Weekly Bulletin 26th March 2023

Services at St Mary’s Church

Monday: Mass 9 - 11 am

Tuesday

Liturgy 5:30 - 7am

7:30pm The Way Orthodox Fellowship in Englisg for adults - All ages

Wednesday: Mass 9 – 11 am

6:30-8pm School of Deacons Adults Arabic ; 7-8:15pm English (Zoom)

Hymns Class Arabic 8-9pm (Zoom)

Thursday Mass 9 - 11 am - English

English Midnight Praises 7:30pm

English Bible Study 7:30pm

Friday: Mass Mass 9 – 11 am

Youth 25 and above 7-9pm

Family Meeting 7-9pm (fortnightly)

Discipleship Clas Class 7-8:30pm

Year 10-12 Sunday School 6-9pm

Saturday: Mass: 8:30 – 11am

Sunday School 4 – 5.30pm

Vespers & youth meeting 7-8:30pm Eng-

lish

Vespers &Bible Study Arabic 5:30-7pm Scouts 1:30 - 3pm

School of Deaconsgip 3 - 4pm

Sunday: 1st Mass6 - .7:45am Arabic & English

2nd Mass.7:45 – .9:30am English

3rd Mass 9:30 - 11:15am Arabic

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 Macary 0433 445 636

The Martyrdom of St. Sedhom Bishay in Domiat. 26th March - 17th Baramhat

On this day also the church commemorates the martyrdom of Sedhom Bishay in Domiat on the 17th. of Baramhat year 1565 A.D. (March 25th., 1844 A.D.). He endured the torture for the Name of the Lord Christ and his martyrdom made the rising of the Cross during the Christian funeral processions openly, for it was forbidden before.

This martyr was a clerical employee in the government of the port of Domiat during the days of Mohammed Ali Basha the Governor of Egypt. A revolt of mobs in the port arose, they seized Sidhom Bishay and accused him falsely that he cursed Islam and witnessed against him before the religious judge a low uncivilized person and a donkey driver. The judge decided either he would forsake his faith or be killed, he whipped him and then sent him to the Governor of the city. After the Governor had examined his case he issued the same judgement against him as the judge did. Sidhom was steadfast in his Christian faith, not caring to be killed. They whipped, dragged him on his face down the stairs in the Governor palace, then they put him on a buffalo facing the tail and went around with him in the streets of the city insulting and degrading him. The Christians in the city became afraid and locked themselves in their houses. The mob continued to insult him and tortured him in different ways until he was about to deliver his soul; so they brought him to the door of his house and left him there. His family went out and brought him inside and five days later he departed to heaven. His departure was a great martyrdom, and the Christians counted him among the holy martyrs. They gathered regardless of their denomination and joined in his funeral in a celebration that there was nothing like it before. The Christians carried their arms and the priest put on their vestments headed by the Archpriest Yousef Michael who was the head of the Coptic congregation in Domiat and accompanied by the priests of the other denominations. They marched in his funeral in the streets of the city and in front of him the deacons carrying the banners of the Cross, and they arrived to the church where they prayed the funeral rites. The people went on objecting this reprehensible and painful incident and talking about the patience and endurance of the different kinds of torture in silence and the steadfastness of Sidhom the martyr. The prominent people of the Christian community in Domiat deliberated as how to avoid these incidents in the future. They decided to ask the consuls of the foreign countries to mediate with the ruler of the country and the Pope the Patriarch of the Copts and sent to them detailed reports. Mr Michail Sorour the official representative of seven countries in Domiat was in charge of this

mediation.

The ruler of Egypt was concerned about this incident and sent two official representatives to examine the case. So they reopened the inquiry and they realized the injustice and the ill-treatment that befell the great martyr and convicted the judge and the governor for their wrong doing, stripped them from their honor then exiled them. They asked, as a good will and to comfort the people, to allow the raising of the Cross publicly before the Christian funerals, and the ruler allowed that in Domiat. This was allowed later on all over the country during the Papacy of Pope Kyrellos IV.

The blessings of this great martyr be with us and glory be to God forever. Amen.

The Martyrdom of St. Aristobulus, the apostle.

28th March - 19th Baramhat

On this day St. Aristobulus, one of the seventy apostles that was chosen and sent to preach by the Lord before His passion, was martyred. He received along with the disciples the gifts of the Spirit the comforter, accompanied, ministered to them and preached with them the Life-giving Gospel. He turned many to the path of salvation, believed in the Lord Christ, baptized them and taught them the Divine commandments.

