Weekly Bulletin 29th May 2022

FrF

Feast of Glorious Ascention Thursday 2nd June 2022 Sunday 29th May 2022- 21st Bashans1738 Fifty 5

Published by St Mary’s Coptic Orthodox Church 5 Epsom Rd., Kensington Vic. Melbourne - Australia

Services at St Mary’s Church Monday: Mass 9 - 11 am Tuesday Liturgy 5:30 - 7am 8am The Way Orthodox Fellowship in Englisg for adults - All ages Wednesday: Mass 9 – 11 am Wednesday 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 Friday 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 Saturday Sunday School 4 – 5.30pm Vespers & youth meeting 7-8:30pm English Vespers &Bible Study Arabic 5:307pm 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 Macary 0433 445 636

:‫مواعيد الخدمة بكنيسة العذراء‬

:‫األثنني‬ ‫ صباحا‬١١ - ٩ ‫القداس األلهى‬ )‫ صباحا (أنجليزى‬7 - 5:30 ::‫األلهى‬ ‫ القداس األلهى‬:‫الثالثاء‬ ‫ ذا واى‬- ‫ مساء أجتامع للكبار باألنجليزى‬8 ‫ صباحا‬11 – 9 ‫ القداس األلهى‬:‫األربعاء‬ ‫األربعاء‬ ‫ عرىب‬- ‫ مساء مدرسة الشاممسة للكبار‬8 - 6:30 ‫ أنجليزى‬- ‫ مساء مدرسة الشاممسة‬8:15 - 7 ‫ عرىب‬- ‫مساء فصول ألحان‬9 - 8 :‫الخميس‬ ‫ أنجليزى‬- ‫ صباحا‬١١ - ٩ ‫القداس األلهى‬ ‫ مساء‬7:30 ‫ أنجليزى‬- ‫تسبحة نصف الليل‬ ‫ مساء‬7:30 ‫ أنجليزى‬- ‫درس الكتاب املقدس‬ ‫ صباحا‬11 – 9 ‫ القداس األلهى‬:‫الجمعة‬ ‫الجمعة‬ ‫ سنة فأكرث‬25 ‫ مساء الشباب‬9 – 7 )‫مساء أجتامع األرسة (كل أسبوعني‬9-7 ‫ أنجليزى‬- ‫ مساء أجتامع اعداد الخدمة‬8:30 - 7 12 - 10 ‫ مساء فصل مدرس األحد لسنوات‬9 - 6 ‫السبت‬ ‫ صباحا‬١١ – 8,30 ‫القداس األلهى‬:‫السبت‬ ‫ مساء‬3 - 1:30 ‫اجتامع الكشافة‬ ‫ مساء‬4 - 3 ‫مدرسة الشاممسة‬ 5,30 – 4 ‫مدارس األحد‬ ‫ مساء انجليزى‬٨:٣٠ –٧ ‫العشية واجتامع الشباب‬ ‫ مساء عرىب‬7 - 5:30 ‫العشية ودرس كتاب‬ :‫األحد‬ ‫األحد‬ ‫ص عرىب وانجليزى‬,7:45 – 6 ‫القداس األول‬ ‫ ص – انجليزى‬9:30 – ,7:45 ‫القداس الثاىن‬ ‫ ص عرىب‬11:15 – 9:30 ‫القداس الثالث‬ ‫ مساء‬12:30 - 11:45 ‫ أنجليزى‬- ‫فصل ألحان‬ :‫األباء الكهنة بالكنيسة‬ ‫األب القمص تادرس شاروبيم‬ 0414251251 Email: frtadros@me.com :‫األب القس حبيب جرجس يونان‬ 94498871Email: - 0401238177 habibgirgisyounan@hotmail.com 0422431821 :‫األب القس مايكل صليب‬ Email: frmichael@sac.edu.au 5 Epsom Rd, Kensington Vic 3031:‫عنوان الكنيسة‬ 93766651 :‫تليفون‬ ‫األب القس كريلس تاورضوس‬ ٠٤١١٥١٨٣٩٩ ‫األب القس جون مكارى‬ ٠٤٣٣٤٤٥٦٣٦

Feast of Entrance into Egypt – by Bishop Dimetrius ‫عيــد دخــول الــرب الــى أرض‬ 1st June - 24th Bashans ‫مصــر‬ The Church celebrates the Feast of our Lord’s Entry into Egypt ‫‏‬.‫‏ ‏د‬:‫ بشــنس بقلــ ‏م‬٢٥ – ‫ يونيــة‬٢ on the 24th day of the month of Pashons (June 1st). This feast is ‫مينــا بديــع عبدالملــك‬ among the Seven Minor Feasts of the Lord. As the Holy Family ‫‏ بشنس من كل عام والذي‬٢٥‫في‏‬ entered the land of Egypt, St. Mary the Virgin mother carried the ‫يوافق األول من يونيو تحتفل‬ child Jesus in her arms, with Joseph the Carpenter at her side and ‫الكنيسة المصرية األرثوذكسية‬ Salome, who accompanied ‫عن بقية كنائس العالم‬ them. They had done so in ‫كله بذكري مجيء العائلة‬ order to escape from Herod, ‫‏‬.‫المقدسة إلي مصر‏‬ who had sought to kill the ‫وتضع الكنيسة القبطية‬ Child. This was instructed ‫هذه الذكري المقدسة‬ to Joseph by the Archangel ‫ فتقيم‬,‫ضمن أعيادها‬ Gabriel in a dream where ‫األحتفاالت الدينية في‬ the Gabriel told him: “Get ‫جميع الكنائس والسيما‬ up, take the child and his ‫األماكن التي مرت بها‬ mother, and flee to Egypt, ‫العائلة المقدسة منذ‬ and remain there until I (‫وصولها إلي الفرما‬ tell you; for Herod is about ‫مكانها اآلن مدينة‬ to search for the child, to ‫بورفؤاد) الواقعة علي‬ destroy him.’ Then Joseph ‫حدود مصر الشمالية‬ got up, took the child and ‫الشرقية حتي وصولها‬ his mother by night, and ‫إلي المكان المعروف اآلن‬ went to Egypt, and re‫بالدير المحرق بمحافظة‬ mained there until the death ‫أسيوط والذي يقع علي‬ of Herod. This was to fulfill ‫ كيلومتر من‬500‫بعد نحو‬ what had been spoken by .‫رأس الدلتا‬ the Lord through the proph‫قصة زيارة العائلة‬ et, ‘Out of Egypt I have ‫المقدسة ألرض مصر‬ called my son” (Matthew ‫ قصة شيقة‬,‫الطيبة‬ 2:13-15 ). ‫ سجلها لنا بكل التفاصيل‬,‫للغاية‬ The entry of our Lord Jesus Christ into the land of Egypt is an )‫ م‬412385(‫البابا ثاؤفيلس‬ opportunity for rejoicing and delighting for the many blessings ‫ وقد دون تفاصيلها‬,23‫البطريرك‬ that his entry has impacted upon Egypt. The Church is aware of ‫بتدقيق شديد األسقف النشط‬ how important this event has been. And this is the reason it is ‫األنبا ديمتريوس أسقف ملوي‬ one of the Lord’s feasts. There are several symbols and spiritual ‫وأنصنا واألشمونين بالكتاب الذي‬ meanings that are indicated by the coming of the Lord Christ ‫› رحلة‬:‫أصدرته المطرانية بعنوان‬ into Egypt. God’s plan for Christ’s entering the land of Egypt ‫العائلة المقدسة في ملوي وفي‬ contains, as far as we can assume, four spiritual meanings that ‫ ومن حق مصر أن‬.›‫كل مصر‬ indicate the benefit for us from this divine plan. ‫تفتخر علي كل بالد العالم ألنها أ‬ 1. The first spiritual meaning: ‫اختصت بهذا الشرف العظيم أن‬ The first spiritual meaning was that the Lord has been willing to ‫تكون زيارة العائلة المقدسة إليها‬ remove his anger from this land. God wanted to show how his ‫ لقد اقامت‬.‫وليس إلي أي بلد آخر‬ forgiveness works and how he was going to replace the old by ‫العائلة المقدسة في مصر نحو‬ the new and the curse by the blessing. God is willing to abol.‫ثالث سنوات وأحد عشر شهرا‬ ish the curses of the plagues that he had once inflicted upon the ‫قطعت خاللها العائلة المقدسة ما ال‬ Egyptians, when he punished them severely with the ten plagues ‫يقل عن ألفي كيلومتر كان معظمها‬ in the old time, pouring his wrath upon them and the whole land ‫سيرا علي األقدام والبعض اآلخر‬ of Egypt. Now by sending his Son to Egypt, He is restoring ‫بداخل مركب شراعية علي النيل‬ his favor instead of his wrath, his blessing instead of his curse; ‫ فتباركت خاللها أرجاء‬,‫العظيم‬ .‫مصر أرضها ونيلها وشعبها‬ purifying everything, renewing everything: the people, the land, ‫ويحتفظ التقليد الكنسي لنا أن‬ the water, and the air. This is the first reason for which our Lord came to bless the land of Egypt that he had once cursed. He made ‫العائلة المقدسة وكان عمر السيد‬ ‫المسيح وقت خروجه من بيت‬ his entry into Egypt in order to establish there the benediction instead of the malediction. The lesson for us here is that God is ‫ وهي في طريقها‬-‫لحم حوالي سنة‬ ‫إلي مصر مرت بشبه جزيرة‬ teaching us about conversion. A life spent far away from God

