Services at St Mary’s Church
Monday: Mass 9 - 11 am
Tuesday
Liturgy 5:30 - 7am
7:30pm The Way Orthodox Fellowship in Englisg for adults - All ages
Wednesday: Mass 9 – 11 am
6:30-8pm School of Deacons Adults
Arabic ; 7-8:15pm English (Zoom)
Hymns Class Arabic 8-9pm (Zoom)
Thursday
Mass 9 - 11 am - English
English Midnight Praises 7:30pm
English Bible Study 7:30pm
Friday: Mass Mass 9 – 11 am
Youth 25 and above 7-9pm
Family Meeting 7-9pm (fortnightly)
Discipleship Clas Class 7-8:30pm
Year 10-12 Sunday School 6-9pm
Saturday: Mass: 8:30 – 11am
Sunday School 4 – 5.30pm
Vespers & youth meeting 7-8:30pm
English
Vespers &Bible Study Arabic 5:307pm
Scouts 1:30 - 3pm
School of Deaconsgip 3 - 4pm
Sunday:
1st Mass6 - .7:45am Arabic & Eng-
lish
2nd Mass.7:45 – .9:30am English
3rd Mass 9:30 - 11:15am Arabic
Hymns Class - English 11:4512:30pm
Church Priests:
Fr Tadros Sharobeam 0414251251
Email: frtadros@me.com
Fr Habib Girgis Younan:
0401238177 – 94498871
Email: habibgirgisyounan@hotmail. com
Fr Michael Salib: 0422431821
Email: frmichael@sac.edu.au
Church Address: 5 Epsom Rd., Kens-
ington Vic 3031 Tel: 93766651
Fr Kerillos Tawadros
0411 518 399
Fr John Macary 0433 445 636
The Commemoration of the Appearance of the Bodies of St. John the Baptist and Elisha the Prophet. 9th June2nd Baouna
On this day, the church celebrates the appearance of the bodies of St. John the Baptist and Elisha the Prophet, the disciple of Elijah the Prophet, in the city of Alexandria. Julian the Infidel wished to rebuild the Temple of Jerusalem, having been destroyed by Emperor Vespasian and his son Titus. He intended with malice to prove the invalidity of the saying of the Lord in the Holy Gospel: «Assuredly, I say to you, not one stone shall be left her upon another, that shall not be thrown down» (Matthew 24:2). He supplied the Jewish people with money to rebuild it. He put Elebius, who asked the Jews to assist him secretly, in charge.
Many of the Jews, men, women, old and young, gathered. They started digging the foundation with eagerness, transferring the dirt and rocks away, some with baskets and the others in the tails of their dresses. St. Kyrillos (Cyril), bishop of Jerusalem, ridiculed what they were doing.
When they finished raising the rocks of the old foundation, they started to put down the new one. A severe earthquake took place, filled the excavation with dirt, dispersed the building material and killed many of the workers. The Jews were not terrified of that, and returned to the work again. Out of the depths of the earth, fiery balls came, showering the workers with rocks and hitting them so they stopped building. Many of them believed because of that and especially because they had fulfilled the prophesy of the Lord Christ, with their hands, about the destruction of the building of the temple from its foundation.
St. Gregory the Theologian and St. John Chrysostom had mentioned this incident. The Jewish historian Emian, in the fifth century, had mentioned this account also incidentally in his writings.
Nevertheless, the Jews told the Emperor, «The reason for what happened is the presence of the bodies of Christian leaders in that place. They must be removed from it, otherwise the temple will not be built.» Julian ordered that the bodies of the saints be removed from the place and burned. When they took the bodies of St. John the Baptist and Elisha the Prophet to burn them, some believers came forward to the soldiers, gave them a sum of silver and took the two bodies. They brought them to St. Athanasius, Pope of Alexandria. He was pleased and placed them in a special place until he could build a church for them.
One day St. Athanasius was sitting in the garden with his scribe, the one to be Pope Theophilos (23rd Pope) who succeeded him on the Chair, and told him, «If God gives me long days, I will build in this place a church in the names of St. John the Baptist and Elisha the Prophet, and I will lay their bodies in it.»