The disciples ordained him bishop for the city of Abratabias, and he went there, preached it’s people, performed many miracles, taught and baptized them. Many tribulations and humiliation befell him from the Jews and the Greeks, who threw him out many times, and cast him with stones. Having finished his strife, he departed in peace. St. Paul had mentioned him in his Epistle to the Romans (Ch.16:10). May his prayers be with us. Amen.

The Departure of St. Kyrellos )Cyril), Bishop of Jerusalem.

On this day of the year 386 A.D. the holy father Anba Kyrellos (Cyril), Bishop of Jerusalem, departed. This father was chosen in the year 348 A.D. as a successor for Anba Maximus, Bishop of Jerusalem, for his knowledge and righteousness. He did not stay long on his Chair, until a contention arose between him and Acacius Bishop of Caesarea about who had the right to be in primacy over the other. Kyrellos argument in that he was the successor of St. James, one of the Twelve Disciples.

Anba Kyrellos had sold some of the church vessels and distributed the money on the needy because of a famine that befell the land of Palestine. Acacius took this chance and made an effort to obtain an order to exile him from the country. Anba Kyrellos was exiled without any one listening to his case. In the year 359 A.D., he appealed his case before the council of Seleucia. The council called Acacius to hear from him his argument, but he did not attend, so they judged

by removing him from his office, and the return of Kyrellos to his Chair (Parish). He did not stay long for Acacius went and enticed emperor Constans to assemble a council at Constantinople and the Arian bishops agreed with him. This council convened in the year 360 A.D. and ordered to exile this saint once more. When Constans died, and was succeeded by Julian who ordered the return of all the exiled bishops to their chairs. This saint returned to his chair in the year 362 A.D. and shepherded his people faithfully and honestly, but he resisted the Arians. They went to emperor Valens the Arian who invalidated the order of his predecessor Julian stating the return of the exiled bishops to their chairs. This way St. Kyrellos was exiled for the third time, where he remained until the death of Valens in the year 379 A.D. When Theodosius the great reigned and assembled the one hundred fifty in a council against Macedonius (The second universal council), this father attended, and opposed Macedonius, Sabilius and other heretics. This Saint composed many Homilies and Exhortations, exceedingly profitable, in the Doctrines of faith and old traditions then departed in peace. May his prayers be with us. Amen.

The Departure of the Great Prophet Daniel. 1st April - 23rd Baramhat

On this day of the last year of king Cyrus King of Babylon, the great righteous prophet Daniel Departed. This prophet was from the tribe of Judah, and from the posterity of king David. He was taken captive along with the Israelites by Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon when he captured Jerusalem in the year 3398 of the world. He stayed in babylon for seventy years. This prophet was very young in age, however, he conducted himself in virtuous life, the Holy Spirit filled him and he prophesied in Babylon.

In the fourth year of the exile, Nebuchadnezzar the king saw a dreadful dream and was extremely frightened. When he woke up, he forgot the detail of his dream. He gathered all the wise men of Babylon to tell the king his dream and its meaning. If they failed to tell the king the dream and its interpretation they would all be killed, among those also were Daniel and the three young men. Daniel and the young men prayed to God with supplications to reveal to them the King’s dream. God answered their prayers and revealed to Daniel the dream and its interpretation. Daniel went to the king and told him his dream and its interpretation. He also told him about the kings that they are about to rule after him, and what would happen to every one of them.

Nebuchadnezzar was pleased with Daniel, and fell on his face before him. The king presented Daniel with great gifts and appointed him over the wise men of Babylon. After some time had passed, Nebuchadnezzar saw another dream, and Daniel interpreted the dream for him. Daniel told the king that because of his arrogance, God would drive him from among men, to dwell among

