The

Feast of Transfiguration of Our Lord on Mount Tabor.

19th August - 13th Mesra

On this day, the church celebrates the commemoration of the transfiguration of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on Mount Tabor. The disciples, Peter, James and John, were with Him, and about whom the Lord said, “ .... there are some standing here who shall not taste death till they see the Son of Man coming in His Kingdom.”

)Mt. 16:28( He fulfilled His promise, for six days later, He took His three disciples, up on a high mountain, where He was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and His clothes became as white as light. And behold, Moses and Elijah appeared to them talking to the Lord.

The Lord wants to teach us that He is the Lord of Moses whom He can raise from the dead, and that He is the God of Elijah whom He can bring back from heaven.

St. Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good for us to be here, if you wish, let us make here three tabernacles: one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.” This indicated the weakness of Peter for he thought that the Lord needed something to cover Him from the sun. It also indicated his good character, for he did not think of himself or the other disciples. We should not marvel at the lack of knowledge of the disciples, for they were not yet perfected. While Peter was still speaking, behold a bright cloud overshadowed them, so that Peter would know that Jesus was not in need of tabernacles made by hands. Suddenly a voice came out of the cloud saying, “This is My beloved Son, with Whom I am well pleased; listen to Him.”

(Mt. 17:1-8) When the disciples heard the voice, they fell on their faces and were exceedingly afraid. Jesus came and touched them with His blessed hand, saying, “Rise, and have no fear.” And when they lifted up their eyes, they saw no one but the Lord Jesus alone.

To Him is the Glory forever. Amen.

The Commemoration of the Departure of St. Mary Known as Marina, the Ascetic.

21st August - 15th Mesra

On this day, the church celebrates the commemoration of the departure of the nun St. Marina, who was the daughter of a very rich Christian man. Her name was Mariam, and her mother died when she was a little girl. Her father raised her, and brought her up well. When he wanted to give her in marriage, and to go himself and become a monk in one of the monasteries, she told him, «O my Father, why would you save your own soul, and destroy mine?» He answered saying, «What shall I do with you? You are a woman.» She told him, «I will take off my woman›s dress and will put on the garb of a man.» She rose up straightway, shaved off the hair on her head and put on the garb of a man. When her father saw her strong determination and persistent desire, he gave all his possessions to the poor, keeping only a very little for himself, and he called her Marina instead of Mariam (Mary). Then he went to one of the monasteries, and lived in one of the cells with his daughter, for ten years, fighting the spiritual fight. Then her father, who was an old man, died. St. Marina was left by herself, and she doubled her fasting, prayers and increased her asceticism. No one knew that she was a woman, and they attributed her soft voice to her intense asceticism and vigilant prayers.

Once the abbot of the monastery sent her, together with three monks, to the city on certain business of the monastery, and they lodged in an inn. That same night, one of the king›s soldiers lodged in that inn, and he saw the daughter of the owner of the inn, and he defiled her virginity. He instructed her to tell her father, «that the young monk, Father Marina, did that to me.» When she had conceived, and her father knew that, he asked her and she answered saying, «that it was the young monk, abba Marina, who did that to me.» Her father then became angry, went to the monastery and began to curse and insult the monks. The Abbot met with him, comforted and calmed him down and then sent him away. The Abbot then called this saint and rebuked her much. When she knew what had happened, she wept and bowed down and said, «I am young, I have sinned, forgive me O my Father.» The Abbot was furious with her, and cast her out of the monastery. She dwelt outside of the monastery for a long time. When the daughter of the inn keeper had the baby, her father took him to St. Marina, set him down before her and left. She took the child, moved among the surrounding shepherds and nursed him with milk. She increased her fasting and prayers for the three years, that she was expelled from the monastery. The monks felt pity upon her and asked the Abbot to readmit her. The Abbot consented to their request and readmitted her to the monastery after he had laid heavy penalties and severe rules upon the Saint. She performed very hard labors, such as cooking, cleaning, and watering, as well as her regular monastic duties.

