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 Departure of St. James of the East.
12th June - 5th Baouna
On this day, St. James of the East (Oriental), the confessor, departed. He lived and worshipped in one of the monasteries of the East. He was a contemporary of Emperor Constantine the Great, Julian the Infidel, and Jovianus the Believer. When the latter was killed, Valens, his brother, reigned in his stead. He was an arian and he closed the Orthodox churches and allowed the Arians to open their churches. The grace of God moved this Saint and he went to the city of Constantinia. He met the Emperor on his way to war. He stood before the Emperor and said, “I ask you to open the churches of the believers, that they may pray for you, so may God make you victorious against your enemies, otherwise God will forsake you and you will be defeated before your enemies.” The Emperor became angry at what St. James said and commanded to beat and imprison him. The Saint told him; “Know that you shall be defeated before your enemies, and you shall die by burning.” The Emperor became enraged and ordered to keep him under guard until he should return from war. The Saint told him, “If you return safely, then God has not spoken by my mouth.”
The Emperor went on to fight his enemies. When the two armies faced each other, the Lord forsake him, so he was defeated before his enemies. They pursued him until he came to a certain village to which they set fire. Its people escaped, but he and some of his men remained and they were burned. Those of his soldiers who returned to the city of Constantinia told the believers what had happened. Thus the prophecy of the holy man was fulfilled. The believers assembled, and brought him out of prison with great honor. The Arians knew that the divine grace and the spirit of prophecy dwelt in him, as they believed in the accuracy of his faith. Many turned from their error, confessing that the Son of God is equal with the Father in essence.
This saint spent the rest of the days of his life in devotion to the ascetic life, and in fighting the spiritual fight until he departed in peace. May his prayers be with us. Amen.
The Martyrdom of St. Abaskhiroun the Soldier.
14th June - 7th Baouna
On this day, the honorable St. Abaskhiroun, who was from the city of Qalin, was martyred. He was one of the soldiers of Arianus, governor of Ansena (Antinoe). When the Edict of Diocletian to worship the idols was issued, this Saint arose in the middle of the people present, exposed the infidelity of the Emperor, and cursed his idols. They seized him and shut him up in the prison, which was in the palace of the Governor, in Asyut. Five other soldiers agreed with him to shed their blood in the Name of Christ. Their names were: Alfius, Armanius, Arkias, Peter, and Cranius. When they came before the Governor, he cut off their girdles, tortured them, crucified some and cut off the heads of the others.
As for St. Abaskhiroun, the Governor tortured him with different kinds of tortures, but the Lord comforted
him, strengthened him, and healed his wounds. The Governor brought a sorcerer, whose name was Alexander. He gave the Saint some deadly poison, saying; “O master of the powers of darkness, manifest in this Christian your powers.” The Saint took the poison, made the sign of the cross over it, and drank it, but no harm came upon him. The sorcerer marvelled, and he believed in the God of St. Abaskhiroun. The Governor cut off the head of the sorcerer, and he received the crown of martyrdom. The Governor became more enraged with the Saint. He tortured him extensively, then he ordered to cut off his head, and he received the crown of martyrdom. May his prayers be with us and Glory be to God forever. Amen.