When Pope Theophilos was enthroned on the Chair of the See of St. Mark, he remembered what Pope Athana-
sius had told him. He built the church and relocated the pure bodies to it. On their way to the church carrying the holy bodies, they passed by a house of a pagan woman. This woman was in labor for the last four days. She had a difficult labor and she was in severe pain. When she heard the singing and the chanting of the people as they passed by, and when she knew what was happening, she vowed, saying, «O John, the saint of God, if you deliver me from this tribulation, I will become a Christian.« Before she had finished what she was saying, she gave birth to a boy, and she called him John. Then, her family and she were baptized. They laid the bodies with great honor in the church. Many miracles and wonders were manifested through them.
As of the end of Julian the infidel was as follows: He decided to declare a war against Sapor, King of Persia. St. Basilius the Great, the author of the liturgy, and some bishops went to meet him. Emperor Julian asked them, «Why have you come.» St. Basilius replied, «We came asking for a shepherd» He mocked them saying, «Where did you leave the son of the carpenter?» The Saint answered with courage and pride, «We left him making a coffin for you, for you have lost all wisdom and knowledge.» Julian told him, «I have read and memorized it.» St. Basilius replied, «But you did not comprehend it.» Julian became angry and ordered them seized, to be slain after his return from the war with Sapor. St. Basilius told him, «You will not come back, for God has spoken by my mouth.» The Emperor ordered them imprisoned.
The Emperor went to the war. St. Basilius prayed before the icon of St. Marcurius Abu-saifain<\A>, asking for the chastisement of the Emperor because he insulted his Lord Christ. St. Marcurius disappeared from the icon, and when he returned, his sword was dripping blood. During the war, Julian was shot by an arrow in his liver. Thlodoritius said in his history of the church: «When this infidel Emperor was stabbed, he took a handful of the blood that was pouring out of his side and scattered it toward the heaven, saying, ‹You have defeated me O Son of Mary.›» The prophesy of St. Basilius was fulfilled in him and the church was saved from his evil.
When St. Macarius, Bishop of Edko, was martyred, they placed his body with the bodies of St. John the Baptist and Elisha the Prophet.
May their prayers be with us. Amen.
The Departure of St. Abraam, bishop of El-Fayyoum.
10th June - 3rd Baouna
Today also, the saint Anba Abraam, Bishop of El-fayyoum and El-Giza, departed. This was in the year 1630 A.M. (June 10, 1914 A.D.). This saint, whose name was Paul (Boulos), was born in 1545 A.M. (1829 A.D.) in the Estate of “Gilda”, district of Mallawi, governate of Miniah, to righteous parents. They brought him up in a Christian manner. They sent him to the church school, where he learned religious subjects and the church hymns. As he was a very bright student, Anba Yousab, the Bishop of Sunabbo ordained him a deacon for the church of Gilda. His heart longed for the monastic life, so he went to
El-Muharrak monastery where he was ordained a monk by the name of Paul Gabriel El-Muharraki. He was nineteen years old.
He was meek, humble, had a pure life, and he prayed much in seclusion. Accordingly, the monks loved him exceedingly. When Anba Yakoubos, bishop of El-Meniah, heard of him, he summoned him. He retained him in the episcopate for a period of time during which he promoted him to a priest. When he returned to his monastery, the monks with a consensus decided to make him the abbot over the monastery after the death of their Abbot. He was then promoted to archpriest (hegumen) in the days of Abba Demitrius the second (111th Patriarch). He remained Abbot of the monastery for five years, during which the monastery was the refuge for thousands of the poor. So he was called the father of the poor and the destitute. During his time as abbot, he did not spare an effort to improve the condition of the monastery spiritually and physically. He improved its finances by developing its agricultural land. As he increased his charity toward the poor, the orphans and the widows, some of the monks became more resentful of him, for they considered these charitable works as squandering and extravagant acts. They complained against him to Anba Morcos, Metropolitan of El-Behira, who was the acting Patriarch after the death of Pope Demitrius. Anba Morcos accepted their complaints and deposed him as the abbot of their monastery. Shortly after his dismissal, he left El-Muharrak monastery and went to the monastery of El-Baramous. Several monks from the El-Muharrak monastery went to the monastery of El-Baramous, with archpriest Bolous (Abba Abraam), because they did not like the attitudes of the complaining monks. He stayed there for some time studying the Bible and teaching the monks.
The abbot of the monastery of El-Baramous at that time was archpriest Youhanna the Scribe, who became later on Pope Kyrillos the fifth )112th Patriarch(. In the year 1597 A.M. (1881 A.D.), Pope Kyrillos the Fifth chose and ordained him a bishop for the parish of El-Fayyoum and El-Giza. He replaced its reposed bishop, Anba Eisak, and was ordained with the name of Abba Abraam.
