Weekly Bulletin 3rd September 2023

Services at St Mary’s Church

Monday: Mass 9 - 11 am

Tuesday

Liturgy 5:30 - 7am

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

Wednesday: Mass 9 – 11 am

6:30-8pm School of Deacons Adults

Arabic ; 7-8:15pm English (Zoom)

Hymns Class Arabic 8-9pm (Zoom)

Thursday

Mass 9 - 11 am - English

English Midnight Praises 7:30pm

English Bible Study 7:30pm

Friday: Mass Mass 9 – 11 am

Youth 25 and above 7-9pm

Family Meeting 7-9pm (fortnightly)

Discipleship Clas Class 7-8:30pm

Year 10-12 Sunday School 6-9pm

Saturday: Mass: 8:30 – 11am

Sunday School 4 – 5.30pm

Vespers & youth meeting 7-8:30pm

English

Vespers &Bible Study Arabic 5:307pm

Scouts 1:30 - 3pm

School of Deaconsgip 3 - 4pm

Sunday:

1st Mass6 - .7:45am Arabic & Eng-

lish

2nd Mass.7:45 – .9:30am English

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

Hymns Class - English 11:4512:30pm

Church Priests:

Fr Tadros Sharobeam 0414251251

Email: frtadros@me.com

Fr Habib Girgis Younan:

0401238177 – 94498871

Email: habibgirgisyounan@hotmail. com

Fr Michael Salib: 0422431821

Email: frmichael@sac.edu.au

Church Address: 5 Epsom Rd., Kens-

ington Vic 3031 Tel: 93766651

Fr Kerillos Tawadros

0411 518 399

Fr John Macary 0433 445 636

The Departure of St. Malachi, the Prophet.

5th September - 30th Mesra

On this day, the great prophet, Malachi, one of the twelve minor prophets, departed. He prophesied about the return of the people from captivity in Babylon to Jerusalem. He rebuked the children of Israel because of their transgression against God and His Law. He also admonished them because of their vile offerings, and prophesied about the acceptance of the Gentiles when he said, “For from the rising of the sun, even to its going down, my name shall be great among the Gentiles; In every place incense shall be offered to My name, and a pure offering; For My name shall be great among the nations.” (Malachi 1:11) He pointed out to them that they did not give the tithes nor their first fruits, by saying, “’Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be food in My house, and prove Me now in this,’ says the LORD of hosts, ‘If I will not open for you the windows of heaven And pour out for you such blessing That there will not be room enough to receive it. And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, so that he will not destroy the fruit of your ground, nor shall the vine fail to bear fruit for you in the field,’ says the LORD of hosts.”

(Malachi 3:10-11)

He prophesied about the coming of St. John the baptizer before the Lord, the Savior of the World, by saying, “’Behold, I send My messenger, and he will prepare the way before Me. And the Lord, whom you seek, will suddenly come to His temple, even the Messenger of the covenant, in whom you delight. Behold, He is coming,’ says the LORD of hosts.”

(Malachi 3:1) He also prophesied about the coming of Elijah before the Lord at His second coming, saying, “Behold, I will send you Elijah the Prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD. And he will turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the hearts of the children to their fathers, lest I come and strike the earth with a curse.”

(Malachi 4:5-6)

Having pleased God by his strife, and having completed his days in peace, he departed to God Whom he loved.

May his prayers be with us and Glory be to our God forever. Amen.

The Departure of St. Eutychus.

6th September - 1 Nasie

On this day, St. Eutychus, the disciple of St. John the Evangelist, departed. After he spent some time with the apostle, Eutychus asked for his permission to go to St. Paul, the Apostle, and St. John allowed him. He

went to St. Paul and preached the Name of Christ with him, and returned many of the Jews and the pagans to the Lord Christ and baptized them. He converted temples of idols to churches, and he endured tribulations, imprisonment, and beatings for many days. He was cast in the fire, but he was not harmed, and was cast to the lions, which did not harm him but rather became friendly towards him. He went to Sebastia and preached there, and the angel of the Lord was with him and strengthened him.

