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 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
Discipleship Clas Class 7-8:30pm
Saturday: Mass: 8:30 – 11am
Sunday School 4 – 5.30pm
Vespers & youth meeting 7-8:30pm English
Vespers &Bible Study Arabic 5:30-7pm
Scouts 1:30 - 3pm
School of Deaconsgip 3 - 4pm
Sunday:
1st Mass 6:30 - 8:30 Arabic & English
2nd Mass.8:30 - 10:30 English - St Mary’s Church
3rd Mass 8:30 - 10:30 Arabic - St John’s Chrysostom Church
Family Meeting fortnightly 11:30am Hymns Class - English 11:45 - 12:30pm
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., Kensington Vic 3031 Tel: 93766651
Fr Kerillos Tawadros 0411 518 399
Fr John Makary 0433 445 636
Additional Liturgies during the Lent:
Tuesday 12- 3pm
Thursday 5 - 7 pm
The Martyrdom of St. Matthias, the apostle. 17th March – 8th Baramhat
On this day St. Matthias, the apostle was martyred about 63 A.D. He was born in Bethlehem, followed the apostles and was chosen in place of Judas Iscariot in the upper room on the mount of Zion. Peter stood up in the midst of the disciples (altogether the number of names was about a hundred and twenty(, and said, “Men and brethren, this Scripture had to be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit spoke before by the mouth of David concerning Judas, who became a guide to those who arrested Jesus; “for he was numbered with us and obtained a part in this ministry.” (Now this man purchased a field with the wages of iniquity; and falling headlong, he burst open in the middle and all his entrails gushed out. And it became known to all those dwelling in Jerusalem; so that field is called in their own language, Akel Dama, that is, Field of Blood.( “For it is written in the book of Psalms: ‘Let his habitation be desolate, and let no one live in it’; and, ‘Let another take his office.’ “Therefore, of these men who have accompanied us all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, “beginning from the baptism of John to that day when He was taken up from us, one of these must become a witness with us of His resurrection.” And they proposed two: Joseph called Barsabas, who was surnamed Justus, and Matthias. And they prayed and said, “You, O Lord, who know the hearts of all, show which of these two You have chosen “to take part in this ministry and apostleship from which Judas by transgression fell, that he might go to his own place.” And they cast their lots, and the lot fell on Matthias. And he was numbered with the eleven apostles. (Acts 1:15-26( Afterwards he was filled with the Holy Spirit, and went to preach the Gospel until he came to the country of cannibals. The custom of those people was whenever they seized a stranger, they put him in prison for thirty days feeding him grass, then they bring him out and eat him. When St. Matthias came to them and preached among them the massage of love they seized him, plucked out his eyes and put him in prison. Before the thirty days were over God sent to him Andrew the apostle and his disciple. They came to the prison and saw the prisoners and what abominable things the people of the city did to them. Satan inspired the people of the city to seize them also and kill them. When they were about to seize them, the two Saints prayed to the Lord, and a stream of water flowed from under one of the pillar of the prison. The water flowed out into the city, and rose up until it reached the necks of the people. When the people of the city gave up all hope of saving their lives, they came to the apostles, and wept before them confessing their sins. The apostles told them “Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, and you shall be saved.” They all believed and they released St. Matthias. St. Matthias, along with St. Andrew and his disciple taught them the mystery of the Incarnation of the Lord Christ. The Apostles prayed and entreated God Who made the water to cease then they baptized them in the Name of the Holy Trinity. They also prayed to The Lord Christ Who removed from them their barbaric nature. The Apostles appointed over them bishops and priests. They tarried with them for a while during which they instructed them and confirmed them in the faith, then they left. The people of the
city entreated them to come back to them speedily. St. Matthias went to the city of Damascus and preached there in the Name of the Lord Christ. The people of the city became angry so they took him and laid him upon an iron bed, they lighted a fire under it which did not harm him but his face was shining with light like the sun. They marvelled exceedingly and they all believed on the Lord Christ through St. Matthias the apostle who baptized them, and appointed priests for them. He tarried many days with them confirming them in the faith. Afterward he departed in peace in one of the city of the jews called Falawon (Pilawon( where his body was laid. May his prayers be with us. Amen.