During his episcopate, he became famous for two attributes: The First: His charity to the multitude of poor that came to the bishopric residence. He gave them all what he had of money. He made the bishopric residence a shelter for many of them. He offered clothing for those who had no clothes and food for those who were hungry. He never allowed anyone to offer him food that was better than that offered to the poor. Once he went down to visit the poor while they were eating, and found that the food he was offered that day was better than that offered to them. He became very sad, and immediately relieved the nun supervising the feeding service of the poor from her duties.
The Second: He was famous for his prayer of faith. Many miracles were performed, through his prayers, on his hands. His fame was spread to all parts of Egypt and also to some parts of Europe. Many patients, of different religions, came to him, seeking the blessing of his prayers and were healed.
Anba Abraam was well read of the holy books. He always gave to his visitors advice, instructions and sermons which showed the great depth of his knowledge. More important was that he possessed a pure nature and many virtues. Particularly, his severe denial of himself, and his true renouncement of the pleasures of life and its vain glory. His food and clothing were just bare necessities. His ambition never looked up to the glory of higher ranks or positions. When the Patriarch wanted to promote him to the rank of metropolitan he apologized saying that the Holy Bible did not mention any ranks in the priesthood except the ranks of the priest and the bishop.
He was also straightforward in revealing his own opinion, looking only for the truth. He never gave any attention to the rank and greatness of people in higher places, for their greatness was far less than the greatness of the truth. For this reason, all the metropolitans and bishops of the church avoided his anger and sought to please him.
Abba Abraam departed to the heavenly bless on the 3rd day of Baouna, 1630 A.M. (June 10, 1914 A.D.).
More than ten thousand Christian and Moslems walked in his funeral precession. His pure body was laid in the tomb, which was prepared for him in the monastery of the Virgin Mary in El-Ezab. Many miracles were manifested through him after his departure, and his tomb became and still is a pilgrimage for many who have special needs or infirmities. May his prayers be with us and Glory be to God forever. Amen.
The Departure of St. Martha of Egypt. On this day also, the ascetic and fighter St. Martha, departed. She was born in the city of Mesr (Cairo) to wealthy Christian parents. She loved fornication and unchastity in her youth and her works became known. However, the mercy of God from above encompassed her, and moved her to go to the church. That was on the Nativity of Our Lord. When she came to its door and wished to go inside, the servant delegated to watch the door told her, «It is not meet for you to go into the holy church, for you know what you are?» A confrontation took place between them, and when the Bishop heard the clamor, he came to the door of the church to see what had happened. When he saw the girl, he said to her, «Do you not know that the house of God is holy, and only the pure enter it.» She wept and said, «Accept me O father, for I am repentant from this instant, and have decided not to go back to my sin.» The bishop replied, «If it is true what you have said, go and bring back here all your silk clothes and gold ornaments.» She went quickly and brought back all of her clothes and ornaments and gave them to the Bishop. He ordered that they be burned immediately, then he shaved off the hair of her head. He put on her the monastic garb and sent her to one of the convents. She fought a great spiritual fight, and she frequently said in her prayers: «O Lord, if I could not bear the disgrace from the servant of Your house, so please do not put me to shame before Your angels and saints.» She continued the spiritual fight for twenty-five years, during which she did not go out of the door of the convent, then departed in peace. May her prayers be with us. Amen
Reflections on the Holy Bible “Feast of Pentecost”
The Feast of the descending of the Holy Spirit )Pentecost) )John 15:26) )John 16:15) when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth (John 16:13)
The Holy Spirit works in us … within us … for the Holy Spirit dwelled in us as we emerged from the Baptismal font and have been sealed with the Chrism in the sacrament of Mayroon … the anointment of receiving the Holy Spirit … and from this instant the Holy Spirit dwells in us … but many will ask; why I do not feel Him ?? … do I need another receiving of the Holy Spirit … do we need another day of Pentecost …
Some of the non-orthodox churches, pray asking for the fulfilment of the Holy Spirit … asking the descending of the Holy Spirit on them as if they have not received the (Holy Spirit) before … and in fact, this is not correct … for the Holy Spirit descended on the disciples only once and He stayed with them all their lives … but in reality we are in need of renewal of the Holy Spirit within us as we ask in the third hour prayer of the hourly prayer (agbia) … for we are always in need of renewing the awareness of the Holy Spirit within us … we need to be aware of His continual works in our lives … when we fall into sin and persist (on sinning) … we start to lose the awareness of the existence of the Holy Spirit and His works … specially when we extinguish the works of the Spirit (in us) by not heading to the feeling of contrition for our sins by Him … in fact, the Holy Spirit never stops working within us … even while we are committing sin … even with us ignoring (Him) and delaying (our responses), He still continues to cause contrition in us and trying to awaken us from our failings … the fault is actually with us … as we live in the midst sin and its noise, we do not listen to the voice of contrition emitting from the Holy Spirit (within us) …
The Holy Spirit: The Comforter … causes Contrition … and Guide … to all for He is the Truth and the Spirit of Truth …
+ He will guide you into all truth
He guides … He warns … He moves us to a life of righteousness and holiness … for the good works.