‫ كيلومترا‬240‫ وقطعت‬,‫سيناء‬ needs repentance. Otherwise this life will be condemned to perish ‫حتي وصلت إلي مدينة الفرما‬ in the hell of fire. Therefore, the person whom converts, repents, turns back from the wicked ways to God, will deserve the renewal ‫واستراحوا بضعة أيام ثم واصلوا‬ ‫السير عبر دلتا النيل إلي مدينة‬ of life in our Lord Christ Jesus, instead of deserving the condem‫ كيلومتر‬2‫تل بسطة( تبعد مسافة‬ nation to the hell of fire. Conversion is by excellence the figure ‫من مدينة الزقازيق) بمحافظة‬ of the transformation from the curses to the blessings, from the 24‫الشرقية وكان وصولهم في‬ sinful nature to the renewed and purified being. As the converting ‫بشنس واعتبرتها الكنيسة أول‬ person receives a new life in the Lord Jesus Christ, in the same way, as Egypt that received the Lord received a blessing compen- ‫ ثم اتجهوا‬,‫محطة للرحلة بمصر‬ sating her old curses caused by sin. In both the converting person ‫إلي منطقة تسمي المحمة( حاليا‬ ‫مسطرد) ومكثوا بها عدة أيام‬ and the land of Egypt receiving the Lord Christ one common trait ‫ استأنفت القافلة‬.‫تحت شجرة‬ unifies their destiny: Holiness shines instead of darkness. ‫الصغيرة مسيرتها حتي مدينة‬ 2. The second spiritual meaning: ‫بلبيس وهي نفس األرض التي‬ The second spiritual meaning for the coming of Christ into the ‫كانت معروفة قديما بأرض‬ land of Egypt is the meaning of escape from evil. By His coming ‫جاسان التي سكنها أبو اآلباء‬ to Egypt, our Lord gave us the key of the practical application of ‫يعقوب عندما حضر إلي مصر‬ his command to escape evil, not to resist it in (Matthew 5:39 ).

Our Lord escaped from the face of the King Herod. Nevertheless, ‫ أنتقلت بعد ذلك‬.‫عند ابنه يوسف‬ ‫العائلة إلي› منية جناح› التي هي‬ His escape is not based on cowardice and does not come out of ‫منية سمنود( حاليا مركز ميت‬ weakness! His escape is based on divine plan; he made this jour‫غمر) مرورا ببلدة دقادوس ثم‬ ney to Egypt to fulfill the divine purpose of redemption, aiming to redeem all of mankind. We have a special remembrance for the ‫عبرت النيل إلي وسط الدلتا حيث‬ slain children of Bethlehem on the third day of the Coptic month ‫مرت بسمنود لتعبر الفرع الغربي‬ ‫للنيل نحو منطقة البرلس ثم‬ of Touba, when we celebrate their memory as we consider them being for us among the cloud of witnesses. Therefore, the Lord’s ‫واصلوا سيرهم غربا حتي مدينة‬ ‫ ثم عبروا النيل إلي الضفة‬,‫سخا‬ plan for us is that we follow His example, walk into His steps, ‫الغربية من فرع رشيد واستقلوا‬ escape from evil, escape from sin. This escape is a program that ‫مركبا شراعية ثم واصلوا السير‬ we should always remember, consider, trust, and follow. ‫إلي وادي النطرون( أي وادي‬ 3. The third spiritual meaning: ‫ ويسمي الوادي باسم‬,‫الملح‬ The third spiritual meaning for the Lord Jesus Christ’s entering ‫برية شهيت وهي كلمة قبطية‬ into Egypt is to establish a Temple for the Lord in the midst of the ‫ والمنطقة‬,)‫تعني ميزان القلوب‬ land of Egypt and to abolish and destroy the idolatrous temples ‫حاليا عامرة باألديرة القبطية‬ spread and perverting the whole land. So we can consider the ‫والرهبان حتي أن عدد الرهبان‬ journey of the Holy Family to Egypt a journey with a building ‫في القرن الرابع الميالدي بلغ‬ purpose, a foundational-minded journey aiming to install in Egypt .‫عددهم خمسين ألف راهبا‬ the establishment of the Temple of God. In the Old Testament, the ‫بعد ذلك اتجهت العائلة جنوبا‬ only temple of God was in Jerusalem. The Lord has been willing to add geographically Egypt to come to His knowledge. The Lord ‫ كيلومترا وعبرت النيل‬60‫نحو‬ ‫شرقا ومرت علي القناطر( حاليا‬ is willing to announce to the people of Egypt His love for them. ‫ ومنها ارتحلت‬,)‫القناطر الخيرية‬ He is calling them to acknowledge Him and to worship Him, to ‫ كيلومترا وصلوا‬20‫وعلي بعد‬ love Him and to adore Him; He is destining them to build His ‫مدينة قديمة تدعي› أون› وهي‬ Church. Isaiah the Prophet prophesied about that saying: “So the ‫عين شمس الحالية ثم ذهبوا إلي‬ Lord will make himself known to the Egyptians, and in that day they will acknowledge the Lord. They will worship with sacrifices ‫ في المطرية استظلوا‬.‫المطرية‬ ‫تحت شجرة جميز ومازالت‬ and grain offerings; they will make vows to the Lord and keep ‫الشجرة موجودة حتي اآلن وهي‬ them.” (Isaiah 19: 21 ) Therefore, the Lord is not only making .›‫معروفة باسم› شجرة مريم‬ Himself known in Egypt in a habitual way of traditional knowl‫بعد ذلك ذهبوا إلي حارة زويلة‬ edge. Rather, a deep and profound knowledge is involved, giving ‫وأقاموا بها يومين ثم اتجهوا‬ the Egyptians the privilege to become also the flock of God. They ‫جنوبا إلي أسوار بابليون( مصر‬ are from now on making vows to God and keeping them. After ‫القديمة) حيث مكثوا مدة سبعة‬ they were Israel’s enemies. The Holy Book of Isaiah eloquently ‫أيام في المغارة التي توجد اآلن‬ tells the story of the journey of the Holy Family to Egypt. It is a (‫في كنيسة القديس سرجيوس‬ journey that causes “the idols of Egypt to tremble and the hearts ‫المعروفة عند العامة باسم كنيسة‬ of the Egyptians to melt.” Our Lord does not want us to love ‫ انصرفوا بعد ذلك‬.)‫أبو سرجة‬ anything more than we love Him. If a person loves something more than the Lord, the Lord wants that idolatrous thing to trem- ‫واتجهوا جنوبا علي شاطئ النيل‬