The Martyrdom of St. Arianus, the Governor of Ansena. On this day also St. Arianus, the governor of Ansena was martyred. When he ordered to shoot St. Apollonius with arrows, and one of the arrows glanced back and struck his eye and destroyed it, as it is mentioned in the Seventh day of Baramhat, one of the believers told him: “If you take some of his blood and smear your eye with it, you will receive your sight.” The Governor took some of his blood, smeared his eye, and immediately he was able to see. Arianus believed on the Lord Christ, with great sorrow for all the evil things which he had done to the holy martyrs and the severity with which he tortured them. Then he rose up, destroyed his idols, and he refrained from torturing any of the believers. When Diocletian heard the report of Arianus, he brought him, and asked him why he had forsaken the worship of his idols. Arianus began to tell him about the signs and wonders which God was working by the hands of the holy martyrs, and how, in spite of the tortures which he had inflicted upon them, and the cutting of their bodies, they rose up again whole. The Emperor became furious with him because of what he said and ordered him to be tortured severely, and to cast him into a pit and to cover it until he dies. The Lord Christ sent His angel, who brought him out from the pit, and took him by the bed of the Emperor. The Emperor woke up from his sleep, and when he saw and recognized that he was Arianus, he was amazed and terrified. Diocletian again ordered him to be placed into a hair sack, and to cast him into the sea, so they did. Arianus the martyr delivered up his soul while he was in the hair sack. The Saint had told his kinsfolk when he bid them farewell that the Lord had told him in a vision of the night that He would take care of his body, return it to his town, and they could find it on the shore of Alexandria. The Lord ordered a sea creature who carried the Saint, and brought him to the city of Alexandria, where it casted him on the shore. His men took his body, brought it to Ansena, and laid it with the bodies of the Saints Philemon and Apollonius. Thus, he finished his good fight and received the heavenly crown.
May his prayers be with us and Glory be to God forever. Amen.
Commemoration Of the Appearance Of The Glorious Cross. 19th March – 10th Baramhat
The church celebrates the appearance of the glorious Cross of
Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ twice:
The First on the sixteenth day of the month of Tute, 326 A.D. by the hands of the righteous Empress St. Helen, the mother ofConstantine the great, the righteous Emperor. This Saint when her son Constantine accepted the Faith in the Lord Christ, she vowed to go to Jerusalem. Her righteous son prepared everything needed to fulfil this holy visit.
When she arrived to Jerusalem with multitude of soldiers, she asked about the place of the Cross but no one would tell her. She took one of the Jewish elders and pressured him by hunger and thirst until he was forced to direct them to the place where they might find the Cross at the hill of Golgotha. She ordered them to clear out the site of Golgotha where they found three crosses and that was in the year 326 A.D. However, they did not know the cross upon which Our Lord Christ was crucified, they brought a dead man and they laid upon him one of the crosses and then the other but he did not rise up but when they laid the third cross upon him he rose up immediately, then they realized that this was the Cross of Our Lord Christ. The Empress and all the believers kneeled down before the Holy Cross, and she sent a piece of it with the nails to her son Constantine. Immediately after, she built the churches that were mentioned on the Sixteenth day of the blessed month of Tute.
The Second celebration that the church commemorates the Cross is on the Tenth day of the month of Baramhat by the hands of Emperor Heraclius, in 627 A.D. When the Persians were defeated by Heraclius they retreated from Egypt to their country. On their way back they passed through Jerusalem, a Persian prince entered the church of the Cross which was built by Empress Helen. He saw a great light shining from a piece of wood located on a place decorated with gold. He thrust his hand to it and there went forth from it fire which burned his fingers. The Christians told him that this is the base of the Holy Cross and they told him how it was discovered, and no one was able to touch it except a Christian. He deceived the two deacons who were standing to guard it and gave them much money, so they would carry this piece and go with it with him to his country. They took it and put it in a box and went with him to his country along with those who were captured from the city of Jerusalem.
When Emperor Heraclius heard that, he went with his army to Persia, fought with them and slew many of them. He travelled about this country searching for this piece of the Holy Cross, but he could not find it, for the Persian prince had dug a hole in his garden and ordered the two deacons to put the box in it and buried it and then he killed them.
One of the captives of that Persian prince which was the daughter of one of the priests, was looking out of the window by chance and saw what happened. She went to Heraclius the Emperor and told him what she saw. He went with the bishops, priests and the soldiers to the place. They dug there and found the box, they took the piece of the Holy Cross out, in 628 A.D., wrapped it in magnificent apparel and Heraclius took it to the city of Constantinople and kept it there.