The holy bible says of Jephthah the Gileadite when he went to fight the people of Ammon and save the Israelites from their hands and it was “the Spirit of the Lord came on Jephthah” (Judges 11) … for the Spirit of Lord has guided him and told what to do to deliver the Israelites from the hand of their enemy …
Also, the bible tells about Samson was born with a revelation from the angel as a “Nazirite to God from the womb” of his mother and the “Spirit of the Lord began to move on him at Mahaneh Dan” (Judges 13) …
Also, it is said of Cyrus king of Persia “the LORD stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, so that he made a proclamation” (Ezra 1), for the Spirit of the Lord who moved Samson the Nazirite fro the womb of his mother
… and the Spirit of the Lord , He who warned the spirit of Cyrus king pf Peria to send the Israelites back from their exile to the their homeland …
And the Sspirit of Lord appear actively working with the fathers the apostles and their mission …
Pete was led in a vision to go and preach Cornelius and his household to be baptized (Acts 10-11)
The book of Acts says “As they ministered to the Lord and fasted, the Holy Spirit said, Now separate to Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them” … therefore the they were sent by the Holy Spirit (Acts 13:2)
And St Paul was guided by the Holy Spirit in a vision “A man of Macedonia stood and pleaded with him, saying, come over to Macedonia and help us” so he would go and preach in Europe (Acts 16:9)
The holy bible showed how the Holy Spirit guided and directed (God’s) servants in the midst of great tribulations they might face “Paul was compelled by the Spirit, and testified to the Jews that Jesus is the Christ” )Acts 18:5( … ( but the Holy Spirit sometimes stopped the apostles from preaching in places where the people were not ready to accept the Word of God “Now when they had gone through Phrygia and the region of Galatia, they were forbidden by the Holy Spirit to preach the word in Asia” (Acts 16:6) …
The Holy Spirit who has transformed the disciples from fishermen of fish … uneducated as described by the )Jewish) high priests to preachers full of every wisdom and were able to face all the world with it’s philosophers, powers and various worship … they have captivated the whole world … and the Holy Spirit gave them words and wisdom could not be opposed by their opposition.
The Holy Spirit guides you to good works and deeds, do you obey His guidance or you close your heart, so you don’t hear (Him) … are you scared to witness for the Word of God before others?? Do you say I don’t know how to declare?? Are you scared that other will ridicule you?? The Holy Spirit will speak for you … will give you the wisdom, power, honour and strength before your superiors and colleagues … don’t be afraid … nor be hesitant … but advance in strength … from now start to tell of God’s works in your life … and you shall find the Spirit working in you and with you … strengthen you… guide you … direct you .. and move you …
Do you read the holy bible and do not understand?? Do you feel that it is onerous words on you?? Do you need someone to explain it to you, just as the Ethiopian Eunuch who read and did not understand (Acts 8:26-40)??