‫وركبوا مركبا حتي وصلوا إلي منطقة‬ ble. Idols could be things such as the Ego or the ancient self-prior to conversion. By the melting of the hearts of the ‫المعادي بالقرب من ممفيس( التي هي منف‬ Egyptians, the Lord wants to teach us that conversion gives ‫القديمة) في موقع كنيسة السيدة العذراء‬ ‫األثرية بالمعادي والتي تقع علي شاطئ‬ humility to the heart and repentance; two elements that are ‫ مكثت العائلة المقدسة في‬.‫النيل مباشرة‬ vital and necessary in the adoration of God. ‫هذا المكان فترة تتراوح ما بين عشرة أيام‬ 4. The fourth spiritual meaning: ‫ ومنها اتجهوا جنوبا في مركب‬,‫وشهر‬ The fourth spiritual meaning of the Lord’s journey to ‫شراعية شرقي البهنسا ومروا بالقرب‬ Egypt is the fulfillment of the prophecy of Hosea: “Out of ‫من البهنسا وعبروا النيل إلي الشاطئ‬ Egypt I called my Son.” (Hosea 11: 1 ) “When Israel was ‫الشرقي وبعد خمسة أيام وصلوا إلي منطقة‬ a child I loved him, and out of Egypt I called my Son.” ,‫معروفة باسم› جبل الطير› بسمالوط‬ The Lord wants to teach us an important lesson concerning ‫ومنها بطريق النهر إلي الشيخ عبادة‬ the traveling and the continual moving without rest. He ‫ بالقرب من الجبل‬.‫بمركز ملوي الحالية‬ journeyed inside Egypt without a home or a specific place ‫الشرقي بين دير أبو حنس والشيخ عبادة‬ of his own where he could rest. He was as a stranger that had no support and no place to lean his head upon. Thus, ‫يوجد بئر يحمل اسم› بير السحابة› بالقرب‬ ‫ البئر مصممة‬.‫من دير البتول بأنصنا‬ He wants us to be familiarized with the feeling of being ‫بطريقة هندسية فريدة في التكوين اإلنشائي‬ strangers to both the heavenly homeland (that we didn’t ‫ عبروا النيل من ناحية بير‬.‫والمعماري‬ reach yet!) and the earthly homeland. We want to be like ‫السحابة إلي جهة الغرب واتجهوا إلي قرية‬ our Lord Jesus Christ, considering ourselves strangers, ‫الروضة بملوي ومنها علي بعد نحو ستة‬ having nowhere to rest. It is a precious lesson for us to learn that the earthly home is only a temporary one and our (‫كيلومترات وصلوا مدينة هرموبوليس‬ ‫ بعد أن أقاموا أياما بمدينة‬.)‫أي األشمونين‬ heavenly home is the perpetual one.

The journey of the Lord Jesus Christ with the Holy Family ›‫األشمونين اتجهوا جنوبا إلي مكان يسمي‬ to Egypt was a hard and difficult one, where He was seek- ‫ديروط أم نخلة› ثم ارتحلوا شرقا إلي دير‬ ing souls longing for Him and souls hungry and thirsty for ‫أبو حنس حيث استراحوا يوما واحدا في‬ ‫ناحية يطلق عليها اسم› كوم ماريا› وهو‬ Him. St. Wadamoun El-Armanty met with our Lord in the region ‫ اتجهت‬.‫ فدانا‬19‫كوم كبير تبلغ مساحته‬ ‫بعد ذلك العائلة المقدسة إلي ديروط‬ of El-Ashmounin located in the south of Egypt. He was from a city called Armante, which is distant 500 kilometers )‫الشريف( مركز ديروط محافظة أسيوط‬ ‫وأقاموا فيها أياما قليلة ثم ذهبوا بعدها إلي‬ from Mallawi or El-Ashmounin. St. Wadamoun was the ‫القوصية قرب أسيوط وفيها أقاموا ثالثة‬ first to believe in the Lord Jesus Christ. Our Lord told him that he was going to be the first martyr. As St. Wadamoun ‫أيام ثم اتجهوا إلي بلدة› مير› ومنها ذهبوا‬ was performing miracles with the power of the Lord Jesus ‫إلي جبل قسقام حيث يقع الدير المعروف‬ ‫ م‬342‫باسم دير المحرق( تأسس سنة‬ Christ, the pagans and idolatrous people – seeing the idols trembling, crushing, and falling in destruction – persecuted ‫علي يد القديس أنبا باخوم أب حياة الشركة‬ ‫ والذي يضم الكنيسة األثرية‬,)‫الرهبانية‬ him and killed him. He died effectively as the Lord Jesus Christ told him, as a martyr. In the records of our Church, ‫التي أقيمت مكان المغارة التي أقامت فيها‬ .‫العائلة المقدسة‬ he is counted with the 44 thousand or the Children of Beth‫بعد أن قضت العائلة المقدسة في دير‬ lehem, as their martyrdom occurred at the same period of time, historically. This was the inauguration of the martyr- ‫ وكان عمر السيد‬,‫المحرق مدة ستة أشهر‬ dom and the starting of the sufferings for our Lord’s faith. ‫ بدأت‬,‫المسيح وقتها حوالي خمس سنوات‬ ‫رحلة العودة التي استغرقت نحو ثالثة‬ To our God be the eternal Glory for ever, Amen. ‫ فمن دير المحرق اتجهت العائلة‬.‫أشهر‬ — Sermon By H.G. Bishop Dimetrius, Bishop of the Holy Diocese of Mallawi, Ansena and El-Ashmunein and Abbot ,)‫إلي األشمونين ثم إلي رأس الدلتا( منف‬ ‫إلي المطرية مارة بحي الزيتون الذي به‬ of the Monastery of Saint Fana, Upper Egypt. ‫ وبعد‬.‫كنيستها الشهيرة باسم السيدة العذراء‬ The Martyrdom Of St. Thomas, the Apostle. ‫أن استراحت بها بعض الوقت واصلت‬ 3rd June - 26th Bashans On this day St. Thomas the apostle was martyred. He was ‫عودتها إلي الحدود الشمالية الشرقية للبالد‬ born in Galilee, and the Lord chose him among the twelve ‫المصرية لتعود منها إلي ناصرة الجليل كما‬ .‫ورد في إنجيل القديس متي‬ disciples (Mathew 10:3). When the Lord wanted to go ‫لبالدنا‬ ‫المقدسة‬ ‫هكذا كانت زيارة العائلة‬ to raise Lazarus from the dead, Thomas said to the other ‫العزيزة فجرا جديدا شع بالنور علي‬ disciples: “ (John 11:16). He also asked the Lord at the ‫ فنمت‬,‫ وأفقا روحيا أحاط بتاريخنا‬,‫شعبنا‬ supper: “ (John 14:5-6). When the Lord Christ appeared ‫شخصيتنا المعنوية وأصبحت الكنيسة‬ to the disciples after the resurrection, and said to them ‫القبطية بحق هي القائدة وهي المعلمة‬ “Receive the Holy Spirit”, Thomas was absent. On his return, the disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord.” He ‫ فكانت الزيارة لبالدنا رحمة‬.‫وهي الرائدة‬