May the blessings of the Holy Cross be with us and Glory be
The Commemoration of the revealing of the virginity of St. Demetrius the Twelfth Pope of Alexandria.
21st March - 12th Baramhat
On this day also the church celebrates the commemoration of the revealing of the virginity of St. Demetrius the Twelfth Pope of Alexandria. The angel of the Lord appeared to St. Julian, the Eleventh Pope, before his departure and said: «You are going to the Lord Christ, the one who will bring you tomorrow a cluster of grapes, is the one fit to be a Patriarch after you.» On the morrow, this saint came with a cluster of grapes, Abba Julian held him and told the people: «This is your Patriarch after me,» and told them what the angel told him. After the departure of Abba Julian they took him and ordained him Patriarch on the ٩th day of Baramhat (March 4th., ١88 A.D.( and he was married.
Since no married Patriarch ever before this father been enthroned over the See of Alexandria, satan entered the hearts of the laity and made them talk and grumble against the Patriarch and the one who recommended him. The angel of God appeared to St. Demetrius and told him about that and ordered him to remove the doubt from their hearts by revealing to them his relation with his wife. When St. Demetrius refused, the angel told him: «It is not meet that you save your self alone and let others be perished because of you. But because you are a shepherd you should fight to save your people also».
On the next day, after he had finished celebrating the Divine Liturgy, he asked the people not to leave the church. He brought flamed charcoal, and brought his wife from the place of the women and the congregation wondered at his action, not knowing what he was going to do. He prayed and walked on the blazing fire, he took a piece of the blazing fire and put it in his shawl, then he took another piece and put it in his wife›s shawl. He prayed again for a long time and both shawls did not burn. The congregation marvelled and asked him to tell them why he did that. He told them of his strife with his wife, and how his father and her father married them against their will, and they have lived together as a brother and sister since they were married forty-eight years ago, the angel of the Lord each night covered them with his wings, and no one knew that before that time until the angel of the Lord ordered him to reveal his secret.
The congregation marvelled for what they had seen and heard, they praised and glorified God asking the Saint to pardon them for what they had done or said and to forgive them. He accepted their apology, forgave them, blessed them, and sent them to their homes glorifying the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit talking about what they saw of wonders from this Saint. May his prayers be with us. Amen.
Meditations on the bible readings
Third Sunday of the holy lent
Luke 15 :11-22
‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight, and am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ Luke 15:21. When the Lord Christ addressed the multitudes which follow Him, on how to follow the Lord, and this was during His mission (on earth( and prior to His final entry into Jerusalem; it was stated in the Gospel according to St Luke, chapter 14:25-35; Then all the tax collectors and the sinners drew near to Him to hear Him. And the Pharisees and scribes complained, saying, This Man receives sinners and eats with them (Luke 15:1-2(. As if they were criticising because of His mercy on the sinners and accepting their invitations to bring them to Him and this is the purpose of the (Lord’s( coming into the world. The Lord Christ, answered them with three beautiful parables and these are; the parable of the lost sheep, the parable of the lost coin and the parable of the prodigal son (Luke 15(
Today chapter from the bible is the story of the lost (prodigal( son, and the church in this is showing us the mercy of the Saviour on the sinners and penitent and being accepted by the Lord … as the Lord in this parable speak of the sinner and his repentance and how earth and heavens rejoices with his return.
+ the shame of the sinner … As it happened, the younger son said to his father, (give me the portion of goods that falls to me(, so he can spend it on his physical desires and this was not a legal request as it is not allowable according to the Jewish laws nor it is proper for a son to ask his father for his inheritance … indeed Abraham had divided some of his money among his (other( sons while he was still alive … but he did this to avoid schisms within the family (Genesis 25:5-6(, however despite this (facts( the father did divide among them his (livelihood( that is to say his money by his own choice and willingness … and in this is an indication to what God does for all the people, as He (God( grants all from His richness, the good and the evil and created all with absolute logic and wisdom as well as knowledge and ability to do good and evil with a free will, and had given us our natural laws as well as the written commandments and offered His own life for our Salvation, and He raise the sun and gives us rain to all, the good and evil alike … + after some days, not a long period, the son gathered all his belongings and travelled to a far-away place … + Being a far-away place does not mean far away from God’s reach, as such is absolutely impossible for any human and man confesses to God saying (Where can I go from Your Spirit? Or where can I flee from Your presence?( (Psalm 139:7(.
