Can a Child Become a Monk?

Saint Mar Okeen gave the boy back to his parents. They asked the saint to let the child stay with them in the monastery and become a monk. But the saint answered them, “It is not fitting for a young boy to live with us. Put him in school to learn, and when he has grown to a man’s full age he may come to the monastery, live with us and become a monk.”

The governor, all the people and the fathers fasted. They continued in praise, glorification and the reading of the Psalms all night long, spending the night standing and prostrating, without resting by sitting on the ground. Early in the morning they partook of the Holy Offering, and the saint told them to sit and eat, and not to forget in their hearts the wonder that God had worked for them.

They received the blessing of Saint Mar Okeen and his holy disciples, and thanked God for the grace that our Lord Jesus Christ had granted them, to have near their city such a monastery with such holy men. Then they went back to the city rejoicing, and its people received them with gladness. All who lived in the city went to the monastery in crowds upon crowds to be healed of their diseases and sicknesses and to have evil spirits cast out of them. God worked many mighty works through His saint, Mar Okeen.

May the blessing of his prayers be with us. Amen.

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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)