said to them: “ (John 20:19-29). ‫ مبارك‬.‫ كما كانت أيضا عزاء وسالما‬,‫وبركة‬ After the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the day .‫شعبي مصر‬ of Pentecost in the Upper room in Zion, the apostles ‫استشهاد توما الرسول‬ dispersed everywhere to preach the Gospel, Thomas went ‫ بشنس‬٢٦ - ‫ يونية‬٣ to India. He worked there as a slave at one of the friends ‫في مثل هذا اليوم استشهد القديس توما‬ of the king, whose name was Lukios, who brought him to ‫ ولد هذا القديس‬. ‫الرسول الذي يقال له التوأم‬ the king who inquired about his profession. Thomas said: ‫في إقليم الجليل واختاره مخلصنا من جملة‬ “I am builder, carpenter and a physician. He preached in .)3 : 10 ‫اإلثنى عشر رسوال (مت‬ his master’s palace, and Lukios’ wife believed and all his ‫وهو الذي قال للتالميذ عندما أراد المخلص‬ household. ‫أن يمضي ليقيم لعازر « لنذهب نحن أيضا‬ The king asked him about his achievements, and he said: ‫) وهو الذي‬16 : 11 ‫لكي نموت معه (يو‬ “The palaces that I built were the souls that have become ‫سأل ربنا وقت العشاء قائال « يا سيد لسنا‬ the temples of the King of Glory; the carpentry that I did 14 ‫نعلم أين الطريق والحق والحياة « (يو‬ ‫) ولما ظهر السيد المسيح للرسل‬6 ‫ و‬5 : was the Gospel that removes the thorns of sin; and the ‫القديسين بعد القيامة وقال لهم اقبلوا الروح‬ medicines I practiced are the Holy Mysteries which heal ‫القدس كان هذا الرسول غائبا فعند حضوره‬ the poison of the evil one. The king became angry and ‫ فقال لهم ان لم‬. ‫ « قد رأينا الرب‬: ‫قالوا له‬ tortured him, and bound him among four poles, cut off ‫أبصر في يديه أثر المسامير وأضع إصبعي‬ his skin and rubbed his wounds with salt and lime. The apostle Thomas endured the pains. Lukios’ wife saw him « ‫في أثارها كما أضع يدي في جنبه ال أومن‬ suffering, and she fell from the window and died. Lukios ‫ فظهر لهم يسوع بعد ثمانية أيام وتوما معهم‬. ‫ « يا توما هات إصبعك إلى هنا‬: ‫وقال له‬ came to him and said: “If you raise my wife from the ‫وأبصر يدي وهات يدك وضعها في جنبي‬ dead, I believe in your God.” Thomas went to the room where the dead body was, and said: “Arsabona (Arsonia), ‫وال تكن غير مؤمن بل مؤمنا « أجاب توما‬ rise up in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ.” She rose « : ‫ قال له يسوع‬. « ‫ « ربي والهي‬, ‫وقال له‬ ‫ طوبى للذين آمنوا‬. ‫ألنك رأيتني يا توما آمنت‬ instantly and bowed to the Saint. When her husband )29 – 19 : 20 ‫ولم يروا « (يو‬ saw that, he believed and many more with him from the ‫وبعد حلول الروح القدس علي التالميذ في‬ people of the city, and Thomas baptized them. ‫علية صهيون وتفرقهم في جهات المسكونة‬ Once the sea drove a huge tree to the shore that no one could lift it up. St. Thomas asked the king for permission ‫ليكرزوا ببشارة اإلنجيل انطلق هذا الرسول‬ ‫إلى بالد الهند وهناك اشتغل كعبد عند أحد‬ to lift it up and to use its wood in building a church. He ‫أصدقاء الملك ويدعي لوقيوس الذي أخذه‬ got the permission, he made the sign of the cross, and ‫ أنا‬: ‫إلى الملك فاستعلم منه عن صناعته فقال‬ he raised it and later he built the church, to which he ‫بناء ونجار وطبيب وبعد أيام وهو في القصر‬ ordained a bishop and priests. ‫صار يبشر من فيه حتى آمنت امرأة لوقيوس‬ St. Thomas left and went to a city called “Kantoura” . ‫وجماعة من أهل بيته‬ (Kontaria), where he found an old man weeping bitterly ‫ثم سأله الملك عن الصناعات التي قام بها‬ because the king killed his six children. The Saint prayed ‫ « ان القصور التي بنيتها هي‬: ‫فأجابه‬ over them, and the Lord raised them up. The idol priests ، ‫النفوس التي صارت محال لملك المجد‬ were angry, and wanted to stone him. The first raised a ‫والنجارة التي قمت بها هي األناجيل التي‬ stone to throw it at him, and his hand was paralyzed. The Saint prayed over his hand, he was healed instantly, and ‫ والطب واألدوية هي‬، ‫تقطع أشواك الخطية‬ ‫أسرار هللا المقدسة تشفي من سموم عدو‬ all the idol priests believed in the Lord Christ. Then St. ‫ فغضب الملك من ذلك وعذبه كثيرا‬. ‫الخير‬ Thomas went to the city of “Parkenas” and other cities, where he preached in the Name of Jesus Christ. The king ‫وربطه بين أربعة أوتاد وسلخ جلده ودلكها‬ ‫بملح وجير والرسول صابر ورأت ذلك امرأة‬ heard about him, and he put him in prison. When he ‫ فسقطت من كوي بيتها وأسلمت‬، ‫لوقيوس‬ found out that he was teaching the prisoners the way of God, he tortured him, and at last he cut his head off, and ‫روحها وأما توما فقد شفاه الرب من جراحاته‬ ‫فأتاه لوقيوس وهو حزين علي زوجته وقال‬ he received the crown of martyrdom. He was buried in “Melibar”, then his body was relocated to El-Raha. May ‫ « ان أقمت زوجتي آمنت بإلهك « فدخل‬: ‫له‬ ‫ « يا أرسابونا‬: ‫إليها توما الرسول وقال‬ his prayers be with us, and ‫قومي باسم السيد المسيح « فنهضت لوقتها‬ Glory be to God forever. Amen. ‫ فلما رأي زوجها ذلك‬. ‫وسجدت للقديس‬ ‫آمن ومعه كثيرون من أهل المدينة بالسيد‬ ‫ وجرف أيضا البحر‬. ‫المسيح فعمدهم الرسول‬ ‫شجرة كبيرة لم يستطع أحد رفعها فاستأذن‬ ‫ والسماح له‬. ‫القديس توما الملك في رفعها‬ ‫ببناء كنيسة من خشبها فسمح له فرسم عليها‬

