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 Wednesday 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 Friday Youth 25 and above 7-9pm Discipleship Clas Class 7-8:30pm Saturday: Mass: 8:30 – 11am Saturday 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: 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: 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
:مواعيد الخدمة بكنيسة العذراء
:األثنين صباحا١١ - ٩ القداس اإللهي صباحا7 - 5:30 ::اإللهي القداس اإللهي:الثالثاء )(انجليزي ذا واى- مساء أجتماع للكبار باإلنجليزي7:30 صباحا11 – 9 القداس اإللهي:األربعاء األربعاء :الخميس انجليزي- صباحا١١ - ٩ القداس اإللهي مساء7:30 انجليزي- تسبحة نصف الليل مساء7:30 انجليزي- درس الكتاب المقدس صباحا11 – 9 القداس اإللهي:الجمعة الجمعة سنة فأكثر25 مساء الشباب9 – 7 انجليزي- مساء أجتماع إعداد الخدمة8:30 - 7 صباحا١١ – 8,30 القداس اإللهي:السبت السبت 5,30 – 4 مدارس األحد مساء٨:٣٠ –٧ العشية واجتماع الشباب انجليزي مساء عربي7 - 5:30 العشية ودرس كتاب :األحد األحد ص عربي وانجليزي,7:45 – 6 القداس األول ص – إنجليزي9:30 – ,7:45 القداس الثاني ص عربي11:15 – 9:30 القداس الثالث مساء12:30 - 11:45 انجليزي- فصل ألحان :األباء الكهنة بالكنيسة األب القمص تادرس شاروبيم 0414251251 Email: frtadros@me.com :األب القس حبيب جرجس يونان 94498871 - 0401238177 Email: habibgirgisyounan@ hotmail.com 0422431821 :األب القس مايكل صليب Email: frmichael@sac.edu.au Epsom Rd, 3031:عنوان الكنيسة : تليفون5 Kensington Vic 93766651 األب القس كيرلس تاوضروس ٠٤١١٥١٨٣٩٩ األب القس جون مكاري ٠٤٣٣٤٤٥٦٣٦
At St Mary’s Church Sunday Liturgies for next three weeks starting Sunday 28th Jan 2024 First Liturgy (Mostly English) 7-9am (Matin at 6:15am) Second Liturgy 9-11am يناير٢٨ مواعيد القداسات بكنيسة القديسة العذراء مريم لمدة ثالثة أسابيع ابتداء من األحد ) صباحا٦:١٥ صباحا (باكر٩ - ٧ )القداس األول (غالبا انجليزى صباحا١١ - ٩ القداس الثانى صباحا يتبعه رحلة للعائالت٩ - ٧ القداس- يناير٢٦ الجمعة Next Friday 26th January Liturgy 7 - 9am followed by a family Trip
The Departure of St. Hilaria, Daughter of Emperor Zeno. نياحة القديسة ايالرية ابنة امللك زينون 30th January - 21st Toba طوبة٢١ - يناير٣٠ On this day also, St. Hilaria, daughter of Emperor Zeno, deيف مثل هذا اليوم تنيحت القديسة البارة parted. Emperor Zeno was an Orthodox believer, who loved إيالرية ابنة امللك زينون الذي كان أرثوذكسيا the church. He had only two daughters, Hilaria and her sister, ومل يرزق سوي إيالرية وأختا. محبا للكنيسة Thaopesta. فهذبهام أبوهام وعلمهام، لها اسمها ثاؤبستا Their father brought them up and taught them the fundamen ونشأت إيالرية عيل حب. أصول الدين القويم tals of the Orthodox faith. Hilaria, since her young age, loved الوحدة وخطر عيل بالها فكر الرهبنة ولباس to live a solitary life, and she thought about the monastic life. فخرجت من بالط أبيها وتزينت. اإلسكيم When she was 18 years old, she left the court of her father and بزي الرجال وأتت إىل ديار مرص حيث كان travelled to Egypt, disguised in men’s clothing. ومن هناك. عمرها وقتئذ مثاين عرشة سنة She went to the wilderness of St. Macarius, where she met a وقابلت رجال، قصدت برية القديس مقاريوس holy man by the name of Anba Pemwah. She told him about her قديسا اسمه االنبا مبويه وعرضت عليه رغبتها desire to become a monk and she was ordained a monk under . وترهبت باسم الراهب إيالري،يف الرهبنة the name of Hilary. Three years later, Anba Pemwah found out وبعد ثالث سنني عرف القديس االنبا مبويه أنها that she was Hilaria, the daughter of Emperor Zeno. He kept فكتم أمرها وجعلها، إيالرية ابنة امللك زينون her secret, and placed her in a cave, and visited her from time to حيث،يف مغارة وكان يفتقدها من حني ألخر time. She stayed there for fifteen years. When she did not grow وإذ مل تظهر لها. أقامت خمس عرشة سنة a beard, the monks thought that she was an eunuch, and they ظن الشيوخ انها خيص فكانوا يدعونها، لحية called her “Hilary, the eunuch”. أما أختها ثاؤبستا فقد. « « إيالري الخيص Meanwhile, her sister Thaopesta became possessed with an وانفق عليها والدها، اعرتاها شيطان رديء unclean spirit, and her father spent on her a great deal of money وأخريا أيشار عليه رجال.ماال كثريا دون جدوي in vain. The men of his court advised the Emperor to send her to الن صيت، بالطه ان يرسلها إىل شيوخ شيهيت the elders of Sheheat (Scetis), for the fame of their holiness had . قداساهم كان قد بلغ كل البالد الرومانية spread to all the Roman districts. The Emperor sent her with one فأرسلها مع أحد عظامء اململكة ترافقه حاشية of the noble men in the empire, accompanied by many soldiers وسلمه كتابا إىل شيوخ، من الجند والخدم and several servants. He sent a letter with the nobleman to the ويذكر لها ان الله تعايل، الربية يبثهم آمله elders of the wilderness telling them about his pain and grief. واحدة خرجت ومل تعد وال، قد رزقه ابنتني The Emperor told them that God had given him two daughters: واألخرى قد اعرتاها، يعلم مكانها وال أخبارها one departed and did not return and he did not know where she وكان يتمني ان. شيطان رديء يعذبها دواما was, and the other became possessed with an evil spirit who ويسألهم الصالة، يكون له بها عزاء عن أختها tormented her often. He asked them to pray for her, so that the فلام. عليها ليشفيها الرب مام قد أمل بها Lord might heal her from what was ailing her, so that she would وصلت األمرية بحاشيتها برية شيهيت وقرا be a comfort to him in place of his disappeared daughter. وصلوا عليها أياما كثرية، الشيوخ كتاب امللك When the princess arrived at the wilderness of Sheheat (Scetis) وأخريا قرر رأي األباء ان يأخذها. فلم تربا with her entourage, and the elders read the emperor’s letter, « القديس إيالري الخيص « إيالرية أختها they prayed for her for many days, but she was not healed. At ولكن الشيوخ ألزموه. ويصيل عليها فامتنع the end, the fathers decided that St. Hilary the eunuch (Hilaria, وقد عرفت القديسة انها أختها وأما، فأخذها her sister) should take her and pray for her healing. St. Hilary فكانت إيالرية تعانق أختها. هي فلم تعرفها refused, but the elders obliged her to take her. St. Hilary knew وبعد ايام قليلة. وتقبلها وتخرج فتبيك كثريا that she was her sister but her sister did not recognize her. برئت أختها من مرضها فأخذها القديس إىل St. Hilaria embraced and kissed her sister often then left to بصلواتكم أيها اآلباء قد: الشيوخ وقال لهم weep outside. A few days later, Thaopesta, her sister, was healed فأعادوها إىل والدها بسالم. وهبها الله الشفاء from her illness, and St. Hilaria took her to the elders and said فلام وصلت إليه فرح مع كل أهل القرص. to them, “Through your prayers, God has granted her healing.” وشكروا السيد املسيح، لعودتها اليهم ساملة The elders sent Thaopesta back to her father in peace. كيف كان حالها يف برية: كثريا وبعد ذلك سألها When Thaopesta arrived to her father, he and all those who ان القديس إيالري الذي: شيهيت ؟ فقالت were in the palace rejoiced for her safe return, and offered many فساورته، ثم حكت له القصة كاملة، شفاها thanks to the Lord Christ. Her father asked her about her stay in وأرسل إىل الشيوخ، الشكوك يف ذلك الراهب Sheheat (Scetis), and she said that St. Hilary, the eunuch who يطلب إرسال القديس إيالري الذي أبرا ابنته healed her by his prayers, embraced her and kissed her often. وملا أمره الشيوخ بالذهاب إليه. لينال بركته When the Emperor heard this, he had some doubts about this بيك بكاء حارا أمام الشيوخ متوسال إليهم ان monk. He sent to the elders asking them to send St. Hilary, who فقالوا له هذا ملك بار. يعفوه من الذهاب healed his daughter, in order to receive his blessings. When the والواجب يحتم عدم، محب للكنيسة املقدسة elders ordered “him” to go to the Emperor, “he” wept bitterly وبعد جهد ذهب. مخالفته كام أوصتنا الكتب before the elders, pleading with them to spare “him” from the ثم اختيل. إىل امللك فسلم عليه هو ومن معه
كيف كنت أيها القديس: امللك وامللكة به وقاال trip. They told “him” that the emperor was a righteous man تعانق األمرية ؟ فقال لهام الراهب احرضوا يل who loved the holy church and that it was only proper not to اإلنجيل وتعهدا يل أنكام ال تحوال دون عوديت إىل disobey him according to the Holy Scriptures. فاحرضا له اإلنجيل. الربية إذا أجبتكام إىل طلبكام After a great effort, St. Hilaria went to the Emperor, who ، فأجابهام إىل طلبهام، وتعهدا له كام أراد saluted “him” and all those who were with “him”. Then, he had a private meeting with Hilaria together with the Empress. ثم، « انا « ابنتكام أيالرية: وعرفهام بنفسه قائال روت لهام حالها من يوم خروجها إىل تلك اللحظة They asked “him”, “How did you “the holy man” embrace وحدث هرج كثري، فعال صوت والديها بالبكاء، and kiss the princess?” Then Hilaria asked them to bring ثم أرادت العودة، ومكثت ثالثة اشهر، يف القرص the Bible and to pledge to “him” not to prevent “him” from فلم يطلقاها إال بعد ان ذكرتهام، إىل حيث كانت going back to the wilderness after answering their inquiry. وكتب امللك إىل وايل. بالعهد الذي قطعاه لها They brought the Bible and pledged to “him” as he wished. Then “he” made “himself” known to them saying, “I am your مرص يأمر ان يرسل إىل الربية كل عام مائة إردب قمح وستامئة قسط زيت وكل ما يحتاج إليه daughter Hilaria,” and she told them all that had happened to وقد اهتم امللك ببناء القاليل كام. رهبان الدير her. Her parents wept with a loud voice and all the people in ومنذ. بني قرصا بديعا بدير القديس مقاريوس the palace were in confusion. أما. ذلك الحني ازداد عدد الرهبان يف تلك الربية She remained three months, then she wanted to return, and القديسة إيالرية فقد أقامت بعد عودتها من عند when her parents refused, she reminded them of their oath. ثم تنيحت بسالم، أبيها إىل الربية خمس سنوات Then the Emperor wrote to the Governor of Egypt, demand. ومل يعلم أحد انها كانت فتاة إال بعد نياحتها، ing him to send a hundred bushels of wheat every year and . صالتها تكون معنا امني six hundred measures of oil and all that the monks needed نياحة القديس غريغوريوس اخ القديس in the wilderness, on a yearly basis. The Emperor saw to it باسيليوس الكبري also that many cells were built for the monks. He also built a م تنيح القديس396 يف مثل هذا اليوم من سنة beautiful palace in the monastery of St. Macarius. From that كان. غريغوريوس أخ القديس باسيليوس الكبري time on, the number of monks increased in the wilderness. هذا االب العظيم مع اخوته من ذوي الفضيلة St. Hilaria stayed five years after her return to the wilderness, كام كان بليغا يف علم املنطق واللغة اليونانية، then departed in peace. No one knew that she was a woman . وكان شديد الغرية عيل األمانة املستقيمة، until after her death. وملا عرفت عنه هذه الصفات الصالحة والخالل Her prayers be with us. Amen. فرسم. الحسنة اختري وغام عنه لرتبة األسقفية The Departure of St. Gregorius (Gregory of Nyssa), Brother فرعي رعية املسيح التي، عيل مدينة نيسس of St. Basil the Great. حيث أضاء النفوس، أؤمتن عليها احسن رعاية On this day also, of the year 396 A.D., St. Gregory of Nyssa, ورشح اكرث األسفار املقدسة، مبواعظه ومصنفاته the brother of St. Basil the Great, departed. This great father ولكنه عاد بأمر امللك ثاؤدسيوس، وقد نفي. of the church was virtuous and so were his brothers. He was مز وملا اجتمع األباء378 الكبري إىل نيسس سنة very well versed in the art of discourse and in the Greek lan381 املئة والخمسون مبدينة القسطنطينية سنة guage. He was also strongly zealous in his Orthodox faith. بامر، بسبب هرطقة مقدونيوس بطريركها When these good characteristics were known about him, he كان هذا االب أحد الحارضين، امللك ثاؤدسيوس was chosen bishop against his will, and was ordained over وقد أفحم هذا االب سبليوس ومقدونيوس. the city of Nyssa. He shepherded the flock of Christ, that was وأبوليناروس مفندا أراءهم الكفرية كام فل entrusted to him, very well. He illumined the souls with his وقد قيل عنه. بسيف خطبه حجج امللحدين sermons and discourses. He interpreted many books of the انه عندما كان يصيل القداس اإللهي كان يري Holy Bible. He was exiled at the time of Emperor Valens, but وملا كملت له ثالث. الشاروبيم عيل املذبح returned to Nyssa by the order of Emperor Theodosius