Translocation of the Body of St. Stephen the Archdeacon
26th September - 15th Tote
striver and martyr, appeared several times to a man called Lucianus. He was from a village where the honored body was buried, known as the “Village of Gamaliel,” near Jerusalem. He told him his name and where his body was buried.
That man went to the bishop of Jerusalem and informed him of what he had seen in his sleep. The bishop rose up, took with him two bishops and the people of the church and went to the place where the body was. They dug the ground, and a mighty earthquake took place. The coffin wherein the holy body was lying was revealed. Sweet and precious aromas came out from it. They heard voices of angels praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace, good will toward men.” This praise was repeated and the bishops bowed down before the coffin. They carried it away with songs, hymns and candles until they came to Jerusalem. Later on, a man whose name was Alexander, and who was from Constantinople, built a church for St. Stephen in Jerusalem and placed the holy body in it.
Five years later, Alexander departed, and his wife buried him by the side of the coffin of the Saint. Eight years later, Alexander’s wife decided to go to Constantinople and wished to take her husband’s body with her. She came to the church, and she took the coffin wherein the body of St. Stephen had been laid thinking that it was the coffin wherein was her husband’s body. She carried it away to Ascalon, and from there she embarked with it in a ship to Constantinople. In the middle of the sea she heard singing and many praises coming from the coffin, and she marvelled. She rose up and examined the coffin and she realised that it was the coffin wherein was the body of St. Stephen, and this was the Will of God. She gave thanks to the Lord and went on her way until she arrived in Constantinople. She went to the Emperor and informed him about what had happened. The Emperor, the Archbishop, priests and the people of the city went forth to the ship, and carried the coffin on their shoulders to the royal palace. God made manifest many signs both on the ship and in the royal palace. They laid the holy body on a litter carried by two mules, and when they came to a place called Constantinious, the two mules stopped. When they beat the mules, they did not move but they heard the voice of one of them saying, “It is meet to place the Saint here.” All those who saw and heard this, marvelled and they knew that He who had made the donkey of Balaam speak was He who had made this animal carrying the body of the Saint to speak. The Emperor ordered that a church be built for the Saint in that place. They laid in it the pure gem, the holy body of St. Stephen, the apostle and the martyr.
سونافطسا سيدقلا دسج لقن توت ١٥ - برمتبس ٢٦ سيدقلا دسج لقنب مويلا اذه في ديعن ءادهشلا لوأو ةسمماشلا سيئر سونافتسا ةيرثك يننس هتحاين لىع تضم دق تناكو . روطابرملإا كلم دقو ، ةنس ةئاثملاثلا لىع ديزت نا كلذو ، ةنسحلا ةدابعلا تعاذو ينطنطسق نوفدلما ةعيضلاب . سونمايكول همسا اناسنإ لايلماغ رفك ىمستو ، مركلما دسجلا اهب ديهشلا دهاجلما هل رهظ دق ، ميلشروأ برق هفرعو ، هناكبم هملعأو تارم ةدع سونافتسا ابم هملعأو ميلشروأ فقسأ لىإ بهذف ، همساب ينفقسأ هعم ذخأو فقسلأا ماقف . همون في ىأر تثدحف هورفحو ناكلما لىإ تىأو ، ةعيبلا لهأو سدقلما دسجلا توبات رهظو ، ةميظع ةلزلز تعمسو ، ةرخاف بيط حئاور هنم تحافو ، في هلل دجلما“ ينلئاق نوحبسي ةكئلالما تاوصأ ”ةسرلما سانلا فىو ملاسلا ضرلأا لىعو لياعلأا ةنهكلا ءاسؤر دجسف ةحبستلا هذه ترركتو . . عومشلاو ليتترلاب هولمح مث ، توباتلا مامأ كلذ دعبو . نويهص هب اولخد نأ لىإ لهأ نم سوردنكسلاا همسا لجر هل ىنب لظو ، ميلشروأ في ةسينك ةينيطنطسقلا سمخب كلذ دعبو . اهيف سدقلما دسجلا هتجوز هتنفدف ، سوردنكسلاا حينت يننس نيماثب كلذ دعبو . سيدقلا توبات بناجب بهذت نأ سوردنكسلاا ةأرملا قفتا يننس دسج ذخأت نأ تدارأف ، ةينيطنطسقلا لىإ تذخأو ناكلما لىإ تتأف . اهعم اهجوز اهنم انظ سيدقلا دسج هيف يذلا توباتلا هتلمحو ، اهجوز دسج هيف يذلا توباتلا هنأ لىإ ابكرم تبكر مث نمو ، نلاقسع ليإ تعمس رحبلا اوطسوت المو . ةينيطنطسقلا ، ايرثك لايترتو احيبست توباتلا لخاد نم تفرعف توباتلا تصحفو تماقو تبجعتف ، سونافتسا سيدقلا دسج وه هيف يذلا نأ دعت ملف هللا يربدتب كلذو اهجوز دسج سيلو نأ لىإ اهيرس في ترمتساو هللا تركش اهنكلو لىإ تبهذ مث نمو ، ةينيطنطسقلا تلصو كريرطبلا هعمو جرخف . برخلاب هتملعأو كللما اولمحو بكرلما لىإ ةنيدلما بعشو ةنهكلاو . ةكلملما صرق لىإ مهقانعأ لىع توباتلا تايآ قيرطلا فىو بكرلما في هللا رهظأو لومحم جدوه لىع هولمح مهنأ اهنم . ةيرثك ىمسلما عضولما لىإ اولصو مالف ، ينلغب لىع لم ماهوبضر المو نلاغبلا فقو سوينيطنطسق بجي : لوقي ماهدحأ توص اوعمسو ، لاقتني عمس نم لك بجعتف ، انه سيدقلا عضوي نأ يذلا وه ماعلب ةرماح قطنأ يذلا نأ اوملعو ، ، سيدقلا دسجل لماحلا ناويحلا اذه قطنأ . ناكلما كلذ في ةعيب هل ىنبت نأ كللما رمأو
His prayers be with us all, and Glory be to our God forever. Amen.
The Commemoration of the Consecration of the Sanctuaries of the church of Resurrection in Jerusalem.
27th September - 16th Tote
Today we celebrate the consecration of the sanctuaries of the church of Resurrection in Jerusalem in the year 326 A.D. In the twentieth year of the reign of Emperor Constantine and after the meeting of the Holy Council at Nicea, the saint Queen Helena told her son Constantine that she had vowed to go to Jerusalem to receive the blessings of the holy places and to search for the wood of the life-giving Cross. He rejoiced at this, gave her much money, and sent her in the company of a large number of soldiers. When she arrived there and received the blessings of the holy places, she searched for the wood of the Cross and found it after much toil. She praised it with great veneration and paid to it much reverence and honor. She commanded the building of the sanctuaries of the Resurrection, the Golgotha, Bethlehem and the manger, the upper room of Zion, Gethsemane and other sanctuaries, and that they be inlaid with pearl and covered with gold and silver. There was in Jerusalem a saintly bishop who advised her not to do that, saying, “After a while foreign people will come and seize this place and destroy it and take the precious stones and the silver and the gold. But it is preferable to construct the buildings well and give the remainder of the money to the poor and the needy.” She accepted his advice, gave him the money and set him in charge of the work.
When she returned to her son and told him what she had done, he rejoiced, and sent large sums of money and commanded to pay the workers their wages in full so they would not complain. When the building of the holy places was finished in the thirtieth year of the reign of Emperor Constantine, he sent vessels and precious vestments for the altars. He sent word to the Archbishop of Constantinople and to St. Athanasius, Pope of Alexandria, to take their bishops and to go to Jerusalem where they would meet the Archbishop of Antioch and the Bishop of Jerusalem, to consecrate these sanctuaries.
