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
The Translocation of the Body of St. Macarius to His Monastery in Scetis.
25th August - 19th Mesra
On this day, the church celebrates the return of the body of St. Macarius to his monastery in the desert of Sheahat (Scetis(. After the departure of St. Macarius, some of the natives of the city of Shanshour (Shabsheer( came and stole his body. They built a large church for him, and placed the body in it. Later on, his body was moved to another town where he stayed for four hundred forty years, till the time of Pope Michael V (Anba Mikhail V(, the 71st Pope. When Pope Michael went to the wilderness to observe the holy fast in the monastery, he sighed and said, “How much I yearn that God would help us so that the body of our father Anba Macarius be in our midst.”
Later on, the abbot of the monastery, the Archpriest (Hegumen( Michael, went with some of the elders on certain business of the monastery, and they thought of bringing back the body of the saint to their monastery. They came to where the body was, but the people of the town and the governor assembled against them with swords and sticks and prevented them from taking the body. The elders spent the night in great sorrow. The governor saw that night a vision of St. Macarius telling him, “Let my children take my body and do not prevent them.” The governor was frightened and he called the elders and gave them the body. The elders took the body with great joy, and many faithful people followed them to bid the body farewell. When the ship arrived in Mariot, they spent the night. The next morning they celebrated the Divine Liturgy and received the Holy Mysteries. Then they loaded the body on a camel to the wilderness. Midway through the journey, they needed to rest, but the Abbot said, “As the Lord lives, we do not rest until the Lord shows us the place where the angel of the Lord held our father’s hand.” So they kept moving until the camel knelt down and did not get up. The camel started to turn his head around, licking the body and bowing his head down to the ground. Then the elders knew that was the right place, and they glorified God. As they reached the monastery, all the monks came out holding candles and singing. Then they carried the body on their shoulders and went into the church in a great celebration, and God performed many wonders on that day. May his prayers be with us and Glory be to our God forever. Amen.
The Martyrdom of the Seven Young Men of Ephesus. 26th August - 20th Mesra
On this day, of the year 252 A.D., the seven holy young men of the city of Ephesus: Maximus, Malchus, Martinianus, Dionysius, John, Serpion and Constantine, were martyred. They were soldiers of Emperor Decius, who appointed them to guard the royal treasury. When the emperor established the worship of idols, certain men made accusation against them. They hid themselves in a cave, lest they become weakened and deny the Lord Christ. When the emperor
knew that, he ordered the blocking of the cave›s entrance, shutting them in. One of the soldiers was a believer in the Lord Christ. He engraved their life story on a tablet of brass and left it inside the cave. Thus the seven holy young men delivered up their pure souls.
God wanted to honor them as His faithful servants, so He inspired the bishop of Ephesus about the place of the cave. The Bishop went and opened the entrance to the cave, and found their bodies uncorrupted. He knew from the brass tablet that they had been there for about two hundred years. That was during the reign of the Emperor Theodosius the Less. As they knew also from the coins, which they found with them that they were during the time of emperor Decius, because it had his picture on them.
May their prayers be with us and Glory be to our God forever. Amen.
The Departure of St. Irene (Eirene( 27th August - 21st Mesra
On this day also, St. Irene (i.e. peace(, departed. She was the daughter of a pagan king, whose name was Lucianus. She was exceedingly beautiful. Her father loved her very much, therefore he built a fortified mansion for her. He assigned thirteen maids to serve, guard and protect her from what might defile the name and honor of her family. St. Irene was then six years old, and her father left some statues for her to worship. Her father also assigned a wise old teacher to instruct her. Once St. Irene saw in a vision, a dove with an olive leaf in her mouth, and the dove came and laid it on a table before her. Then there came an eagle with a crown, which he laid also on the table. Afterwards, a raven came with a serpent, which he laid on the table. St. Irene was frightened by this vision, and she revealed this vision to her teacher. Her father was unaware that the teacher was Christian. The teacher explained the vision to her saying, ‘The dove is the teaching of the Law, the olive leaf is baptism, the eagle is the victory and the crown is the glory of the saints. The raven is the king and the serpent is the persecution.’ He concluded his talk by saying that she had to struggle for the sake of the Faith in the Lord Christ. One day, her father came to visit her, and proposed that she marry one of the princes. She asked him for three days in which she might think it over. After her father had left, she went to the statues, and asked them to advise her on what was right for her, but they did not answer her. The saint lifted up her eyes to heaven, and said, ‘O God of the Christians, guide me to whatever pleases you.’ The angel of the Lord appeared to her and said, ‘Tomorrow one of the disciples of St. Paul will come to you, will teach you what you need to know, and then will baptize you.’ The next day, St. Timothy, the Apostle, came to her, taught her the essentials of Christianity and baptized her. When her father knew that, he summoned her. When he verified this news from her, her profession in the Lord Christ, he tied her to the tail of an untamed horse, and then released it. Nevertheless, God preserved her and she was not harmed. Instead, the horse itself turned and grasped with his mouth the arm of her
father, hurled him on the ground, and her father fell dead. With the prayers of his daughter, St. Irene, he was risen alive. The father, his wife and three thousand persons became Christians, and they all were baptized. God honored this saint with several inspired miracles which she wrought before governors and kings and many had believed because of her. When she fulfilled her strife, she departed in peace. May her prayers be with us and Glory be to God forever. Amen.