Departure of St. Samuel the Prophet
16th June - 9th Baouna
On this day, of the year 2947 of the world, the upright and great, Samuel the Prophet, departed. This righteous man was born in Ramathaim Zophim, of the mountains of Ephraim. His father›s name was Elkanah and his mother was Hannah. She was barren, and by continual supplication, the Lord gave her Samuel. She raised him in her house for three years, and then she offered him to the temple of God as she vowed before she conceived him. He served Eli the priest until he grew up. Eli›s two sons had behaved badly and defiled the temple. While Samuel was lying down to sleep, the LORD called Samuel. And he answered, «Here I am!» So he ran to Eli and said, «Here I am, for you called me.» And Eli said, «I did not call; lie down again.» And he went and lay down. And the LORD called yet again, «Samuel!» So Samuel arose and went to Eli, and said, «Here I am, for you called me.» And Eli answered, «I did not call, my son; lie down again.» Now Samuel did not yet know the LORD, nor was the word of the LORD yet revealed to him. And the LORD called Samuel again a third time. Then Samuel arose and went to Eli, and said, «Here I am, for you did call me.» Then Eli perceived that the LORD had called the boy. Therefore Eli said to Samuel, «Go, lie down; and it shall be, if He calls you, that you must say, ‹Speak, LORD, for Your servant hears.› « So Samuel went and lay down in his place. Then the LORD came and stood and called as at other times, «Samuel! Samuel!» And Samuel answered, «Speak, for Your servant hears.» Then the LORD said to Samuel: «Behold, I will do something in Israel at which both ears of everyone who hears it will tingle. «In that day I will perform against Eli all that I have spoken concerning his house, from beginning to end. For I have told him that I will judge his house forever for the iniquity which he knows, because his sons made themselves vile, and he did not restrain them. And therefore I have sworn to the house of Eli that the iniquity of Eli›s house shall not be atoned for by sacrifice or offering forever.» )1 Samuel 3:1-14)
Afterward, the Lord commanded Samuel to anoint Saul the son of Kish, a king for Israel. When Saul disobeyed the Lord Samuel anointed David, the son of Jesse, a king by the command of the Lord. He prophesied and judged for the people of Israel for twenty years.
May his prayer be with us. Amen.
The Departure of St. Yoannis the 16th, the 103rd Pope of Alexandria.
17th June - 10th Baouna
Today also, of the year 1434 A.M. (June 15, 1718 A.D.), Pope Yoannis the Sixteenth, the 103rd Patriarch of Alexandria, departed. This Pope was known by the name “Yoannis El-Tokhi”. His parents were Christians from Tokh El-Nasara, the diocese of El-Menoufia. They brought their son, whose name was Ibrahim, with the best of care. They provided him with the best of education. God blessed him from his youth, thus he grew up in virtue and in a chaste life.
When his father departed, he forsake the world and desired the monastic life. He went to the monastery of St. Antony in the wilderness of Araba, and became a monk there. He put on the garb of the monk and attired with the holy Eskeem. When he showed his dedication in worship and asceticism, the fathers the monks chose him to be a priest. Pope Mattheos, the Fourth, ordained him a priest for the monastery, in the church of the Virgin Lady in Haret Zeewailah. He became more righteous in his new priestly rank, and increased his worship, until his godliness, humility and meekness became well known.
When Pope Mattheos departed, the bishops, priests and lay leaders, met to choose a good shepherd. They elected a number of priests and monks, among whom was this father. They casted an altar lot after they had celebrated the holy liturgy for three consecutive days, asking God to guide them to the one who is fit to shepherd His people. When the lot was made, it fell on this father. They knew and realized that God had chosen him for this office. He was ordained on Sunday, the ninth of Baramhat, 1392 A.M. (May 5th, 1676 A.D.). He was called Yoannis the 16th. The celebration of his enthronement was splendid and the joy prevailed everywhere in Egypt.