They tarried there until the sixteenth of the month of Tute, when they consecrated all the altars that had been built. On the seventeenth day they marched with the Honorable Cross around all the holy places where they worshipped God, offered the offerings, and venerated the Cross and honored it. Then they returned to their chairs.
Their prayers be with us to the last breath. Amen.
The Feast of the Consecration of the Church of the Honorable Cross.
28th September - 17th Tote
On this day the church celebrates the appearance of
دسجل يتلا ةيقنلا ةرهوجلا اهيف اوعضوو ، ءادهشلا لوأ لوسرلا سونافتسا سيدقلا . ينمأ انعم نوكت هتاولص دي لىع ميلشروأب ةمايقلا ةسينك سيركت ش4٢ ةنس ليوسرلا سويسانثأ سيدقلا توت ١٦ - برمتبس ٢7 ةيدلايم ٢٦٢ ةنس نم مويلا اذه في ديعن هنأ كلذو . ميلشروأب ةمايقلا لكايه سيركتب دعبو ينطنطسق كلم نم نيشرعلا ةنسلا في ةكللما تلاق . ةيقنب سدقلما عمجلما عماتجا تناك اهنا ينطنطسق اهنبلا ةنلايه ةسيدقلا نم كبرتلاو ميلشروأ لىإ باهذلا ترذن دق بيلصلا دوع نع ثحبلاو . ةسدقلما عضاولما ، ةيرثك لااومأ اهاطعأو كلذب حرفف ىيحلما تلصو المو ، ركسعلا نم يربك ددعب اهبحصأو تشتف . ةسدقلما راثلآا نم تكرابتو كانه لىإ بعت دعب هتدجو ىتح بيلصلا دوع نع اماركإ هتمركأو . مايظع اديجتم هتدجمف . ديدش ةثجلجلاو ةمايقلا لكايه ءانبب ترمأو ،لايزج رئاسو ةينماسجلاو ةيلعلاو ةراغلماو محل تيبو بهذلاب لىطتو رهاوجلاب عصرت نأو . لكايهلا راشأ سيدق فقسأ سدقلا في ناكو . ةضفلاو تيأي ليلق دعب هنا« لائاق اذه لمعت لاأ اهيلع نوذخأيو هنومدهيو ناكلما اذه نوبلسيو مملأا لضفلأاو . »ةضفلاو بهذلاو رهاوجلا هذه لاوملأا نم ىقبتي امو اديج ءانبلا ديشي نأ هل تملسو هلوق تلبقف . ينكاسلما لىع عزوي اهنبا لىإ تعجر المو . لمعلاب هتبلاطو لاوملأا ةلئاط ًلاومأ لسرأو حرف تعنص ابم هتملعأو لا ىتح لماكلاب مهترجأ عانصلا ىطعي نأ رمأو نم ينثلاثلا ةنسلا في ءانبلا لمك المو . اورمذتي لىإ لسرأ ماك . ةنيثم ةوسكو نياوأ لسرأ . هكلم كريرطب سويسانثأ لياو ةينيطنطسقلا كريرطب بهذيو هتفقاسأ ماهنم لك لسيرل ةيردنكسلإا كريرطبب اعمتجاو ، كانه لىإ ابهذف سدقلا لىإ لىإ عيمجلا ثكمو . سدقلا فقسأو ةيكاطنإ اوسركف . توت رهش نم شرع سداسلا مويلا هنم شرع عباسلا فىو ، تينب يتلا لكايهلا اهيف اودجس ، عضاولما كلت بيلصلاب اوفاط بيلصلا اودجم و ، ينبارقلا اومدقو ، برلل مهتاولص . مهيسارك لىإ اوداع مث . هومركو ينمأ . يرخلأا سفنلا لىإ انعم نوكت ةمايقلا ةسينكب ديجلما بيلصلاب لافتحلاا راكذت رابلا ينطنطسق كللما دهع في ش 43 ةنس توت ١7 - برمتبس ٢٨ ديجلما بيلصلا روهظ راكذتب مويلا اذه في ديعن هترهظأ يذلا اذه . حيسلما عوسي انصلخلم يذلا مأ ةنلايه ةسيدقلا حيسملل ةبحلما ةكللما ترمأ يذلا ةثجلجلا موك تحت نم ينطنطسق الم هنأ وهف موكلا اذه دوجو ببس امأ ، هتلازإب نم رهظت يتلا بئاجعلا ةثرك دوهيلا ءاسؤر ىأر
the Honorable Cross of our Lord Jesus Christ. This was revealed by the lover of God, Queen Helena, mother of Emperor Constantine, from under the pile of Golgotha, after she ordered its removal. As to the reason for how this great pile of dirt came into being, it was thus: the Jewish leaders when they saw all the signs and wonders which were made manifest from the sepulchre of the Savior, such as raising the dead and healing the sick, became angry, and they sent forth throughout Judea and Jerusalem ordering all the people to cast the sweepings of their houses and the dirts over the sepulchre of Jesus of Nazareth. They continued to do so for more than 200 years, until it became a very great heap. When St. Helena came to Jerusalem, and asked the Jews about the whereabouts of the Cross, they did not inform her. Finally, some of them told her about an old Jew called Judas who knew the place. She called him, and he denied it at first, but when she urged him, he told her about that pile. She ordered its removal and the Holy Cross was found. She built a church for it, consecrated it and celebrated for the Honorable Cross on the seventeenth day of the month of Tute. Christians make pilgrimages to that place every year as they do on the feast of the Resurrection.
