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 Martyrdom of St. Simon Cleophas, the Apostle.
16th July - 9th Abib
On this day, St. Simon, the Apostle, was martyred. He was the son of Cleophas, brother of Joseph the Just, to whom the Virgin Mary was betrothed. He received the grace of the Holy Spirit in the Upper Room of Zion, and was ordained bishop for Jerusalem succeeding St. James the Apostle. He converted many of the Jews to the faith in the Lord Christ. The Lord wrought many wonders in his hands, and he urged the people for chastity and purity. When Emperor Trajan heard about him, he brought him, tortured him much, and then cut off his head. He was one hundred twenty years old.
May his prayers be with us, Amen.
The Departure of St. Pisentius, Bishop of Qift.
20th July - 13th Abib
On this day, the holy father, Anba Pisentius, Bishop of Qift, departed. This Saint became a monk in his early years, devoted himself to the ascetic life, and learned the church books. He never looked upon the face of a woman. Once a woman, who had a serious sickness, waited until he came out of the church, and drew near him to kiss his hand, for her belief was that she would be healed. But when he saw that she was getting close to him, he walked faster. Since she was unable to catch him, she took a handful of the dust upon which his feet had trodden, and placed it on the site of the pain and she was healed.
When he was ordained a bishop, he used to see the angels fluttering their wings around the altar while he was celebrating the Divine Liturgy. He was eloquent in his sermons; no one became weary of listening to his teachings.
When the Lord informed him that his departure drew near, he gathered his people, taught them, and strengthened them in the Faith. Then, he departed in peace. God manifested many miracles from his body. His disciple took a piece of his shroud which healed many of the sick.
May his prayers be with us. Amen.
The Martyrdom of St. Procopius )Proconius) of Jerusalem.
21st July - 14th Abib
On this day, of the year 33 A.D. )July 8th), St. Procopius )Proconius), was martyred. He was born in the city of Jerusalem, his father was a Christian whose name was Christophorus, which means “Bearer of Christ.” His mother’s name was Theodosia, and she was a worshipper of idols. When his father died, Theodosia took her son, and went to Antioch. She presented much money and expensive gifts to the Emperor Diocletian, and asked him to make her son a
governor for one of the cities. He accepted her gift, answered her request, and appointed her son the governor of the city of Alexandria. He commanded that Procopius torture the Christians.
When the Saint had gone a little way from the City of Antioch, he heard a voice from heaven calling him by his name, and censured his deed. The voice also threatened him by death because he dared and accepted to do what was against the command of God. Procopius asked, “Who are you, O my Lord? I beseech you to show me yourself.” A cross of light appeared to him, and he heard a voice which said to him, “I am Jesus , the Son of the Living God, Who was crucified in Jerusalem.” He was afraid and trembled, and he turned to the city of Bit-Shaan )Bisan). He made for himself a cross of gold like the cross that appeared to him.
On his way to Alexandria, some of the bedouins attacked him to plunder whatever he had. But he overcame them by the cross that he had. His mother told him, “You must offer sacrifices to the gods who delivered you from your enemies.” The Saint replied, “Rather, I will offer the sacrifice to Jesus Christ, Who helped me by the power of His cross.” When his mother heard his words, she became angry, and sent to Diocletian to inform him about that. The Emperor sent to the Governor of Caesarea, Palestine, to investigate the matter, and to handle his torture. When the Governor brought him, Procopius confessed his faith in the Lord Christ. The governor beat him so severely that he was close to death, then he cast him in prison. The Lord Christ appeared to him, surrounded by His angels, released him from his bonds, and healed his wounds. The next morning, the Governor asked about the Saint, and they told him that they found him free and sound. He had him brought to the temple of the idols, where the Governor was going to pray. When the Saint came, and the people saw him whole, they all marvelled, and they all cried out in the name of Christ saying, “We are Christians, and we believe in the God of Procopius.” Among them were two prefects, twelve women, and St. Theodosia, mother of St. Proconius. They cut off their heads, and they received the crown of martyrdom. That was on the 6th day of Abib. The Governor ordered the return of the Saint to prison, until he could determine what to do with him. He brought him back three days later and told him, “Behold, I have waited three days for you to return to your mind, to have mercy on yourself, and to offer sacrifice for the gods.” The Saint replied, “The Lord Christ is the only true God. As for these
statues, which are made of stone and wood, they are not gods and can neither harm nor help.” The Governor became angry and ordered the soldiers to cut his sides with swords. A swordsman, whose name was Archelaus, stretched out his hand to cut the sides of the Saint, whereupon his hand dried up, and fell down dead. The Governor ordered to stab him with knives and pour vinegar in his wounds. Then they dragged him by his feet to the prison, where he stayed for three days. The Governor was wondering what he should do with him. Then he threw him into a pit filled with fire, but the Lord delivered him and no harm came upon him. Finally, the Governor ordered to cut off his head and he received the crown of martyrdom. May his prayers be with us. Amen.
