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Sunday July 26 2026, 04H21
Ioachim et Anna, Parentes B. V. Mariae, Sancti Memoria
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There was a certain rich man in Alexandria whose name was Domyanos, and he fell sick of a grievous disease, and being afraid that he was going to die he divided thirty pounds' weight of gold among the poor; and it happened that he recovered, and then he repented of what he had done. Now he had a rich friend, who was a chaste and excellent man, and he revealed to him everything about which he repented, and the friend answered and said to him, 'Be not sad, O my brother, for it is meet that you should rejoice, because you have made an offering to God of your gold'; but the rich man did not agree with him. Then he said to him, 'I will give you thirty pounds' weight of gold, and you must not be vexed, but come with me to the temple of Mar Mina, the martyr, and say thus: 'It is not I who have given these alms, but this man,' and take that which is your and go.' And having done this, he took thirty pounds' weight of gold, and went to go forth by the door of the church, and the angel of the Lord smote him and he fell down straightway, and died. Then the priests who were in the temple of Mar Mina gathered themselves together, and they said to the friend, 'Take your gold, and be gone.' And he said to them, 'God forbid that I should take anything from Christ, for I have offered it to Him, and it is His, but if it seem [fit] to you let it be divided among the poor'; and it was divided according to his command, and every one who heard feared and glorified God. My brothers, let us admire the excellence of that friend, and let us not be sad when we offer alms and oblations to God, for we [only] offer to Him that which is His. And He Himself has written that He is the debtor and the borrower, and has promised a reward even for a cup of cold water, saying, ' Whatsoever you do to one of these little ones, you do unto Me' (St. Matthew x, 42; xxv, 40); may He make us worthy to do His will. Amen. Here follow the counsels which belong in order to the old man who spake against the thoughts of fornication, saying, Be like to a man who passes through a street of taverns, etc.' (see No. 593, Book I).
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