A certain Samaritan called Isaac, as he was travelling with his family among the people going to Jerusalem, reproved the people for taking such trouble in going to Jerusalem to worship a piece of wood. Among the people was a priest whose name was Okhidus. While travelling along the road, they became thirsty. They found no water and they came to a well where the water was foul and bitter. The people became dismayed. Isaac the Samaritan started mocking them, saying, “If I witness a power by the name of the Cross, I will become a believer of Christ.” The priest Okhidus was moved with divine zeal and prayed over that foul water and made the sign of the Cross on it, and it became sweet. All the people and their animals drank, but when Isaac drank, the water was bitter and wormy. He regretted and cried and came to the saint, Father Okhidus, bowed down at his feet and believed in the Lord Christ. Then he drank from the water, and he found it sweet. The water of that well possessed the power of becoming sweet for the believers and bitter for the others. A cross of light appeared in the well and a church was built there. When
نيدعقلما ءاربإو تىولما ةماقإ نم صلخلما برق ميلشروأو ةيدوهيلا عيمج في اودانو اوبضغ ، لاف ، بارت هدنع ناك وأ هراد سنك نم لك « رمتساو ، »يصرانلا عوسي ةبرقم لىع لاإ هيقلي راص ىتح ةنس يتئام نم ثركأ كلذ لىع لاحلا ةنلايه ةسيدقلا تضرح المو . مايظع اموك اهوديفي لم بيلصلا عضوم نع دوهيلا تلأسو نسم يدوهي لجر نع مهضعب اهدشرأ ايرخأو . ركنأف هتعدتساف ، هناكم فرعي اذوهي ىمسي . مركلا ناكم اهملعا هيلع تددش المو ، لاوأ تنبو سدقلما بيلصلا هنم تجرخأو هتلازأف رهش نم شرع عباسلا في هل ديع تسركو ةسينك بوعشلا تراصو . توت لثم اهيلإ جحت ةيحيسلما . ةمايقلا ديع ناسنإ ناك نأ قفتاو هتعماجو وه ارفاسم ميلشروأ لىإ بعشلا عم يرماسلا قحسا ىعدي سانلا تكبي ناك اذه ، بعاتلما مهدبكت لىع ميلشروأ لىإ باهذلا في . هبشخل اودجسيل. اسق بعشلا عم ناكو مايفو ، سديخوأ ىمسي قيرطلا في نورئاس مه ءام اودجي لمو ، اوشطع اودجوف ئرب لىإ اوتأف قاضف ، ارم انتن اهءام أدتباو . ادج بعشلا ردص مهب أزهي يرماسلا قحسا تدهاش انأ نا لوقيو تنمآ !بيلصلا مساب ةوق سقلا راغف . حيسلماب لىصو ةيهلإ ةيرغ سديخوأ همشرو تننلا ءالما لىع لك هنم بشرو . اولح راصف بيلصلا ةملاعب لوانت الم هناف قحسا امأ . مهباودو بعشلا كىبو مدنف . ادودم انتن هدجو بشريل هءاعو دنع رخو سديخوأ سقلا سيدقلا لىإ تىأو ءالما نم بشرو . حيسلما ديسلاب نمأ هيمدق نا ةوق ئربلا هذه ءام في راصو . اولح هدجوف رهظ ماك . مهيرغل ارمو ، يننمؤملل اولح نوكي . ةسينك كانه اونبو . رون نم بيلص هيف سدقلا ةنيدم لىإ يرماسلا قحسا لصو المو . هتيب لهأو وه هنم دمتعاو اهفقسأ لىإ بهذ ةنلايه ةكللما دي لىع ديجلما بيلصلا روهظ امأ هنلأو . تاهمرب نم شراعلا ا مويلا في ناكف مويب ءابلآا هلدبتسا دقف موصلا في نوكي ائماد دجلماو . هتسينك سيركت وه يذلا توت ١7 نيدبلآا دبأ لىإ حيسلما عوسي انبرل دوجسلاو
Isaac the Samaritan arrived in Jerusalem, he went to its bishop who baptized him and his family. Because the feast of the appearance of the Honorable Cross, which is on the tenth of Baramhat, always comes during fasting, it was substituted by the fathers for the Seventeenth of Tute which is the day of consecration of its church.
Glory and worship be to Jesus Christ our Lord forever and ever. Amen.
The Departure of St. Theognosta.
28th September - 17th Tote
On this day also, the blessed Theognosta, departed. She was contemporary of the righteous Emperors Honorius and Arcadius.
One day an envoy came with gifts from the King of India to the two emperors. On their way back, they found this Virgin Theognosta holding in her hand a book that she was reading. They seized her and took her back with them to their country. She became the head of the King’s attendants and his wives.
One day, the son of the King fell sick with a grievous sickness. She held him in her arms and made over him the sign of the Cross, and he recovered immediately. This report spread throughout that land, and since that day she was set free.
Once the King went to war, there came upon him thick clouds and fog. Knowing of the sign of the Cross that St. Theognosta used to make, the King made the sign of the Cross over the fog and it cleared up. With the sign of the Cross he also vanquished his enemies. When the King returned from war, he bowed down at the feet of the Saint, and asked her for the holy baptism for him and for the people of his city. She told them that it was not for her to baptize. They sent to Emperor Honorius to inform him of their acceptance of the faith and asked him to send a priest to baptize them. He sent to them a priest who was a saintly anchorite, and he baptized them all and he gave them the Holy Body and Blood of our Lord Christ. The virgin rejoiced for his coming and they blessed each other. She built a convent for herself and for the many virgins who desired the monastic life.
When the priest returned to the Emperor and related to him how the people of the city entered into the faith of our Lord Christ, he rejoiced exceedingly. The Emperor agreed with the Archbishop to ordain the priest a bishop and to send him back to them, and they rejoiced greatly. There they built a big church and they needed pillars. There was a large temple for idols which had pillars so they took them to build this church. The rest of the people of this city joined the faith of the Lord Christ. The virgin St. Theognosta rejoiced for all that had happened. Later on she departed in that convent and was surrounded by the virgins. Her prayers be with us, and Glory be to our God, orever. Amen.
. ينما . : ةيسقط ةظحلام مايأ 3 ينيناعش بيلصلا ديع سقط + مايا ةثلاثلا في بيلصلا ديع لوصف أرقت + داحلآا مايا ىتح ديعلا فاتيإ ىافو تاينتيهلاو ىروش تى لاقي + ةمسقلا لاقت ماك بيلصلا ديعب ةصاخلا فنإ ةينايسرلا ةيديسلا دايعلأا ةلماعم بيلصلا ديع لماعي + . اطسنغؤاث ةسيدقلا ةحاين توت ١7 - برمتبس ٢٨ اطسنغؤاث ةبوطلما تحينت مويلا اذه لثم في ينكللما سويداغرأ سويرونأ مايأ لىع تناك . نم لسر تىأ مايلأا دحأ في هنأ ثدحو ، نيرابلا قيرط فىو ، ينكلملل ةيدهب دنهلا كلم لبق فىو اطسنغؤاث ءارذعلا هذه اودجو مهتدوع اوقلطناو اهوفطتخاف. . هيف أرقت باتك اهدي مشح لىع ةسيئر تراصو ، مهدلاب لىإ اهب اضرم ضرم كللما نبا نأ قفتاو . هئاسنو كللما هيلع تبلصو اهنضح في هتذخأف ، اديدش برخلا عاشف ، لاحلا في فيوعف ، بيلصلا ةملاعب تلانو تقتعأ مويلا كلذ نمو ، دلبلا كلت في .اهتيرح هلوح لحف برحلا لىإ بهذ كللما نأ قفتاو يتلا بيلصلا ةملاعب هتفرعلمو ، بابضو ماتق تراصف حيرلا لىع بلص ، اطسنغؤاث اهمشرت . هءادعأ بلغ بيلصلا ةملاعبو ، اوحص ةسيدقلا يمدق دنع رخ برحلا نم داع المو ةنيدلما لهأو وه ةسدقلما ةيدومعلما ابلاط اولسرأف ، دمعت نأ اهل سيل هنأ مهتفرعف . ، نايملإا مهلوبقب هنوفرعي سويرونأ كللما لىإ اسق مهل لسرأف . مهدمعي اسق هنم نوبلطيو نم مهلوانو . اعيمج مهدمعف اسيدق اسيبح . هئيجبم ءارذعلا تحرفف . همدو حيسلما دسج اريد اهل تماقأو ، رخلآا نم ماهنم لك كرابتو بنغر تياوللا ىراذعلا نم تايرثك هيف عمتجا . ةنبهرلا في لهأ ةدوعب هملعأو كللما لىإ سقلا داع المو ، ايرثك حرف حيسلما ديسلاب نايملإا لىإ ةنيدلما افقسأ سقلا ةماسر لىع كريرطبلا عم قفتاو اوناكو ، مهسوفن تجهتباف . مهيلإ هتداعأو ةدمعأ لىإ اوجاتحاو ، ةميظع ةسينك اونب دق ةدمعأ هب ناثولأل يربك لكيه كانه ناكو . لهأ ةيقب داعو . ةعيبلا هذه لىإ اهولقنف ءارذعلا امأ . حيسلما ديسلاب نايملإا لىإ ةنيدلما ريدلا كلذ في تحينت مث . مت ابم تجهتباف . ينما انعم نوكت اهتلاص . ىراذعلا طسو
Reflections on the Holy Eucharist bible readings
Second Sunday of the blessed month of Tote
Luke 10:21-28
“Blessed are the eyes which see the things you see”
Luke 10:23
The Lord appointed seventy (disciples) others … and sent them two by two before His face into every city and place where He Himself was about to go (Luke 10:1) …the seventy returned with joy, saying, Lord, even the demons are subject to us in Your name. And He said to them, I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven … but, Nevertheless do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rather rejoice because your names are written in heaven (Luke 10:17-18) … the Lord Jesus rejoiced in spirit and blessed His disciples and said blessed are the eyes which see the things you see; for I tell you that many prophets and kings have desired to see what you see, and have not seen it, and to hear what you hear, and have not heard it (Luke 10:23-24).