the آيت إليه أخوه القديس، وثالثون سنة يف األسقفية Great, in 378 A.D. ألنه كان قد مرض من. باسيليوس ليفتقده When the one hundred and fifty fathers gathered together in وملا عزم القديس. فتلقاه بفرح، كرثة النسك the second Universal Council in Constantinople, in 381 A.D., ، أخذته غفوة، غريغوريوس ان يقيم القداس because of the heresy of Macedonius, the archbishop of the وظهرت له السيدة العذراء وقالت له اليوم ستأيت city, at the order of Emperor Theodosius, St. Gregory, was one of the fathers present. He silenced Sabilius, Macedonius, فصيل عليه أخوه، وقد تنيح يف نفس اليوم. إلينا صالته. القديس باسيليوس ودفنوه بإكرام جزيل and Apolinarus, arguing their heretic opinions and exposing . تكون معنا ولربنا املجد دامئا ابديا امني the fallacies of their heresies. نياحة القديس العظيم انبا انطونبوس اب جميع It was said about him, that while he was celebrating the divine liturgy, he saw the cherubim on the altar. الرهبان After thirty-three years as the bishop of Nyssa, his brother St. طوبة٢٢ يناير31 Basil came to visit him, for St. Gregory was sick as a result م تنيح القديس355 يف مثل هذا اليوم من سنة of his austere ascetic life. St. Gregory received his brother ، وأب جميع الرهبان، العظيم كوكب الربية االنبا with joy. Once, when St. Gregory was about to start the holy
mass, he fell into a trance, and the Virgin St. Mary appeared to يف بلد251 وقد ولد هذا البار سنة. أنطونيوس him and said, “Today, you will come to us.” He departed the من والدين غنيني محبني للكنائس، قمن العروس same day, and St. Basil, his brother, prayed over him, and he وملا بلغ عمره. فربياه يف مخافة الله، والفقراء was buried with great honors. مات أبواه فكان عليه ان يعتني، عرشين سنة His prayers be with us and Glory be to our God forever. Amen. وحدث انه دخل الكنيسة ذات يوم. بأخته The Departure of St. Anthony the Great (Antonius). فسمع قول السيد املسيح « ان أردت ان تكون 31January - 22nd Toba كامال فاذهب وبع أمالكك وأعط للفقراء فيكون On this day, of the year 355 A.D., St. Anthony the Great, the فعاد إىل بيته. « لك كنز يف السامء وتعال اتبعني star of the wilderness, and the father of all monks, departed. This righteous man was born in the year 251 A.D. in the city مصمام عيل تنفيذ هذا القول واعتربه موجها إليه of Qimn El-Arouse, to rich parents who loved the church and ، فاخذ يف توزيع أمواله عيل الفقراء واملساكني، the poor. They raised him up in fear of the Lord. When he was ومل يكن نظام الرهبنة قد، وسلم أخته للعذارى twenty years old, his parents departed, and he had to take care يتخذ، بل كان كل من أراد الوحدة، ظهر بعد of his sister. وهكذا فعل القديس. له مكانا خارج املدينة Once, he entered the church and heard the words of the Lord والعبادة حيث اعتزل للنسك. العظيم أنطونيوس Christ in the Gospel, «If you want to be perfect, go, sell what والكسل وكان الشيطان يحاربه هناك بامللل you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasures in كله هذا عيل وكان يتغلب، وخياالت النساء heaven; and come, follow Me.» (Matthew 19:21) وبعد هذا ميض إىل أحد، بقوة السيد املسيح He returned to his house, decided to fulfill this commandment and considered it directed to him personally. He gave his wealth وكان بعض. القبور وأقام فيه واغلق بابه عليه to the poor and needy, and he took his sister and placed her with فلام رأي. أصدقائه يأتون إليه مبا يقتات به some virgins. حسده وهجم، الشيطان نسكه وعبادته الحارة At that time, monasticism had not yet been established. All فلام. عليه ورضبه رضبا موجعا ة تركه طريحا those who wanted to live a solitary life went and lived on the وجدوه عيل هذا الحال، آيت أصدقاؤه يفتقدونه outskirts of the city. This was what St. Anthony did as he dwelt وإذ وجد نفسه متاثل، فحملوه إىل الكنيسة، alone, worshipping and living an ascetic life. فعاود. إىل الشفاء قليال عاد إىل مكانه االول The devil fought him there by afflicting him with boredom, الشيطان محاربته بأشكال متنوعة يف صورة laziness, and the phantoms of women. He overcame the devil›s وكان، وحوش وذئاب واسود وثعابني وعقارب snares by the power of the Lord Christ. After that, he went to أما القديس. يصور له ان كال منها يهم ليمزقه one of the tombs, and he resided therein and closed the door لو كان لكم عيل سلطان: فكان يهزا بهم قائال on himself. Some of his friends used to bring him food. When the devil perceived his ascetic life and his intense worship, he وعند ذلك. لكان واحد منكم يكفي ملحاربتي was envious of him, and he beat him mercilessly, then left him إذ أعطاه الرب، كانوا يتوارون من أمامه كالدخان unconscious. When his friends came to visit him and found وكان يرتنم بهذا املزمور. الغلبة عيل الشيطان him in this condition, they carried him to the church. After he يتبدد أعداؤه ويهرب مبغضوه. « يقوم الله: somewhat recovered, he went back to the same place. The devil وكان يعد لنفسه من الخبز. « من أمام وجهه again resumed his war against St. Antonius, only this time the ومل يسمح ألحد. ما يكفيه ستة اشهر كاملة phantoms were in the form of wild beasts, wolves, lions, snakes لنصائحه بل كان يقف خارجا ويستمع، بالدخول and scorpions. They appeared as if they were about to attack عرشين وقد استمر القديس عيل هذا الحال. him or cut him into pieces. But the saint would laugh at them ثم ميض بأمر. سنة وهو يتعبد بنسك عظيم scornfully and say, «If any of you have any authority over me, only one would have been sufficient to fight me.» At his saying الرب إىل الفيوم وثبت االخوة الذين كانوا هناك this, they disappeared as though in smoke, for God gave him ويف زمن االستشهاد تاق ان يصري.ثم عاد إىل ديره the victory over the devils. He was always singing this psalm, وكان، فرتك ديره وميض إىل اإلسكندرية، شهيدا «Let God arise, let His enemies be scattered; let those also who . يفتقد املسجونني عيل اسم املسيح ويعزيهم hate Him flee before Him.» (Psalm 68:1) فلام رأي منه الحاكم املجاهرة بالسيد املسيح St. Anthony used to prepare a quantity of bread that would أمر ان ال يظهر باملدينة مطلقا، وعدم املباالة sustain him for six months. He did not allow anyone to enter his cell, and whoever came to him, stood outside and listened to his وكان يوجهه، ولكن القديس مل يعبا بالتهديد. ، لعله يسوقه للعذاب واالستشهاد، ويحاجه advice. He continued in this condition of solitary worship for 20 years. Then by God›s command, he went to El-Fayyoum and ولكن الن الرب حفظه ملنفعة الكثريين فقد تركه و بتدبري من الله رجع القديس. الحاكم وشانه confirmed the brethren there in the faith, then returned to his إىل ديره وكرث الذين يرتددون عليه ويسمعون monastery. During the time of persecution, he longed to become a martyr. ، ورأي ان ذلك يشغله عن العبادة. تعاليمه He left his monastery and went to Alexandria. He visited those وميض مع، فاخذ يتوغل يف الصحراء الرشقية who were imprisoned for the sake of Christ and comforted قوم أعراب إىل داخل الربية عيل مسرية ثالثة
