Saint Rais

Towards the end of the third century, there was a Christian priest living in Egypt with his daughter, Rais. This young girl adored her father and spent much time with him, learning the Christian faith.

At the age of twelve, Rais’ love for God had swelled so much in her that she wished to take up the monastic life. Seeing his daughter’s piety and zeal, Fr. Peter with joy and blessings, sent her off to the women’s monastery at Tamman.

One day, she went to the well to draw water along with several other nuns. Along the way, they came across a group of pious Christians, consisting of nuns, monks and priests and deacons who were being abused by the tyrant Loukianos.

Fearlessly, Rais stepped forward and rebuked them for their actions, asking why they were treating these people in such a way, for they had done nothing wrong.

The guards were amazed at such boldness and courage from one so young. They laughingly answered that the group was being arrested because they were Christians and were banned by the state. They went further to say that, in the event that these people refused to renounce their faith in Jesus Christ, they would most likely be sentenced to death.

Rais commanded that if that were the case, she wanted to be put to death with them for she too was a Christian and would willingly die for her Lord. The told her to go away and stop being so foolish and they would forget that she ever spoke to them. She refused to leave stating that she was a Christian and was willing to die with her brothers and sisters in Christ. She said that if the state demanded all Christians to be sentenced to death, then she too must die. She asked to be tied up with the others.

Rais did not waver in her faith nor display any fear as she was taken prisoner along with the others. Loukianos paced in anger for any display of Christian faith always enraged him. He yelled, “I spit upon the Christian God!”

Rais immediately approached Loukianos and told him that she would not allow anyone to speak of her Heavenly Father in such a way and proceeded to spit in the evil ruler’s face.

Coming out of his skin in anger, the tyrant ordered young Rais to be tortured and eventually beheaded. She boldly and joyfully entered into these torments, awaiting her entrance into Heaven, and voluntarily gave up her life for the Lord.

Saint Rais is commemorated by the church on September 23rd