He gave his attention to the restoration of the monasteries and the churches. He restored the holy places in Jerusalem and paid off its debts. He renovated many churches and monasteries which he consecrated by his blessed hands. He gave special attention to the monastery of St. Paul, the first hermit, in mount Nemra. The monastery was desolate for a period of more than one hundred years. He opened it, restored it, reestablished the monastic life in it, and made it better than before. He prepared books, veils, altar accessories, and relics of saints for it, and consecrated it himself. He ordained many priests, deacons and monks for it on Sunday the 19th of Bashans, 1421 A.M. (May 25, 1705 A.D.). He visited the monastery of the great St. Antony, the father of the monks, in mount El-Kalzam, four times: the first was in the month of Kiahk, 1395 A.M. (1678 A.D.), accompanied by the head of the monastery, and some monks. The second was in the 20th day of Baramouda, 1411 A.M. (1695 A.D.) at the end of the holy fast. He was accompanied by Fr. John the Virgin, the priest of the church of the Virgin in Haret El-Room and the honorable deacon El-Moallem Girgis El-Toukhy Abu Mansour, and El-Moallem Soliman El-Sarraf El-Shenrawi. The third time was in Misra 1417 A.M. (1701 A.D.), and the fourth time was in 1421 A.M. (1705 A.D.) to consecrate the monastery of St. Paul. In the blessed month of Abib, 1417 A.M., a great tribulation befell the Orthodox Christians of Egypt, during the reign of the governor Mohammed Pasha. An accusation had reached him that the Coptic Christians had built new buildings in
their churches. The Governor appointed an Agha, architects, and judges to go and investigate the accusation. They came back with the evidence that there were many new constructions in the churches. However, God did not forsake His people by the prayers of this godly Pope. Many honorable people in Egypt went to the Governor to intercede on behalf of the Christians. The Governor ordered that a fine be paid as a penalty. The Pope met with the lay leaders El-Moallem Youhanna Abu Masri, El-Moallem Girgis Abu Mansour, and El-Moallem Ibrahim Abu Awad. They agreed unanimously that the Pope would visit the Christians in their homes, and collect what needed to be collected. The penalty was collected and paid to the Governor. The lay leaders were able to pay it back to the people and every one rejoiced. The churches were opened, and there was peace. The Pope took it hard going to the homes of the believers asking for money, so he went to the monastery of St. Antony on the 7th of the month of Misra, 1417 A.M. for a retreat.
In 1419 A.M., the Pope desired to make the Holy Oil (Myron). The Lord answered his request, and moved the heart of a Christian, the great lay leader, El-Moallem Girgis Abu Mansour, the administrator of the churches of El-Muallakah and Haret El-Roum. He was charitable to the poor and the needy, cared for the places of the saints and martyrs. He participated in every good deed with the Pope. He prepared what was needed (oil, spices, perfumes), and the Holy Myron was cooked and consecrated by the Pope in the Church of the Virgin in Haret El-Roum. The Myron had not been made for a period of two hundred and forty seven years, during which, 18 Popes sat on the throne of St. Mark. He was also the first to build the Patriarchate residence in Haret El-Roum, and dedicated properties and revenue for it.
In 1425 A.M. (179 A.D.), this Pope visited Jerusalem, with some of the bishops, many archpriests, priests, and laymen.
The honored deacon El-Moallem Girgis Abu Mansour ElToukhy, paid all the expenses of this trip. He also paid all the expenses for the renovation of the church of the Virgin known as El-Muallakah in Old Cairo.
The Pope visited the churches, and monasteries. He also visited St. Mark church in Alexandria. He traveled everywhere in both Lower and Upper Egypt. In his time, he allowed the Holy Elements (the Body and the Blood of Christ) to be taken to the sick and those who could not come to the church. This Pope was loved by everyone, and he was honored and respected for his humility, meekness, and his love for the poor. His door was always open to everyone who would call upon him. The days of his papacy were quiet. The Lord was with him, and delivered him from all his sorrows. He accepted his prayers and supplications and he lived to a good old age. When he completed his course, he became sick for a short time. Then he departed in peace, with his friend the honorable lay leader Girgis Abu Mansour within one week. Many mourned him, and the bishops, the priests, and the lay leaders attended the prayers on his body. They carried him with great honor, and placed the body in the tomb of the Patriarchs in the church of St. Mercurius Abu Saifain in Old Cairo, in the 10th of Baounah, 1434 A.M., after he had been on the throne of St. Mark for forty two years and three months. May his prayers be with us. Amen.
Contemplation on First Sunday of the Holy month of Baouna
“ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you”)Luke 11:9)
How powerful…How comforting…Is the life of prayers… It is the strong bond between God and man…. The righteous finds in it joy, peace and power… enjoyment and amazing happiness… The sinner finds in it a refuge to pour out himself and wash away his sins with tears and receive true comfort (in repentance)… the weary, tired and hated by others seek in it refuge…laying his heavy loads (of sins) in the hands of the Loving God… complaining hardship of life and it’s bitterness and the hardship the world places on them, feel the loving hands of God tending to his wounds and fulfilling his heart content and giving him solace. It (Prayers) lifts man from the earthly to the heavenly….It is the secrete of success for Gods children….It is the source peace, joy and solace. Poor is the man who neglects prayers….he loses great power and support in his life….many problems and life matters become more complicated when we try to solve them according to human logic and the only way is prayers….often we put the human logic ahead of prayers….then we spend long hours and time looking for solutions wit no success….and after much efforts still no benefit. How many matters become like puzzles (for us) and we are lost for solutions…Prayers is the only key to all our troubles and problems….for us to benefit from and for our prayer to be effective… there are essential elements which has be evident….consistency and insistence in prayers. Absolute submission to God’s will
+ Ask, and it will be given
How can it be given without asking?? How can a door open without knocking???
