The Departure of St . Abba Noub the Confessor

On this day, the holy and pure father Abba Noub the confessor, departed . This Saint was adevoted monk in one of the monasteries of Upper Egypt . That was during the time of Diocletian,who tortured the martyrs severely and shed their blood .10The account of their martyrdom is recorded on the twenty- second of the month of Hatour (Vol . I, P . 118) .401One day, someone mentioned the name of the saint Abba Noub before Arianus, governor ofAnsena . Arianus brought him and asked him to worship the idols . The Saint replied, "How can Iabandon my Lord Jesus Christ and worship the idols that are made of stones?" Arianus torturedAbba Noub much then exiled him to the five western cities (Pentapolis) . Abba Noub stayed inprison there for seven years, until God had perished Diocletian . When the righteous emperorConstantine reigned, he ordered the release of all those who were in prison for the Name ofChrist . Constantine also asked that they be brought to him, so that he might be blessed by them,especially the honored ones as Zacharia El-Ahnasy, Maximus El-Fayyumy, Agabius from the cityof Dakhnin, and Abba Noub from the city of Balaos . The envoy of the Emperor went to all thecountries releasing the prisoners, who left singing and praising God .The holy father Abba Noub returned from the five cities (Pentapolis) and lived in mount Beshla(Sebla) near his hometown . The envoy of the Emperor met Abba Noub, and took him with him toAnsena . There he met the Christians and the bishops who ordained him a priest . While he wasconsecrating the Offering and as he said, "Hollies for the Holy," he saw the Lord Christ, to Him isthe Glory, in His heavenly splendor, in the altar forgiving the sins of the people who wererepentant .The envoy traveled back to the Emperor along with the holy fathers who were seventy two innumber . Every two of them rode a chariot . They passed by a city, where there were convents forthe virgins . Seven hundred virgins went out to meet them with songs and hymns and they sang tothem until they were out of their sight . When the holy fathers arrived and came before theEmperor, he asked them to change their clothes with new ones, but they refused . He was blessedby them, kissed their wounds and honored them . He offered them money, but they refused to takeany except what the churches needed for vestments and vessels . The Emperor then embracedthem and bid them farewell, and they returned to their countries . St . Abba Noub went back to hismonastery and when he finished his strife he departed in peace .May his prayers be with us and Glory be to God forever . Amen .