The Departure of St. Takla Haymanot, the Ethiopian.
30th August - 24th Mesra
On this day, the great hermit and the blessed St. Takla Haymanot, the Ethiopian, departed. He was born in a village nearby Jerusalem which was the share of Zadok and Abiathar the priests during the reign of King Soliman, son of King David.
Zadok begot Azariah, Azariah begot Zadok, who was named after his grandfather, and Zadok begot Levi, and so forth till the father of this saint was born. His name was Tsega ZeAb (which means the Grace of the Father( and he married a woman whose name was Sarah. They were righteous, God fearing and very rich. They always celebrated the commemoration of the honorable Archangel Michael on the twelfth day of each Coptic month, and gave alms to the poor and the needy. Sarah, the mother of this saint, was very beautiful, meek and adorned with many virtues, hence they called her «Egezi-Hareya» (i.e. God has chosen her(. However, She and her husband were bitter and sad because they did not have any children. She went daily to the church imploring God to give her a child that would delight her heart. Her husband also went to the church at the time of the offering of the incense and taught the congregation the fundamentals of faith. Every time he went to the church he took from his own money an offering to the house of God. They both agreed to disperse their money to the poor, the needy, the monasteries and the churches.
Meanwhile the king died, and another king reigned who worshipped the idols. The new king demolished the churches and built pagan temples. He was unjust and he plundered and captured women, among them «Egezi-Hareya», the mother of St. Takla. Later she returned safely to her husband and both glorified God and praised His Holy Name. Afterwards, the angel of the Lord appeared to them in a vision at night, and announced to them the birth of this saint. When the saint was about one and half years old, a famine befell Ethiopia. When the twelfth day of the blessed month of Baramhat, the commemoration of the honorable head of the Heavenly hosts, drew near, Sarah, the mother of the child, was crying because she was not able to celebrate this occasion. The child wiped away her tears with his little hands and yet he was still unable to talk. He pointed to her to carry him to where there was a plate with a little flour in it. She took him to the plate where he dipped his hand in the flour. The flour increased until it was pouring onto the floor. She brought baskets and every time she emptied the plate, it became full again, until she had filled twelve baskets. His mother then knew that God
was with the child. Then she brought to him the empty container of oil. He placed his hand over it and it was filled with the power of God. In the same fashion, other containers in the house were filled. When Tsega Ze-Ab, the father of the child, returned from the church and knew what happened, he glorified God. They celebrated the commemoration of the archangel Michael, fed the poor and all the neighbors.
God honored this saint with many miracles that he performed during his life and also after his departure. When St. Takla Haymanot completed his good strife, he departed in peace.
May his prayers be with us. Amen.
The Departure of St. Bessarion, the Great.
31st August - 25th Mesra
On this day, the great ascetic father, St. Bessarion, departed. He was born in Misr (Egypt( to Christian parents. When he grew up, he longed for the monastic life, so he went to Anba Anthony (Antonius(, under whose direction he remained for a while. Then he went to Anba Macarius, and stayed under his guidance for a while. Later on, he wandered about in the desert, never lodging in a place with a roof. He possessed absolutely nothing of this world, and he had only one coarse hairy sack-cloth. He used to carry the Gospel, and went round the cells of the monks crying. If they asked him the reason for his weeping, he would reply, «My riches have all been stolen, and I have escaped from death. My family have fallen from honor into disgrace.» His words referred to the great loss that befell the human race by the fall of the first father Adam by breaking the first commandment. Those who did not understand what his words meant would console him saying, «God shall restore what has been stolen from you.»
The fathers had recorded for him many signs: Once he was walking with his two disciples, John and Dulas, by the shore of the Red Sea (salty water(. When they became thirsty, St. Bessarion took some of its water and prayed over it. The water became sweet and they all drank of it.