But what is meant here is (the sinner( being far-away from God, in his heart and by disobeying God’s commandments and by man’s engagement in his bodily lusts and emersion in sin and being away from doing good and totally forget-
ting about God …
+ And there (the younger son( wasted his possessions in an extravagant living, which meant that he spent on his desires and lusts and all the talents and blessings which God had granted him for the Glory of God and the good of the souls, he wasted on evil doings without thinking of the consequences or punishment and thus wasted his earlier status (with God( and in this is his punishment for being far-away from God … + when he had wasted every thing and lost his first status and all his great talents which he had (there arose a severe famine in that land( and in this is an indication to the hunger one feels for being far-away from God, for the pleasures of the world cannot satisfy the soul which yearns to God’s love, clear conscious and the heavenly bread (manna( … and then (he began to be in want(, that is he began to want more because of his distant afar from sin, so he needed others to fulfil his needs of evil
+ It was reasonable then when he became hungry to return to his father’s house but he did not because of pride … he thought, he can earn a living on his own means by working, so he joined himself to a citizen of that country and this citizen refers to one of the devils. For every sin has a devil glorifying for the sinners (people( its enjoyment and therefore because of sin he was by necessity driven to its devil, but this poor son’s hope, soon was eliminated as this citizen sent him to feed swine, as is he left his father’s true services and joined himself to a foreigner to labour hard with him under the yoke of a hefty labour which is tending swine and this is the most defiled labour for a Jew … the meaning of this, is that he had fell down to the highest level of sinfulness and became like the pigs reeling in the midst of evil and doing all that dictated by Satan and his devils … + Then, the Saviour went on saying about him (the lost son( (he would gladly have filled his stomach with the pods that the swine ate( and this refers to desires of adultery and evil doing and all the other sins which (the sinner( never becomes satisfied and every time one stops, soon returns or desires it again. One notes here that he (the lost son( was not just desiring to eat the pods, but he would have gladly filled his stomach with the pods, if he had the chance to be fulfilled from it. And here, despite it is the lowly pods which is eaten by the swine, but no one gave him anything. It was said of the pods refers to the physical pleasures which stirs up one’s lusts and cannot be satisfied just like the pods which stirs up one’s appetite but does not fulfil, for lusts to the sinner is like water to thirsty and in this is evidence of how deep is this pit of evil and miseries which he had fallen in … and the Saviours saying (no one gave him anything( means that no one gave him food except the pods which he had to eat since there was no one to cater for him (anymore( and despite this he was still
not satisfied since (the pods( are not a fulfilling food for mankind … and the end result for this miserable lost son, is that he replaced his fathers house with (the barren( and his people with (the pigs( and the goods of the (his fathers’( palace with (the pods( and fulfilment with (bitter hunger(. All these means that, man’s spiritual needs when he or she feels that the pleasures of the world are not satisfying to fulfil one’s soul and that one’s distant from God is one’s reason of misery and tries to remedy this by ones self through apparent righteousness without (the true( faith which stems from the heart, then one will find himself in mush worse situation …
+ Indeed, this man’s misery is great and his grief is enormous beyond description for he is naked, hungry and thirsty (For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life( ( Galatians 6:8( … he was truly not in need of any of this …
+ St Paul the apostle directs to him and those who are like him in sin the following saying (What fruit did you have then in the things of which you are now ashamed? For the end of those things is death.( (Romans 6:21( …
+ His repentance …
+ When this miserable soul became aware of his miseries and lowliness (he came to himself( that is he awakened from his fall and his eyes were opened to his miserable state which he had fallen to when he strayed to follow the kingdom of darkness after the high place he had and enjoyed in father’s house and soon he realized that he followed his lusts and became more like an animal or a madman rather than the man he was …
+ this awakening is the first step towards his return to his father and it refers to the awakening of the sinner which returns him or her to God, where one starts to walk according to logic. Good conscience and not according to desires and pleasures …