When the child grew, he became a monk. After St. Marina had completed forty years, she fell ill for three days then departed in peace. The Abbot ordered to take off her old ragged clothes and dress her with new ones prior to carrying her to the place of praying. When they removed her clothing, and found that she was a woman, they all shouted out saying, «God have mercy.» They informed the Abbot who came, marvelled, and wept because of what he had done to her. The Abbot then called the inn keeper and told him that the monk Marina was a woman not a man. The inn keeper went to where her body was and wept much. After they prayed over her body, they came forward to be blessed from her body. One of the monks had sight only in one eye, he put his face close to her body and immediately he gained sight in his blind eye. After she was buried, God allowed a devil to torment the inn keeper›s daughter and the soldier, her friend, and brought them to where the Saint was buried and both confessed their iniquity in front of everyone. God manifested innumerable miracles through her blessed body. May her

The Assumption of the Body of the Pure Virgin St. Mary. 22nd August - 16th Mesra

On this day, was the assumption of the body of our pure Lady St. Mary, the Mother of God. While she was keeping vigil, praying in the Holy Sepulchre, and waiting for the happy minute of her liberation from the bonds of the flesh, the Holy Spirit informed her of her forthcoming departure from this vain world. When the time drew near, the disciples and the virgins of the Mt. of Olives (Zeiton) came and the Lady was lying on her bed. Our Lord, surrounded by thousands and thousands of angels, came to Her. He consoled her, and announced her with the everlasting joy which was prepared for Her. She was happy, and she stretched out her hands, blessed the Disciples, and the Virgins. Then, she delivered up her pure soul in the hand of her Son and God, Jesus Christ, Who ascended her to the higher habitations. As of the pure body, they shrouded it and carried it to Gethsemane.

On their way, some of the Jews blocked the way in the face of the disciples to prevent the burial. One of them seized the coffin. His hands were separated from his body, and remained hanging until he believed and repented for his mischievous deed. With the prayers of the holy disciples, his hands were reattached to his body as they had been before.

St. Thomas was absent at the time of St. Mary’s departure, but he came after the burial. On his way back to Jerusalem, St. Thomas saw angels carrying St. Mary’s pure body and ascending with it to heaven, and one of the angels said to him, “Hurry and kiss the pure body of St. Mary.” When he arrived to the disciples, they informed him about St. Mary’s departure. He told them, “I will not believe, unless I see her body, as you all know how I did doubt the Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ before.” They took him to the tomb, to uncover the body but they did not find it, and they were perplexed and amazed. St. Thomas told them how he saw the pure body ascending to heaven, carried by angels.

The Holy Spirit then told them, “The Lord did not Will to leave Her Holy body on earth.” The Lord had promised his pure apostles that they would see her in flesh another time. They were waiting for the fulfillment of this truthful promise, until the sixteenth day of the month of Misra, when the promise of seeing her was fulfilled. They saw her sitting on the right hand of her Son and her Lord, surrounded by the angelic Host, as David prophesied and said, “At your right hand stands the queen.” (Psalm 45:9) St. Mary’s life on earth was sixty years. She spent twelve years of them in the temple, thirty years in the house of the righteous St. Joseph, and fourteen years in the care of St. John the Evangelist, as the Lord commanded her saying, “Woman behold your Son,” and to St. John, “Behold your Mother.” ay Her intercession be with us. Amen.