Another time, they brought to the wilderness of Scetis a mad man, who was possessed by demons, for the elders to pray over. Because the elders knew that St. Bessarion despised the glory of men, they did not want to ask him to pray over the sick man, but rather they put the man in the church where the saint usually stood. When St. Bessarion came into the church and found the man there asleep, he woke him up, and the man rose up healed and with a sound mind.
God wrought many signs on his hands. He pleased God and then departed in peace. May his prayers be with us. Amen.
Contemplation on the Gospel of the Third Sunday of Mesra
Mark 3: 22 – 35
If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand Mark 3: 25 How hard for a person to be despiteful or envious. Such person loses the clear vision and right path in life for whatever he sees of meet/ He can see the which as black and the black as white. How strange and harmful to even deceive yourself in your spiritual life relying on your own assessment and thinking to deal with your weakness and sins. You may treat sin by disobedience or more sins. That was the case with the Pharisees and Scribes when dealing with the Lord. They saw the great miracles and works of the Lord. Instead of recognising the great power of God and believe, their evil eyes saw instead the action of Satan and reasoned for themselves that Lord Jesus has Beelzebub the prince of devils who does their great miracles. How could a Satan cast out Satan. Many people today apply the same evil logic. When they want to cast out a Satan they employ another Satan. Even if they can see a Satan being cast out they rely that to the Satan. Many try to find easy and quick solutions to their problems. They end up with much more complicated unsolved problems. Be careful deceitful and unwise quick solutions cannot solve any issue. Satan cannot cast out Satan. + How can Satan cast out Satan? So often people go to Satan to get rid of another Satan. They treat evil by evil. That was the case with King Saul. The Lord has chosen him to be a king for Israel. One day the Lord ordered him to go and attack Amalek (1Samuel 15( and utterly destroy them as punishment for their evils. The Lord helped him to attack and conquer those evil people. Saul forgot God’s instruction to utterly destroy them. He felt proud of his victory and decided to spare the king of Amalek and the best of sheep, oxen and lambs. The Lord was angry and sent Samuel the prophet to tell him how much the Lord was angry. It was expected that Saul repent and cry for his sins. Then the Lord may forgive him. The Lord does not help him or answer his prayers anymore. He
decided to go the wrong way. A distressing spirit from God came upon him. He went to plot to kill David whom the Lord had chosen to replace him. He even went to the to a medium woman to find help (1Samuel 28(. He went to Satan to find help. This Satan destroyed him and all his family. So also Jeroboam (1Kings 12( who became a king for ten tribes of Israel while Rehoboam son of Solomon had only two tribes left for his kingdom. Jeroboam was very afraid that the if the people go to Jerusalem to the temple to offer sacrifices to God they may return back to their king and the kingdom of Solomon. He decided to employ Satan to solve his problem. He asked advice and made two calves of gold setting up one in Bethel and the other in Dan and asked people not to go to Jerusalem but go these idols to offer sacrifices. This thing became a sin for the people who went to worship there. His kingdom did not last long. His whole family and decedents perished in one generation. (1Kings 12 – 15(. There is also Ananias and Sapphira his wife (Acts 5( who tried to cover up their deceit by lying. They both perished as a result of lying to the Holy Spirit. How do you solve your problems? You may lie and then you lie again to cover the first lie and so on. Lying became your way to solve problems. It never works. It makes things more complicated and missy. Learn to admit your mistakes and be truthful with yourself. Do not solve a problem by another. Sometimes it is difficult when people expose your mistakes. How you react. Getting angry and abusive? How to sort differences or disagreements in marriage or normal life? Some people tend to deal with issues in a violent abusive way. Even it can escalate to seek police interference or facing each other in courts, rather than sitting together with proper spirit of understanding and sort out these issues. How much can Satan help to sort out such problems?
Some people under life stresses and inability to face challenges they resort to drugs, smoking or alcohol or even to bad friends’ company to drift away from facing their issues. What do you do when you face a financial crisis in your life. Do you start to think calmly asking for a proper advice and pleading for God’s support or you resort to other ways like gambling, cheating or even stealing? Remember that there are many people
today behind bars or roaming the streets helplessly and lost as a result of seeking the wrong evil ways to sort their difficulties. They seek Satan help. Be aware Satan can never solve your problems or any problems at all. Satan rejoice more when you are in trouble. Satan may make thing more complicated. How can I conquer this Satan? + first bind the strong
Find this strong one hiding behind your hardships. Find him and bind him then you can release yourself from his snares. Who is this strong? It could be your own lusts and desires which fight you from inside. It could be your self-pride which stops you confessing your sins. Learn first to bind this strong.
Bind the strong by repentance. Look deep into yourself and find how much misery the sin has caused to you. Nothing can break the might of such a strong one as repentance and confession of sins. Nothing can expel darkness except light. Expose your sins to be released from its bitterness and misery.