The Spirit of God will send you understanding as He sent Philip to the Eunuch to preach and baptise him (Acts 8) …
Do you have a difficult problem and in need of help and guidance?? The world is ready with quick and easy solutions, but it will lead to more problems and complications … but the Holy Spirit is ready to guide you to the solution … just ask for guidance … and the Lord will send you a
Holy understanding … and gives you guidance by the knowledge of (God’s) servants … or your confessional father … God has strong solutions which will lead you out of all your problems … ask for the guidance of the Holy Spirit … + for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you +++
Man’s life is an endless chain of tribulations … and many tribulations and sufferings in mans life … and specially Many are the afflictions of the righteous, But the LORD delivers him out of them all. (Psalm 34:19). Maybe people of the world will find their comfort in physical pleasures … for their logic says: Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die (1 Corinthians 15:32) … for all they care for is physical pleasure all the time … even, they are surprised that we do not share their interest in physical pleasures … they drown their problems in the world pleasures … so, you will find them busy with their parties and dancing merry in drunkenness … even, they will excel in inventing new ways to make them lose awareness of their surroundings and live in flowering dreams and continue to toil without any chances of reflections on anything … or revert to strange hobbies which satisfies their inner lusts … or reverting to drugs and alcohol … drowning themselves in it and killing their consensus.
But, among all this what do God’s children do??? They are in need of special comforter … they are in need of special peace which comforts their hearts … their lives in the view of the people of the world are dry and without pleasures … but amazing is the works (Holy) Spirit, the Comforter in their lives …
For we find Paul and Silas in prison; praising and singing hymns )Acts 16( … and we find Paul the prisoner in Acts 16 chains writing about the joy and spiritual happiness (Philippians 1-4) …
We find Peter asleep calmly in prison )Acts 12( … we find St Paula the hermit lives seventy years in the wilderness without seeing another human being in gladness, joy and being fulfilled with all peace and comfort …
We find St Mary the Egyptian leaves the life of sin to a life of purity and righteousness finding her comfort and peace in the life in the wilderness for forty years without seeing another human being.
The fathers the apostles were put before the councils … imprisoned …flogged … when they were released, they departed, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for His name (Acts 5:41).
It is the amazing comfort of the Holy Spirit which eliminates all pain and wipes all tears from their eyes. And you beloved, where do you seek your comforts in the midst of the world tribulations???
Is it in a series of videos and films one following the other … wasting your time … killing yourself and poisoning your thoughts???
Or among the world noisy parties … dancing and singing
like )people of the world( and fill your thoughts and heart with the world noise and quenching the warmth of your spiritual life??? Between the laughter of your friends and their jokes around gambling tables … in fact you are defiling the purity of your heart and thoughts … Many have tried these methods and did not find any comfort or peace at all … but their afflictions and problems increased …
Do you want comfort … do you want peace … then open your holy bible … stand and left your hands towards heaven and pour yourself before God … come and have a share in the heavenly table and feed your spirit with the heavenly manna … with the Word of God … with part-taking from Holy Communion of the Lord’s Body and Blood … through the holy sacraments … and through the holy lives of the saints.
+ He will convict the world of … sin … and of righteousness … and of judgment
The Holy Spirit is crying out within you … reminding you of your sins … He wants you to repent and come to your Heavenly Father … you cannot utter the words “I’ve sinned” … without the conviction of the Holy Spirit … or it will be just a mere excuse which does not grant forgiveness
The conviction of the Holy Spirit (within you) for your sins is a deep extension of the sacramental forgiveness of sins which we receive through the Blood our Lord Jesus Christ … for He convicts and forgives who adheres to the conviction and repents …
Amazing is the Works of God in us … for He does not order us to repent … but He is begging that we repent through convicting us for our hardness and separation from Him … would you listen to the works of the Holy Spirit and repent?? Sit by yourself and listen the voice of the Holy Spirit within you. But He convicts you of righteousness too … for He wants you to continue in the life of righteousness … and not to retract from your righteousness and gain for yourself an oil of joy to be worthy to ascend with the Lord Jesus Christ to heaven and dwell in the mansions of the saints … and He convicts you by reminding you of the judgement … the terrifying judgement which is reserved for the sinners of the everlasting death in the sea of fire which is for Satan and his solders … the world is convicted to destruction because of its sinful ways. Be aware not to be part in the works of the darkness and be aware of becoming one of the world people lest you be subjected to the judgement … the Holy Spirit (within you) reminds you everyday that you are not from the world and you are stranger to the world, so escape (from this evil world) lest you be subjected to a terrifying judgement … rejoce in the convictions of the Holy Spirit to you … it is a sign of God’s love to you … for God wants your repentance and return (to Him) … He wants you to be glorified in heavens with Him.