It was said, that this saint was the young man who sat in a window and “was sinking into a deep sleep. He was overcome by sleep; and as Paul continued speaking, he fell down from the third story and was taken up dead,” and St. Paul raised him with his prayers. (Acts 20:9)

May his blessings be with us. Amen.

The Departure of St. Titus, the Apostle.

7th September - 2nd Nasie

On this day, St. Titus, the Apostle, was martyred. He was born in Crete, and he was the nephew of the governor of the island. He learned the Greek language, its literature and wisdom, and he excelled in it. He was meek and merciful. When the news of our Lord Jesus Christ spread in all the land of Palestine and Syria, the governor of Crete, the uncle of this saint, wanted to confirm what he had heard about the magnificent signs, and eminent teachings of Christ. He sent Titus to verify that and to bring him accurate information. When Titus arrived in the land of Judah, he saw the signs and heard the Divine words of the Lord Christ. He compared the words and miracles of our Lord to the words and deeds of the Greeks, and he found a great and clear difference between them. So he believed in the Lord Christ, and sent to his uncle telling him all that he had seen and heard. When the Lord chose the seventy apostles, Titus was one of them. After the ascension of our Lord Christ, Titus received the grace of the Holy Spirit along with the disciples. He accompanied the apostle Paul to many countries. When St. Paul went to Rome, St. Titus returned to Crete. He built a church there, and ordained for it priests and deacons. Having finished his apostolic strife, St. Titus departed in peace. May his prayers be with us and Glory be to our God forever. Amen.

The Commemoration of the Angel Raphael, the Archangel 8the September - 3rd Nasie

On this day, the church celebrates the commemoration of the honorable Angel Raphael, the third of the Archangels, and the dedication of his church outside

the city of Alexandria. During the time of Pope Theophilus, the twenty-third Patriarch, a faithful woman came from Rome, with her children and had with her a picture of the honorable Archangel Raphael. She had inherited much money from her husband. She revealed to the Pope her desire to build many churches. He showed her a large heap, which was in front of the patriarchate, which she removed and built a church in its place. Then she built another church in the name of the Angel Raphael, which was consecrated on this day.

The Martyrdom of St. Andrianus

8the September - 3rd Nasie

On this day also, St. Andrianus, one of the commanders of the army of the emperor, was martyred. This saint, whenever he saw a martyr he would ask him, «Why do you do that to yourself?» They answered him, «In the hope of the eternal life, and the everlasting kingdom.» He went to the emperor and confessed the Lord Christ. The Emperor tortured him much then imprisoned him with many martyrs. Anatolia, the wife of this saint, cut off her hair, and dressed in a man›s apparel. She came to the prison and ministered to the martyrs. She strengthened her husband, comforted and consoled him. When other women heard about what she did, they did the same.

Later on the emperor ordered the legs of the prisoners broken until they die. This saint came and encouraged her husband until he delivered his soul to the hand of the Lord. After all the martyrs had delivered up their souls, the emperor ordered their bodies burned, but God brought down dew which put out the fire. Some believers carried the bodies to Pisidia. A prince asked to marry St. Anatolia, but she refused. When she finished her strife, she departed in peace. May their prayers be with us. Amen.

The Departure of St. Poimen, the Hermit.

9th September - 4th Nasie

On this day also, the ascetic saint, Anba Poimen (Baymon), departed. He was born about the year 350 A.D., in one of the cities of Egypt. He had six brothers, John, Jacob, Job, Joseph, Sonosyos, and Abraham. They all agreed to become monks, and they dwelt in a remote place.

They forsook the love of the world, they bore the yoke of the Lord Christ, and they lived an ascetic life. Once their mother desired to see them, so she came to them, stood outside, and she sent a message for them to come to see her. They replied saying, “You shall not see us except in the age to come.” She understood their answer and returned to her town.