them. When the Governor saw that he was confessing the Lord Christ حيث وجد عني ماء وبعض، ايام publicly, not caring what might happen to him, he ordered him not to النخيل فاختار ذلك املوضع وأقام show up in the city. However, the saint did not heed his threats. He وكان العرب يأتون إليه بالخبز، فيه faced him and argued with him in order that he might arouse his anger وكان بالربية وحوش كثرية طردها. so that he might be tortured and martyred. But God preserved him ويف بعض. الرب من هناك من اجله all along, according to His will, for the benefit of many, and so the ، األيام كان يذهب إىل الدير الخارجي Governor left him alone. Then the saint went back to his monastery ويفتقد االخوة الذين هناك ثم يعود according to God›s will, and many came to visit him and to hear his وبلغ صيته إىل. إىل الدير الداخيل teachings. He saw that these visits kept him away from his worship. As a result, فكتب، امللك قسطنطني املحب لإلله ويطلب منه ان يصيل، إليه ميتدحه he went far away to the eastern desert. He travelled with some bedouins to the inner wilderness for three days, until he found a spring أما. ففرح االخوة بكتاب امللك. عنه of water and some palm trees, and then he chose to settle there. On هوذا: هو فلم يحفل به وقال لهم this spot now stands the monastery of St. Anthony the Great. The كتب الله ملك امللوك ورب األرباب bedouins came to him with bread, and the Lord drove away all the توصينا كل يوم ونحن ال نلتفت إليها wild beasts from this place, for his sake. وبإلحاح االخوة، بل نعرض عنها، On occasions, he would go to the monastery on the outskirts of عليه قائلني ان امللك قسطنطني the desert by the Nile to visit the brethren, then return to his inner قبل ان يكتب له، محب للكنيسة monastery. طالبا سالم اململكة، خطابا باركه فيه His fame spread abroad and it reached Emperor Constantine. The واعرتاه امللل ذات يوم. والكنيسة Emperor wrote to him, offering him praise and asked him to pray اخرج خارجا: فسمع صوتا يقول له for him. The brethren were pleased with the Emperor›s letter, but St. Anthony did not pay any attention to it, and he said to them, «The فخرج ورأي مالكا متوشحا. وانظر books of God, the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords, commands بزنار صليب مثال اإلسكيم املقدس us everyday, but we do not heed what they tell us, and we turn our وهو جالس، وعيل رأسه قلنسوة، backs on them.» Under the persistence of the brethren who told him, ثم يجلس، ثم يقوم ليصيل، يضفر «Emperor Constantine loves the church,» he accepted to write him a وأتاه صوت يقول له. ليضفر ايضا letter blessing him, and praying for the peace and safety of the empire يا أنطونيوس افعل هكذا وأنت: and the church. من الزي فاتخذ لنفسه هذا. تسرتيح One day, he was bored, and he heard a voice telling him, «Go out and ذلك الوقت وصار يعمل الضفرية ومل see.» He went out and saw an angel who wore a girdle with a cross, وتنبأ عن االضطهاد الذي. يعد امللل one resembling the holy Eskiem, and on his head was a head cover (Kolansowa). He was sitting while braiding palm leaves, then he stood يسحل بالكنيسة وتسلط الهراطقة up to pray, and again he sat to weave. A voice came to him saying, ، ثم أعادتها إىل حالتها األوىل، عليها «Anthony, do this and you will rest.» Henceforth, he started to wear وعيل انقضاء الزمان وملا زاره القديس this tunic that he saw, and began to weave palm leaves, and never got مقاريوس البسه زي الرهبنة وأنباه bored again. وملا دنت ايام وفاة. مبا يسكون منه St. Anthony prophesied about the persecution that was about to ميض، القديس االنبا بوال أول السواح happen to the church and the control of the heretics over it, the church واهتم به، إليه القديس أنطونيوس victory and its return to its formal glory, and the end of the age. وكفنه بحلة أهداها إليه القديس When St. Macarius visited St. Anthony, St. Anthony clothed him with .أثناسيوس الرسويل البابا العرشون the monk›s garb, and St. Anthony foretold him what would be of him. وملا شعر القديس أنطونيوس بقرب When the day of the departure of St. Paul, the first hermit in the أمر أوالده ان يخفوا جسده، نياحته desert, drew near, St. Anthony went to him. St. Anthony buried St. Paul the hermit after he had clothed him in a tunic which was a ، وان يعطوا عكازه ملقاريوس، present from St. Athanasius the Apostolic, 20th Pope of Alexandria. وامللوطة الجلد، والفروة ألثناسيوس When St. Anthony felt that the day of his departure had approached, ثم رقد ممددا. لرسابيون تلميذه he commanded his disciple to hide his body and to give his staff to فتلقتها، عيل األرض واسلم الروح St. Macarius, and to give one sheepskin cloak to St. Athanasius and وحملتها. صفوف املالئكة والقديسني the other sheepskin cloak to Anba Serapion, his disciple. He stretched himself on the ground and gave up his spirit. The angels and the saints وقد عاش. إىل موضع النياح الدائم ، هذا القديس مائة وخمس سنوات took his spirit and carried it to the place of perpetual rest. . مجاهدا يف سبيل القداسة والطهر This saint lived for 15 years, struggling in the way of holiness and صالته تكون معنا ولربنا املجد دامئا purity. . ابديا امني His prayers be with us and Glory be to our God forever. Amen.