the beasts of the wild and would eat grass like oxen for seven years, and then God would bring him back to his kingdom, and all that happened to Nebuchadnezzar. Daniel also explained to Belshazzar, the son of Nebuchadnezzar, what the angel of the Lord had written on the wall, when king Belshazzar drank wine in the gold and silver vessels of the temple of the Lord. Daniel told the king: “ O king, the Most High gave Nebuchadnezzar your father, a kingdom and majesty, glory and honor... But when his heart was lifted up in pride, he was deposed from his kingdom and thrown from his throne into among the animals. And you, Belshazzar, although you knew all what happened to your father, yet you also lifted your heart against the Lord of heaven. They brought the vessels of the house of the Lord before you, and you , your lords, wives and concubines (mistresses) drank wine from these vessels... Then the fingers of a Hand were send from the Lord, and His writing was written: “Mene, Mene, Tekel, and Upharsin..which meant: Mene means: God has numbered your days as a king and terminated you rule. Tekel means: You have been weighed in the balances of the Lord and was found wanting. Upharsin means: your kingdom has been divided and given to the Medes and Persians after you. All of them came to pass and the king was killed with all his lords and the kingdom of the Chaldeans ended. Darius, king of Persia, ruled after him. There was an idol in Babylon named “Bael” which king Darius worshiped. When Daniel was asked why he did not worship it, Daniel answered: “I do not worship something that has no life in it.” The king said to him: “He is alive for he eats and drinks every day.” Daniel told him that could not be true. The king was angry and wanted to check the matter for himself. He put the food and the drinks in the temple of the idol and closed the door and sealed it. On the next day, he went to the temple, opened the door and did not find the food nor the drinks. But Daniel with the help of some of his companions, covered the floor of the temple with fine ashes, found the feet tracks of those who entered the temple by night and stole the food and drinks.

The king arrested the seventy priests of the idol Bael, together with their wives and children and tortured them until they told him about the secret entrance to the temple. The king then ordered them all to be killed and allowed Daniel to destroy the idol and its altar. The people rebelled against the king and asked him to deliver Daniel to their hands. The king surrendered to their demands and Daniel was cast into the den of lions. However God kept Daniel safe and destroyed his enemies.

Daniel saw in a vision the kingdoms and the kings to come after him to rule the world to the end of time. He also saw the glory of God and the Divinity of Christ the Savior. He prophesied about His coming and His death, the destruction of Jerusalem, and the abolition of the sacrifice and the offerings, and all has been fulfilled. This great prophet remained in Babylon for seventy years, then departed in peace.

May his prayers be with us, and glory be to God for ever.

+ True Beauty:

What is the true beauty?? The Holy Bible tells us about Sara that she was very beautiful, so much that Abraham feared on his safety that in any strange place people may kill him if they know that he is her husband, and asked her to say that he is her brother. In Egypt, the chiefs of Pharaoh’s palace were astonished at her beauty. So also, Rebecca Isaac’s wife. Abimelech the king of Palestinian was attracted to her beauty. What is the secret of the beauty of St Youstina that King Tridata almost lost his mind when he saw her. What is the secret of this charm and beauty of so many of those chaste pure saints that kings and commanders were attracted to their beauty. It is a beauty which they have never seen before. un-doubtfully their countries were full with girls more beautiful in the body standard but not that beauty. It starts from inside. It is reflection of a peaceful pure heart. It expressed the life of purity and chastity they live. They are adorned with the life of righteousness. Even age or time or sickness never affect their beauty it even gets better. One day police arrested a lady for indecent crimes. She was a model of ugliness and surprisingly they found that she was one day a Miss World queen. Her beauty was just a skin from outside, one day it dried out and revealed what is underneath, just rottenness and foul smell. Look for the real beauty which never fade or change by time or circumstances. It comes from the heart and it shows the real peace that is inside you. Remember always that real beauty starts from inside not outside.

Fifth Sunday of the Holy Lent

Healing the Paralysed

John 5: 1 – 18

Today Sunday 26th March is the fifth Sunday of the Holy Lent. We read today about the the sick man of Bethsaida. He was lying there under a banner of “I have no man”, indicating his helplessness and despair. It is a hard feeling to feel lost, helpless and giving in for a state of sickness or a specific sin or a problem. The Lord is here today calling everyone in such state “you are not alone. you are not neglected and forgotten” The Lord still remembers you stretching His hands to help you. It is a message for all those who are lying there on the shores of Bethsaida watching the Angel of healing with no hope or following the rituals of offerings and sacrifices unable to share or benefit. O you paralysed, lonely handicapped, here is the Lord by your side calling you in the fullness of His Love do you really want to be healed. Do you really want to get well or you just given up or may be enjoying your laziness? It is time to respond and say yes lord I do want to be healed please support my weakness and forgive of slackness. No more excuses for not repent and forsake your bad habits. Be assured He is calling you.

