Saint Chayna - September 15

Mar Chayna was from Antioch. He was chief of a gang of thieves. One day he wanted to rob a convent of nuns. He and his fellows dressed up as monks and entered the convent to rob it. The nuns received them. In hospitality, one of the nuns started washing his feet as was the custom of the time. One of the nuns was sick and paralyzed. She anointed herself with the dirty water which had been used to was his feet and was healed. When Mar Chayna saw this miracle along with the righteousness and holiness that reigned in this convent, he was moved and immediately touched by grace. He decided to repent and give up his sinful way of life. At once he revealed his identity to the nuns and told them about his purpose for entering their convent. He showed them his hidden sword and then put it in the nuns hands to indicate he was granting them protection. Accordingly, the nuns gave him the name Chayna, meaning protection. He and his fellow gang members became monks and ended their lives in works of repentance and asceticism. Chayna became their prior in the monastery. Through his guidance he converted a great number of pagans and died in peace.

This is a wonderful story demonstrating that as Christians, it is our actions, as well as our words that touch people and bring them closer to God, even if we do not realise it. The nuns’ simple acts of hospitality and charity inspired Mar Chayna to find God. Our faith is based on love, compassion, mercy and service. It is not based on hate. Through our example, many can come back to the faith and sometimes it is just those little act of Christian love which do it. Our faith calls us to reach out to people with the same love and hospitality that the nun did.

(Life adopted from the Maronite Martology on the Radiate His Light blog)

Photo of Mar Chayna Qnat.