Truly the life of joy lived by the Christian person, is but a glimpse of life in heavens … the saintly prophets have desired to see what we see and hear what we hear … but even the world around us … the world which is immersed in sin and evil is surprised and amazed from )our( magnificent peace and true happiness which God’s children live in … the world, with all its inventions and enormous economic resources, cannot grant one person peace at heart and joy of the soul … which the Christian person finds in the bosom of the Lord Jesus … people of the world see God’s children and wounder, why they don’t follow them in a life of excess pleasures which they lead … why they don’t partake in the world indulgences and pleasures?? But, God’s children despite not partaking in the world pleasure still they live an amazing joy and true peace … they indeed rejoicing because their names are written in the kingdom heavens … this secret of happiness is hidden from the wise and prudent … but revealed and known to babes (Matthew 11:25 & Luke 10:21).
+ Have hidden these things from the wise … and revealed to babes …
The wise of the world, have become ignorant in God’s view … they search and skilfully explore to find ways of solving humanities problems … more particularly psychological and personal problems to bring the feeling of peace and comfort … but with no success … On the other hand, God’s children in the world view are babes in wisdom and knowledge but God had revealed to them the secrets of happiness and joy … they found it in a life with the Lord Jesus … they found it their holy companionship with Him … in it they have transformed earth to heavens and opened the heavens to encompass the earth … a life of virtue and purity which have an amazing joy and victory for God’s children … which the world does not know and hidden from the
سادقلا ليجنأ فى تلامأت توت رهش نم نىاثلا دحلأا ٢٨ – ٢١ :١0 اقول اقول »هنورظنت ام رظنت ةتلا نويعلل بىوط« ٢3 :١0 يننثأ مهلسرأ .. نيرخآ ينعبس برلا لسرأ عضومو ةنيدم لك لىا ههجو مامأ يننثأ عجرو .. تىأي نأ وه اعمزم ناك ثيح ينطايشلا ىتح براي ينلئاق حرفب ينعبسلا ناطيشلا تيأر مهل لاقف كمسإب انل عضخت نكلو .. ءماسلا نم قبرلا لثم اطقاس مكل عضخت حاورلاا نأ اذهب اوحرفتلا فى تبتك مكءماسا نأ اوحرفأ ىرحلاب لب حورلاب عوسي برلا للهتو .. تاوماسلا نويعلل ىيوط مهل لاقو هذيملات كرابو نأ مكل لوقأ نىلا هنورظنت ام رظنت ىتلا ام اورظني نأ اودارأ اكولمو نييرثك ءايبنأ ام اوعمسي نأو اورظني لمو نورظنت متنأ .. اوعمسي لمو نوعمست متنأ اهشيعي ىتلا ةمعنلا ةايح نأ ةقيقحلاب ةايح تاحلم نم ةحلم ىه ىحيسلما ناسنلاا نأ ينسيدقلا ءايبنلاا ىهتشأ دقل .. ءماسلا نحن ام اوعمسيو رظنن نحن ام اورظني لماعلا .. انلوح هلك لماعلا نأ لب .. عمسن شهديو بجعتي شرلاو ةيطخلا فى قراغلا ىتلا ةيقيقحلا ةداعسلاو بيجعلا ملاسلل هتاعترخم لكب لماعلا .. هللا دلاوأ اهيف شيعي عيطتسي لا ةلئاهلا ةيدالما هتايناكما لكبو ةداعسو بلقلا ملاس دحاو ناسنأ حنيم نأ فى ىحيسلما ناسنلاا اهدجي ىتلا .. سفنلا نورظني لماعلا لهأ .. عوسي برلا ناضحأ نويرسي لا اذالم نوبجعتيو هللا دلاوأ لىا اهيف نوشيعي ىتلا ةعلاخلا ضيف لىا مهعم هتاذلمو لماعلا تاسرم مهنوكراشي لا اذالم .. فى مهتكراشم مدع نم مغرلاب هللا دلاوأ ؟؟ ملاسو بيجع حرف فى نوشيعي لماعلا عتم نلا نوحرف هقيقحلاب مهنأ .. ىقيقح .. تاومسلا توكلم فى تبتك دق مهءماسأ ء ماكحلا لىع ةداعسلا هذه سر ىفخ دقل .. لافطلاا اهفرعو اهكردأ نكلو .. ءماهفلاو اهتنلعأو .. ءماكحلا نع هذه تيفخأ + .. لافطلال هللا رظن فى ةلهج اوراص لماعلا اذه ءماكح اودجيل داهتجإب نودجيو نوثحبي مهنا .. ناسنلاا لكاشم لحل ةنكمم ةليسو لك فى اوثعبيلو ةيسفنلا هلكاشم تاذلابو .. لاب نكلو .. ةحارلاو ملاسلا روعش هلخاد .. ةدئاف لماعلا رظن فى مه نيذلا هللا دلاوأ امأ مهل نلعأ دقف ةفرعلماو ةمكحلا فى لافطأ اهودجو .. ةحارلاو ةداعسلا سر برلا
world wise ….
The world philosophers and wise thought; if they give man absolute freedom in practicing their physical desires without limits or restrictions … then, man will be happy and joyful … but alas, man’s miseries and problems increased so did his or her troubles and illnesses. The people of Sodom were very sinful before God … they lived a promiscuous life with total sexual freedom with no limits or any controls … they were not satisfied with normal heterosexual relations and resorted to homosexuality and this too, they were not satisfied but their hunger and lust were rampant in all of them from their youth to their elders … and Lot the righteous lived among them, tormenting his virtuous soul every day with their evil doings … till the day that God could no longer tolerate their evil ways … in fact the earth could no longer tolerate their sinful doings, and God let )the skies( rain fire and brimstone and they were all destroyed … after (God) saved Lot, his wife and two daughter from the city (of Sodom) (Genesis 19). Chastity and purity have an amazing sound in the ears of the Christian person … he or she is willing to offer one’s life to protect his or her purity and chastity.
The history of the martyrs tells us many of those who were martyred for their chastity (and purity) … some Arab invaders entered convent for virgin nuns … the leader of (the invading) mob saw a nun who was very beautiful and he wanted take her (as sexual slave) for himself and the nun realized what evil and dishonour awaits her on the hands of this man … so, she prayed for God to save her from this man’s hand … then she had an idea, whereby she rushed to her cell and brought back a small bottle of oil and offered it the leader of the mob telling him that this oil has a miraculous effects, any person anointed with it no sword will harm him or her … the leader of mob was very amazed, so the nun quickly rubbed her neck with the oil and offered to be a demonstrator for the oil’s powers and asked to be struck be struck by the sword as hard as they can to see what will happen … and indeed, the leader of the mob ordered his executor to strike her with the sord as hard as he could … thus she was beheaded preferring to die in her purity and virginity instead of breaking her vow to her heavenly bridegroom (Jesus) nor her body be defiled.