Second Sunday of the blessed month of Mesra Luke 5: 27 – 29

So, he left all, rose up and followed Him. Luke 5: 28. This bible chapter begins with the story of St Matthew the apostle and his repentance … who was a publican tax and tithe gatherer (tax collector), and his known name at that time was Levi … he was seated at the tax office … when the Lord Jesus went pass and saw him … Levi (St Matthew) was not used for any one to show interest in him, nor respect or greetings … for he is hated on account of his position (as a tax collector) by all … all would avoid casual contacts with him (at all times) … for he represents all that is hated by )Jews( of greed and cruelty … also, he is the ugly face of the Roman occupier of the Jewish homeland and is an example of those who betray their fellow countrymen and collaborates with the occupiers partaking in their cruelty, harshness and tyranny … and perhaps one of the things which was very painful for the Jews who dealt with him, was that his name was Levi … one of the most revered names )by the Jews( for the name’s relationship with the temple services and the law … but, God had an amazing plan … for this person who is despised by all … and hated by all … is found to be a “chosen vessel” … and was chosen as one of the twelve … to become St Matthew the Evangelical … and his name means (Matthew = the gift of God) … thus, Levi the tax collector had become the gift of God for the deliverance of many souls … Beloved … do you think God hates the sinners and does not welcome them … do you think God nolonger Loves you on account of your evil doings and sins … or because you have gone faraway from God … true, many people (might) not like you because of your evil doings … but God still Loves you …

+ Follow Me

Amazing and powerful is these (two) words … for it comes a midst the bleak darkness … a whispering voice among the loud noise of the world, but it has a much stronger echo than sound of thunder … there are many who have heard this voice … so, this )whispering( voice and the weak light filled many to fullness … so that they were filled and overflown to others like rivers of running living waters after they were a (dry) pools of corruption and sin … one of those is St Augustine (of Hippo 354 -430 AD) … who lived in the fourth century AD … despite he was born to and raise by St Monica … but, he did not follow the righteous life and diverted to evil, sin and a life of )lustful( physical pleasures trying to find comfort in his pleasures … he also, focussed on the world philosophy trying to find comfort and fulfilment … he followed bad company of friends in order to find solace and gratification … for twenty years and behind him was the righteous St Monica, trying to light up a lamp with her tears so that her son does not fully perish to destruction (in sins) … these tears which St Ambrose saw and said to her; be assured woman … that the son of these tears will not perish And one day during this period of sinful indulgences which Augustine used to challenge his body and abilities with it to the perfection enjoyment of sins, he heard whispering low sound from behind him saying take and read and when he looked, he found a young child carrying a copy of one of St Paul’s epistles and without thinking, Augustine took the epistle and pocketed it in his dress and at night he sat to read it … and the low whispering voice started to be louder in his heart “follow Me” … and his eyes and heart eagerly take in the word of the epistle … and in the following day … he rushes to the same place and searches for the boy and asked him for rest of the epistles … to read and read … and his eyes is opened and he screams towards the heavens wanting to know this excellent beauty his eyes had opened to … and he said; “Late have I loved You, beauty so old and so new: late have I loved you. And see, you were within and I was in the external world and sought you there, and in my unlovely state I plunged into those lovely created things which you made. You were with me, and I was not with You. The lovely things kept me far from You, though if they did not have their existence in You, they had no existence at all. You called and cried out loud and shattered my deafness. You were radiant and resplendent, You put to flight my blindness. You were fragrant, and I drew in my breath and now pant after You. I tasted You, and I feel but hunger and thirst for You. You touched me, and I am set on fire to attain the peace which is Yours” (Confessions of St Augustine, Penguin publication 1961 by R.S. Pine). Thus, St Augustine’s life changed and he was baptised by St Ambrose … the Lord blown on the smouldering wick to light up and enlighten the world … and Augustine became a bishop and a teacher (and father) of the church and led many to repentance, and caused many souls to be saved.

