A Deep Humbleness

From Estephan The Monk

Brother Estephan was very peaceful, he never got involved in disputes, he was always very content, and the state of grace was always shown on his face. He was an expert in field works, but never liked to be considered as responsible or chief, and he always asked for advice from his superiors and his brothers. In winter he used to spend his days in the carpentry workshop, he had a very strong body as he was able to bend a steel rod or straighten it with his hands only, and he used to deny this fact humbly if he was asked about it.

Brother Semaan Lehfed witnessed:” I stayed with Brother Estephan in the same room in a farm at 'Kfarsyadeh' related to the Monastery of Our Lady Of Succor (Al Maonat), he noticed one day that he was depriving me of sleep because he used to snore while asleep, so he apologized to me gently and made up a small room adjacent to mine. I wanted to move to this new small room and let him feel comfortable alone, but he did not accept and he moved his mattress to it and lived quietly”.

The Church of the Monastery of Our Lady of Succor (Al Maonat) Jbeil,
at the time of Blessed Brother Estephan

Everybody who knew Brother Estephan agree that he had a strong body, was very healthy, dedicated to his work, a skilled and experienced carpenter. He used to manufacture rails for cultivation, yokes for the oxen, windows and doors, he used to repair the tools for the field and was also a skilled wall builder. But most of his works were at the field as he cultivated the lands on oxen and he was called “chief of the field”, he was responsible for the lands of the monastery, he worked on the lands and cultivated them to provide enough provisions for the whole year, so that the monastery won't have to buy any provisions all year long.

He always worked hard for the good of the Monastery, he preserved the lands and tired himself continuously to look after the fields. He always prayed while he worked, never distracted himself, and he was either at church praying or working. He was the enemy of joblessness, his life was full of energy and hard work.

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