‫تأمالت في إنجيل القداس‬ Meditations on fifth Sunday of The Holy ‫األحد الخامس من الخماسين المقدسة‬ Pentecostal fifty days ١١--١:١٤ ‫يو‬ ١١ John 14:1-11 ‫«وتعلمون حيث أنا اذهب وتعلمون‬ “and where I go you know, and the way you ٤:١٤ ‫الطريق» يو‬ know.” John 14:4 ‫ هذا هو اإلنسان‬،‫مسافر إلى السماء‬ Journeying to heavens, heavens, this is the Christian man who knows the way. He has prepared himself ‫المسيحي إنه يعرف الطريق لقد جهز‬ for travel, took his needs for the road, carrying ‫نفسه للسفر أعد العدة وأخذ زادا‬ his travel permits in his hands with an entry ‫للطريق وجواز سفره في يده يحمل‬ pass, portraying his noble roots and honourable ‫تأشيرة الدخول ويحمل نسبة الكريم‬ descendance. For he is the son of the Great King ‫ إنه ابن الملك العظيم‬،‫وأصله الشريف‬ and has been dyed (baptised) in His Blood and ‫وقد اصطبغ بدمه وقبل أن يحمل‬ accepted to carry his cross and follow his Master. ‫صليبه ويتبع سيده مسافر وسط أدغال‬ He is journeying through many dangers and ‫كثيرة ووسط أخطار ال تحصى ووسط‬ tribulations with numerous temptations. But, he is ‫إغراءات عديدة لكنه مطمئن عيناه‬ at peace and his eyes are open and fixed forward ‫مفتوحتان وناظرتان إلى األمام إلى‬ on heavens. His thoughts is preoccupied with ‫السماء فكره مشغول بأورشليم السمائية‬ the Heavenly Jerusalem and his hear is content, ‫ فإن له مكانا هناك‬.‫قلبه مطمئن مرتاح‬ for he has a placement (in heaven) and there are ‫فهناك منازل كثيرة قد سبق وأعدها لنا‬ many houses which have been prepared by The .‫الرب يسوع‬ Lord Jesus Christ for us. ‫هكذا كان شعور التالميذ وهم يَ َروْ ن‬ Thus, was the disciples’ feelings when they ‫ صحيح أنهم‬،‫الرب منطلقا إلى السماء‬ witnessed the Lord ascending into Heaven, true, ‫شعروا عندها بالغربة شعروا بالحزن‬ they would have felt sorrow and alienation in ‫وقد مأل قلوبهم ولكن ما أن رفعوا‬ their hearts, but as they lifted their eyes and ‫عيونهم إلى فوق حتى رأوْ اه جالسا‬ saw Him (Christ) seated on the right hand of . ‫عن يمين اآلب يشجعهم ويقويهم‬ the Father, strengthening them and encouraging ‫يرسل لهم قوة من األعالي ثم انطلقوا‬ them, they were granted strength from above to ‫في رحلتهم الرائعة التي بها فتنوا‬ transcend on their magnificent journey which has ‫المسكونة كلها يخبرون الجميع عن هذا‬ amazed the whole world. They told all of the One ‫ عن‬.‫الذي أحبهم وبذل ذاته من أجلهم‬ who loved them and sacrificed Himself for all, ،‫هذا الذي حلقه حالوة وكله مشتهيات‬ “His mouth is most sweet, Yes, he is altogether ‫يحدثون عن المنازل السماوية التي هم‬ lovely”” (Song of Songs 5:16). Telling all the lovely ‫منطلقون إليها حيث ما لم تره عين ولَم‬ heavenly houses which they are going to where ‫تسمع به أذن ولَم يخطر على قلب بشر‬ “no Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have .‫ما أعده هللا لمختاريه‬ entered into the heart of man the things which ‫وأنت أيها المسافر أين تمضي؟ هل‬ God has prepared for those who love Him” (1 ‫تعلم أنك تحمل تذكرة سفر مجانية إلى‬ Corinthian 2:9). ‫ هل‬،‫السماء مختومة بدم السيد المسيح‬ And you dear traveller, where are you heading? ‫تعلم أن في جيبك جواز سفر يعبر بك‬ Did you know you have a fully paid ticket to ‫ هل تعرف أن لك‬،‫فوق كل المتاعب‬ heavens sealed the Lord Jesus Christ’s Blood? ‫مكانا؟ هل أنت مسافر يقظ نشيط أم أنت‬ Did you know, you are carrying a passport which ‫مسافر تائه أو ربما مسافر نائم؟‬ + passes over all tribulations. Did you know, there ‫كيف نقدر أن نعرف الطريق؟‬ ‫إن لم تعرفي أيتها الجميلة بين النساء‬ is a place prepared for you? Are you an alert and agile traveller or are you a lost traveller or maybe ‫فانظري آثار الغنم وأرعي جداءك عند‬ a sleepy traveller? .‫مساكن الرعاة‬ + How can we know the way? ‫أيها الحبيب ال يكفي أن تكون مسافرا‬ If you do not know, O fairest among women, ‫ انظر‬،‫بل يجب أن تسير على الطريق‬ follow in the footsteps of the flock, and feed your ‫إن هناك كثيرون ساروا وكثيرون ما‬ little goats Beside the shepherds’ tents (Song of ‫زالوا يسيرون على الدرب الصحيح‬ ‫انظر إن آثارهم باقية حولك انظر‬

‫ أرعي جداءك عند مساكن‬،‫آثار الغنم‬ Songs 1:8). .‫الرعاة‬ My beloved, it is not enough to become a ‫القديسة دميانة كانت تعرف الطريق‬ traveller, but you must follow the correct way. ‫جيدا اختارت لنفسها طريق السماء‬ There many who have followed and many still ‫ فرحت بعريسها‬،‫الضيق الكرب‬ following on the correct way. Follow in their ،‫السماوي وأحبته ولَم تقبل عنه بديال‬ footsteps which is still visible. See the footsteps َ ‫وعندما‬ of the flock and tend your little goats beside the ‫ضل أبوها الشيخ والي البرلس‬ ‫عن الطريق ذهبت إليه وعاتبته كيف‬ shepherds’ tents. ‫يترك مخلصه الذي أحبه ومات من‬ St Demiana knew the way well. She has chosen ‫أجله كيف يضحي بمنزله السماوي من‬ the narrow road to heavens and rejoiced with ‫أجل قصور العالم الزائلة كيف يضحي‬ her heavenly bridegroom whom she loved and ‫باألبدية من أجل سنوات قليلة فانية‬ would not accept any other. When her father the ‫في هذا العالم وسرعان ما يعود أبوها‬ governor of El-Brollos strayed from the correct ‫للطريق ليسفك دمه وينطلق إلى مساكن‬ way, she went to him and asked him to repent. .‫األبرار حامال إكليل الشهادة‬ How could he leave the One who Loved him and his Saviour who died for him? How can he forego ‫القديس اثناسيوس الرسولي كان يعرف‬ his heavenly house for earthly palace which will ‫الطريق جيدا وانطلق يسير فيه حامال‬ ‫صليبا كبيرا ثقيال وأصر أن يمضي‬ be gone eventually and how can he forego his ‫بصليبه الثقيل في وقت ألقى فيه الجميع‬ everlasting life for a few years on earth? Soon, ‫ نادى بالحق الذي يعرفه‬،‫صلبانهم‬ her father returned to the correct way and offer ‫ويعيش فيه في وقت كره فيه العالم‬ his life and blood to transcend to the dwellings of ‫صوت الحق العالم كله صار ضده‬ the righteous carrying his crown of martyrdom. ‫ لم يعد‬.‫فصار هو أيضا ضد العالم‬ St Athanasius the apostolic knew the way very well, he emerged carrying his cross, a large cross ‫طريقه من أجل أحد وال من أجل راحة‬ ‫جسد نفي خمس مرات عن كرسيه‬ and heavy insisting on carrying his cross at a ‫هرب إلى البرية واختفى في القبور‬ time when all have foregone their crosses. He ‫تغرب في بالد غريبة وخزا موحشة‬ pronounced only the truth which he knew at a time the world rejected the truth to the extent the ‫تائها في البراري وشقوق األرض من‬ .‫أجل محبته في الملك المسيح‬ whole world was against him and became against the world. He did not divert from the correct way ‫وتحتفل الكنيسة خالل فترة الخماسين‬ ‫بعيد القديسة دميانة وعيد القديس‬ for anyone or for physical comfort. He was exiled five times from his seat and escaped to the desert ‫اثناسيوس إنهم عالمات مضيئة على‬ ‫الطريق ال تخفى عن عين كل مسافر‬ and hide among the graves. He was estranged .‫يقظ‬ from his land and fought wild beasts in the desert ‫القديس األنبا بوال أول السواح عرف‬ and crevices of the land because of his love of ‫الطريق وأحب أن يسير فيه طمع‬ Christ the King. ‫أخوه في أن يأخذ النصيب األكبر في‬ During this season of Pentecost, the church ‫الميراث جره معه إلى القاضي ولكن‬ celebrates the commemorations of St Demiana and St Athanasius, they are a lighted up footstep ‫القديس األنبا بوال ترك له هذا الطريق‬ ‫ طريق الخلود‬،‫وانطلق في طريق آخر‬ on the way cannot be foregone by any alert ‫وعندما تنيح األنبا بوال لم يترك وراءه‬ traveller on the correct-way. ‫في هذا العالم سوى ثوب من ليف‬ St Paula the anchorite knew the way and loved to follow it. His brother wanted more inheritance ‫ولكنه كان أثمن من أرواب الملوك لقد‬ and took him to a magistrate, but St Paula had left ‫كان مطعما بجواهر من الدموع وعرق‬ this road and emerged on a different way, the way ‫الصلوات والجهاد ومطرزا بالتسابيح‬ ‫ وما أصعب‬..‫والصلوات التي ال تنقطع‬ of the everlasting life and when St Paula died he left behind only his dress which was made of ‫أن يضل االنسان عن الطريق ويتوه في‬ .‫متاهات هذا العالم‬ rough fibres, but it was more precious the king’s robes studded with jewels of tears and the sweat ‫يحكى عن األنبا أبرآم أسقف الفيوم أن‬ ‫أتاه مرة أحد أعيان الصعيد مريضا‬ of prayers and struggles and sewn with continual ‫بأمراض أفقدته الذاكرة وكان هذا‬ prayers and praises. How sad it is for one to lose