The Departure of St. Ephraem El-Soriani
)The Syrian) 22nd July - 15th Abib
On this day, of the year 379 A.D., the holy father, St. Ephraem (Ephraim) the Syrian, departed. He was born in the city of Nissibis, in the beginning of the fourth century to pagan parents, during the days of the righteous Emperor Constantine. It happened that he met with St. James bishop of Nissibis, who preached to him and taught him the particulars of the Christian Faith. Ephraem believed on his hands. St. James baptized him and Ephraim stayed with him. He excelled in his worship that surpassed his contemporaries. He debated the pagans and overcame them by the grace that was within him. When the council of Nicea convened, he went with his teacher St. James to attend the council.
One day, it happened that while St. Ephraem was praying, he saw a pillar of light which extended from earth to heaven. When he marvelled at what he saw, he heard a voice saying to him, “That what you saw is St. Basil, Bishop of Caesaria.” St. Ephraem longed to see St. Basil and he went to Caesaria. He entered the church and stood in a corner of it. He saw St. Basil in his priestly vestments embroidered with gold. St. Ephraim doubted the holiness of St. Basil. The Lord showed him a white dove that alighted over St. Basil’s head. God then inspired St. Basil of the presence of St. Ephraem. St. Basil called him by his name, and St. Ephraem marvelled at how he knew him. They greeted each other, and St. Basil ordained him a deacon.
St. Ephraem increased his asceticism, and many great virtues were manifested through him that surpass descrip-
tion. Among which was that of an honorable woman, who was ashamed to confess her sins orally to St. Basil. She wrote on a paper her sins which she had committed since her youth, and gave it to St. Basil. When he received it and knew what was written in it, he prayed for her. The piece of paper became blank except for only one great sin. The woman wept, and entreated him to pray for her that God might forgive this sin for her. St. Basil told her, “Go to the wilderness where St. Ephraem is and he will pray for you.” The woman went to him and told him what had happened. He said to her, “I am not worthy of this honor, go back to St. Basil for he is a high priest. Go now quickly before he departs from this world.” When the woman returned, she found that St. Basil had departed, and was carried on the heads of the priests. She wept, and threw the piece of paper on his coffin. She prayed to God interceding through the saint. Then, she took the piece of paper, and she found it completely blank. St. Ephraem had performed many miracles. In his days, Ebn-Disan the Infidel appeared. This father debated with him until he overcame his erroneous opinions. He wrote many articles and discourses. When he completed his strife, he departed to the Lord. May his prayers be with us. Amen. The Martyrdom of St. Cyriacus and St. Julietta His Mother.
22nd July - 15th Abib
On this day also, St. Cyriacus (Qyriacus) and St. Julietta, his mother, were martyred. When Cyriacus was three years old, his mother left Iconium, her native land, taking her son with her. She went to Tarsus, fleeing from the Governor that was persecuting the Christians. However, she found the Governor there in Tarsus. Some had laid accusation against her before the Governor. He brought her and ordered her to worship the idols. She answered him, »What you say to me cannot be accepted by a three year-old child.« The governor said to her, »We can ask your child.« God then made the child talk, who cried out saying, »Your gods are made of stone and wood by the hands of men, there is no other True God except my Lord Jesus Christ.« Those who heard the child were amazed, and the Governor was exposed. For that reason, he inflicted pain over the child that surpassed his age. He also tortured his mother with many kinds of tortures. But the Lord God delivered them safely each time. Many saw this and believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, and received the crown of martyrdom. Finally, the Governor ordered to cut the heads off of St. Cyriacus (Qyriacus) and St. Julietta, his mother, and they received the crown of martyrdom. May their prayers be with us. Amen
Reflections on the Holy Bible reading
Second Sunday of the blessed month of Abib
Matthew 18:1-9
unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven Matthew 18:3. How troubling is self-pride … how many souls are broken because of pride … for God resists the arrogant … and how great is humility … humility opens before man the closed doors … but (indeed) it opens the gates to the kingdom of heavens … for humility breaks the conceit of the evil ones and destroys the sting of their arrogance.