Another martyr, the ruler (at the time) tried with every available means to entice, threat or torture him to depart from his faith and offer incense to pagan idols with no success … at the end
مهتشرع فى اهودجو .. عوسي برلا عم ةايحلا فى اوحتفو ءماس لىا ضرلاا اولوح اهبو .. هعم ةسدقلما اهيف ةواقنلاو ةراهطلا ةايح .. ضرلاا ىوحتل ءماسلا اهفرعي لا .. هللا دلاولأ ةبيجع ةصرنو بيجع حرف .. لماعلا ءماكح اهكردي لاو لماعلا ناسنلاا اوطعأ اذأ مهنأ هءماكحو لماعلا ةفسلاف نظ هتاوهش ةسرمام فى ةلماك ةيرح يرصي ىوس ذئدنعف .. طبضلاو ديق نودب ةيدسجلا ةساعت تدادزأ فسلاا عمو .. احرفو اديعس ناسنلاا .. هضارمأو هبعاتمو هلك اشم تدادزأو ناسنلاا اوناك .. هللا مامأ ادج اراشرأ اوناك مودس لهأ ةحوتفم ةيسنج ةيرحو ةيحابأ ةايح فى نوشيعي تاقلاعلا نم اووتري لمو اوعبشي لم .. طباض ىأ نودب نمو سىنجلا ذوذشلا لىا اوأحتلأف ةيداعلا ةيسنجلا مهشطعو مهعوج دادزأ لب اضيأ اوعبشي لم اذه لافطلاا فى ىتح اعيمج مهيف ةوهشلا تلعتشأ ىتح بذعي مهطسو شيعي رابلا طول ناكو .. خويشلاو تىأ ىتح .. ةميثلاا مهلاعفأب موي لك ةرابلا هسفن لم ةقيقحلابو .. مهشر لمحتي هللا دعي لم ىذلا مويلا مهيلع برلا رطمأف مهروجف لمحتت اضيأ ضرلاا دعت طول ذقنأ نأ دعب .. اعيمج مهيلع ضىقو اتيبركو اران .. ةنيدلما نم هيتنبأو هتجوزو ناسنلاا ناذآ يبف بيجع يننر ةراهطلا و ةفعلل لا نأ لجأ نم هتايح مدقي نأ دعتسم هنأ .. ىحيسلما .. هتواقنو هتفع ستم نيذلا ءلاؤه صصق نم يرثكلا ءادهشلا يرس كىحت .. ةفعلا لجأ نم اودهشتسأ ةريدأ نم ريد لىا اموي برعلا ةازغلا ضعب لخد ادج بجعأ ةبهار ريدلا فى مهدئاق دجوو .. ىراذعلا ةبهارلا تكردأو هسفنل اهدخأي نأ دارأو اهلماجب و .. ناسنلاا اذه دي لىع سندو شر نم اهرظتني ام تدتهأ و .. هدي نم هللا اهذقني كىل لىصت تذخأ لىا تيز ةجاجز تضرحأو اهتيلاق لىا تعسرأف ةليح ةبيجع ةوق هل تيزلا اذه نأ هتبرخأو دئاقلل اهتمدقو فيسلا نأف تيزلا اذهب هتبقر ناسنأ ىأ نهد اذأ هنأ ةبهارلا تعسرأف ادج دئاقلا بجعتو .. هيف رثؤيلا نأو اهيف برجي نأ هنم تبلطو اهتبقر تنهدو .. اهل ثدحي فوس ام ىريو هتوق لكب اهتبقر بضري هتوق لكب اهتبقر بضري نأ فايسلا دئاقلا رمأ لاعفو نأ ةلضفم ةتيم ضرلاا لىع تطقسو اهسأر تراطو .. اهدهع سركت نأ نم اهتواقنو اهتيوراذع فى فى توتم .. اهدسج سندتي نأ وأ ىوماسلا اهسيرع عم نم ةليسو لكب هعنقي نأ لىاولا لواح رخآ ديهشو هنايمأو هكستم نع لىختي كىل بيذعتو ديدهتو ءارغأ دحأ هدشرأ ةياهنلا فىو .. حلفي ملف ناثولأل رخبيو مهفافع فى ينيحيسلما ءلاؤه ةوق سر نأ هءماكح انزلا ةيطخ فى هطاقسأ فى حجن اذأ هنأو .. مهتواقنو رخآ ء شى ىأب هعانقأ ا دج لهسي فوس ذئدنعف ب اشلا اوطبرف لىاولا رمأو .. حيسلما راكنإ ىتح .. فى هطاقسأ لواحتل ةريشر هأرملأ هوملسو ريسر لىع
one of his advisors told him; the secret of those Christian’s strength is their purity and chastity … and if he succussed in making them fall into sin of adultery, then it will be easy to convince them to do anything else … even denying Christ … so, the ruler ordered the young man to be tied to a bed and let lose a woman of bad repute who would try to drag him into the sin with her … the woman tried all her skills and the (young man) was refusing to look at her … and when he felt the dangers he was facing … and there was no means of escaping or resisting … and found no other member of his body is free except his tongue so he bit his tongue as hard as he could tell he cut his tongue and spat it at the woman with a flow of blood from his mouth … the woman was alarmed and scared running away … thus, this young man saved himself from falling sin and the ruler did not find any other solution except beheading him to receive the crowns of martyrdom and chastity.