his or her way and become lost in this world ‫اإلنسان في الماضي متغطرسا ومتكبرا‬ voids? ‫وعندما أتوا به إلى األنبا أبرآم ناداه‬ A story about Anba Abraam bishop of Faioum ‫األنبا أبرآم باسمه وقال له ما حدث لك‬ that an elder from southern Egypt was brought ‫هو بسبب كبريائك وغطرستك وسوف‬ to him, sick with loss of memory. This person, ‫تظل سبع سنين أخرى فاقد الذاكرة تائها‬ in the past used to be a hard man and aloof ‫ويجرونك من مكان إلى مكان ثم تشفى‬ and haughty. When this person was brought to ‫وتعيش سبع سنين أخرى وأمر أهله أن‬ Anba Abraam, he called him by his name and ‫يأخذوه ويضعوه في غرفة مغلقة سبع‬ said in what happened to him is because of ‫سنين ويقضون له حاجاته وفعال شفي‬ his haughtiness and he will endure this loss of ‫التائة بعد سبع سنين وتحول إلى إنسان‬ memory for seven years and he will be led from .‫متضع محب للجميع‬ a place to place by the hand of a servant. Then ‫هل تعرف أيها الحبيب سر فقدان اإلنسان‬ he will be cured and live for another seven years ‫لسعادته وهدوءه وراحة باله؟ هل تعرف‬ and asked his family to take home and keep him ‫سر شعور اإلنسان ْاليَوْ َم بحالة ضياع‬ isolated in a room by himself. And indeed, he ‫ضل‬ َ ‫وعدم استقرار؟ السر أنه فعال تائه‬ was cured after seven years and became a very ‫ إنه مثل إنسان مسافر بالقطار‬،‫الطريق‬ meek and contrite person. ‫وفِي كل محطة يقف فيها القطار ينزل‬ Do you know beloved, why does man lose his ‫المسافر يتنزه وينسى نفسه في المحطة‬ happiness and spiritual comfort? Do you know, ‫يفوته القطار التالي وهكذا حتى يفوته أخر‬ why one feels lost and unsettled? The secret ‫قطار وفِي طريق السفر هناك أشياء مهمة‬ is he is actually lost his way! way! It like a person .‫ال تغيب عن نظر المسافر‬ travelling on a train and at every station the train ‫ الحق و الحياة‬،‫الطريق‬ + stops, he alights the train for a short a rest and ‫ الطريق له عالمات واضحة‬،‫الطريق‬ ‫الطريق‬ short walk but he or she forgets one’s self and ‫فهناك آثار الغنم في الطريق وهناك‬ misses the train till he misses the last train. On ‫مساكن الرعاة هناك بوصلة ال تخطئ‬ the way of travel there are important footsteps ‫يحملها المسافر وهي الكتاب المقدس‬ which should not escape from the traveller. ‫عجبا لمسافر تخبره بوصلته أن يمشي‬ + The way, the truth and the life ‫شرقا فيمشي غربا أو شماال فيمشي‬ The way, way, the way has clear signs, there are the ‫ إنه طريق واحد وهو طريق ضيق‬.‫جنوبا‬ footsteps of the flock on the way and there are .‫وكرب فهل أنت مستعد أن تمشي فيه‬ the shepherds tents in a clear continuation which ‫أيها الحبيب هناك حقيقة مهمة جدا يجب‬ the traveller can not miss. This is the holy bible ‫ إن زمان حياتك‬،‫أن تضعها أمام عينيك‬ and how amazing it is when a traveller told to ‫يكفي تماما لتقطع هذا الطريق وتصل‬ follow the east, then he goes west or told the go ‫إلى السماء ولكن عندما تضيع سنوات‬ north then he heads south. It is only one way ‫بعيدا عن هذا الطريق فهنا الخطر وربما‬ and it is a narrow and difficult way. Are you ‫ سئل أحد الفالسفة يوما أي‬.‫ال تصل أبدا‬ willing to follow this way? ‫أنواع السفن هو اآلمن فقال أن أمن السفن‬ My beloved, this fact you must put before your ‫ أي أن السفينة‬،‫هي التي وصلت إلى البر‬ eyes always; the days of your life are enough to ‫في البحر بين األمواج معرضة دائما‬ complete the way and reach the heavenly life, ‫ فلماذا‬.‫للخطر حتى تصل إلى بر األيمان‬ but when you waste years away from being on ‫تضيع وقتك أيها الحبيب بين موانئ العالم‬ the way, then is the danger and maybe one can ‫المليئة بالمعطالت والشهوات العالمية؟‬ never reach the heavenly life. A philosopher ‫والحق‬ ‫ أن الطريق المؤدية إلى السماء‬،‫والحق‬ was asked once, which ship is the safest and he .‫ إنها هي الحق نفسه‬.‫هي طريق مستقيمة‬ answered the safest ships are the ships which ‫ال تخدع نفسك أيها الحبيب فطريق السماء‬ reached the port safely, then any ship still in the ‫ليس فيه غش وال خداع ونصب ليس‬ seas open to the waves is in danger and maybe ‫ أنت‬.‫فيه كذب وليس فيه حقد وكراهيه‬ will never reach the port of faith and salvation. ‫ إن كل يوم‬،‫تحقد على أخيك وال تحبه‬ My beloved, why waste your time between this ‫يمر عليك يبعدك أكثر عن السماء أنت‬ world ports which is loaded with delays and ‫ الحق‬.‫في الواقع تسير في طريق الهالك‬ worldly temptations? ‫ أنت تغش في عملك أو‬.‫ال يعرف الحقد‬

