01 - St. Rebecca the martyr and her five children

In the Name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, One God, Amen

Lesson No. (1)

References
- Martyrdom in Christianity
- Women Martyrs in Christianity
- Synaxarium 7th of Thoout (Sep 17/18)

Notes for Servants

- Are you ready to give up your life for Him?
- In this blessed occasion we remember our fathers the martyrs, they had faith in their hearts
which gave them courage to face death that astonished the unbelievers, which cause many of
them to believe in Christ.
- As we light candles for them, as we read their stories and hear about their miracles with love and
admiration we should try to live their lives and to follow in their footsteps.

Objectives
General: Standing firm in faith till death.

Specific:
The children will be able to ...
A. Sense the characters in the Saints’ lives.
B. Conclude the reason that we honour them.
C. Tell what they should do to be like them.

Bible Verse

" Fear not, I am with you. "
( Is 41:10 )

Teaching Aids
Candles, a crown made of cardboard (in case there is any) a picture of the Saint to be fixed in the
middle... if the servant cannot get a picture of the Saint, he can use a picture of the Lord Jesus Christ
blessing children instead.
Instruction

1. Review last week's lesson.
2. Who remembers the verse?
3. Remind the children about the church occasions for the coming week.
4. Servant may start the lesson by the following questions:

- What do you know about the Nairouz feast?
- What does the word "Nairouz" mean?
- Who can give me the names of some martyrs?
- What are the types of affliction received by martyrs?
- How can we honour saints?

Story Time
St. Rebecca the martyr had five children, Aghathon, Peter, John, Amun and Amuna. They were
living in a village near Luxor, called Kemula in the district of Kus. Our Lord Jesus Christ appeared to
them and informed them of what would happen to them, and that they would receive the
crown of martyrdom in the city of Shoubra which is near Alexandria, and that their bodies would be
carried to the city of Nakraha in the province of El-Behairah. St. Rebecca encouraged her children to
stand firm in faith and to be ready for martyrdom.

They distributed their money and property to the poor and needy.
Agathon, their eldest brother, was a man of high position in the city and was loved by
everyone.
then they went to Kus for martyrdom. They stood bravely before Dionysius and said:

ALL: We are Christians.
LEADER: We punish and torment Christians.
ALL: We do not fear punishment. God is for us. The Lord says "Fear not, I am with you."
LEADER SPEAKS TO REBECCA: Woman, forget about these things, burn incense to the gods and
worship them.
ST. REBECCA: Don't try to convince me for I shall not worship your gods.
LEADER: Save your life and listen carefully to what I say to you.

St. Rebecca and her children were firm. Dionysius tortured them severely starting by their mother, who
bore the torture with patience and joy. Then he tortured her children.
But then because they were known in the city, many people when they saw their faith and how God is
with them, believed in our Lord Christ.
Dionysius got tired so he sent them to Alexandria to Armenius the governor, in a city called
Shoubra.
LEADER: I will cut off your head.
ST. REBECCA: I am ready. Do whatever you want. The Lord strengthens me.
LEADER: Swordsman, cut off her head.
ST. REBECCA: Please wait awhile till I pray to my God. (Rebecca and her children pray: "O Lord. I
thank you because you have made me a Christian. I shall offer my life and my children as a sacrifice to
you... Amen.")
LEADER: To whom were you praying?
ST. REBECCA: To my Lord and my God Jesus Christ.
LEADER: Ha, swordsman, cut off her head.
ST. REBECCA: Before you cut my head off, cut off the heads of my sons first so that I may be assured
that they will receive the crown of martyrdom before me.
LEADER: Your sons will burn incense to the idols.
SONS: No, this will never happen.
LEADER: I'll think of other types of punishment.
SONS: We are ready to die in the name of Jesus Christ.
LEADER: I'll put you in boiling oil.
AGHATHON: You have authority over my body, but not my soul.
LEADER: (to the soldiers) Strip off his shirt, strike him with hot rods then throw him into boiling oil. My
son deny Christ.
AMUNA: I'll never deny my Redeemer and Saviour Jesus Christ.
LEADER: (gets a gold statue out of his pocket) Worship this statue.
AMUNA: I worship the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. (he crosses himself)
LEADER: I'll give you many gifts.
AMUNA: I do not want anything.
LEADER: Obey me... you cannot bear punishment.
AMUNA: I am not afraid. Jesus said, "Fear not, I am with you."

He tortured them very severely. He hacked their bodies, cast them in a boiler, squeezed them with
wheels, then crucified them head down.
From all these tortures, the Lord Christ raised them whole until the governor and all his
people were ashamed.

Armenius ordered the soldiers to cut their heads off, and to throw their bodies into the sea.
God sent His angel to a rich man from the city of Nakraha and commanded him to take the bodies of
the saints and the man was exceedingly glad. He came to where the bodies were, gave the soldiers
much silver and took the holy bodies.
He laid them in the church, and he heard a voice saying, “This is the abode of the righteous.” The
bodies remained there till the end of the era
of persecutions.

They then revealed the bodies and a big church was built for them. God made manifest from their
relics, many signs and wonders. Then they transferred the bodies to the city of Sonbat, where there is
now a church known as “The Five and Their Mother” or “El-Sitt Refka” (Lady
Rebecca). Many visit this church every year to receive their blessings.
Their prayer be with us all. Amen.

1. If someone asks you, "Are you a Christian?", how do you answer him?
2. What are the types of punishment that St. Rebecca and her five sons received?
3. Where is St. Rebecca's Church?
4. When does the Church celebrate St. Rebecca's martyrdom day? (7th of Thoout, September
17/18)
5. What is the name of the book that includes the stories of martyrs and Saints?
6. Who can say the verse?

Discussion

1. Follow up the story by talking about it with the children.
2. Continue the discussion while the do the activity.

Learning Activities
Activity Sheet.