One day a faithless young man tried flirting with a Christian young lady who in turn refused and repulsed him with all her strength … one day, he went to her house and nocked on the door, while she was doing some needle work on the church linen napkins and when she opened the door and was confronted with him, with assertiveness she asked; what do you want of me?? … so he answered; your eyes has captivated me with their beauty … quickly, the young lady with the needle in her hand, pocked her eye without hesitation and offered the eye to the young man saying; here, take the eye which you desired and because of it you sinned … the young man fell to his knees crying when he saw what she did to keep her chastity and purity … and his life changed and became a faithful person … The Christian person finds in the life of purity amazing power and triumph which gives him or her inner joy and peace which this world which is emerged in a life of physical desires and sin cannot comprehend … and the purity of the Christian person is apparent in all his or her life … apparent in his or her repulsion from the world desires and sinful amusements. + have desired to see what you see, and have not seen it …
We as children of God, enjoy glory, and happiness kings and prophets did not enjoy … worthily, through the Blood of the Lord (Jesus) Christ, we became children of God … we have been able to call God, our Father … we have been able to go near and partake of Christs Body and Blood … we no longer are mere slaves who look from afar and tremble in fear … for
لا وهو اهبيعلاا لك هعم لواحت ةأرلما تأدبو .. ةيطخلا ضرعتي ىذلا رطخلاب باشلأ سحأو .. ادبأ اهيلا رظني لمو .. ةمواقلما وأ برهلل ةصرف ىأ همامأ نكي لمو .. هل هنانسأب طغضف .. هناسل ىوس اقيلط ارح اوضع دجي ةأرلما هجو فى هقصب مث هعطق ىتح هناسل لىع ةوقب ةأرلما تجعزنأو .. همف نم مدلا نم ليس هعبتو هسفن باشلا ذقنأ اذكهو .. ةبراه هنم ترفو تفاخو ىوس لاح هعم لىاولا دجي لمو سندلا فى طوقسلا نم .. ةيلوتبلا ليلكأو ةداهشلا ليلكأ لانيو هسأر عطقي نأ ةاتف ةلزاغم طقاسلا بابشلا دحأ لواح امويو امويو .. ةوق لكب هنع دعبتو هدصت ىهو ةيحيسم لمعب موقت ىه تناكو اهباب قرطو اهلزنم دصق تحتفو ةسينكلا فى اهلماعتسلإ ليدانلما ضعبل زيرطت تلاق مزح فىو اهمامأ باشلا اذه تدجوف ةاتفلا هل نىاتسرأ دق كانيع نأ اهل لاقف .. ؟؟ىنم ديرت اذام هل فى ىذلا زارخلماب ةاتفلا تكسمأ ةعسربو .. اهلماجب اهتمدقو اهتعلقف اهينيع فى ددرت نودب هتسرغو اهدي اهتيهتشأ ىتلا ينعلا ىه هذه ذخ هل ةلئاق باشلل ايكاب هيمدق لىع باشلا طقسو .. اهببسب تثرعأو اهتفع لىع ةظفاحلما لجأ نم هتعنص ام ىأر امدنع .. افيفع اناسنأ راصو هتايح تيرغتو .. اهتيلوتبو ةصرنو ةوق ةواقنلا ةايح فى دجي ىحيسلما ناسنلاا نأ سحي لاو هكردي لا ايلخاد املاسو احرف هيطعتو ةبيجع تاوهشو ةليذرلا ةايح فى سمغنلما لماعلا اذه هب هتايح لك فى ةرهاظ ىحيسلما ناسنلاا ةفعو .. دسجلا هتاذلمو لماعلا تاوهش لك نع هففعت فى ةرهاظ .. .. هروشرو .. اورظني لمو اورظنت متنأ ام اورظني نأ اودارأ + ءايبنلاا هب عتمتي لم حرفو دجبم هللا دلاوأك عتمتن اننأ نحن انصر حيسلما ديسلا مد نم قاقحتسأبف .. كوللماو لوانتنو مدقتن انصر .. انابأ هللاوعدن انصر .. هللا دلاوأ رظنن ديبع درجم دعن لم .. همدو حيسلما دسج نم لىا سىوم مدقت امدنعف .. فاخنو بعترنو ديعب نم لبجلا راص سىوم ملكيل لبجلا لىع هللا لزنو لبجلا ناويح وأ ناسنأ ىأ هسم اذأ ناك .. نخديو دعتري هلك ميدقلا دهعلا فى دهعلا توبات .. تويمو مجري هنإف هنم بترقي نأ ؤرجي لاو ديعب نم هاري ناسنلاا ناك لا ثيح سادقلاا سدق لخاد عضوو .. هسملي وأ ةرمو ةنهكلا سيئر لاا لخدي نأ ناسنأ ىأ عيطتسي انصرف بيلصلا دعب مويلا امأ .. طقف ةنس لك ةدحاو هدسج لكأن انصر لب .. هعم شيعنو هللا عم سملاتن انصر دقل .. هيف شيعنو انيف شيعيو .. همد بشرنو هللا ةبيه نأ اذه ىنعم سيل اعبطو .. هللل ادلاوأ دعن لم سكعلاب لب .. انبولق فى تلق دق هتفاخمو عوشخو ةبحم انل تراص لب ديبعلا فوخ فاخن ةليصلاا انديلاقت نع ادبأ لزانتن لا نحن كلذلو يننبلا فى شيعن اننأك اهب رعشن ىتلا انسئانك فى ةظوفحلما كلذلو .. مهحارفأ ةكئلالماو ينسيدقلا كراشنو ءماسلا حور لاب ةعيسر ضورف درجم انتدابع دعت لم عم شيعن اننأ رعشن انصر انتدابع فى لب .. قمع وأ ناسنلااف كلذلو .. هب سحنو هعم سملاتنو هللا
when Moses went to the mountain and God came down to the mountain to speak to Moses, the whole mountain shook and filled with smoke )Exodus 19( … and if a man or animal came near and touched (the mountain) will be stoned to death … the Ark of Covenant in the old testament, people would see it from afar and no-one would dare to come near or touch it … and it was kept inside the holy of holies where no man can enter except the chief priest and only once a year (Exodus 25) … but now, after the Cross we live with God and touch Him … but we eat His Body and drink His Blood … and He lives in us and we live by Him … we have become children of God … naturally, this does not mean that God’s respect and fear in our hearts is diminished … on the contrary, we no longer fear Him like slaves but we have the love and submission of the His offspring and because of this we never give up our original traditions which is preserved (for us) in our churches which we feel in it as we are living in heavens sharing in the joys of the saints and angels … therefore our worship is no longer mere rituals of dictates preformed quickly without depth or spiritual (value) … but in our worship (to God) we feel that we live with God, touch Him and feel Him … for this the Christian person will never forego or give up any of our traditions, rituals and principals no matter what others do or change with the excuse of making (worship) easier or shorter to attract more people … For the person who has tasted the sweetness of life with God can not exchange it with any of the world vain amusements and false joys … but the person who thinks, sees and lives only by the physical body is only seeking the physicality’s … about the materialistic (only).
Beloved … you live through your love of Jesus Christ … through your strong faithful church … you live in heavens it self … you see and realize what the prophets and kings desired and did not see … do you realize what glory and majesty you live in?? do you realize how great is position God has puy you in??
Run away fro the world … escape from its desires … and physicality’s … the physical desires of the world will bring sadness and destruction ….
Take the parable of the rich fool who built for himself bigger barns and promised himself physical happiness saying “Soul, eat, drink and be merry, you have many goods laid up for many years” but what was his reward?? … “Fool, this night your soul will be required of you; then whose will those things be which you have provided(Luke 12:16-21)??”