+ About this miracle: This miracle happened at the Sheep Gate at Jerusalem. It has been rebuilt by Nehemiah (Neh 3:1). Sheep used to pass through this Gate on the way to be offered on the Altar. In the Pool

of Bethesda sacrifices used to be washed to prepared for offerings. This was a symbol of Christ the real lamb who died for us on the Cross. He carried our sins. “By His wounds, we are healed” Isa 53:5. Here the Lord stands by the pool to offer His mercy to the paralysed man who has been lying there for thirty-eight years. The five porches point to the five sacrifices of the Old Testament and also to the human five senses which are the entrance to human body. They can fill you with blessings or defile your whole body. Here we see a wonderful image of Lord the real Lamb in the fullness of times meeting the lambs offered as a symbol of Him.

+ Let us ask?

Does not the Lord know that this man want to be healed?? He has been sick for thirty-eight years! In fact, the Lord’s question was to clarify important points. The Lord wanted to revive the man’s hopes again. He may have given up after this long time. He may have no more hope of being healed as he said: “I have no man”. The Lord wanted to rekindle the hope in his cold heart. The Lord also wanted this man to feel his need to be healed freely. St Augustine once said: “God Who created you cannot save you without yourself”. A Christian philosopher said: “Thank You Lord for You have given me the freedom that I can disobey you and still live”. The Lord in His tender mercies do not want to force open your closed heart. He wants you to open (Rev 3:20). One of the saint

said: The Lord does not fill a filled person nor make a rich person rich” Those who are filled or rich in their own eyes the do need God’s help. The think they are filled and satisfies by this world temporal things.

Do you want to be healed?

The Lord at the sheep Gate ask same question every day. He says I am standing at the door knocking. DO you allow me to enter? I cannot change you without your will. Like the doctor who cannot proceed to do the lifesaving operation without your consent. My son do not be afraid He is the real doctor Who created you on His own image and He is ready to restore you back to your original glory. The Lord will feed your veins with His own blood to cleanse you. One day David the Prophet fall into terrible sin. He was in a great trouble. The Lord sent to him Nathan the prophet to offer him new life through repentance and tears wetting his bed every night (Psalm 50). The Prodigal son has wasted all his livelihood away in the land of corruption, mud and wild beasts. But he was ready and willing to rise from his misery. The Lord hold him and carried him back to safety and life. So many went through this path of willingness

Like Sant Augustine and also St Paesia who was living in sin and sold her body to the devil. The wilderness fathers sent to her St John the short who led her to repentance leading her a new life in Christ. Many similar stories in our church history who has been healed by the true physician.

+ Do you want to be healed:

Come forward. Do not hesitate. The Lord is offering you full free healing through His Precious Blood. Do not say I have no man to throw me into the pool. No need any more for this type man. The Lord is helper for those has none, the hope for those who are helpless. The Lord is not going to expose your weakness. The Lord just want you to restore your freedom which you lost when you went astray to live in the valley of darkness and shadows of death. Would you allow the Lord to heal you?

+ Do not blame me my son

Are you blaming the Lord for He left you for many years in your suffering? Actually, you did not ask for help. You asked the people. You were disappointed for you have no man. You were not waiting for the Lord but for a man to throw you in the pool to be healed when the Angel stirs the water. The Lord came to you when you gave up. Do not lose your hope. The Lord today is saying to you “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; You are Mine When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; And through the rivers, they shall not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned, Nor shall the flame scorch you.” )Isaiah 43:1,2).

+ Rise, take up your bed and walk

It is an invitation for a new start. To be an ambassador for the Lord, to be a light for the world, to be able to move freely like a bird singing every day to glorify God. You have been cleaned and robed with the Lord’s Righteousness. Now Rise, Take up your bed and walk.

The Pool of Bethesda - First Century Jerusalem

The Pool of the Sheepmarket was just below the Fortress of Antonia.