Father Abraham; father of fathers for many years persisted in asking (God) to give him an offspring…And God gave him a promise that his offspring will be like the sand of the sea in numbers…and Abraham was patient awaiting the fulfillment of this promise till his old age when Isaac was born when he was an old man at the age of 100 years.
Also, Zachariah the priest and his wife Elizabeth for many years asked God to give them am offspring….and Zachariah almost gave up hope for the fulfillment of his request to the extent that when the angel appeared to him pronouncing God heard his pleas; he did not believe it! We also find Cornelius the centurion, the pure man who feared God, then God hears his prayers and sends His angel to tell him, his payers and alms have been received well by God. Henna, mother of Samuel )the profit( stood praying with tears and insistence before God asking for an offspring…to the extent that Eli the high priest thought she was drunk when she prayed with tears for long time and her lips were moving without utterable sound…. when Eli knew her request, he blessed her and prayed for God to give her request which she asked from God.
Also, Manasseh the king who aggrieved God with his idolatry for many years, then repented and offered his powerful prayer of repentance (2kings 21) (recorded in the 2nd Canonical books). Also, the prayer of Hezekiah the king (2kings 19: 14-19) for the words of reproach of the commander of the army of Assyria. The Lord responded and sent his Angel destroying 185 thousand of the army soldiers. The prayer of the three young men in the fire furnace is a part of the church mid-night doxologies. There is also a notable prayer for Hezekiah the king when he fell sick and how the Lord accepted his prayers (Isaiah 31). The prayer of Habakkuk (Ch 3). The prayer of Solomon on inaugurating the Temple (1Kings 8). It is a wonderful prayer which shows the power of congregational prayers in the time of hardships. The supplications, prayers, fasting and tears of the people of Nineveh has made the Lord to relent from the disaster that He said (Jonah 3: 10).
After 430 years of bitter slavery in Egypt the Lord listed to the prayers and looked at the sufferings of His people (Exodus 2: 23-24). The Lord planned for their rescue and release of the slavery and to send a leader to take them out of Egypt.
Prayers in Christianity are nor mandatory decrees. They are not also just movements or ways of submission which slaves offer to their hard-mighty masters. Prayers are communications of love
between human and God. Prayer for us is very joyful. As sons and daughters of God we look for prayer as we feel like children who lean on the shoulder of their father to get comfort, peace and inner happiness. That is way children of God love prayers and wish to spend all their life if prayer. David the Psalmist and King says, “I give myself unto prayer” Psalm 109:4. They also train themselves for the life of permanent prayer as St Paul says: “Pray all the time” (Thessalonian 5:17). Your tongue, heart and mind are praying. It is a lifelong passionate relationship with the Loving Lord.
Did you learn to pray with persistence and continuity. Make prayers to be a fixed part of your daily programme. There are many things to help you pray and make it a permeant habit such as Psalms (Agpia) prayers. It charges your mind and heart and elevate your thoughts with very deep contemplations which can suit your life and circumstances. The Word of God is always a main lifting and encouraging source for prayer. Also, the stories of the saints carry a great motive for prayers as you take example of their conduct and saintly life. Sayings of the Saints and Fathers give a lot of nourishments for your prayers and open your mind for new holy deep experiences in prayers.