Meditations on the Bible Readings تأمالت فى إنجيل القداس 3rd Sunday of the Blessed month of Toba األحد الثالث من شهر طوبة المبارك John 3: 22-36 ٣٦ – ٢٢ ::٣ ٣ يوحنا “He must increase, but I must decrease” John 3:30. «ينبغى ان هذا يزيد وأنا انقص» يوحنا Who is first? God or I? This might seem to be an easy ٢٠ ::٣ ٣ question to answer … but the practical application is من أوال ؟ هللا أم أنا ؟ ربما يبدو انه extremely hard and not as simple as it seems … in fact, لكن فى.. سؤال سهل اإلجابة عليه this question might be present in our lives in a reduced التنفيذ العملى ربما يبدو ان اإلجابة status or on a different level … for the head of the fami.. صعبة وليست بمثل هذه السهولة ly; is it him or her first or the family members? And the وفى الواقع هذا السؤال ربما يواجهك servants (of the church) in their service, the question is: .. بشكل مصغر على مستوى آخر his or her honour and benefits first or his or her service فيواجه رب األسرة هل هو أوال أم and those being served? The servant here is the Sunday أفراد أسرته ؟ ويواجه الخادم فى school teacher, the deacon, the priest or the bishop … it خدمته هل هو أوال كرامته ومصالحه is a question which every man is confronted by it in his أو خدمته ومخدوميه ؟ والخادم هو or her various aspects of life … even in technical (and خادم مدارس األحد أو الشماس أو professional) aspects of work … is one’s own benefits انه سؤال يواجه.. الكاهن أو األسقف comes first or true principles and moral values (come first)? كل إنسان فى مجاالت حياته المختلفة How easy it is for one to give himself or herself prefer حتى فى مجااالت العمل العملى.. ence … to put one’s self before all others … thus one can هل مصالحة الشخصية أوال أم.. become selfish and only sees his or her own … and how المبادىء وقواعد الفضيلة واألخالق ؟ difficult it is to reconcile one’s needs as well as others’ .. ما اسهل ان يفضل االنسان نفسه needs … a complicated and troubling equation … it even ويصير.. ويضع نقسه قبل كل شىء might be more difficult than forgetting one’s need and .. إنسانا أنانيا ال يرى شيئا سوى ذاته attending only to others’ needs. وأصعب ان يحاول االنسان ان يوفق John the Baptist gives us a great example of the man .. بين مصالحه ومصالح اآلخرين who denies himself completely … he himself becomes non-existent for God’s sake and the service of others … وربما اصعب.. معادلة صعبة ومتعبة ان ينسى االنسان نفسه تماما ويهمل كل a stranger in the wilderness wearing camel’s skin and شىء من اجل اآلخرين eating locust and honey … appears in the world for short ان يوحنا المعمدان يعطى مثاال عاليا period in it he fulfilled his service to the best he could عظيما فى االنسان الذى يتكر ذاته … and quickly he disappeared without asking for any يصير هو نفسه بال وجود من.. تماما honours for himself or wages or even praise despite he .. اجل هللا ومن اجل خدمة اآلخرين deserved to be called “among those born of women there is not a greater one” (Luke 7:28). غريبا فى البرية يلبس وبر اإلبل ويأكل John the Baptist has offered a great service for the whole وظهر للعالم فى.. جرادا وعسال بريا of mankind … and he did not ask for any reward … he فترة صغيرة أتم فيها خدمته كأروع prepared the way for the Lord Jesus then disappeared … ثم اختفى بسرعة بدون ان.. ما يكون can we learn from John the Baptist; self-denial … how? يطلب لنفسه كرامة أو اجرا أو مديحا To serve not expecting a reward … to learn self-denial. رغم انه استحق ان يصير اعظم مواليد + He who has the bride is the bridegroom .. .. النساء This is the feelings of a servant … for he or she does لقد قدم يوحنا المعمدان خدمة عظيمة not serve for themselves … but they serve the heavenly ولم يطلب من العالم اى.. للعالم كله bridegroom … while they are servants of the bridegroom ارشد الناس للرب يسوع.. مقابل to see and rejoice (in His service) … St Paul the apostle فهل نتعلم انكار الذات.. واختفى هو sets an excellent example in self-denial for the others … كيف ؟ تعلم ان.. من يوحنا المعمدان “when I preach the gospel, I may present the gospel of .. تعلم انكار الذات.. تخدم بال مقابل Christ without charge, that I may not abuse my authority .. من له العروس فهو العريس+ in the gospel. For though I am free from all men, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win the more; انه ال يعمل من.. هذا هو شعور الخادم and to the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might win Jews; بل يهمل من اجل العريس.. اجل نفسه أما هو بصديق العريس.. السماوي to those who are under the law, as under the law, that I might win those who are under the law; to those who يضع القديس.. يقف ويرى ويفرح are without law, as without law , that I might win those بولس نموذجا رائعا فى انكار نفسه من who are without law; to the weak I became as weak, that «اذ وأنا ابشر اجعل.. اجل اآلخرين
I might win the weak. I have become all things to all إنجيل المسيح بال نفقة حتى لم استعمل men, that I might by all means save some” 1Corinthi- فإنى وإذ كنت حرا.. سلطانى فى اإلنجيل an 9:18 – 22) … “we have been made a spectacle to من الجميع استعبدت نفسة للجميع ألربح the world, both to angels and to men. We are fools for .. فصرت لليهود يهودى.. األكثرين Christ’s sake, but you are wise in Christ! We are weak, والذين تحت الناموس كأنى تحت الناموس but you are strong! You are distinguished, but we are وللذين بال ناموس كأنى بال ناموس.. dishonoured! To the present hour we both hunger كو١ كو ١( » ألخلص على كل حال قوما.. and thirst, and we are poorly clothed, and beaten, and منظرا «ألننا صرنا.. ))٢٧ ٢٧ – ١٨ : ٩ homeless. And we labour, working with our own من جهال نحن .. والناس والمالئكة للعالم hands. Being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we المسيح فى فحكماء انتم وأما المسيح أجل endure; being defamed, we entreat. We have been أنتم.. نحن ضعفاء وأما انتم فأقوياء.. made as the filth of the world, the offscouring of all الى.. مكرمون وإما نحن فبال كرامة things (1 Corinthian 4:10-13) … and also said “ But in هذه الساعة نجوع ونعطش ونلكم وليس all things we commend ourselves as ministers of God: نشتم.. لنا إقامة ونتعب عاملين بأيدينا in much patience, in tribulations, in needs, in distresses, in stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labours, يفترى علينا.. نضطهد فنحتمل.. فنبارك صرنا كأقذار العالم ووسخ كل.. فنعظ in sleeplessness, in fasting; by purity, by knowledge, by longsuffering, by kindness, by the Holy Spirit, by ويقول.. ))١٤ ١٤ - ١٠ ::٤ ٤ كو كو١ ١( ..