The Angel of the Lord Marks the Place of the Church

Saint Mar Jacob, Bishop of Nisibis, came to Saint Mar Okeen to consult him about building a large church that could hold the many people who had received the faith. The Lord had already revealed this matter to Saint Mar Okeen.

Saint Mar Jacob said, “My father, Saint Mar Okeen, I want you to come down with me and choose a place where we may lay the foundation of a new church, and the Lord will help us through your prayers and the prayers of the brothers for us.” Saint Mar Okeen answered, “I cannot come down with you, because the angel of the Lord will come to you; he will mark out the place for you and lay a foundation for the church. The place that belonged to sin, where unclean sacrifices were offered to demons, will become a place of worship, an altar on which the holy divine Mysteries are offered, from which the sounds of praise and rejoicing will rise to God.”

After this Saint Mar Jacob rose, asking for their prayers for him, and the brothers escorted him with hymns out of the monastery. When he entered the city, he asked some of the father priests and the leaders of the city about a place in the city where the church might be built. They suggested three places, but the saint did not agree to any of them.

He went into his cell. That night, as he was outside the cell, the angel of the Lord appeared to him in the likeness of a young man in white clothing, came to Saint Mar Jacob and greeted him. He asked, “Who are you?” The angel said, “I have been sent by God to show you the place where you will build the new church.” The saint said, “Go before me, and here I am behind you.” The angel went, with the saint following him, until he came to a house of idols. There he took a measuring line and marked out the place of the holy church, and showed him how to lay out the building.

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Sources

• The Life of Saint Mar Okeen, by His Grace Anba Matthaeus, Bishop and Abbot of the Monastery of the Virgin Mary (El-Sourian)