The Divine Liturgy with all inspiring hymns can give you deep, warm and fulfilling spiritual life. + Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive:
One of the reasons why your prayer is lukewarm and makes your words as vain and shallow that you carry grudges against someone. Mere feeing that you do not love a person, do not accept or do not want to forgive makes your prayer boring and has no feeling or depth. That is why the Lord tells us that “Therefore if you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that your brother has anything against you; Leave there your gift before the altar, and go your way; first be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift” (Math 5:23-24). If you do not forgive others how can you dare to ask for forgiveness or mercy.
A saint was called once to take part in trial for
one of the brethren. When they assembled he stood there praying the Lord’s Prayer until he reached to the part “forgive us .. as we forgive ..”and he said instead: “do not forgive .. as we do not forgive ..”. They thought that said it in error but he repeated it again and they understood that we cannot ask for forgiveness if we do not forgive first. You can always feel that your prayers on the day you backstab others or judge them are very cool and senseless or even you feel you talking to yourself. Forgiveness will fill your heart with peace and gives great power and warmness to your prayers.
St. Stephen forgave those who were stoning him (Acts 7:60) and he was able to see the Heavens open and see the Son of Man at the right hand of God.
The hard-cruel heart cannot pray while prayers pours out in power and depth of the loving heart.
+ Let it be Your Will:
One of the reasons we feel that our prayers are not accepted is that we ask for what we want only not as according to God’s Will. You look as if you want to impose your own will which may contradict God’s plan for your life and benefit. It is good to be urgent in your prayers but in full submission for God’s Will. When you fully submit you even may not ask for personal needs. God will like to talk your thoughts freely to Him but leaving thing fully for God’s Plan. St. Paul asked three time for the Lord to remove a thorn in his flesh )sickness( )2Cor 12: 7-10( but the Lord answered: “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness”. St Paul accepted God’s Will fully. David also prayed that God can heal his son. The Lord Will was that the son dies and David in full submission said: “I shall go to him, but he shall not return to me” (2Sam 12: 22).
Submission to God is not mere words but deep inner feeling full of peace, confidence and trust that the Lord is always planning what is good and useful for us and that the Lord will always grant us in the right time the good gift. “How much more will your Heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him” (13).
+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.
Saturday 10th June
On his Altar at St Mary’s Church:
Vespers: Friday 9th June 6:30pm
Divine Liturgy: Saturday 10th June 9 - 11am
May the Lord benefit us all through his prayers and the blessings of his blessed life.
The gifts of the Holy Spirit
The Holy Spirit gives many meanings to which the Old Apostles spoke (1Cor 12: 8-10): Words of Wisdom - Words of knowledge - Faith - Gifts of Healing - Works of miracles - Prophecy – Discerning of spirits – different kinds of tongues – Interpretation of tongues
1 - Words of Wisdom: How much man needs the words of wisdom in every understanding and daily work in his life. And the words of wisdom are opposite to the words of humour and words of salaciousness. Who accompanies the wise become wise How much becomes of this who lives with the real wisdom represented in the Holy Spirit, which works in him. Who accompanies the foolish gets a lot of his characters. Many who spend long hours listening to the words of humour and salaciousness for recreation and passing time do not know that they sadden the Holy Spirit of God in them and that they may extinguish the work of the Holy Spirit in them. What are your sources of wisdom, beloved? Do you think that the long hours you spend in front of the television (or social media) will give you wisdom? Someone argued to explain and give himself an excuse to watch films and movies as giving him an understanding of the family problems that occur and how to treat them. Woe to those who seek the wisdom of those who have lost wisdom. Who is this one who wrote these movies and directed them? Was his purpose to teach you wisdom? Definitely not. His only purpose is to get money from you and others, so he was keen to put forward exciting things and fancy views. He attracted you not through your mind and understanding but through your desires. Someone told me that every time he looked at one of these films he felt he despised himself after watching it. One of the nobles of Rome came once to the wilderness and asked to visit Saint Arsanius, the teacher of the kings’ sons. When they brought him to Arsanius, he found him sitting under the feet of one of the elders to learn from him. He marvelled very much, and said to Arsanius, How are you, the teacher of the sons of kings, sitting under the feet of this illiterate monk, to learn from him? And Arsanius answered that the Aloha Beta, which this monk knows (meaning the principals of Spiritual wisdom), Arsanius have not yet learned So did one day Rehoboam son of Solomon (1Kings 11) when the people of Israel came to him after the death of his father, asking him to relieve them of their burdens, Rehoboam consulted the elders and wise people who advised him if he lighten the burden of the people they will become servants to him all the days and then he consulted his friends who have been brought up with him. He loved the