Anba Poimen was a teacher, counselor, and comforter

to the old and young men of the wilderness. Whenever tribulation or temptation befell anyone, he would come to him, and St. Poimen would cure him. This father left to us many profitable teachings such as:

If you see a brother who has transgressed, despair not of him, but wake up his soul, comfort him, and lighten his burden, so that he may rise up from his fall. Teach your heart what your tongue says.

One of the brethren said to him, “If I see a brother whose conduct is wicked, I do not feel comfortable to bring him to my cell. On the other hand, if his conduct is good, I rejoice and bring him to my cell cheerfully.” The saint replied, “If you treat well the brother who is good, then you must treat that brother whose works are inferior with a double portion of goodness, for he is sick and needs healing.”

Then he told this brother, “There was a monk in a monastery, who had fallen into a transgression, and he was always weeping, and supplicating God saying, ‘O Lord, I have sinned against You, please forgive me.’ A voice came to him, ‘I have not forsaken you, except when you have forsaken your brother in the time of his trial.’” Anba Poimen also added, “If we cover over the sins of our brethren, God will cover over our sins. And if we make it known, God will do the same of our inequities.” Having finished his days and having arrived at a good old age that was pleasing to God, he departed in peace. May his prayers be with us and Glory be to our God forever. Amen.

The Departure of St. Leparius, Bishop of Rome.

9th September - 4th Nasie

On this day, St. Leparius (Liberius), Bishop of Rome, departed. He was ordained during the reign of Emperor Constance, the son of Constantine. When Athanasius, Pope of Alexandria, and Paul, Patriarch of Constantinople, were exiled, they came to him. St. Liberius took them to Emperor Constance, who wrote to his brother, and they were allowed to return.

After Constance was killed in Rome, Constantius sent to St. Liberius asking him to accept the followers of Arius, and to accept the exile of Athanasius, but he refused this petition. Constantius exiled St. Liberius, then came to Rome where he killed the killers of his brother. The heads of the monasteries and the priests met him and asked him to release their father Liberius. The emperor returned him from his exile, and he continued to teach and preach to his flock. He resisted the followers of Arius, until he departed in peace. He sat on the episcopal throne for fifteen years.

May his prayers be with us. Amen.

Contemplations on the the Gospel of the fourth Sunday of Mesra

Mark 13: 3 – 37

“And you will be hated by all for My name’s sake” Mark 3:13

The Lord has told us that we will have hardships in this world. This is a fact we know and experience every day however, as sons and daughters of God we have no fear or anxiety and our hearts are full of peace trusting our loving God Who conquered the world will support us and lead us int the way of His victory. Maybe we bear with joy the hardship which is caused by others, the strangers or the enemies but one of the signs of the end of times that the hardship will be caused by the closest people to you. The brother will betray brother to death and a father his child and children will rise up against parents and cause them to put to death. How painful are the wound that are inflicted by your beloved ones? Be strong, whoever preserve to the end will be saved.

+ Brother will betray brother to death

It may look strange and natural that a brother betrays a brother to death. Naturally the brother support his brother and defend him in his hardship but to betray him to death this is not normal.

Cain killed his brother Abel out of jealousy and envy. Saul the king was following David on the mountains seeking to kill him who is anointed by the Lord.

