Sts Maximus and Domatius
On the 14th day of the Coptic month Tobi we celebrate the lives of Saints Maximus and Domatius.
Maximus and his brother Domatius were sons of a Roman Emperor who feared God and raised his sons in a holy and Christian manner. They were full of purity and holiness, always praying and reading the holy books. When they realized that this world was only transitional and temporal, they decided to leave to live a monastic life. They asked their father permission to let them travel to the City of Nicea, to pray in the place where the first Universal Council was held in 325 A.D. Their father rejoiced and sent them with an entourage of soldiers and servants, as was the custom for the children of kings. When they arrived, they asked the soldiers to go back to their father and tell him that they wanted to stay there for some time. Then they revealed their thoughts to one saintly monk that they wanted to put on the holy garb of a monk. The monk did not agree with them because he feared their father, and told them to go to Syria to see Saint Agabius. They went and stayed there for six years until his departure. Before he departed, he told them that he had desired to see Saint Macarius of Scetis in the flesh so he commanded them to go to Saint Macarius and become his children.
God granted Maximus and Domatius the gift of healing. Their report was heard in all the countries, especially among the sea merchants and the travellers. They learned the trade of making ship’s sails, and they were able to support themselves with money earned by selling their work. Any extra they gave to charity. One day, one of their father's stewards saw a sailboat on which it was written, “Maximus and Domatius''. He tried to get some information from the ship owner who said to him, “These are the names of two monk brothers which I have written on my ship as a blessing, so that God may prosper my business.'' He described them to him. The steward recognized them and took the man to the Emperor, and when the Emperor verified what he had heard, he sent their mother and the princess, their sister, to meet them. When they met with the two saints and recognized them, they wept. Their mother wanted them to return with her, but they refused. Meanwhile, they soothed the hearts of their mother and their sister.
After a while, the Patriarch of Rome departed, and they remembered Maximus, whom they wanted to ordain in his place. His father rejoiced when he heard this. When the news arrived to Maximus and his brother, they remembered the command of their father Saint Agabius. They disguised themselves, and went to the road along the Mediterranean, and when they were thirsty, God transformed the salty water into fresh water. Finally, they reached the wilderness of Scetis, where Saint Macarius was residing. They told him that they wanted to live with him and be his disciples. When Saint Macarius saw that they were rich, he thought that they would not be able to live in the desert because of its harshness. They answered him saying, “If we are not able to live here, we will return to where we came from.'' He then gave them a shovel, asked them to dig a cave in solid rock for them to reside in, thinking that they would be too tired to complete it and leave. St Macarius also taught them how to plait palm leaves and then introduced them to someone who would take their crafts to sell. St Macarius left them to their work.
They lived in this manner for three full years, never meeting anyone. They only went to Church on Sundays to partake of the Holy Communion silently. Saint Macarius marvelled that they did not seek his advice during this time. After praying for God to reveal their secret for a whole week, he went to visit them in their cell where he also spent the night. When he woke up at midnight, as was his custom to pray, he saw the two Saints praying and a ray of light, like fire, going from their mouths to heaven. Devils were...