words of his friends who told him to treat them with more cruelty. Perhaps this type of speech gave him a false sense of strength and pride and greatness and he left the advice of the wise elders and told them the unwise words of his friends and as a result Rehoboam had lost ten tribes of his kingdom, and the great kingdom that he inherited from Solomon his father was torn apart because he did not listen to the words of wisdom. Are your friends of the kind who gives words of wisdom? The words of wisdom may seem difficult but here the Holy Spirit works and gives the grace of understanding, recognition and success. When St Paul stood in the Areopagus (Acts 17) in the heart of Athens, the Holy Spirit gave him the wisdom to show the falsehood of their gods. He used words of their philosophers and poets, saying to them that, as your poets says, we are the offspring of God, so how can we see the image of God whom we are his descendants in the form of stone, gold or animals. Although some of them mocked him when he spoke about the resurrection of the dead, some of them stuck to him, including the philosopher Dionysius the Areopagite, the words of heavenly wisdom entered into his heart and opened his eyes to the true spiritual knowledge. And you beloved do you hear the words of wisdom? Beware of those who claim to be wise, but their purpose is to remove the wisdom that is in you, such as the heretics, like Jehovah’s Witnesses, and others who defy true faith. Their leaders did not show fruits of wisdom. They cannot do good work for a strange person or for a hungry world. They wear the dress of wisdom but deny its power and deceive the simple people with the words of false philosophy. The Holy Spirit in you motivates you and gives you a spirit of understanding and recognition as well. Do not go to a strange well polluted to draw water from it. Drink water from your well. From your strong faithful church that has not been contaminated with philosophies and vanity of this world. I sit under the feet of the shepherds, the teachers of wisdom. I look for their homes. That is, the straight-minded church which, though it looks black and strange from the world, but in the eyes of its Heavenly Father it is His beautiful heavenly bride, decorated with wisdom. We live in a world of pollution with chemicals and poisons. Thus, the colour of things changed and the man was deceived. Did you know that the devil today wants to mislead if possible also elect? Really how much we need the words of wisdom. The word of God which can save yourself.
Official Recognition of Archangel Michael Monastery for Nuns by the Holy Synod of the Coptic Orthodox Church
Through the grace and blessings of God, it is with great joy that our Diocese thanks His Holiness Pope Tawadros II and the Holy Synod for officially recognising Archangel Michael Monastery for Nuns in Woodend, Victoria as an inhabited and functional monastery. Established in 2015, Archangel Michael Monastery was the first monastery for Nuns on Australian soil. Through the continued blessings of God, Campaspe House in Woodend, Victoria was purchased in 2017 to be a dedicated and permanent place for the Monastery where it continues to flourish. In September of 2017, the Monastery was blessed and visited by His Holiness Pope Tawadros II during his inaugural visit to Australia. Through the dedicated service of Mother Antonia and Novices, the Monastery provides a spiritual and serene environment for our female parishioners to enjoy and benefit from. The Diocese Management Committee encourages the blessed congregation of the Diocese to continue to support the Monastery with prayers and their generous givings so they may continue to do their good work.
We thank His Holiness Pope Tawadros II and the Holy Synod for their ongoing love, care and shepherdhood.
May Christ continue to bless and flourish Archangel Michael Monastery for Nuns!
Blessed New Born
Baby Abigail Eve daughter of Samuel & Monique Farag
May the Lord bless the baby to be a source of blessings for the family and the church.
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
Family Day
Monday 12th June 2023
Starting with Liturgy 7 - 9am
To participate please fill the form:
Reminder : Family Day on Mon 12-Jun-2023
Please book your place ASAP.
Link: https://forms.gle/AYXgbuHRpiNBEdbE7
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