« شئ sincere love, by the word of truth, by the power of أيضا « فى كل شىء نظهر أنفسنا كخدام God, by the armour of righteousness on the right hand فى.. فى شدائد.. هللا فى صبر كثير and on the left, by honour and dishonour, by evil بمجد وهوان بصيت ردىء.. ضرورات report and good report; as deceivers, and yet true; as كمضلين ونحن صادقون.. وصيت حسن unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and behold كمائتين.. كمجهولين ونحن معروفون we live; as chastened, and yet not killed; as sorrowful, كمؤدبين ونحن غير.. وها نحن نحيا yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; .. كحزانى ونحن دائما فرحين.. مقتولين as having nothing, and yet possessing all things” 2 كفقراء ونحن نغنى كثيرين كأن ال شىء Corinthian 6:4-10). ٤ ::٦ ٦ كو٢( »لنا ونحن نملك كل شىء St Paul desired to transcend to heavens … but in his .. ))١١ ١١ – view the only thing which made him prefer to be on ..كان بولس يشتهى ان ينطلق للسماء earth is for the sake of his brethren and relative in the ولكن كان فى نظره الشئ الوحيد الذى flesh (and their salvation) … for the sake of preaching يجعله يفضل ان يبقى على االرض هو and serving others … this is the same feeling Moses ألجل.. ألجل إخوته وانسباؤه فى الجسد the prophet showed when prayed with pleadings that نفس هذا.. التبشير وألجل خدمة اآلخرين the Lord have mercy on His people and forgive their الشعور أظهره موسى النبى عندما كان sins when they made the golden calf to worship (Exodus 32) … Moses even said to God entreating Him to يصلى بلجاجة من أجل أن يتحنن الرب forgive the peoples sins “I pray, blot me out of Your على شعبه ويغفر لهم خطبتهم عندما book which You have written.” If You will not forgive ووصل موسى.. صنعوا العجل ليعبدوه them (Exodus 32:32) … indeed amazing is the feelings «إغفر لهم وإال: فى لجاجته الى انه قال of the servant who burns himself in the service (as a عجيب.. »فأمحنى من كتابك الذى كتبت candle) to enlighten the others … St Peter the 17th حقا شعور الخادم الذى يحرق نفسه فى pope (of the Coptic Church) and the seal of martyrs … الخدمة من أجل ان يضئ لآلخرين prior to his martyrdom, he prayed to God with great قبل .. القديس األنبا بطرس خاتم الشهداء might and asked that the emperor does not kill others يهلك ان يتقدم لإلستشهاد من أجل ان ال and his blood be the last to be shed in his days … and بلجاجة وصلى.. اإلمبراطور بقية شعبه indeed the Lord listened to his prayers and he was the دم آخر هو قبل إستشاده ان يجعل هللا دمه seal of martyrs in his time. وفعال استجاب.. يسفك فى ذلك العصر Another saint sold his clothing to donate the price to .. هللا له وجعله آخر شهداء عصره the poor … we also hear of Anba Abram (the late bishأحد القديسين باع ثوبه من أجل ان op of Faioum) who reached a great level of self-denial ونسمع عن.. يتصدق بثمنه للفقراء to deny himself of all things … he accepted to live in القديس األنبا إبرآم الذى وصل به انكار an old house with no furniture or any comforts befit.. الذات ان يحرم نفسه من كل شىء ting of a bishop … offering all to the poor … again the church history tells us of one of the Coptic ministers رضى أن يعيش فى بيت قديم متهالك بال named Youhanna Al-Abeh who was a minister of the أثاث وال أن مظهر من مظاهر الراحة
government (around 1042 – 1045AD) at the time of the .. أو األشياء التى تليق بمظهر األسقف Fatima Khalifate and he was an honest minster with .. مقدما كل ما تصل اليه يداه للفقراء good manners and welcoming of all people regardless يحى لنا تاريخ الكنيسة عن أحد الوزراء of faith or religion and loving of the church even if it يسمى يوحنا اآلبح وكان وزيرا قبطيا meant self-denial for the benefit of his people and the حميد األخالق محبا للناس على إختالف church … the khalif (ruler) loved him because of his أمينا فى عمله ومحبا للكنيسة.. أديانهم loyalty and honesty … the khalif used to boost about متفانيا فى محبته ولو على حساب راحته him before the noblemen and leaders of the communi وكان يعمل لدى الخليفة المستنصر.. ty … one of the noblemen named Sahem El-Deen got وإخالصه الفاطمي الذى كان يحبه ألمانته annoyed from this and said to the khalif “but he is a األمراء وكان الخليفة يفتخر به أمام.. Christian” which made the khalif angry because of this ويسمى األمراء وإستاء أحد.. والقواد phrase and said “I want a noserany (Christian) because محتجا للخليفة وقال سهم الدين من ذلك the Christian is protective of his faith and image” … وإغتاظ الخليفة من هذه.. ولكنه مسيحى and all the noblemen blamed the jealous nobleman for العبارة وقال «وأنا أريده تصرانيا ألن his saying and the khalif jailed him … the nobleman’s النصراني يخاف على عرضه ويخشى wife went to minister Youhanna’s and asked his for ووبخ األمراء زميلهم.. »على دينه giveness and intercession to save the nobleman … and الحسود على كالمه وألقى به فى السجن indeed he interceded on his behalf and was released … but this jealous nobleman stayed with his hate and anger وذهبت زوجة األمير للوزير يوحنا.. … one day a war erupted and this nobleman became the وفعال.. تستعطفه ان يتدخل إلنقاذ األمير leaders of the army … this gave him the chance to take ولكن األمير ظل.. أطلق الخليفة سراحه revenge so he forged a letter (from the Coptic minister) ويوما ما قامت.. على حسده وغضبه which contained many secrets and it was addressed to .. الحرب وتولى األمير قيادة الجيوش the king of the enemies and presented it to khalif as وهنا سنحت له فرصة لإلنتقام فزور evidence (of the Coptic minister’s treason … this made خطابا وجعل أحذ الحاسدين اآلخرين the khalif very angry and ordered the execution of the من رفقائه يحمل الخطاب يطلع عليه Coptic minister … some of the noblemen asked the kha- وكان الخطاب المزور عبارة.. الخليفة lif to investigate first the allegations, thus he appointed عن خطاب يحوى كل أسرار المملكة a high ranking nobleman to lead the investigation after وثار الخليفة.. وموجه لملك األعداء the war has ended and he was an admirer of the Coptic عليه وحكم.. وتصور ان الوزير يخونه minister … and he found out the truth about the forgery وتوسط األمراء حتى ال يقتله.. بالشنق and informed the khalif who ordered the release of the وكلف.. اويتمهل حتى تثبت عليه التهمة Coptic minister and the arrest and jailing of the jealous nobleman … as a way of compensation the khalif asked الخليفة كبير األمراء وكان يحب الوزير وعرف كبير األمراء.. يوحنا بالتحقيق the Coptic minister to ask for what he wants, so asked وبعد