BETHES’DA (beth-ez’da; Gk. from Aram. Beth hesda, “house of grace”). A springfed pool with five porches where invalids waited their turn to step into the mysteriously troubled waters that were supposed to possess healing virtue (John 5:2-4). The last part of v. 3 and all of v. 4, which mention a periodic disturbance of the water by an angel, are placed in brackets in the NASB because there is not sufficient attestation by early texts. Here Jesus healed the man who was lame for thirty-eight years (5:59). The place is now thought to be the pool found during the repairs in 1888 near St. Anne’s Church in the Bezetha quarter of Jerusalem not far from the Sheep’s Gate and Tower of Antonia. It is below the crypt of the ruined fourth-century church and has a five-arch portico with faded frescoes of the miracle of Christ’s healing.

POOL OF BETHESDA

BETHES’DA Heb. “beth Chesda” (house of mercy) Gk. from Aram. Beth hesda, “house of grace”(. A spring-fed pool with five porches where invalids waited their turn to step into the mysteriously troubled waters that were supposed to possess healing virtue (Jn 5:2-4). The disturbance of the water by an angel, are placed in brackets in the NASB because there is not sufficient attestation by early texts. Here Jesus healed the man who was lame for thirty-eight years. The historicity of this site was once in question. Scholars like Dr. Alfred Loisy, claimed the detail of the five porticoes was invented. They said John made it up to represent the five books of Moses, which Jesus came to fulfill. But recent archaeological discoveries have once again confirmed the Biblical account. In 1956, digging at the ancient Biblical site of Bethesda, archaeologists unearthed a rectangular pool with a portico on each side and a fifth one dividing the pool into 2 separate compartments. The place is now thought to be the pool found during the repairs in 1888 near St. Anne’s Church in the Bezetha quarter of Jerusalem not far from the Sheep’s Gate and Tower of Antonia. It is below the crypt of the ruined fourth-century church and has a five-arch portico with faded frescoes of the miracle of Christ’s healing.

Who burnt the car?

By Fr Luka Maher

Prepared by Mrs Mervet Eskander

In 2011 in Egypt, it was a car burning on 6th of October Bridge. People in Egypt saw this scene on TV, however, everyone interpreted it according to his own belief. If he/she believes that no way would any Egyptian person do that but it is the doing of the terrorists; he/she will believe that the terrorists did it even if he hears the news saying that the terrorists didn’t do it. Others say that the free revolutionaries did burn the car even if the terrorists admitted that they were the ones who did it but still believe that the revolutionaries did it. Others accused the army and others accused the police. So everyone interpreted the incident depending on what

he/she believes. Therefore, belief is stronger than seeing.

Another example, if you know that a specific type of a car is very popular and you know a friend who bought it and he is very happy with it and assured that this car is the best car he got in his entire life. Because you trust you friend too much, if anyone else comes and tells you that the car causes accidents and it is not that good, you wouldn’t believe him and you would believe your friend more. On the other hand, if you see a great enticing advertisement on TV about another car, but your friend tells you that car is not good. You will not buy the car as your friend’s words to you were more important than that enticing advertisement. Your belief and trust in your friend are more important than what you see. Why we say that? Because we have this question; why we can’t see God as long as He exists? Why He doesn’t make us see Him to believe in Him? But the faith is more important than seeing.

St Mary’s apparition at St Mary’s church in Al Zeitoun suburb in Cairo 1968, how many people saw her? How many people from different religions saw her? And how many people from different dogmas saw her? Miracles happened to many of them. Did their beliefs change? NO. So seeing doesn’t make difference to people but the faith.

There is another reason that faith “belief” is more important than seeing; that question, why God doesn’t show Himself to believe in Him? In fact He showed us Himself, but people didn’t believe in Him. God incarnated in the flesh as Jesus Christ the Son of man, He resurrected Lazarus from death after 4 days, the result was; people wanted to kill Lazarus so no one follows Jesus Christ and believes in Him. Jesus Christ resurrected after 3 days as He said but the result was; the Jews gave money to the Roman soldiers to deny His resurrection although they knew that He resurrected because they bribed the soldiers otherwise they wouldn’t bribe them. Well, they didn’t believe, faith is internal persuasion so the person who really search for the truth and ready to believe; God reveals Himself to him not necessarily through seeing, but within the heart and faith. Now did you realize that faith is more important than seeing?!

New Building progress at St Mary’s Church.

New walls at the Northern side

Tuesday 21st March 2023

Construction of New Buildings started Thursday 28th April

The new Building is expected to be ready within 9 months. 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.

Donations to St Mary’s Church and Building project can be made by the following Link

for all who keep working tirelessly for the success of this project. May the Lord reward them all and bless all their works