The Martyrdom of the Great Saint Mark, the Apostle The Evangelist

from Weekly Bulletin 7th May 2023

of the Land of Egypt.

8th May - 30 Baramoda

On this day, which coincided with the 26th. of April 68 A.D., the great apostle St. Mark, the evangelist of the land of Egypt, was martyred. He was the first Pope of Alexandria and one of the Seventy Apostles.

His name was John, as the Holy Bible says: “He came to the house of Mary, the mother of John whose surname was Mark, where many were gathered together praying” (Acts 12:12). He was the one that the Lord Christ, to Whom is the glory, meant when He said: “Go into the city to a certain man, and say to him, The Teacher says, My time is at hand; I will keep the Passover at your house with My disciples” (Matthew 26:18).

His house was the first Christian church, where they ate the Passover, hid after the death of the Lord Christ, and in its upper room the Holy Spirit came upon them.

This Saint was born in Cyrene (One of the Five Western cities, Pentapolis - in North Africa). His father’s name was Aristopolus and his mother’s name was Mary. They were Jewish in faith, rich and of great honor. They educated him with the Greek and Hebrew cultures. He was called Mark after they emigrated to Jerusalem, where St. Peter had become a disciple to the Lord Christ. St. Peter was married to the cousin of Aristopolus. Mark visited St. Peter’s house often, and from him he learned the Christian teachings.

Once Aristopolus and his son Mark were walking near the Jordan river, close by the desert, they encountered a raving lion and a lioness. It was evident to Aristopolus that it would be his end and the end of his Son, Mark. His compassion for his son compelled him to order him to escape to save himself. Mark answered, “Christ, in whose hands our lives are committed, will not let them prey on us.” Saying this, he prayed, “O, Christ, Son of God protect us from the evil of these two beasts and terminate their offspring from this wilderness.” Immediately, God granted this prayer, and the two beasts fell dead. His father marvelled and asked his son to tell him about the Lord Christ. He believed in the Lord Christ at the hands of his son who baptized him.

After the ascension of the Lord Christ, he accompanied Paul and Barnabas to preach the Gospel in Antioch, Seleucia, Cyprus, Salamis, and Perga Pamphylia where he left them and returned to Jerusalem. After the Apostolic Council in Jerusalem, he went with Barnabas to Cyprus.

After the departure of Barnabas, with the order of the Lord Christ, St. Mark went to Afrikia, Berka, and the Five Western cities. He preached the Gospel in these parts, and believed on his hands most of its people. From there, he went to Alexandria in the 1st. of Bashans 61 A.D.

When he entered the city, his shoe was torn because of the much walking in preaching and evangelism. He went to a cobbler in the city, called Anianus, to repair it. While he was repairing it the awl pierced his finger. Anianus shouted in Greek saying “EIS THEOS” which means “O, ONE GOD”. When St. Mark heard these words his heart rejoiced exceedingly. He found it suitable to talk to him about the One God. The Apostle took some clay, spat on it and applied it to Anianus’ finger, saying in the Name of Jesus Christ the Son of God, and the wound healed immediately, as if nothing happened to it.Moses, who brought the children of Israel out of Egypt, and gave them the Law, the captivity of the children of Israel to Babylon, and the prophecies that foretold the coming of Christ.

Anianus invited him to go to his house and brought to him his children. The Saint preached and baptized them in the Name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.

When the believers in the Name of Christ increased and the pagan people of the city heard that, they were raged with anger and thought of slaying St. Mark. The faithful advised him to get away for a short while for the sake of the safety of the church and its care. St. Mark ordained St. Anianus a Bishop for Alexandria, three priests and seven deacons. He went to the Five Western Cities, remained there for two years preaching, and ordained bishops, priests, and deacons. He returned to Alexandria where he found the believers had increased in number, and built a church for them in the place known as Bokalia (The place of cows), east of Alexandria on the sea shore. It came to pass, when he was celebrating the feast of the Resurrection on the 29th day of Baramudah, year 68 A.D., the same day coincided with the great pagan Celebration for the feast of the god Syrabis, a multitude of them assembled and attacked the church at Bokalia and forced their way in. They seized St. Mark, bound him with a thick rope and dragged him in the roads and streets crying, “Drag the dragon to the place of Cows.” They continued dragging him with severe cruelty. His flesh was torn and scattered everywhere, and the ground of the city was covered with his blood. They cast him that night into a dark prison.

The angel of the Lord appeared to him and told him: “O Mark, the good servant, rejoice for your name has been written in the book of life, and you have been counted among the congregation of the saints.” The angel disappeared, then the Lord Christ appeared to him, and gave him peace. His soul rejoiced and was glad. The next morning (30th of Baramudah), the pagans took St. Mark from the prison. They tied his neck with a thick rope and did the same as the day before, dragging him over the rocks and stones. Finally, St. Mark delivered up his pure soul in the hand of God, and received the crown of martyrdom, the apostolic crown, the crown of evangelism, and the crown of virginity.

Nevertheless, St. Mark’s death did not satisfy the rage of the pagans and their hatred. They gathered much firewood and prepared an inferno to burn him. A severe storm blew and heavy rains fell. The pagans became frightened, and they fled away in fear.

