The Martyrdom of St. Matra.

On this day, St. Matra was martyred during the papacy of Pope Demetrius, the twelfth patriarch of Alexandria, and in the days of Emperor Decius. When this Saint heard the imperial Edict read ordering the worship of idols, he went and took the arm of the statue of the idol Apollo, which was made of pure gold. He cut it in pieces, and gave them to the poor. When they searched for the idol’s arm, and could not find it, they seized many because of it. St. Matra came forward and told them, “I am he who took it.” They tortured him much, and then cast him into the fire, but the angel of the Lord saved him from it. Then they cut off his hands and his feet and crucified him on a tree, head downwards. A blind man came and took some of the blood that was dripping from the Saint’s mouth and smeared his eyes with it, and he regained his sight. Afterwards, the Saint was beheaded, and he received the crown of martyrdom.

May his intercession be with us. Amen.

At Saint Mark Coptic Church in D.C. one of our priests, Father Anthony, gives a Bible study every Wednesday night at 7 p.m.  Recently we have been studying the live of David.  If you are interested in hearing these talks, please go to www.orthodoxsermons.org  and download them.  The one recently given was on despair, and it will change the way you look at yourself in times of trouble, and how God looks at you.