The Truth, Truth, the way which is leading to heavenly ‫تخادع رؤساءك أو أصدقائك ربما‬ life is straight and is the Truth. ‫تقول لنفسك أليس الجميع يعملون‬ My beloved do not deceive yourself, the way to ‫هكذا فلماذا أكون أنا شاذا؟ هل تعلم‬ heavens has no concerns, cheating, dishonesty ‫أنك غريبا عنهم لست من أرضهم‬ or lying or jealousy and hatred. If you hate your ‫ إن‬،‫ولست مثلهم فلماذا تفعل مثلهم‬ brother and don’t love him, every day passes, ‫الحق ال يعرف الغش وال الكذب وال‬ separate you further from heavens and you are ‫الخداع وال السرقة إن الحق يحرر‬ following in the way of destruction. The Truth does ‫اإلنسان من قيود العالم فإذا كنت ما‬ not know hate. If you dishonest at work or cheat .‫زلت مقيدا فأنت لم تعرف الحق بعد‬ your superiors or friends and maybe you convince ‫إننا نعيش في عالم ال يطيق الحق‬ yourself that everyone does the same, why should I ‫رغم أنه يبحث عنه ولكننا نعرف‬ be different? Don’t you know that you are different .‫الحق فلنعش إذن فيه‬ and a stranger in their land and not like them, so ‫والحياة‬ ‫ لي الحياة هي المسيح‬،‫والحياة‬ why do like them? The Truth does not know any ‫ أي حياة بدون‬.‫والموت هو ربح‬ cheating, dishonesty, lying, trickery or theft, but the ‫السيد المسيح إنما هي موت أبدي‬ Truth makes one free from the ties of this world. ‫وأما الموت من أجل السيد المسيح‬ If you still being tied up then you didn’t know the ‫ عندما يرانا أهل العالم‬.‫فهو حياة أبدية‬ Truth yet. We live in a world which cannot bare the ‫أنتا نترك متع العالم وملذاته ويظنون‬ Truth even though it seeks the Truth, but we know ‫أننا نكره الحياة رغم أننا في الواقع‬ the Truth, then let us live it. ‫ الحياة االبدية ومن أجلها‬،‫نحب الحياة‬ The Life, Life, for to me, to live is Christ, and to die is .‫نحتقر ونترك حياة العالم‬ gain (Philippians (Philippians 1:21). Any life without Christ ‫أي فرح هو في السجون في‬ is an everlasting death, but death for Christ is ‫االضطهادات في التعذيب في نظر‬ everlasting life. When the world sees us leaving ‫العالم ال فرح إطالقا ولكن إذا كان‬ the worldly pleasures, thinks we hate life, despite ‫من أجل الرب يسوع فهو أعظم‬ that we in fact love life, the everlasting life that ‫ لقد كان بولس وسيال يسبحان‬.‫فرح‬ is and because of it we leave the worldly life and ‫هللا في السجن وكان الرسل يفرحون‬ condemn it. ‫باالضطهاد إذ حسبوا مستاهلين أن‬ What happiness is it prisons, persecutions and .‫يهانوا من أجل اسم السيد المسيح‬ torture? In the world view it is no joy at all, but ‫وأنت أيها الحبيب هل تحب الحياة؟‬ if it is for the sake of the Lord Jesus Christ then ‫هل ما زلت لم ترى اآلب كل هذا‬ it is a great joy. Paul and Silas were playing and ، ‫الزمان وما زلت تقول ارنا اآلب‬ singing praises in prison (Acts 16) and the apostles ‫كل هذا الزمان ولَم تعرف هللا الساكن‬ were filled with joy for being persecuted as they .‫فيك‬ considered themselves not worthy to suffer for the ‫قم أيها الحبيب سر على الطريق‬ sake of Christ’s name (acts 13). And you beloved, ‫الصحيح متمتعا بنور الحق وبهجة‬ do you love life? Are you still haven’t seen the .‫الحياة األبدية‬ Father all this time? Are you still asking “show us the Father” all this time? Don’t you know God lives within you. My beloved stand up and follow the correct way and rejoice in the light of the Truth and the joy of the everlasting Life.

Parish Board of Deacons Elections Dioceses of Melbourne Sunday 3RD July 2022 ‫أنتخابات مجالس شمامسة الكنائس‬ ‫أيبارشية ملبورن‬ ٢٠٢٢ ‫ يولية‬٣ ‫األحد‬

The Parish Board of Deacons is a group of servants elected by the congregation to assist the priests and the congregation with their services.

They play an important and vital role in the life of the parish, taking on the role of governance and management of the parish affairs. People called to this ministry contribute significantly to the wellbeing and growth of the parish. It is one of the gifts of the Holy Spirit St Paul mentions in 1 Corinthians 12:28.

Under the Diocese Parish Constitution, the normal 3-cycle for the Parish Board of Deacons will commence starting on lSt May with the elections on the 3RD of July 2022.

The Parish Board of Deacons consist of Six elected members and 1 co-opted member. Two of the members must be less than 35-years of aged. To nominate for the parish Board of Deacons, you must be an ordained Deacon at the rank of epsaltos and above, a person of good character, in good standing with the church and older than 21 years of age.

Commencing lSt of May 2022, nominations forms for the Board of Deacons will be available. The Nominee and six other members of the parish must sign the nomination form and deliver them to the Senior Parish Priest. The Preliminary List of Candidates will be published on 29Th May 2022 and members of the community have 14 days to raise concerns regarding any candidates to Rev Fr Paul Awad, the Diocese Returning Officer. The Final List of Candidates will be Published on Sunday 19Th June 2022 with the elections held on Sunday, 3Rd July 2022 following the last Liturgy.

Member of the parish, who regularly attend that parish and are 18 year or older are eligible to vote.

Sunday, 1 May 2022 Sunday, 22 May 2022 Sunday, 29 May 2022 Sunday, 12 June 2022 Sunday, 19 June 2022 Sunday, 3 July 2022

Nominations Open Nominations Close 5:00PM List of Preliminary Nominees published Objections to nominees Close Final List of Candidates Published Parish Board of Deacons Elections

+ The Glorious Feast of Ascension: :‫ عيد الصعود المجيد‬+ Next Thursday 2nd June is the ‫ يونية هو عيد‬٢ ‫يوم الخميس القادم‬ Glorious Feast of the Ascension of our ‫ربنا‬ ‫الصعود المجيد – تذكار صعود‬ Lord Jesus Christ to the Heaven after ‫أربعين‬ ‫يسوع المسيح الى السموات بعد‬ forty days of His Holy Resurrection. ‫أنسان‬ ‫يوجد‬ ‫ ال‬.‫يوما من قيامته المقدسة‬ No human being could ascend to ‫يستطيع أن يصعد الى السموات بذاته اال‬ Heaven except the God of Heaven.

Anyone who ascended before needed ‫ أى شخص صعد من قبل‬.‫رب السموات‬ some kind of help. Enoch was not ‫ أخنوخ لم يوجد‬.‫كان البد له من مساعدة‬ found for the Lord has taken him. ‫ أيليا حملته مركبة نارية‬.‫ألن الرب أخذه‬ Elijah needed the Chariot of fire to ‫ كلهم لم يستطيعوا أن يصعدوا‬.‫الى السماء‬ carry him. ‫ كلهم صعدوا ليختفوا فى‬.‫بذاتهم وحدهم‬ They only ascended up to disappear ‫الرب‬ ‫ أما‬.‫أعماق العالء ولفترة محدودة‬ into the depths of the highest. But ‫السموات‬ ‫أعلى‬ ‫يسوع المسيح فقد صعد الى‬ Christ ascended to the Highest Heaven and became Higher than Heaven (Heb ‫ليصير أعلى من السموات ذاتها ( عبرانيين‬ ‫ صعود الرب الى السموات كان‬.) 26 ::77 7:26). His Ascension has proved and witnessed for His Deity and Equality to .‫أيضا أثباتا أللوهيته ومساواته مع اآلب‬ ‫وهذا ما نتعلمه من صعود الرب الى‬ the Father: :‫السموات‬ 1) Angels submit to Him: Who has gone into Heaven and is at the right ‫ الرب الذى‬:‫المالئكة تخضع له‬ ))11 hand of God, angels and authorities ‫صعد الى السموات وجلس عن يمين اآلب‬ and powers having been made subject ‫المالئكة والسلطات أخضعت له فقد صار‬ to Him. .‫رأسا للكل‬ 2) And He put all things under His ‫أخضع كل شىء تحت قدميه واياه‬ ))22 Feet and gave Him to be head over all ‫جعل رأسا فوق كل شىء للكنيسة ( أفسس‬ thing to the Church Eph 1:22 )22 ::22 3) That at the name of Jesus every ‫لكى تجثو كل ركبة ممن فى‬ )3 )3 knee should bow of those in heaven ‫تحت‬ ‫ومن‬ ‫األرض‬ ‫على‬ ‫ومن‬ ‫السماء‬ and of those on earth and of those ‫) وبالطبع فالسجود‬10 )10 ::22 ‫األرض ( فيلبى‬ under the earth Phi 2:10 Of course ‫هو للله وحده‬ worship is due to God alone. ‫ويعترف كل لسان أن يسوع‬ )4 )4 4) And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the ::2 2 ‫المسيح هو رب لمجد هللا اآلب ( فيلبى‬ Glory of God the Father Phi 2:11 )11 5) And gave Him to be head over all ‫واذ جعله رأسا فوق كل شىء‬ )5 )5 things to the church Eph 1:22 The ‫للكنيسة التى هى جسده ملء الذى يمأل الكل‬ church is His Body ( Eph 1:23) and ‫) والكنيسة‬22-23 )22-23 ::11 ‫فى الكل ( أفسس‬ the Church is the Church of God then ‫هى كنيسة هللا وهو الرب ذاته الذى له كل‬ He is The Lord to Whom the Church . ‫شىء‬ belongs. ‫وفى صعود الرب نرفع أعيننا الى فوق‬ Holy Mass 8 -10am at St Mary’s ‫مجاهدين‬ ‫منتظرين مجيئه الثانى بأشتياق‬ Church.