إنتهاء الحرب.. السر كله والحقيقة to be allowed to build a church which was granted … the Coptic minister was able to build 2 churches; one أطلع الخليفة على ما حدث وحكم الخليفة named after St Barbara and the other for St Serguis Bacببراءة الوزير وأطلق سراحه أعاد له chus (( the 2 churches existing till today), the churches كل ممتلكاته وسجن األمير الحاسد حبسا of St Barbara and Abu Serga at Old Cairo) … but the وقال الخليفة لوزيره تمن على.. دائما khalif asked him to demolish of one of the 2 churches فطلب ان.. ما تشتهى فأحقق أمنيتك as he has given him permission for only one church … .. يسمح له ببناء كنيسة وفعال سمح له the Coptic minister could not decide which church to ولكن الوزير تمكن من ان يبنى كنيستين demolish, so he fasted for a long time and visited both أحدهما بأسم القديسة بربارة واألخرى church daily and could not come to a decision between كنيسته بإسم سرجيوس وواخس (وهما the 2 churches … till he became ill because of it and بمصر القديسة بربارة وأبو سرجة leaned against a wall (in the church) and asked for some water to drink and when they brought water for him, he ولكن الخليفة أمره ان يهدم احد.. )القديمة الكنيستين حيث انه سمح له ببناء كنيسة has departed and died … the khalif was saddened for واحتار الوزير اى كنيسة يهدم.. واحدة his death and his honour he ordered that both churches وفرض على نفسه صوما وظل يتردد.. be kept, one he has given permission for and the other على على الكنيستين ونفسه ال تطاوعه as present to his departed friend and honest minister وشعر بإعياء.. أى واحدة منهما يهدم who has died as a martyr for a church … this minister was buried in the church of St Barbara and the Lord has شديد قأسند رأسه على حائط وطلب ماء honoured him by heavenly light shining on his burial وعندما أحضروا الماء كان.. ليشرب place. وحزن الخليفة عليه.. قد أسلم الروح
And you, beloved do you deny yourself for others جدا وأمر بإبقاء الكنيستين واحدة امر ببنائها … do you deny yourself for the sake of your fam- واألخرى هدية لوزيره األمين الذى مات شهيدا ily? Do you practice self-denial for your children? ودفن الوزير فى كنيسة القديسة.. ألجل الكنيسة Or you bring them up and labour with them for بربارة وأكرمه الرب يسوع ونزل على قبره your own sake? All you are interested in, is that .. نور سماوى they serve your needs and self-benefits even if it وأنت أيها الحبيب هل تنكر ذاتك من أجل was against their own good and future … are you هل تنكر ذاتك من أجل أفراد أسرتك.. اآلخرين a selfish father? Are you a selfish mother? Re؟ هل تنكر ذاتك من أجل أوالدك ؟ أم أنت member the bible direction “And you, fathers, do ما تربيهم وتتعب معهم من أجل نفسك ؟ كل not provoke your children” (Ephesians 6:4). حتى ويرضوك يهمك هو أن يخدموا مصالحك + He must increase, but I must decrease .. هل أنت أب.. ولو ضد مصلحتهم ومستقبلهم Are you ready to decrase for God’s sake? Are you willing to be humiliated for your love of God أنانى ؟ هل أنتى أم أنانية ؟ تذكر وصية الكتاب .. » «أيها اآلباء ال تغيظوا أوالدكم.. and for the sake of His commandments? Are you .. ينبغى أن هذا يزيد وأنا أنقص+ willing to lose in material possessions because of هل أنت مستعد ن تنقص من أجل هللا؟ هل أنت your love of the King Christ? We often do good مستعد أن تهان من أجل محبتك هلل ومن أجل awaiting a reward in return! … our compliments became an important part of our activities and وصايا هللا؟ هل أنت مستعد أن تخسر ماديا life … there are some who do not come into the من أجل محبتك للملك المسيح ؟ اننا كثيرا ما church only to offer a compliment in weddings لقد صارت.. نفعل الخير وننتظر مقابال له and funerals … and often our compliments are المجامالت جزءا هاما جدا فى حياتنا ونشاطنا against God Himself! فهناك من ال يدخل الكنيسة اال فقط لكى.. There are some who will become very enraged وكثيرا ما تكون.. يجامل فى فى إكليل أو جناز if not greeted by friends in a warm manner or .. مجامالت على حساب هللا ذاته ignored when he or she was seen some where وهناك من يغضب جدا إذا لم يقدم له صديقه … this can be even a reason for separation and quarrel … to the extent of not being able to accept التحية الالئقة أو تجاهله عندما رآه فى مكان ما .. وربما يصير هذا سببا للقطيعة والخصام.. an excuse (for such an incident) … often we are على اننا كثيرا ما نحكم.. بل ال يقبل اى عذر quick to judge others before we hear their excus.. اآلخرين قبل ان نسمع أعذارهم es. األنسان األنا التى تجعل.. هذه هى الذاتية This is the selfishness … the I which makes one يتحوصل حول ذاته وال يرى أى شئ آخر contained in one’s self and cannot see but himself بل يريد أن يزداد ويكبر على.. سوى ذاته or herself only … but even, makes one wanting to حساب اآلخرين وال يحتمل ان يزداد أحد على increase on account of others and cannot toler.. حسابه هو ate for some-one else to increase on his or her account. .. أيها الحبيب تعلم أن تكون زهرة متفتحة Beloved, learn how to become a blossoming حتى لهؤالء.. تبتسم لآلخرين وتربح الجميع bloom … smiling to others and gaining all … .. الذين ال ينظرون اليها وال يعطونها إهتماما even those who do not give you attention … learn تعلم أن الذى يعطى حبا بال مقابل هو إنسان to give unconditional love without being reward- أما الذى يعطى حبا فى.. ممتلىء من محبة هللا ed for this is the person filled with God’s love … مقابل ثمن فهو إنسانا فارغا ال يملك حتى الحب but those who offer love in exchange for a reward .. الذى يحاول أن يعطيه is an empty person and does own the love he or تقدم .. منيرة مستقيمة تدرب أن تكون شمعة she is trying to offer! … practice to become canأن بدون .. حولها من نورها وبهائها لكل dle lighting up (for others) … offering it’s light فى أجلهم من تحترق بل .. تعرفهم أو تراهم and brilliance to all around it … without knowing ان من وتذوب تحترق ضجيج صمت وبدون them or seeing them … but (a candle) melting in .. أجل ان تضيء لآلخرين silence and without much noise to light (the way تعلم من القديس يوحنا المعمدان أن تكون صديقا to God) for others … let us learn from St John تتعب من أجله وتتقدم ذاتك وحياتك.. للعريس the Baptist to be a friend of the bridegroom … ليس من أجل أجر أرضى أو.. كلها من أجله labouring for Him and offering one’s self and life بل من أجل ملكوت السموات.. كرامة أرضية for Him … not for an earthly reward or honours on earth … but for the glory of the heavenly king- وعندئذ سوف تتهلل قائال «إذن فرحى هذا قد.. dom … then one can enlighten and say “all has .. »كمل been perfected (in the Lord)”.