+ You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart … This is the secret of joy and happiness in the Lord Christ … to love God … love which expels every fear, worries and troubles to the outers of loving God which occupies the heart and mind
…
Beloved … offer the Lord complete love to enjoy the true happiness and peace … if, you give God half love … and the other half is preoccupied with world, your heart will be filled with darkness and distress …. God wants absolute love … from all your heart … and all your thoughts … and with all your strength …
لاو ادبأ لىختي لا ىحيسلما نم ءشى ىأ فى ادبأ طرفي ماهم هئدابمو هسوقطو هديلاقت ليهستلا ةجحب اولدبو نيرخلآا يرغ نم ديزم بذجل وأ راصتخلاا وأ .. سانلا ةولاح قاذ ىذلا ناسنلاا نأ نأ ادبأ لبقي لا هللا عم ةشرعلا ىهلام نم ءشى ىأب اهلدبتسي امأ .. ةلطابلا هحارفأو لماعلا ىريو ركفيو شيعي ىذلا ناسنلاا نع طقف ثحبي هنأف دسجلاب .. تايدالما نع .. تايدسجلا نم شيعت كنأ .. بيبحلا اهيأ نم .. عوسي برلل كتبحم للاخ .. ةنيملاا ةيوقلا كتسينك للاخ ىرت كنأ .. اهنيعب ءماسلا فى شيعت كوللماو ءايبنلاا ىهتشأ ام نياعتو دجم ىأ كردت له 0.. هونياعي نأ كردت له ؟؟ اهيف شيعت ةمظعو هيف هللا كعضي ىذلا زكرلما مظع .. ؟؟ نم برهأ .. لماعلا نم برهأ لماعلا تاوهش .. هتايدامو .. هتاوهش ةساعتلا كيلع بلجت هتايدامو .. بارخلاو ىبغلا ىنغلا لجرلا اذه لاثم ذخ ةعساو نزاخم هسفنل ىنب ىذلا دسجلا ةداعسب هسفن ىنمو نإف بىشرأو سىفناي لىك « لائاق ةديدع ينينسل ةيرثك تايرخ كل ؟؟ هبيصن ناك اذام نكلو .. »ةلبقم كنم كسفن بلطت ةليللا ىبغاي».. نوكت نلم اهتددعأ ىتلا هذهف .. .. « ؟؟ كبلق لك نم كهلإ برلا بحت + ةداعسلا سرو حرفلا سر وه اذه .. هللا ةبحم .. حيسلما ديسلا فى لكو فوخ لك درطت ىتلا ةبحلما ةبحم جراخ لىا بعت لكو قلق .. ركفلاو بلقلا لغشت ىتلا هللا ةبحم برلل مدق .. بيبحلا اهيأ ةداعسلاب اقح عتمتتل ةلماك تيطعأ اذأ .. ىقيقحلا ملاسلاو رخلآا فصنلاف .. ةبحم فصن هللل لأيم فوس لماعلاب لغشني ىذلا ديري هللا .. اقيضو ةملظ بلقلا .. كبلق لك نم .. ةلماك ةبحم .. كتوق لك نمو .. كركف لك نمو
+ From Nayroz to the Cross:
The period between the Feast of Nayrouz (12th September – 1st Tote) and Feast of the Holy Cross (28th September – 17th Tote) is a very special period for our Church and Coptic people. During this time the church prays in the joyful tune. Not only it is a commemoration for our fathers the martyrs but also it is a national historic festival time. Ancient Egyptian used to celebrate in a very special way this Feast of Nayrouz. The Coptic Calendar was the official and most widely used calendar until the beginning of the 20th century when it was replaced by the western calendar. It was always used along with the Arabic Hijri Calendar for many centuries. The employees used to get their monthly salaries even on the small month (Nasi) which was only 5 or 6 days. The Coptic Calendar was the main calendar to determine most of the seasons and occasions for the people and the church. Thus the start of the Coptic year carries very deep and special meaning for the Copts over the ages. Celebrations continue until the Feast of the Holy Cross which is the real start of the New era of reconciliation and Grace. Celebrations end on the Feast of the Cross signifying the start of real life of work and strife and signifying the meaning of living with the Lord witnessing for Him carrying His Cross and becoming like live Gospels read by all people. Let us sing with King David the Psalmist saying: “You crowned the year with Your Goodness and Your Paths drip with abun- dance” Psalm 65:11.
:بيلصلا ىلا زورينلا نم + بيلصلاو زورينلا نيب ام ةرتقلا )ربمتبس 28 - ١2 ( توت ١7 – ١ ايحور صاخ عضو اهل ةرتف يه امنإ ىفو .ةيطبقلا ةسينكلا ىف ايخيراتو ةسينكلا ىلصت ةرتفلا هذه للاخ مل زورينلا ديع .ىحيارفلا ناحللأاب راكذتب هيف لفتحن يسنك ديع طقف نكي ةنسلا ةيادبو نيسيدقلا ءادهشلا انئابآ ءامدق ناكو ايموق اديع ناك لب ةيطبقلا اريبك لاافتحا هب نولفتحي نييرصملا ةنسلا اهسفن ىه ةيطبقلا ةنسلاف .ازيممو لوخد دعب ىتحو ةميدقلا ةينوعرفلا لظ عباسلا نرقلا ىف رصم ىلا برعلا ىذلا يلعفلا ميوقتلا وه يطبقلا ميوقتلا لاومعم لظو لب بعشلا ةماع هلمعتسي ميوقتلا عم ةيموكحلا حلاصملا ىف هب نيرشعلا نرقلا لئاوأ ىتح يبرعلا ناكو .ىبرغلا ميوقتلا هب لدبتسا امدنع ةموكحلا يفظوم نأ فورعملا نم ىتح ةلماك ةيرهشلا مهتابترم نوذخأي وأ 5 هتدم ىذلا ريغصلا ىسنلا رهش ىف يطبقلا ميوقتلا ناك عقاولا ىقو .مايأ 6 هتلاافتحاو بعشلا تابسانم لك ددحي ةيادب ناك اذكهو .ةيسنكلا ريغو ةيسنكلا ىف ماهو قيمع ىزغم هل ةيطبقلا ةنسلا دوعتو .خيراتلا رم ىلع طابقلأا نادجو ديع ىتح مهتلاافتحا رمتست نأ طابقلأا وه بيلصلا ديع نوكي انهو .بيلصلا بعتلاو لمعلا ةنسل ةيقيقحلا ةيادبلا ةيادبب لافتحلاا جزتمأ دقل .داهتجلااو سدقملا بيلصلا ديعب يطبقلا ميوقتلا دهعلا ةيادبو اهزمرو ةيحسملا راعش لفتحنل .صلاخلاو ةمعنلا دهع ديدجلا عبتنلو ةسدقملا مايلأا هذهب حرفنو نيدهاش هبيلص نيلماح حلاصلا انصلخم نم ةءورقمو ةيح ليجانأ ريصنو هل كدوجب ةنسلا تللك .سانلا عيمج دواد عم لترنلف .امسد ءىلتمت كراثأو براي كراب“ :حرفب نيلئاق كلملاو يبنلا رطقت كراثأو كحلاصب ةنسلا ليلكإ . ١١ : 65 زم ”امسد
SPIRITUAL
MEANINGS
OF THE CROSS
His Holiness Pope Shenouda III
When we make the sign of the Cross, we remember many of the theological and spiritual meanings which are connected to it:
1. We remember the love of God for us, Who accepted death instead of us, in view of our salvation. ”All we like sheep have gone astray, we have turned, every one, to his own way; and the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all” (Is. 53:6). When we make the sign of the Cross, we remember “the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world” (John 1:29). “And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world.” (1 John 2:2).
2. And in the Cross, we remember our sins. Our sins which He has borne on the Cross, and for which He Incarnated and was crucified…With this remembrance, we are humbled, our souls become contrite, and we thank Him for the price which He paid for us “For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s” (1 Cor. 6:20).
3. And in the Cross, we remember the divine justice: How forgiveness was not on account of justice. But the divine justice took his right on the Cross. We do not then consider sin as a slight matter, the sin whose price is such as that.
4. In our signing of the Cross, we declare our discipleship to this Crucified One. Those who take the Cross simply by its spiritual meaning, inside the heart, without any apparent sign, do not openly manifest this discipleship. We declare this discipleship in many forms: by doing the sign of the Cross, by carrying the Cross on our breasts, by kissing the Cross in front of everybody, by imprinting it on our wrists, and by raising it above the places in which we worship. With all this, we openly declare our faith, for we are not ashamed of the Cross of Christ in front of people. Rather, we boast of it, we hold fast to it, we celebrate feasts for it…Even without speaking, our plain aspect manifests our faith…
5. We do not make the sign of the Cross on ourselves in a silent manner, but we concurrently say: “In the Name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.” Thus, each time we declare our faith in the Holy Trinity who is One God forever and ever, Amen. The Holy Trinity is continually in our thoughts, and that is not available to those who do not make the sign of the Cross as we do.
6. In making the sign of the Cross, we also declare our belief in Incarnation and Redemption: When we make the sign of the Cross from upward to downward, and from the left side to the right side, we remember that God has come down from heaven downward to our earth, and transported people from the left side to the right side, from obscurity to light, and from death to life; and how many are the meditations which come to our hearts and minds from the signing of the Cross!
7. We remember the forgiveness in the Cross: When we look to the cross, we remember how our sins were forgiven and how our Lord addressed the Heavenly Father saying (while He was on the Cross): “Father forgive them, for they do not know what they do” (Luke 23:34)….