+Holy Apostles Fasting:
Tomorrow Monday 5th June the Holy Apostles tasting starts directly after we celebrate the Holy Feast of Pentecost. The Fasting is continuing until 12th July which is the east of Martyrdom of St Peter and Paul- the feast of the Holy Apostles. This fasting has been ordered by the Lord Himself when He was asked by the Pharisees why His disciples do not fast as St John’s disciples. The Lord told them that when the Bridegroom is taken from them they will fast. This was pointing to the Resurrection and Ascension of our Lord. The Lord also ordered His disciples not to leave Jerusalem until they are filled with the Holy Spirit. So, the day of Pentecost is truly the day of a start for the new church. The Birthday of the church of New Testament. That is why the church who feels as stranger in this world is carrying the Cross following the Lord. Fasting is also a sign of carrying the Cross in rejection to the world pleasures. We have also witnessed His Resurrection and Ascension and looking forward for His Second Coming. Let us follow the steps of our Lord declaring and witnessing for His Salvation on the Cross on the way to get united with her Bridegroom.
Feast of Pentecost 4th June 2023 St Mary’s Church
5am Matins prayers and the procession of the Resurrection.
6 - 7:45 am First Liturgical Service
7:45 - 9:30 Second Liturgical Service
9:30 - 11:15am third Liturgical Service
12 - 2pm Kneeling Down )Sajda) Prayers.
Holy Apostles Fasting starts on Monday 5th June.
Selected Church Fathers sayings on Pentecost & the Holy Spirit
“And after forty days He ascended to heaven and say by the Right Hand of the Gracious Father, and sent unto us the Comforter the Spirit of Truth, as cloven tongues fire.”
– The Fraction for the Pentecost Feast; The Divine Liturgy of St. Basil according to the Coptic Orthodox Church
1. HH Pope Shenouda III, “The Feast of the Pentecost”
“The Holy Spirit used to work in the Old Testament as well.
In the story of Samson we read that “the Spirit of the LORD began to move upon him at Mahaneh Dan” (Judges 13:25). And we also read that after Saul was anointed as king that “the Spirit of God came upon him, and he prophesied” (1 S 10:10). This also happened when David was anointed by Prophet Samuel to be king “the Spirit of the LORD came upon David from that day forward” (1 Sam 16:13). And the way the Holy Spirit came upon both Saul and David was through the Anointing Oil that the Lord ordered them to prepare in Exodus Book (Ex 30:22- 31). And Aaron was anointed as a high priest when Moses poured from this holy anointing oil on Aaron’s head and anointed him (Lv 8:12), as we say in the psalm “It is like the precious oil upon the head, Running down on the beard, The beard of Aaron, Running down on the edge of his garments.” (Ps 133:2). And with this anointing oil the tent of meeting along with the altars and the utensils were anointed and became holy (Ex 40, Lv 8). With this anointing oil also kings and prophets were anointed (1 Kings 19). And as a result to the anointing, the Holy Spirit comes upon them and so comes His gifts as well.”
2. St. Basil the Great, “On the Holy Spirit”
“Through the Holy Spirit comes our restoration to paradise, our ascension into the kingdom of heaven, our return to the adoption of sons, our liberty to call God our Father, our being made partakers of the grace of Christ, our being called children of light, our sharing in eternal glory, and, in a word, our being brought into a state of all “fulness of blessing,” both in this world and in the world to come, of all the good gifts that are in store for us, by promise hereof, through faith, beholding the reflection of their grace as though they were already present, we await the full enjoyment.”
3. St. Macarius the Great, “Spiritual Homilies” (Homily 26)
“As the Lord put on the body, leaving behind all principality and power, so Christians put on the Holy Spirit, and are at rest.”
4. St. Cyril of Alexandria
“Jesus tells us that His holy Disciples will be more courageous and more understanding when they would be, as the Scripture says, Endowed with power from on high (Luke 24:49), and that when their minds would be illuminated by the torch of the Spirit they would be able to see into all things, even though no longer able to question Him bodily present among them. The Saviour does not say that they would no longer as before need the light of His guidance, but that when they received His Spirit, when He was dwelling in their hearts, they would not be wanting in any good thing, and their minds would be filled with most perfect knowledge.”
5. St Isaac the Syrian, “Ascetical Homilies” (Homily 77)
“The power to bear Mysteries, which the humble man has received, which makes him perfect in every virtue without toil, this is the very power which the blessed apostles received in the form of fire. For its sake the Saviour commanded them not to leave Jerusalem until they should receive power from on high, that is to say, the Paraclete, which, being interpreted, is the Spirit of consolation. And
this is the Spirit of divine visions. Concerning this it is said in divine Scripture: ‘Mysteries are revealed to the humble’ [Ecclus 3:19]. The humble are accounted worthy of receiving in themselves this Spirit of revelations Who teaches mysteries.”
