3rd June [The Saint is also celebrated by the
village of Kfarsghab on 27th August]
Mar Awtel was born
in the middle of the 3rd century. As a youth he was converted to
Christianity and baptised. He pledged his "virginity" to God
but his father wanted him to marry and thereby break his pledge of
celibacy. To escape he left for the city of Byzantium [re-named in
330 to Constantinople and subsequently to Istanbul in 1930].
While travelling on
route in a boat he encountered a severe storm endangering the boat
and all on board. He prayed for deliverance and the boat was saved
and as a consequence those on board were converted to Christianity
and baptized.
He remained for 20
years in Byzantium until his father died, whereupon he returned to
his home and became a monk. He performed many miracles, one of
which was the cure of a pagan man. This cure was the reason
for the conversion and baptism of ten thousand pagans. After
being a monk for 12 years he became a hermit until he died in 327.
Although it is a matter of conjecture [and subject to correction] it
is thought that the reason why the Saint is celebrated on a
different date in the village of Kfarsghab, 27th August
as oppose to 3rd June, is that traditionally the village
population was split on the 3rd June between the winter
village of Morh Kfarsghab
and the summer village of Kfarsghab. By the 27th
August the whole village was together and it could also be that the
date was chosen to replace a pagan sacrificial festival on that day.
It was a common practice for the Christian Church to take over pagan
festivals.
The traditional
Saint’s day meal, “ The Hrissé”, is prepared after the slaughter of
a goat or sheep, by those who vowed to prepare the meal after their
prayers to the Saint were answered. The meal is handed out to the
congregation after Mass on the day.