A real story is told about a man who sold himself to Satan and also dragged his wife to hardship and misery. He was working as a domestic servant in the house of a rich noble family. He admired the daughter of the owner of the house and wanted to marry her, but he knew that it is an impossible wish as he is just a servant. He asked for an advice of a friend who was an evil friend. He advised him to go to one of those sorcerers who directed him to go outside the city to a cemetery to a specific tomb. He gave him a piece of paper and asked to go there and raise his hand holding this paper and obey any instructions to be given to him. He did exactly what he was told to do. A stranger appeared to

him who turned to be a devil who took him to their prince of devils who commanded him to deny his Christ and declare his alliance to Satan to get his wish. The deceived young man accepted and signed this paper. Regrettably the young girl the daughter of the master was also very slack in her spiritual life and started to fall easily in the trap and sensual love planed in her heart by the devil towards this man. She insisted to get married to this man. And threatened to kill herself. To avoid a scandal, they accepted with great pain and sadness praying that God take care of their beloved daughter. After marriage the girl noticed that her husband does not pray or read the bible. He refuses to go the church or celebrate any Christian feast or hang and saint’s icon. She asked him why? On her insistence to know he eventually told her his secret and that he has signed a covenant with the Satan to get married to her. She started to cry bitterly regretting what she has done. She went to St. Basil the Bishop of her city telling him about this disaster she landed herself in. He asked her to pray and fast for forty days and he brought the young man and kept him asking him to pray and fast. After forty days St Basil brought all the priests and monks to a special meeting and asked them with all the congregation to pray and cry saying Lord have mercy and looking up with tears they all saw a piece of paper falling down from the ceiling. It was the paper which this man has signed. The Lord liberated him and his wife from the grasp of Satan. How many times we seek as advice from un-godly people. How many brothers and friend betray their loved ones to death. They may give bad evil advice or advise them to use wrong means like violence using wrong ways to solve their problems or to achieve their aims.

Cain who killed his brother still working wearing deceiving clothes showing himself as dear friend who gives you a good advice. How many such friends and may be brothers who can lead the closest people to them astray or even to death. + and a father his child and children will rise up against parents

Do you believe that a father will deliver his child to death? Or children rise up against their patents?

Jeroboam delivered all his people to death leading them to worship idols stopping them to offer sacrifices in Jerusalem (1Kings 11: 26-40). Gehazi (2kings 5: 20-27) through his greed and disobedience caused all his family to suffer as Leprosy stuck to him and his family forever.

A person commits a sin when he is young and gets himself inflicted with bad decease which can be transferred to his wife and children. He is betraying hi own wife, sons and daughters. Look at the story of Ahab the king and his evil wife Jezebel. Sin has propagated in their family (2Kings 1 – 3 & 8-9)) His son Ahaziah (Ch 1) went to ask Baal-Zebub of Ekron to be healed. Joram his son (Ch 3) worshiped idols. So also, his sons Jehoram and Ahaziah (Ch 8). The last one was killed by Jehu who killed also Jezebel (Ch 9). Three generation perished for the sins of the parents. Parents evil deliver all the family to death. Bad habits of parents offend the children.

The in-chastity of the mother and her bad example and lead to many problems to her children. She is a mother who delivers her children to death. Dear fathers and mothers be careful. You could betray your children and deliver them to death.

Also children can rise against their parents. What Judas did to his master? What Arius has done. He tore the garment of

the Lord denying that He is equal to the father leading thousands until today to go astray and lose Salvation. What can we say about those who insult their teachers or even insult the church fathers without shame offend so many others.

+ And you will be hated by all for my name’s sake

The Lord is telling us frankly that the world will not like us. Being a son or a daughter of Christ that is a clear declaration of enmity to this world. You declared that you are not part of it. So, World will hate and persecute you. They could not find any thing to charge Daniel with except about the Law of God (Daniel 6). They accused his that He obeys his God more than the king. Accusation which landed Daniel in the den of lions. God sent his Angel and shut the mouths of lions. They accused our Lord that He breaks the Sabbath for He heals sick people in the Sabbath. The Lord asked what is the Sabbath is made for? Do not be sad for the world hates or persecutes you. The life of righteousness and purity you live exposes the defiled unclean life of this world. You honest contrasts with deceitfulness of this world. The world cannot tolerate this life of light you life as it expose their darkness. That is why the sons of God will be hated by many even those who are close to them. These are few days which the Lord has shortened for the sake of His beloved to guard them and preserve their faith. The Lord will protect them and grant them wisdom which all those who persecute them cannot answer or resist. The Holy Spirit will talk on our behalf on this hour. The one who preserve to the end will be saved (Matthew 24: 13).