And St Moses the Black … the black slave who ran away from his master and became a highway robber… and a very terrifying person … just the mention of his name would instil fear in many … but behind all these dark obstacles … his soul was eager within him to know God … and one day he met with St Isidore in the wilderness … and there under (St Isidore’s) feet, he sat to hear and learn … and the high-way robber became a great saint and a father to many monks … And you beloved … the Lord Who loves you still calling you “follow Me” … this whispering quite voice is still being heard in the ears of the sinners … even while they are seated at tax-collection place (the place of evils) …

And you beloved, the Lord is calling you come and “follow Me” … enough of these sins which you live by for the Lord means you specifically … and He wants you in particular …

+ I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance +++

Many would delay their repentance, prayers and fasting … with the excuse they are not ready (yet) … for they still live in sin … many refuses to go to church with the justification that they still commit evil and they cannot enter the church …

Do you think the church is only open for the saints???

Do you think that all means of grace are only offered to the righteous only??? If this was the case, then all churches would be shut and no human being will dare to pay (or enter) … or to left up his or her hands to (heavens) above …

In the holy Liturgy the priest calls out warning the congregation: The Holies are for the Holy (the saints) but the congregation with a true feeling of being undeserving (of receiving this sacrament) reply with a loud voice saying:

One is the Holy Father +++ One is the Holy Son +++ One is the Holy Spirit.

Beloved … if the thief on the right (of the Lord in the Crucifixion( looked at his many sins and felt ashamed and did not say to the Lord Jesus “Lord remember me when You come into Your kingdom” (Luke 23:40) … what do you think he would have received then … then he would have lost the kingdom (of heavens)?

If the Canaanite woman was embarrassed to ask the Lord Jesus to heal her daughter because she was a stranger )and not a Jew( and a sinful person … her daughter would have not been ever healed (Matthew 15:21-28).

Manasseh king of Judah was a very wicked man … he committed many evils … and mad the people of Judah and Jerusalem commit abominations )before the Lord) (2 Chronicles 33:1-9) … which infuriated the God and brought upon them the captains of the king of Assyria’s armies and they captured Manasseh and took him in bronze fetters (shackles) to Babylon … and there, Manasseh lifted his eyes heavens and pleaded before God with many tears … and God heard his supplications and returned him to Jerusalem to offer thanks giving offertories and destroyed all the idol altars … a true repentance accepted before God … very late but God accepted it and delivered him for his tribulations … How beautiful is this repentance which turns sinners, highway robbers and thieves into saints and inheritors of the kingdom of heavens?

And you beloved … this might be your last chance … who knows???????

Do not deceive yourself … you have spent many times in sin and it is clear that you did not benefit from it nor you will profit from )sin( … but, on the contrary, you went from bad to worse because of sin … what have you gained from quarrelling with your brethren and loved ones??? With others????? Have you achieved anything … defiantly, nothing … what have gained from smoking or drinking alcoholic (drinks) or gambling??? From evil friends and company??? From gossiping about others??? What have you achieved from the worldly pleasures and lusts?? Are you full? Have you been filled and satisfied? Are you happy and your heart is full with peace … have you solved all your problems?

Therefore … now is the right time to return to God … Who still loves you … and still waiting for you … and still calling you … enough delaying and postponing … enough temporary useless solutions … for you are mending an old garment with a piece of the new garment … and such will never work … it is time for an essential solution …

+ Old Garments … Old Wine …

An old garment full of holes … the more you patch it the more holes appear in it …

The only solution is to change this (old garment) with a new garment … and this is the true repentance …

Now you have gained a new garment (in the sacrament of confession) … be aware of sins … be careful lest you make new holes (of sins) in it and ruin the new garment … and be careful not to patch it with old pieces … worn-out patches … there is only one way to patch a new garment with new patch (only) like it … a life of continual renewal (in the sacrament of life in repentance).

Repentance must be endless … every day … and every hour …. Do not delay or postpone lest the whole garment is ruined and worn-out … Be meticulous in practicing the sacrament of confessions … with an endless repentance … carful to always partake of (holy) communion (in the Eucharist) … adhering to all means of God’s grace in your life … lest you be deceived by the evil one and makes you loose your crown and the new garment ..

AMEN – LORD JESUS, I hear Your call.