.The Dormition of Our Lady, the Virgin Mary, the Theotokos 29th January – 21st Toba On this day, Our Lady, the all pure, Virgin St. Mary, the Mother of God, departed. As she was always praying in the holy sepulchre, the Holy Spirit informed her that she was about to depart from this temporal world. When the time of her departure arrived, the virgins of the Mount of Olives came to her, with the apostles, who were still alive, and they surrounded her bed. The Lord Jesus Christ, to Whom is the glory, with a host of thousands and thousands of angels came to her and comforted her and told her about the eternal joy that was prepared for her, and she rejoiced. The apostles and the virgins asked her to bless them. She stretched her hand and blessed them all, and she gave up her pure spirit in the hand of her Son and God, and He took .her spirit to the heavenly mansions The apostles prepared the body in a fitting manner and carried it to Gethsemane. Some of the Jews blocked their way to prevent them from burying the body. One of the Jews seized the coffin with his hands, which were separated instantly from his body and they remained attached to the coffin. He regretted his evil deed and wept bitterly. Through the supplications of the saintly apostles, his hands were reattached to his body, and he believed in the Lord Christ. .When they placed the body in the tomb, the Lord hid it from them St. Thomas the Apostle was not present at the time of St. Mary's departure. He wanted to go to Jerusalem and a cloud carried him there. On his way, he saw the pure body of St. Mary carried by the angels and ascended to heaven with it. One of the angels told him, "Make haste and kiss the pure body of St. .Mary," and he did When St. Thomas arrived where the disciples were, they told him about St. Mary's departure and he said to them, "You know how I conducted myself at the resurrection of the Lord Christ, and I will not believe unless I see her body." They went with him to the tomb, and uncovered the place of the body but they did not find it, and everyone was perplexed and surprised. St. Thomas told them how he saw the holy body and the angels that were ascending with it. They heard the Holy Spirit saying to them, "The Lord did not will to leave her body on earth." The Lord had promised his pure apostles to let them see her in the flesh once again. They were waiting for this promise to be fulfilled, until the 16th day of the month of Misra, when the promise was fulfilled and .they saw her The years of her life on earth were 60 years. She was 12 years old when she left the temple. She spent 34 years in Joseph's house, until the Ascension of the Lord, and 14 years with St. John the Evangelist, according to the commandment of the Lord which he told her at the cross, "Behold, this is your son," and ".to St. John, "Behold, this is your mother .Her intercession and blessings be with us. Amen
ترحب كنيسة القديسة العذراء مريم بالسيد/ كيرلس قالدة من ميسوساجا بكندا وهو يقوم برسم أيقونات شرقية الهيكل بكنيسة القديس يوحنا فم الذهب بالمبنى الجديد
Blessed Baptism Baby Rafael son of Daniel & Fortona Tsgay Sunday 21st January 2024 St Mary’s Church
The Departure of St. Mary the Ascetic (The Shut-In). 24th Toba
On this day, St. Mary the Ascetic, the shut-in, departed. Her parents were among the wealthy and noble people of Alexandria. Several of the sons of the great men in the city asked to marry her, but she declined. When her parents departed, she distributed all that they left among the poor, keeping just a modest part for herself. Then she joined a convent near the City of Alexandria, and wore the monastic garb. She exerted herself in worship for 15 years, then she put on the holy "Eskeem" and put on a garb made of hair. After she took the permission of the abbess, she shut herself in her cell, closed the door, and opened a small window in it to receive her provisions. She spent 22 years in this cell, fasting two days at a time. During the holy forty days fast (Lent), she fasted for three days, and then broke her fast on some pulses moistened with water. On the 11th day of the month of Tubah, she asked for a little of the holy water. She washed her hands and feet, then she received the Holy Communion, and drank from the holy water. She became sick and stayed in her bed until the 21st of Tubah, when she received the Holy Mysteries once more. She called upon the abbess and all the sisters, bade them farewell, and asked them to visit her after three days. On the 24th day of Tubah, they visited her and found that she had departed in peace. They carried her to the church, and after praying over her, they placed her with the bodies of the virgin saints.
Blessed Marruage Levi Tefera & Marina Elias 21st January 2024 St George Church
St Mary's Kidergarten Important Notice “ Due to an inability to reach acceptable commercial terms with its selected operating partner, Early Education Holdings, and after reviewing the Kindergarten's operational requirements going forward, the church committee has decided to proceed with managing the service, which it believes will provide the greatest benefit to the church and its parishioners"
The Departure of St. Peter, the Worshipper.
On this day, St. Peter the worshipper, departed. He was at first a tax collector, who was very cruel and had no mercy. Because of his selfishness and greed, he was nicknamed "the merciless". The Lord Jesus had compassion upon him and He wanted to turn him away from all his bad deeds. One day, God sent him a poor man to ask him for a little food, and it thus happened that his servant arrived at the same time when the poor man was standing before him, with bread. The tax collector took a loaf of bread and hit the poor man with it on his head, not as an act of mercy, but to get rid of him so that he might not come back again. That same night, Peter, the tax collector, saw a vision in his sleep, as though he was in the judgement day, where the scale of justice was erected, and he saw some people clothed in black in the ugliest forms. They came and put his sins and his injustices in the left pan of the scale. Then a group of the angels of light, with beautiful countenances and in white clothes, came and stood beside the right pan of the scale. They appeared perplexed, for they did not find anything to put in the pan. One of them came forward, and put in the loaf of bread with which he had hit the head of the poor man, and said, "There is nothing for this man except this loaf of bread."
Financial Summary for St. Mary’s Church New Project as on 9th Jan 2024
Building Site 18th January 2024
Construction of New Buildings started Thursday 28th April
The new Building is expected to be ready February 2024. church services are continuing as normal as in the Timetable inside the Bulletin. You can donate monthly contribution using Direct Debit forms available in the church or downloaded from church website.
Cost of building works is around $13,000,000. Your support and donations will be blessing and very appreciated. 2022 أبريل٢٨ أعمال اإلنشاءات بدات يوم الخميس خدمات الكنيسة تتم حسب المعتاد حسب.٢٠٢٤ .٢٠٢٤ من المتوقع االنتهاء من المشروع فبراير .الجدول الموضح داخل النشرة . مليون دوالرا١٣ تبلغ تكلفة المشروع حوالى ينكنك المشاركة بتبرع شهرى بملء أستمارة السحب البنكي الموجودة بالكنيسة أو طبعها من خالل مركز الكنيسة اإللكتروني الرب يبارك تبرعاتكم ومساهمتكم فى هذا العمل Donations to St Mary’s Church and Building project can be made by the following Link للتبرعات لكنيسة العذراء مريم ومشروع المباني أضغط على الرابط https://www.stmc.org.au/donate (Copy & Paste on Web Browser)