+ Then, he started to contradict between his joyful past and miserable present and said to himself (How many of my father’s hired servants have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger( and similarly the sinner if he looks at his status if one did not separate from God and one’s status (away from God( then his heart will awaken to the great difference between the two statuses … for the hired hands in his father’s house have enough bread to spare and here he is suffering and dying from hunger, and it was said in explaining the (hired servants( that they are the penitent sinners standing outside the niche of the church (the catechumens(, but still not allowed to partake of the holy sacraments and the offertory, also said they are good doers in this world, seeking joy in the world to come and they are three categories; one who does good for goodness sake and does not expect reward like the son
in his father’s house and another who does good on the hope of a reward like a hired hand and a third who does good in fear of punishment like a slave
+ We who are driven by God’s Spirit called sons of God as the apostle confirms in his saying (For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, Abba, Father( (Romans 8:15(, therefore we ought to do good deeds as the sons in their Father’s houses and the Spirit which works in those sons is an indication to righteousness and God’s words which fulfils the souls just as food fulfils the physical bodies. And the prodigal son saying (and I perish with hunger( is an indication to the reward of those who serve the world instead of serving God …
+ After he (the prodigal son( had contemplated much on his miserable state and remembered that he had a loving and merciful father willing to forgive him what he had committed against him, he did not give up and despair but decided to return to him … thus is the sinner who recognizes that he is perishing without a doubt away from God and decides to return to God in repentance … and very rapidly he said to himself (I will arise and go to my father, and will say to him, Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you( and in saying (I have sinned( is a clear evidence that confessing one’s sins is an essential part to receive forgiveness and without such confession there is no true repentance and on this the apostle says (If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness( (1John 1:9(
+ As he decided to confess his sins without making excuses for himself by being a youth, ignorant, unwise or how strong the trail was similarly a sinner must (confess( without seeking excuses for his or her sins nor delaying repentance, and in his saying I have sinned (against heavens( that is (against God( Himself or he has sinned a great sin which had reached the bounds of heavens against He who have authority and in his saying (before you( which means he has committed a sin against his father because he left (his house( and did not head his advice and was the cause of shame for his father by his bad behaviour. The (prodigal( son not only did he confess (his sins( but also, he decided to humble himself and said to his father (I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Make me like one of your hired servants( … without a doubt contrition, humbleness and submission in deep sorrow are essential for a true repentance …
+ And this determination for repentance is combined with fulfilling such decision (and he arose and came to his father( and by doing this he showed his true repentance otherwise all his good intentions and feelings would have been without aim or success …
H.H. Pope Tawadros II Witnesses the Celebration of St. George Sporting Church of the Feast of the Departure of Fr. Bishoy Kame
16th March 2023
His Holiness Pope Tawadros II witnessed this evening the celebration of Martyr George’s Church in Sporting, Alexandria, on the 44th anniversary of the departure of Fr Bishoy Kamel (who departed on March 21, 1979(
Upon his arrival at the church, His Holiness went to the shrine of Fr Bishoy Kamel, who prayed thanksgiving prayers and poured spices the cemetery containing his body.
The participation of His Holiness this year in the celebration of the feast of the departure of Fr Bishoy Kamel, is on the occasion of the official recognition of His Holiness by the Holy Synod of the Coptic Orthodox Church in June of last year.
His Holiness delivered a speech at the celebration, which will last for several days, during which H.H. addressed a topic entitled “Perfect Love”, where H.H. read part of the first Epistle of St. John the Beloved, chapter four verses 7-18 and H.H. spoke about the characteristics of the love of God to us which are:
1. Personal 2. Continuous 3. Joyful
H.H. also pointed out that the love required of us has two aspects: 1- Loyalty 2- Care
Bishops of the districts of Alexandria who have attended are: H.G. Bishop Pavly, General Bishop of Montaza, Alexandria, H.G. Bishop Elarion, General Bishop of West Alexandria and H.G. Bishop Hermina, General Bishop of East Alexandria, as well as Fr Abraam Emil, the Patriarchal Vicar of Alexandria and a number of priests and congregation.
Feast of the Holy Cross:
Next Wedensday 19th March 2025 10th Baramhat 1741 is the Feast of the Holy Cross. Service at St. Mary’s Church: 7:30amm Matins and the Procession of the Cross. 9 - 11am Divine Liturgy.
Commemoration of the Departure of Saint Hegomen Fr Beshoy Kamel
21st March - 12th Baramhat
Celebrating the feast and Vespers at St Mary’s Church next Saturday 22nd March 6 - 7:30pm
New Church, New Building and Car Park are ready
We started to use the New Building and church last on Lazarus Saturday 27th April 2024. 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. We thank Our Lord for this great Gift 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
https://www.stmc.org.au/donate (Copy & Paste on Web Browser( (