)Greek: Ὁ Ἅγιος Ποιμήν; ποιμήν means “shepherd”) (c. 340–450) was a Christian monk and early Desert Father who is the most quoted Abba (Father) in the Apophthegmata Patrum (Sayings of the Desert Fathers). Abba Poemen was quoted most often for his gift as a spiritual guide, reflected in the name “Poemen” (“Shepherd”), rather than for his asceticism.[1] He is considered a saint in Eastern Christianity. His feast day is August 27 in the Julian calendar (September 9 in the Gregorian calendar).

Biography

Abba Poemen lived at a monastery in Scetis, one of the first centers of early Christian monasticism. In 407 A.D. the monastery was overrun by raiders, scattering the monks. Abba Poemen and Abba Anoub, along with a handful of monks, fled to Terenuthis, on the river Nile.[1] After leaving Scetis, Abba Poemen and his group first lived in an abandoned pagan temple. The various raids on Scetis were a turning point in desert monasticism. The ensuing diaspora resulted in Abba Poemen and his group keeping alive the collective wisdom of the monks of Scetis by creating the bulk of the Apophthegmata Patrum (Sayings of the Desert Fathers).[2]

Abba Poemen’s personality was described as that of a wise shepherd more than a desert ascetic. He was known for his tolerance of the weakness of others. One apocryphal story recounts that some of the older monks approached Abba Poemen for his advice on how to treat monks who fell asleep during their prayers. They were inclined to wake the sleeping monk, while Abba Poemen took a more compassionate approach, advising, “For my part, when I have seen a brother who is dozing, I put his head on my knees and let him rest.”[3] Abba Poemen was typically opposed to giving harsh penances to those who slipped spiritually—when a monk came to him who had committed a “great sin”, Abba Poemen reduced his penance from three years to three days.[2]

Another story, though also used in support of Poemen’s tendency to “refrain from judgement” tells of a brother monk with a wife (Harmless cites a source claiming her to be a “mistress,”[2] but the Systematic Collection uses the Greek word for “woman”/”wife”) who had a child —perhaps unclear who the father was. Abba Poemen sent him a bottle of wine as a gift, to celebrate, and the brother was so “conscious stricken...[that he] later dismissed the woman”.[4]

Abba Poemen was also described as a charismatic speaker who still taught more by example than by lecturing others. When a visiting monk asked him if he should assume a role of authority over the brothers he was living with, Abba Poemen responded by saying, “No, be their example, not their legislator.”[2] Judgment of others was also foreign to his nature. He once stated that, “A man may seem to be silent, but if his heart is condemning others, he is babbling incessantly.”[5] Modern writers credit Abba Poemen’s gift of memory for keeping alive many of the stories from the Apophthegmata Patrum. Many of those stories are recollections of Abba Poemen from his time with the monks in Scetis. A later Coptic writer, Zacharias of Sakha, believed that Abba Poemen was also a writer, leading to speculation that he might have been one of the authors of the Apophthegmata Patrum.[2]

Some scholars consider the Abba Poemen of the Apophthegmata Patrum to be merely a generic desert Abba, while others credit Poemen and his group with collecting the many sayings that became the Apophthegmata Patrum. Wilhelm Bousset and William Harmless both treat Poemen as a historical figure.[1]

Selected sayings of Abba Poemen

Wikiquote has quotations related to Poemen.

Abba Poemen is the most often quoted Abba in the Apophthegmata Patrum— nearly a quarter of the sayings are by or about Poemen—which led some scholars to think that sayings from different Abbas were collected under the generic name “Abba Shepherd.” Abba Poemen is also featured prominently in another collection of Desert Father sayings, the Ethiopic Collectio Monastica. He was notable for his kindness and compassion toward his fellow monks, including those who had fallen from the high ideals of the Desert Fathers. He was frequently sought out by his brothers for his wise and compassionate guidance.[1]

“Many of our Fathers have become very courageous in asceticism, but in fineness of perception there are very few.”