The Lord Jesus wanted to emphasize to His disciples the greatness of humility … so He gave them a parable about humility;
The children (or to be like the children) … for their thoughts were focused on who is the greatest in the kingdom of heavens …. They (the disciples) wanted to know the way to true greatness … so, the Lord uncovered the secrets to greatness which is humbleness … and self-pride has many forms which destroys the spiritual life of man … of these is the love of prominence in the first place … love of controlling )others( and being in control … also haughtiness and arrogance … or contempt of the young … and another form which is even more dangerous, is self-righteousness and in such one is content with his or her own personal behaviours … and ones self-righteousness and depending ones own for salvation.
+ Who then is greatest in the kingdom of heaven Ambition is good and desirable … there is no burden for one to seek a better status and specially in one’s spiritual life, but the danger is for one to seek the first place or prominence being driven by self-pride and the will for prominence … the desire of praise by others and vanity.
King Saul could not bear the women praising David more than him when David killed Goliath the giant (1 Samuel 18) …. He was very resentful just from the words of those praising (David) and forgot what David has done. Also he forgotten that it was him who promised who ever overcome Goliath, to receive gifts and prized grants … for Saul was, the type who cannot bear that another person be praised more than him … and because of this, he decided to destroy David … and he kept this resentment all his life towards David … Saul destroyed himself with his self-pride (and arrogance) … and because of this self-pride his eyes were blinded to the correct vision and only saw his-self … he forgot his kingdom and people and forgot his responsibilities and only remembered his enmity to David … he became only concerned with plotting against David.
How serious for man to love the first place and praise of others … it is the same problem with the pharisees
and the chief priests (of the Jews) … when they recognised that the Lord Jesus excelled above them and their teachings and He has uncovered their hypocrisy … they were envious and resented Him … here is the whole people following Him … they could not bear it and conspired to kill Him … such person also, cannot accept criticism and rebuke …even if it was from the priest Korah, Dathan and Abiram … they were Levites, the tribe God dedicated to serving before the Altar … also, they were lovers of prominence and first places … they could not accept that the priesthood is only for Aaron and his sons and they wanted the priesthood too … they could not take the rebuke from Moses and Aaron for their transgressions … so, they said to the congregation (of the Israelites); enough of Moses and Aaron … the whole congregation is holy … and they assumed the priesthood for themselves and made censers to offer incense (Numbers 16) … and naturally the results was very devastating ... the Lord could not tolerate their arrogance and transgression against the priesthood … the earth opened up it mouth and swallowed them with all their families (and belongings) … but the humble person will accept criticism with joy … One of those was the Elder Ibrahim El-Gohery … he was in attendance at one of the churches (of Cairo) and the serving priest took too much time in praying the holy liturgy … so, Ibrahim El-Gohery sent a note to the priest to hurry up so that he can go on to his work at the government offices … but the serving priest sent back message saying … he is serving before God and a human … and if the times of service does not suit him, then he should build for himself another church … perhaps such an answer would have irritated anyone in the status of Ibrahim El-Gohery and he was in the status of a minister of the government at that time … but (Ibrahim El-Gohery) accepted this advice with pleasure and joy … and indeed he took the advice of the priest seriously … and built a church and considered the advice of the priest as a command from heaven and fulfilled it accurately and gladly.
The person who loves prominence, will always seek the first place … tries by all means to attract peoples’ vision to his works and words and all his great achievements … and woe to anyone who criticise him or her or even interrupt his self-talk to another some one else (other than him or her) … or to praise another person more that he or she is praised.
This type of self-pride (and vanity) is very troubling indeed … for it makes one to be preoccupied with ones self only and cannot think of anything but how to exceed others … and maybe because of this, he or she will search how to belittle others or annoy them and reveal their mistakes … but even sometime will seek to create problems and troubles for others … he or she try to make others naughts to be prominent above them
… poor person indeed, not aware that naughts mean nothing when put after the numbers … but naughts will have great meaning when put before the numbers.