8. In the signing of the Cross, there is a religious instruction for our sons and for others: Whoever makes the sign of the Cross, when he prays, when he enters the church, when he eats, when he sleeps, and at every moment, he remembers the Cross. This remembrance is spiritually useful and biblically desirable. In it, there is also an instruction for people, that Christ was crucified. This instruction is especially important for our small children, who grow from their childhood being accustomed to the Cross.
9. By making the sign of the Cross, we preach the death of the Lord for us, con-
forming to His commandment. Our Lord Who redeemed us commanded us to preach His “death till He comes” (1 Cor. 11:26)… In making the sign of the Cross, we remember His death at all times, and we keep remembering Him until His Second Coming. We also remember Him in the Sacrament of Eucharist. Although this sacrament is not done every moment, we can still make the sign of the Cross at every moment, remembering the death of Christ for our sake…
10. In making the sign of the Cross, we remember that the retribution of sin is death: Because otherwise Christ would not have died; “we were dead in trespasses” (Eph. 2:5). But Christ died instead us upon the Cross and gave us life. Having paid the price on the Cross, He said to the Father: “Father, forgive them” (Luke 23:34).
11. In making the sign of the Cross, we remember the love of God for us: We remember that the Cross is a sacrifice of love. ”For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life” (John 3:16)… We also remember that “God demonstrated His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us…and we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son.” (Rom. 5: 8,10). In the Cross, we remember the love of God for us, because “Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends” (John: 15:13).
12. We make the sign of the Cross because it gives us power. The apostle Saint Paul felt that power of the Cross, and said: ”by whom the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world” (Gal. 6:14). And he also said: ”For the message of the Cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God“ )1 Cor. 1:18(. Note that he did not say that the Crucifixion is the power of God, but he said that the simple word of the Cross is the power of God. Therefore when we make the sign of the Cross, and when we mention the Cross, we are filled with power; because we remember that the Lord trampled death by the Cross, and He granted life to everybody, and forced and defeated Satan. Therefore, we make the sign of the Cross, because Satan dreads it: All the labor of Satan since he fought Adam until the end of time, has been lost on the Cross. The Lord has paid the price and erased all the sins of people with His blood, for those who believe and obey. Therefore, whenever Satan sees the Cross, he is terrified and remembers his greatest defeat and the loss of his labor. So, he is ashamed and runs away. Thus, all the sons of God constantly use the sign of the Cross, considering that it is the sign of conquest and victory–the power of God. As for our part, we are filled with power inside. But the enemy outside is scared. And as in ancient times, the bronze serpent was lifted up, as a healing for people and salvation from death, even so the Lord of glory was lifted up on the Cross. (John 3:14). Thus is the sign of the Cross in its effect.
13. We make the sign of the Cross, and take its blessing: In ancient times, the Cross was the sign of malediction and death because of sin…But on the Cross, the Lord bore all our maledictions, in order to grant us the benediction of the reconciliation with God (Rom. 5:10), and the benediction of the new life. Therefore, all the gracious things of the New Testament come from the Cross. Consequently, the clergymen use this Cross while giving the benediction, as an indication that the benediction is not issued from them personally, but from the Cross of the Lord who has entrusted them to use it for granting benediction—for they take their ministry from the ministry of Him who was crucified. All the blessings of the New Testament follow the Cross of the Lord and its effect.
14. We use the Cross in all the holy sacraments of Christianity. Since all of the sacraments originate from the merits of the blood of Christ on the Cross, the Cross is an essential element in each of the holy sacraments. Without the Cross, we could not deserve to come near to God as sons in Baptism; and we could not deserve to partake in the Communion of His Body and Blood in the Mystery of Eucharist (1 Cor. 11:26). Nor could we enjoy the blessings of any mystery from the mysteries of the Church.
15. We pay attention to the Cross in order to remember our participation in it. We remember the words of Saint Paul the Apostle, ”I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me”(Gal. 2:20). And also his word: “that I
may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death.” (Philippians 3:10). Here, we ask ourselves when shall we enter into participation with the sufferings of the Lord and shall be crucified with Him. We also remember the thief who was crucified with Him, and deserved to be with Him in paradise. Probably, he is in Paradise singing with Saint Paul, who said later “I have been crucified with Christ.“ Our greatest wish is that we ascend on the Cross with Christ, and to boast about this Cross which we remember now whenever we touch it with our senses.
16. We honor the Cross, because it is a subject of joy for the Father: The Father accepted Christ on the Cross with all joy, as a sin sacrifice and also as ”a burnt sacrifice, an offering made by fire, a sweet aroma to the Lord“ )Lev.1: 5,13,17(. The Lord Christ has satisfied the Father with the perfection of His life on earth, but He entered into the fullness of this satisfaction on the Cross, where He “became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the Cross.” (Philippians 2:8). Each time we look at the Cross, we remember the perfection of obedience, and the perfection of subjection, in order to imitate the Lord Christ in his obedience, to the point of death. As the Cross was a subject of joy for the Father, so also it was a subject of joy as regards the Son Who was crucified. For it was said of Him: ”who for the joy that was set before Him endured the Cross, despising the shame.” (Heb. 12:2). Thus was the fullness of Christ’s joy in His crucifixion. May we be like that.
17. In the Cross, we also bear reproach. In the Cross, “we go forth to Him outside the camp, bearing His reproach” (Heb. 13:12) with the same feelings which we have in the Holy Week…and in that, we remember what was said about the prophet Moses: “esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt” (Heb. 11:26(. The reproach of Christ is His crucifixion and His sufferings.
18. On the Cross, we remember salvation. When looking to the cross, we remember the thief on the right, who was crucified with the Lord and obtained salvation. This gives us a wonderful hope. How could a man be saved in the last hours of his life on earth, and get a promise to enter Paradise? We remember how the Lord, with His spiritual influence on this thief, had been able to draw him to Himself. We remember the faith and confession of the thief, without remembering any of his previous sins. How great is that hope which was realized on the Cross!
19. The Cross reminds us of His Second Coming: As it has been mentioned in the gospel about the end of the world and the Second Coming of our Lord: “Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven” [that is the Cross]…and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds….” (Matt. 24:30). Let us remember the sign of the Son of Man on earth, so long as we expect this sign of His in heaven in His majestic
Blessed Baptism
Baby Elijah Peter son of Habib Lattoouf & Ruth
September 2023
Sunday 17th
Church New Building Project Financial Summary As on 18th Sep 23 Blessed Marriage Fabio Guergues & Marina Sarkis Sunday 17th September 2023 St Mark’s Church
Construction of New Buildings started Thursday 28th April
The new Building is expected to be ready December 2023. 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. 2022
ليربأ 28 سيمخلا موي تادب تاءاشنلإا لامعأ بسح داتعملا بسح متت ةسينكلا تامدخ .2023 ربمسيد عورشملا نم ءاهتنلاا عقوتملا نم .ةرشنلا لخاد حضوملا لودجلا .ارلاود نويلم ١3 ىلاوح عورشملا ةفلكت غلبت بحسلا ةرامتسأ ءلمب ىرهش عربتب ةكراشملا كنكني زكرم للاخ نم اهعبط وأ ةسينكلاب ةدوجوملا يكنبلا ينورتكللإا ةسينكلا لمعلا اذه ىف مكتمهاسمو مكتاعربت كرابي برلا Donations to St Mary’s Church and Building project can be made by the following Link طبارلا ىلع طغضأ ينابملا عورشمو ميرم ءارذعلا ةسينكل تاعربتلل https://www.stmc.org.au/donate (Copy & Paste on Web Browser)