.. ‫لكى نسكن معه فى السموات‬ ‫يقام القداس األلهى بكنيسة العذراء الساعة‬ ‫ صباحا‬10 – 8

Question: “What is the meaning and importance of the ascension of Jesus Christ?”

Answer: After Jesus rose from the dead, He “presented Himself alive” (Acts 1:3) to the women near the tomb (Matthew 28:9-10), to His disciples (Luke 24:36-43), and to more than 500 others (1 Corinthians 15:6). In the days following His resurrection, Jesus taught His disciples about the kingdom of God (Acts 1:3).

Forty days after the resurrection, Jesus and His disciples went to Mount Olivet, near Jerusalem. There, Jesus promised His followers that they would soon receive the Holy Spirit, and He instructed them to remain in Jerusalem until the Spirit had come. Then Jesus blessed them, and as He gave the blessing, He began to ascend into heaven. The account of Jesus’ ascension is found in Luke 24:50-51 and Acts 1:9-11.

It is plain from Scripture that Jesus’ ascension was a literal, bodily return to heaven. He rose from the ground gradually and visibly, observed by many intent onlookers. As the disciples strained to catch a last glimpse of Jesus, a cloud hid Him from their view, and two angels appeared and promised Christ’s return “in just the same way that you have watched Him go” (Acts 1:11).

The Ascension of Jesus Christ is meaningful for several reasons: 1) It signaled the end of His earthly ministry. God the Father had lovingly sent His Son into the world at Bethlehem, and now the Son was returning to the Father. The period of human limitation was at an end.

2) It signified success in His earthly work. All that He had come to do, He had accomplished.

3) It marked the return of His heavenly glory. Jesus’ glory had been veiled during His sojourn on earth, with one brief exception at the Transfiguration (Matthew 17:1-9).

4) It symbolized His exaltation by the Father (Ephesians 1:20-23). The One with whom the Father is well pleased (Matthew 17:5) was received up in honor and given a name above all names (Philippians 2:9).

5) It allowed Him to prepare a place for us (John 14:2).

6) It indicated the beginning of His new work as High Priest (Hebrews 4:14-16) and Mediator of the New Covenant (Hebrews 9:15).

7) It set the pattern for His return. When Jesus comes to set up the Kingdom, He will return just as He left-literally, bodily, and visibly in the clouds (Acts 1:11; Daniel 7:13-14; Matthew 24:30; Revelation 1:7).

Currently, the Lord Jesus is in heaven. The Scriptures frequently picture Him at the right hand of the Father-a position of honor and authority (Psalm 110:1; Ephesians 1:20; Hebrews 8:1). Christ is the Head of the Church (Colossians 1:18), the giver of spiritual gifts (Ephesians 4:7-8), and the One who fills all in all (Ephesians 4:9-10). https://www.gotquestions.org/ascension-Jesus-Christ.html

+ Remember O Lord the Departed: Christ is Risen! Departed to heaven, Mrs Eriz Aboud, wife of late Mr Nazeem Aboud; mother of Ehab Aboud husband of Amel Aboud, Nehal Abdel Malak wife of late Farid Abdel Malak, Albair Aboud husband of Gihan Kerollous and Dr. Emad Aboud husband of Gehan Aboud; sister of late Mrs Evenis, Mr Alphons, Mrs Loris, Mr Maged and Dr. Evette Naguib; grandmother of Dr. Julie Ghaly, Dr Gina Mohareb, Mena Aboud, Dr David Aboud and Dr Kerollous Nazeem; and great grandmother of Zac and Andre Ghaly, Naomi, Raphael and Daniel Aboud, Chloe, Jordan and Scarlett Mohareb and Mila Aboud May the Lord repose her and grant peace and comfort for all family members.

Funeral Thursday 26th May at St Beshoy and St Shenouda Church 12noon..

/‫نصلى من أجل نياح نفس المنتقلة السيدة‬ ‫أيزيس عبود والدة كل من أيهاب ونهال‬ ‫ عماد‬.‫وألبير ود‬

+ Remember O Lord the Departed: Departed to the Lord Late Mr Emmanuel Daoud Antoun. He is brother of Mr Gobrael Antoun, Miss Magdoline Antoun and Miss Rosaline Antoune and Professor Michael Antoun.

He is nephew of His Emminanance Metroplolitan Daniel of good memory.

Funeral Thursday 26th May 21-1pm at ST Mary’s Chuerch. May the Lord repose his soul and grant peace and comfort for all family members. ‫عمانوئيل‬/‫نصلى من أجل نياح نفس المنتقل السيد‬ ‫داود أنطون شقيق كل من البروفيسور مايكل‬ ‫وجبرائيل ومجدولين وروزالين أنطون وهو ابن‬ ‫شقيق مثلث الرحمات األنبا دانيال مطران الخرطوم‬

Blessed Baptism Baby Ayva daughter of Emil & Sylvia Rofael Saturday 21st May 20222 Staging and payment details for St. Mary’ Mary’s Church Project

Voulanteers Required for St Mary’s Church For making Ourban, Cleaning, Kitchen and Maintenance ‫مطلوب متطوعين لعمل القربان وألعمال النظافة والمطبخ والصيانة بكنيسة العذراء مريم‬ ‫ نيفين سليمان‬/‫ فؤاد حبشى والسيدة‬/‫الرجاء األتصال بالسيد‬ Please contact Fouad Habashy 0404886346 and Mrs Niven Soliman 0432544587

Demolishing Old Buildings started on Thursday 28th April

Construction of New Buildings started Thursday 28th April

The new Building is expected to be ready within 12 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 downladed from church website.

Cost of building works is around $12,000000.

Your support and donations will be blessing and very appreaciated. ‫ أبريل‬٢٨ ‫أعمال اإلنشاءات بدات يوم الخميس‬ ‫ خدمات الكنيسة تتم حسب المعتاد‬.‫ شهرا‬١٢ ‫ من المتوقع األنتهاء من المشروع خالل‬. .‫حسب الجدول الموضح داخل النشرة‬ .‫ مليون دوالرا‬١٢ ‫تبلغ تكلفة المشروع حوالى‬ ‫ينكنك المشاركة بتبرع شهرى بملء أستمارة السحب البنكى الموجودة بالكنيسة أو طبعها‬ ‫من خالل مركز الكنيسة األلكترونى‬ ‫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 المبانى أضغط على الرابط‬ https://www.stmc.org.au/donate (Copy & Paste on Web Browser) Special Thanks for all who keep working tirelessly for the success of this project. May the Lord reward them all and bless all their works