St. Anthony and Friends

In Ethiopia, St. Tekle Haymanot, a holy monk from the 13th century, greatly admired St. Anthony. Tekle lived in caves, praying and preaching like his desert guide. An Ethiopian story tells how wild beasts—lions and hyenas—surrounded Tekle while he preached about Christ to a village. He prayed, “St. Anthony, help!” and felt Anthony’s prayers calm the animals, with one even seeming friendly, letting Tekle continue his mission.

This wasn’t just one story—Ethiopian monks call Anthony their guardian, and Tekle’s stories show his prayers at work. He turned a scary moment into a victory, proving Anthony’s prayers reach across centuries. For kids, it’s like an action scene: Anthony helps from heaven, calms the wild, and supports his friend, a desert duo that shines in Ethiopia’s story.