the Archangel but the Archangel raised him up and told him that he must suffer because he is Christian.

8. In Samanoud… St. Abanoub went to the Roman ruler and said: “ I believe and love my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.” The ruler was mad and ordered the soldiers to torture Abanoub by betting him with a whip.

9. God heals my wounds Archangel Michael appeared to St. Abanoub and healed his wounds. The ruler then took St. Abanoub on a boat to a city called Atrib

10. Lots of pain On the way the soldiers and the ruler started drinking and dancing and hitting St. Abanoub on the face. They fastened him to the mast of the ship head downwards.

11. The angel of the Lord came from heaven and released the saint and wiped the blood running down his nose and mouth and healed him. Suddenly the soldiers became blind and the ruler paralyzed. They cried to St. Abanoub asking him to pray to God to heal them. St. Abanoub replied that this will only happen in Atrib: So that everyone there should know that there is no other God but Christ.

12. Arrived in Atrib.. When they arrived in Atrib, St. Abanoub prayed for them and they were all healed and cried for joy: “ We are Christians, we believe in the God of Abanoub.” They threw their sword to the ground and confessed to the governor of Atrib that they are Christians The governor got mad and ordered them killed and they received the crowns of martyrdom.

13. More torture…More miracles The ruler in Atrib got very mad continues to torture St. Abanoubby: Whipping Tying him to a bed of fire Cutting off his hands and feet Every time the angel of the Lord would heal him and more people watching would believe, and become Christians and even die for Christ.

14. The ruler was full of hate and asked the magicians of the country to come and help defeat St. Abanoub. The magicians came and but St. Abanoub in a cell with poisonous snakes that can kill two or three hundred men.

15. But God closed the mouth of the snakes and they did not harm him. In the morning everyone was surprised to see St. Abanoub coming out of the cell ALIVE!!! Suddenly one of the snakes crawled out of the cell and around the rulers’ neck! The man started to scream and cry saying : “ In the name of Jesus Christ your God be merciful to me and don’t let the snake harm me.”

16. Love covers all sins St. Abanoub who loved everyone even his enemies prayed for him and ordered the snake to come down and not hurt the ruler. On that day many people who were present including the magicians believed in Christ.

17. Finally one of the ruler’s advisers advised him to behead the saint! So the ruler ordered his soldiers to kill St. Abanoub by the sword. He died on July 31 / 24thAbib St. Julius wrapped his pure body in fine linen and sent him to Nehisa were he was born to be buried.

18. In the year 960 A.D. his body was transferred to St. Mary and St. Abanoub church in Samanoud, Egypt. His relics are there until today Many miracles and appearances happen. The ancient shrine where the body and relics of St. Abanoub are located. Pictured towards the right of the shrine is an old icon of St. Abanoub. In the red tubes are his body and relics

19. St. Abanoub loves to visit his church

21. Psalm 144:18, 20 “ The Lord is near to all who call on Him, To all who call upon Him in truth.” “The Lord keeps all who love Him, But all the sinners He shall utterly destroy.”