6. St. Simeon the New Theologian, “Writings from Philokalia”
“The aim of all those who live in God is to please our Lord Jesus Christ and become reconciled with God the Father through receiving the Holy Spirit, thus securing their salvation, for in this consists the salvation of every soul. If this aim and this activity is lacking, all other labour is useless and all other striving is in vain. Every path of life which does not lead to this is without profit.”
7. St. John Chrysostom, “Homilies on the Acts of the Apostles”
“Was it upon the twelve that it [the Holy Spirit] came? Not so; but upon the hundred and twenty. For Peter would not have quoted to no purpose the testimony of the prophet, saying, ‘And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith the Lord God, I will pour out of My Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams’ )Joel 2:28(. ‘And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit.’ For, that the effect may not be to frighten only, therefore it is both ‘with the Holy Spirit, and with fire. And began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance’ (Mt. 3:11).”
8. St. Gregory of Nazianzen, “Oration on Pentecost”
“But as the old Confusion of tongues was laudable, when men who were of one language in wickedness and impiety, even as some now venture to be, were building the Tower; for by the confusion of their language the unity of their intention was broken up, and their undertaking destroyed; so much more worthy of praise is the present miraculous one. For being poured from One Spirit upon many men, it brings them again into harmony. And there is a diversity of Gifts, which stands in need of yet another Gift to discern which is the best, where all are praiseworthy.”
9. St. Ephraim the Syrian, “Three homilies. On our Lord.” (Paragraph 12)
“Now the Prophets performed all [other] signs; but on no occasion supplied the deficiency of members. But the deficiency of the body was reserved, that it should be supplied through our Lord; that souls might perceive that it is through Him that every deficiency must be supplied. It is meet, then, that the prudent should perceive that He Who supplies the deficiencies of the creatures, is Master of the formative power of the Creator. But when He was upon earth, our Lord gave to the deaf [and dumb], [the power] of hearing and of speaking tongues which they had not learned; that after He had ascended, [men] might understand that He gave to His disciples[the power] of speaking in every tongue.”
A letter of St. Athanasius the Apostolic concerning the Holy Spirit can be found in the following link;
http://ia701207.us.archive.org/20/items/TheLettersOfSaintAthanasiusConcerningTheHolySpirit/Athanasius_Letters_to_Serapion_Shapland.pdf
I would have loved to pick a small significant quote from it but could not just take something out, as it just needs to be read fully to gain any benefit… I found it (the parts I read) to be deep and thorough in explaining the errors in Arius’ heresies and wrong beliefs. I found also that he explains the presence and role of the Holy Spirit in the Old Testament. There are many more interesting and beneficial pieces of theology and explanations that St. Athanasius the Apostolic has included and so I am recommending (for those interested) to read this during the Apostles fast.
Blessed Enagament
Kingsley Nwankwo & Nicole Elias
Saturday 27th May 2023
FISH DAY AT ST MARY CHURCH
18th June 2023
Dear friends. We are excited to offer
Samak Mashwi on Sunday 18th June
SAMAK MASHWI
Fish & tahini only $20
Fish & tahini with your choice of salad or rice $25
Fish & tahini with rice & salad $30
WHITING FILLETS (grilled or fried)
Fish & tahini only $20 (3 pc)
Fish & tahini with your choice of salad or rice $25
Fish & tahini with rice & salad $30
Text the following details
Name Order Time of pick up
Text to Nevine Soliman 0414 395 538
DUE TO LIMITED FISH NUMBERS WE NEED YOUR ORDER BY FRIDAY 9th JUNE. HURRY SO YOU DONT MISS OUT
**We will also have foul, falafel, Koshari, fish burgers and mixed seafood packs for sale
Construction of New Buildings started Thursday 28th April
The new Building is expected to be ready within 6 months. church services are continuing as normal as in the Timetable inside the Bulletin. You can donate monthly contribution using Direct Debit forms available in the church or downloaded from church website. Cost of building works is around $13,000,000. Your support and donations will be blessing and very appreciated.
Donations to St Mary’s Church and Building project can be made by the following Link
for all who keep working tirelessly for the success of this project. May the Lord reward them all and bless all their works