Levi the Tax-collector became Matthew the Apostle through repentance. Saul of Tarsus who persecuted the church became Paul the Apostle when he discovered the real way and cried “Lord what do you want me to do?” (Acts 9:5(.
Bind this strong one by fasting. Control this body by fasting and learn to fast from things that lead you astray. Gradually this strong one will weaken and eventually fall under your feet.
Fasting is not only about food but also about stopping bad habits and addicted practices. You could be addicted to bad movies, drugs, social media traps and also to company of bad friends who fill your life with evil ideas and practices. Bid the strong one by prayer. Fervent prayers bund you strongly with the Lord. It can smash all these chains of that strong one and liberate you for the bonds.
Bind this strong one by Communion. When you are united with God none of those mighty evil ones can approach you. Start with real repentance falling down on your knees with tears. Did you know the real reasons for your troubles. You submitted to this strong one. Get up now. If you continue in your despair you can lead to full loss of hope and that will lead to blasphemies against the Holy Spirit which will deprive you from forgiveness. Whatever your bad sins level.
There is also a change to come back and be saved. Do not lose the chance. When you advance God’s Will in your life you will start to feel so close to Him. The Lord said: “For whoever does the will of God is My brother and my sister and mother.”
Quotes of St. Augustine of Hippo (28th August - 22nd Mesra(
“The world is a book and those who do not travel read only one page.”
― St. Augustine
“Thou hast made us for thyself, O Lord, and our heart is restless until it finds its rest in thee.”
― Augustine of Hippo, Confessions
“I was not yet in love, yet I loved to love...I sought what I might love, in love with loving.”
― Augustine of Hippo
“To fall in love with God is the greatest romance; to seek him the greatest adventure; to find him, the greatest human achievement.”
― St. Augustine of Hippo
“Right is right even if no one is doing it; wrong is wrong even if everyone is doing it.”
― Saint Augustine
“Hope has two beautiful daughters; their names are Anger and Courage. Anger at the way things are, and Courage to see that they do not remain as they are.”
― Augustine of Hippo
“There is no saint without a past, no sinner without a future.”
― St. Augustine
“People travel to wonder at the height of the mountains, at the huge waves of the seas, at the long course of the rivers, at the vast compass of the ocean, at the circular motion of the stars, and yet they pass by themselves without wondering. ”
― Saint Augustine
“If you believe what you like in the Gospel, and reject what you don’t like, it is not the Gospel you believe, but yourself.” ― St Augustine “Right is right even if no one is doing it; wrong is wrong even if everyone is doing it.”
― Saint Augustine
“The measure of love is to love without measure.”
― Augustine of Hippo
“.In order to discover the character of people we have only to observe what they love” St. Augustine ―
God has promised forgiveness to your repentance, but He has not promised to- 298 ”.morrow to your procrastination
“St. Augustine of Hippo ―
“.The world is a book, and those who don›t travel only read one page” St Augustine ―
+ Where are your children?
HG Bishop Daniel Elantony
“But Jesus called them and said, ‘Let the children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these”.
(Luke 18:16(.
*Where are your children?
My eldest son is in medical school. My middle daughter is in engineering. And the youngest is in his second year of high school.
*I’m asking you, where are your children? Oh, sorry.
My eldest son and daughter are in the basketball team, and the youngest plays tennis.
*Still, you haven’t told me where your children are?
*Oh, I understand now.
The eldest is at the club for a tournament, the daughter is with her mother shopping for engagement stuff, and the youngest is busy with his lessons for his exams.
*My dear, my question is: where are your children?
*My children? Of course, they are in my eyes. Is there anything more precious to me than them?
*Unfortunately, none of the answers are correct.
+ What I mean is, why didn’t your children come with you?
*The answer is silence.
*Your children didn’t come with you, because you taught them the path to everything, except my path.
*You encouraged them to excel in many things, except in their closeness to me.
*You made them care about their relationships and appearances in front of people, but you forgot to make them care about how they appear before me.
*And now, you come alone because you want to enter heaven !!!
*So, where are your children?
{A conversation I never wish to hear or be part of, personally}.
+Note:
*Your children don’t necessarily mean just your physical children but also those who are spiritually your children and part of your service.
*Let’s try to reach our children before it’s too late.
*Just as we care for our children’s physical needs in life, let’s also care for their spiritual lives through repentance, confession, and regularly taking the body and blood of Jesus Christ with uplifted hands in prayer and an open Bible (the Gospel(.
*Let’s be faithful to God and to them, so we may hear the sweet verse:
“Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life”(Rev 2:10(