In response to a brother monk who chided Poemen for washing his feet, he said, “We have not been taught to kill our bodies, but to kill our passions.”[3]

Many of Poemen’s sayings included sets of three, such as a list of three “instruments for the work of the soul”: “to throw yourself before God, not to measure your progress, to leave behind all self-will.”

St Mary’s Feast Celebration

Sunday 27th August 2023

Very special thanks for all those who participated and attended this blessed occasion

The Fete activities this day income was $30,000 May the Lord bless you all for your support and prayers.

Contemplation on thr Gospel of Fourth Sunday of Mesra

Fr Tadros Malaty Mark 3: 3 - 31

Appearance of false christs:

Now as He sat on the Mount of Olives opposite the temple, Peter, James, John, and Andrew asked Him privately, “Tell us, when will these things be ? And what will be the sign when all these things will be fulfilled? ‘And Jesus, answering them, began to say, ‘Take heed that no one deceives you. For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am He’, and will deceive many” (Verses 3 - 6)

The Lord Christ’s talk about the destruction of the temple, was a chance for Him to have a private talk with four of His disciples. These were the first four, the Lord chose and invited to follow Him as His disciples. As we have seen, He called them two by two; They represent the team of horses set forth with the Divine chariot towards heaven; carrying the Church, as a chariot of fire, from glory to glory, towards the Divine bosom. They also represent the four living stones set by the Lord for the building of His Living Church. They may also represent the four virtues, necessary for the Church, in order to enjoy the knowledge of the secrets of His ultimate coming: Peter, refers to the )Rock of faith(; Jacob, or ‘Chase’, refers to )persistent strife or wrestling(; John, that is to say, ‘God is compassionate’, refers to the )grace and compassion of God); and Andrew, that means ‘seriousness or manhood’, refers to )setting forth towards eternity, seriously and without delay). In other words, these four disciples enjoyed that private Divine talk, concerning His coming, so that we, would also enjoy it, if we have inside us, these four: the faith, that raises us over the earthlies, towards Christ the Savior; the practical strife, springing from our faith in Him who loved us; the grace of God, on which we lean, to take us away from the earthlies, raising us to eternities; and finally, seriousness on the way, as God would never work in negligence.

That talk happened while the Lord Christ was sitting on the Mount of Olives, facing the temple. That was not without meaning; as on the Mount of Olives the Lord, on His day, will stand with His feet, to abolish evil (Zech. 14: 4); It is the mountain, east of the city, on which the cherubim lifted up their wings, to set forth with the Divine chariot, not to depart from the temple alone, but from the whole city of Jerusalem (Hez. 11: 22, 23); On that mountain, the Lord proclaimed His departure from the old temple, raising our sight towards a new temple, He would, Himself, build within us, setting His heavenly kingdom in us.

The Mount of Olives, is likewise the Holy Church of God, in which believers are planted, as olive trees, in the house of God; In it, God, Himself, sits with His believers, to carry them over to His Exalted Divine secrets. ..., to proclaim to them the destruction of the old temple, and set a new one within them, that would never get old, but would always be renewed by His Holy Spirit.

The first sign of His coming, would be the appearance of false Christ’s and prophets, to deceive humanity, and to set the kingdom of the devil; pretending to do that in the name of God. It might be that the Lord started by it because of its importance; as, in every generation, the evil one does his best to deceive men, to draw them away from the kingdom of God, and from enjoying His salvation.