+ But whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to sin, it would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck … The other type of self-pride is very troubling … that is contempt of the young (or the lesser ones) … haughtiness and conceit above others … in the flow of this haughtiness and conceit, one will trample upon others feelings and ignoring them and even putting stumbling blocks in their way and brings destruction to them.
The Jews looked down upon the Galileans (those who dwelt in Galilee) … specially Galilee was adjacent to the areas of the gentiles … maybe they were influenced by their traditions and worship … to the extent that when Nathanial heard of the Lord Jesus was from Nazareth in Galilee, he said can anything good come out of Nazareth (John 1:46) … and the Lord Jesus wanted to teach him a lesson in humility, respect of others and no arrogance … so He allowed him to see in the Lord Jesus who knows what is hidden in the heart and the deepest secrets and He knew his secrets of childhood which no one else knows … “under the fig tree, I saw you” and paised his zealousness “an Israelite indeed, in whom is no deceit” (John 1: 46-48). The pharisees despised tax-collectors … this was evident from the pharisee praying “I am not like … this tax collector” (Luke 18:11) … so, his prayers were lukewarm and didn’t show true repentance or an open and lifted heart before God … so the prayer of the repentant contrite tax collector was accepted and not the haughty conceited pharisee.
The Jews disrespected women and belittled of her status … to the extent that the disciples were amazed when they saw the Lord Jesus talking to the Samaritan woman but the Lord Jesus showed them the honour of womanhood … and He lifted the status of women … it more than enough He was born of the Virgin (Mary) and she received the highest status among all people but even the heavenly too … How greatly troubling for man to feel that he or she better than others … or other are less than him or her … beloved, don’t forget a human like Hitler planted in the German people, the idea of being superior before the second world war and that they are better than other nations and with this feeling, he instilled hate for others in his people and with this hate he fuelled the worst war known to mankind where millions of people were killed … and you beloved; do you feel superior to others because of knowledge and degrees … do you know the Lord has chosen ignorant of the world to defeat the knowledgeable … is your
degree and knowledge and wisdom puts you in a better stand before God on the day of judgement???
Therefore, know this very well, those who know a lot will be asked a lot … one must humble him one’s self and sprint to help others.
Maybe, it is because of your status (in the community) or richness or wealth … don’t forget that the end is the same for all … rich and poor … never forget that poor Lazarus went to paradise while the rich went to hades and could not find even Lazarus to wet the tip of his tongue because of the heat in hades Luke 16:23-24).
Maybe, because of your country or place of birth … it is not nice to joke about others and talk demeaning them because of their place of birth … remember, you too were very much troubled in Australia when the Australians treated you with less respect because you are a migrant or because of your original place of birth … be aware not to demean or degrade any human being because of his or her appearance, the way they speak or his or her ways and traditions … remember the Lord Jesus died for them just as He died for you … they are very valuable souls the Lord Jesus Christ seeks her or his salvation … remember, that the Lord is searching for the one lost sheep more than the ninety nine who are in the barn. + woe to that man by whom the offense comes … Do you know because of your self-righteousness you cause others to sin?? You are proud of your spiritual status … or with your status in the church … or with your friendship with our fathers the bishops or priests … or your level of knowledge in the holy bible or church rituals and traditions … but you do not live to the spirit of this traditions and teachings and because of this knowledge you became bloated and criticising others without any regards … judging the action of others … therefore, you are exactly like the pharisee who criticised the Lord Jesus for allowing a sinful woman to wash His feeet with her tears, thinking that the Lord doesn’t know she was a sinner … or like the other pharisee who judged the Lord Jesus for eating with the tax collectors and sinners … or sitting with them and visiting their houses … Indeed, woe to this man who is bloated with his own self-righteousness and created from his works and knowledge a mental wall hiding behind it all his transgressions, sins and many short comings
Beloved, learn to place yourself behind everyone … at the last row … learn to say to yourself that you are the first among sinners and more sinful than all … learn to respect others and love them and give them preference over yourself regardless of their gender, colour or work or status … learn to be a servant not a master … train yourself to return and become like little children … and by this you will have a share in the heavenly kingdom.
