November

St Winifred

November 3/6

On the Island of Britton a long time ago there was a young girl named Winifred (or Gwenfrewi as the Welsh call her) who wanted to devote her life to God as a monk. Her family went to Liturgy one morning before her. While she was home alone, a prince stopped by for a drink of water. While they were alone, he attacked her. She ran as fast as she could for her uncle’s church but he had a horse and sliced her head off with his sword! Her family came out to find her. Her Uncle, the priest, scooped her up and prayed and cried. It is said that her cried so much that a spring of water started to flow out of the ground! God heard his prayers and restored Winifred’s life. She lived a the rest of her life as a nun.

Synaxis of Archangels

November 8th

There are different groups of angels that have different jobs. These are archangels they are messengers for God’s prophesies, and important events. Each of them also has an important job. Archangel Micheal is the Commander, he is in charge. Gabriel announces mysteries. Raphael heals. Uriel enlightens minds. Selaphiel prays for us (mankind). Jehudiel glorifies God. Barachiel gives out God’ blessings. Jeremiel raises things (like prayers) to God.

St Stephanie

November 11th

Saint Stephanie is a martyr of Damascus. She was the wife of a soldier. Her husband had arrested a Christian man named Victor. She visited her husband at work while he was torturing Victor. As a Christian, she blessed Victor when she saw him enduring his torture. Then she saw the heavens open and two crowns appear. She was also martyred for choosing God above even her husband.

Martyr Menas of Egypt

November 11th

St Menas was a soldier from Egypt. When the Emperor began persecuting Christians, he refused. He was a well known soldier who had been awarded a special belt for his bravery during battles. He gave them back his belt and left. He went out to the mountains to live as a monk, in quiet prayer.
We remember him as a protector in dangerous times, like war. He is also known as a healer, he even forced demons out of people.
One day he went to town and saw the people celebrating a pagan festival. He called out, preaching the Word of God. The local leaders were so mad that he dusrupted their festival that he was executed. He was beheaded, like John the Baptist.

Apostle Philip

November 14th

The Apostle Philip was the student of Christ who bought the bread that Christ used in His miracle of feeding five thousand people! After Christ ascended to Heaven, Philip continued traveling and teaching about Christ the Messiah. He healed many people. Once there was an earthquake and Saint Philip prayed to keep people safe. All his Christian friends were kept safe!

Gregory Palamas

November 14th

The Apostle Philip was the student of Christ who bought the bread that Christ used in His miracle of feeding five thousand people! After Christ ascended to Heaven, Philip continued traveling and teaching about Christ the Messiah. He healed many people. Once there was an earthquake and Saint Philip prayed to keep people safe. All his Christian friends were kept safe!

Evangelist Matthew

November 16th

Matthew was a tax collector for the Roman government when Jesus met him. Tax-collectors were usually mean and would cheat people to get rich. When Matthew started to follow Jesus, he admitted he was a sinner and gave back all the money he had stolen from people. He gave away his things and became one of the twelve disciples. He continued teaching after Christ ascended to Heaven, he received the Holy Spirit on Pentecost and even wrote the first Gospel.

King Edmund
November 20th

King of East Anglia in the 9th century. He was killed by Vikings on November 20th. People said her was a wise and good king. He died fighting against a Viking attack. The Vikings are famous for invading Christian lands to steal gold and silver things from monastaries and churches. They often took people as slaves too.

Even after being captured, King Edmund would not hand over his people and lands. they tortured him by tying him to a tree and shooting him with arrows. It is said they carefully aimed, to make sure he lived through many shots until he looked like a “thorny bush”.

Entrance of Theokokos

November 21st

When Mary was born her parents were so happy that they promised to dedicate her to God. To keep their promise they brought her to live at the Holy Temple when she was a little girl. She was very young and they thought she would be sad and scared so they had lots of girls with candles come with them to distract her while her parents sneak out. Mary was happy and ran up the steps right into the Holy of Holies, that’s where the big alter was. It was so special the priest was only allowed to go in on special holidays. It is the room that the Holy Spirit stayed in. Mary lived there as a child. The priests took good care of her and her parents were happy. Mary grew up learning scriptures from the priests. She was ready when God called on her!

St Katherine of Alexandria
November 25

St Alexandria grew up with weathly parents who loved her so much that they educated her (when most girls were not). Her mother was a secret Christian because the Emperor hated Christians and had them killed. When she was old enough, her parents started to look for a husband, but their daughter kept rejecting the men. She told them she would marry a man who was wiser, smarter and kinder than she… Her mother sent Katherine to her spiritual father. The man described the perfect husband to young Katherine, it was Jesus Christ. She was deteremined to become worthy of Christ. She had another dream and Christ gave her a ring. She accepted it, and became a “bride of Christ” living a prayerful monastic life.
Emperor Maximian visited Alexandria for a pagan festival. They were sacrificing Christians. Katherine met with the pagan priests to convince them to stop. Emperor Maximian found out and tried to bride the young woman with riches and fame, even proposing to marry her! She debated so cleverly that 200 soldiers and the Empress Augusta became believers in Christ! When they could not out debate St Katherine, she was tortured until she fell asleep in the Lord.
-St Katherine’s relics were taken to Mt Sinai and she defends her resting place.
-St Katherine is the patron saint of academics.
-St Katherine is also called upon for protection of women during difficult labors (childbirth)
COLORING- St Katherine’s icon shows that she was wealthy in her red dress and crown. Her cross tells us she was a martyr, the wheel tells how she was tortured. The books and quill show that she was an academic.

Apostle Andrew

November 30th

Andrew was the first to become an Apostle of Christ. His family were fishermen, he worked with his brother until he became a student of John the Baptist. Then Jesus Christ came to his town and he left his family business to follow Jesus. After Jesus’ Ascension to Heaven, Andrew traveled and continued teaching the Gospel. Sometimes the pagans he was talking to would get angry and one time they even threw rocks at him! God protected him from the rocks so Andrew could continue teaching but eventually he was killed.