He presented them, at the beginning of His talk, with that sign of the end of age, and proclamation of His eternal kingdom, in order to reveal to them, that the way to the kingdom, is a very narrow one, that requires persistent strife against the powers of darkness. The disciples became sad, hearing about the utter destruction of the temple, and started to inquire about the time of realization of those things, with the hope that they would enjoy with the Lord, His kingdom, or that they would have a share with Him in the temple, before its utter destruction. Now, the Lord Christ drew their hearts, from sadness over the destruction of stones and buildings, to getting ready to oppose the evil one himself, who seeks the destruction of the kingdom of God within every soul.

That is why, St. Paul, the apostle, says:

“Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places” (Ephes. 6: 10 - 12) It is as though, the Lord Christ, is warning His disciples, not to preoccupy themselves with the destruction of the temple, but rather with getting aware of the deceits of the devil, who is opposing them, using the name of Christ Himself, confirming: “Take heedthat no one deceives you; for many will come in my name, saying: ‘I am He’, and will deceive many”.

The Jewish historian Josephus mentioned, that several magicians and swindlers have drawn many people to the wilderness, some of whom lost their minds, and many others were condemned by ‘Felix’ the governor, like that Egyptian whom the prince mentioned as he said to St. Paul: “Are you not the Egyptian who some time ago raised an insurrection and led the four thousand assassins out into the wilderness? “

(Acts 21: 38)

If the Word of God is offering all practical love, to draw souls to Him with truth, in order to enjoy union with Him, the evil one, on his part, is deceiving many, dispatching his accomplices, to pretend piety, to lead people astray; sometimes even working under the name of Christ Himself.

The martyr St. Ceprianus, warns us, not only from the devil who hides behind the name of Christ, but even from ourselves, lest we may bear the name of Christ, and not His power, saying: [The same way the devil deceives, through falsely using the name of Christ, so also the one who bears the blessed name, but does not abide in the truth of His Gospel and faith in Him, would not be truthfully called a Christian].

Occurrences of wars and disasters:

“When you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be troubled, for such things must happen, but the end is not yet. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; and there will be earthquakes in various places, and there will be famines and troubles. These are the beginnings of sorrows” (verse 8)

That sign would precede the destruction of the temple, on the hand of the Roman leader Titus; The Roman empire was aflame with wars, all along the interval between the ascension of the Lord Christ and the destruction of the temple; like that war which took place in Alexandria at about the year 38 A.M., between the Egyptians and the resident Jews; and the war in Selukia, in which 50,000 Jews were killed ... ; as well as the great tension between the Jews and the Samaritans; the famines like the one prophesied by the prophet Agabus (Acts 11: 28), that occurred in the year 49 AD; the plague that took place in Rome with its 30,000 victims; and the earthquakes in Crete, 46 AD; in Rome, 51 AD; in Aphamia, 53 AD; in Ladakia Frigia, 60 AD; and in Jerusalem, 67 AD

That sign, of the occurrences of wars, troubles, earthquakes, and famines, will also precede the end of the world, and the second coming of the Lord Christ. As the last day approaches, the devil feeling the collapse of his kingdom, and the setting up of the eternal kingdom of God in His heavenly Church, will exert all his energies to draw souls to him, away from the Lord Christ, confusing them with human concerns, that would disturb man, like wars, natural catastrophes, as earthquakes and famines. But the soul, steadfast in Christ, would not be disturbed, but would rise above all events, to get to enjoy His kingdom and exalted peace. In the same way, the evil one, would not stand to watch you encounter your Savior; so, he surrounds you with troubles to preoccupy you and deprive you of His transfiguration within your heart ... I wish you would do not get concerned with the wars within you, nor with the famines or earthquakes, but put your trust in the Lord Christ, the giver of peace, fulfillment, and real comfort.

Construction of New Buildings started Thursday 28th April

The new Building is expected to be ready December 2023. church services are continuing as normal as in the Timetable inside the Bulletin. You can donate monthly contribution using Direct Debit forms available in the church or downloaded from church website.

Cost of building works is around $13,000,000. Your support and donations will be blessing and very appreciated. 2022