The believers came and took the holy body, carried it to the church they built at Bokalia, wrapped it up, prayed over him and place it in a coffin. They laid it in a secret place in this church.

The prayers of this great Saint and honorable Evangelist be with us and Glory be to our God forever. Amen.

The Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary The Mother of God.

9th May - 1st Bashans

On this day the church celebrates the birth of the pure Virgin St. Mary, the Mother of God (Theotokos), through whom Salvation came to mankind. She was born in the city of Nazareth, where her parents lived. Her father was grieved in his heart for he could not offer an offering to God for he did not have any children. In the fullness of time according to the Divine Will, the angel of the Lord was sent to announce Joachim, her father, while he was on the mountain praying, and said to him: “The Lord will give you offspring through whom salvation comes to the world.”

Immediately he went down the mountain believing what the angel told him, and he told his wife Anna of what he saw and heard. She rejoiced, gave thanks to the Lord, and vowed that the child who was to be born to her would become a servant in the house of the Lord all the days of her/his life. She conceived, and gave birth to this Saint and called her Mary who had become the Queen of all women of the world, and through her we have received the grace. May her intercession be with us, and glory be to God forever. Amen.

The Departure of the righteous Job.

10th May - 2nd

Bashans

On this day the righteous Job departed. He was a righteous man in his generation and upright in his time, as the bible testified about him: “... there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, one who fears God and shuns evil?” (Job 1:8) The devil envied him and asked God to allow him to harm Job and to destroy his wealth. God allowed that, because of His foreknowledge of the patience and perseverance of Job and that he would be an example and a model for those who come after him as the bible said: “You have heard of the perseverance of Job and seen the end intended by the Lord” ( James 5:11). In one day, Job lost his sons and daughters, his cattle, and all his wealth. In addition, the evil one also stricken his body with a Leprosy from his head to his feet. In all this Job offered thanksgiving and praise to God, and never murmured or grumbled against his Creator. All what he said was: “May the day perish on which I was born” (Job 3:3). He said also about the loss of his children: “The LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD.” (Job 1:21) “In all this Job did not sin nor charge God with wrong” (Job 1:22).

The thing that hurt Job the most, was the harsh words of his wife and his friends. His wife advised him to blaspheme, but Job refused, and rebuked her saying: “You speak as one of the foolish women speaks. Shall we indeed accept good from God, and shall we not accept adversity?” In all this Job did not sin with his lips” (Job 2:10).

Job remained sick for 30 years until he was purified as gold is purified with fire. At last the Lord spoke to him from the clouds and healed him from his sickness and doubled the wealth he had and gave him other sons and daughters. He lived to a good old age and departed in peace. May his prayers be with us. Amen.

The Departure of St. Tadros (Theodore), the disciple of St. Pachomius.

10th May - 2nd Bashans

On this day also St. Tadros (Theodore) the disciple of St. Pachomius, the father of the spiritual monastic communal life (Coenobitic system), departed. He became monk at a young age under the guidance of Anba Pachomius and showed great asceticism, with extraordinary obedience, so that St. Pachomius loved him and he delegated him to preach to the brethren. When St. Pachomius departed, St. Tadros replaced him. He was a good example in meekness and patience. When he completed his course, and finished his strife, he departed to the Lord whom he loved. May his prayers be with us. Amen.

The Martyrdom of St. Jeremiah the Prophet.

13th May - 5th Bashans

On this day, the prophet Jeremiah, one of the major prophets, the son of Hilkiah the priest, was martyred. He prophesied in the days of Josiah son of Amon, king of Judah and Jehoiakim son of Josiah. God had chosen him for He said: “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you; before you were born I sanctified you; I ordained you a prophet to the nations” (Jr 1:5). He rebuked the children of Israel for they left the worship of God and rejected His Commandments. He warned them of the anger of God if they did not return on their transgressions. When he saw their hard hearts and the fast approaching judgement of the Lord, he prayed fervently weeping so that God might forgive the sins of his people. God rejected his prayers with regard to those who did not obey him, and He moved Nebuchadnezzar to besiege Jerusalem. His soldiers conquered it under the leadership of Nebuzardan who killed many of them inside the city. After they had taken all the precious possessions of the temple, the king’s palace, and the nobles of the people, they took with them all those who were left alive to Babylon. Among those who were driven to exile was the prophet Jeremiah. Nevertheless, when Nebuzardan saw him bound with the rest, he set him free. He then wrote his “Lamentations” for the destruction of the city of Jerusalem, the temple and the exile of his people for 70 years in babylon.

This Prophet prophesied about the coming of Our Lord and Savior, and His sufferings and passion. His life ended when the jews themselves stoned him in Egypt, and he died a martyr in prison.

The third Sunday of the Holy Pentecost (John 4: 1 - 42)

Give me to drink (John 4:7)

The Samaritan theme is repeated here again ... The first time on the fourth Sunday of Holy Lent ... This is the second time ... Of course, a big difference between the two occasions ... The first time the church was at time of fasting and prepared for the suffering and crucifixion of Christ ... At that time the Church was confined to the life of repentance and remorse for sin in preparation for partaking of the Passion of Christ ...

The Church was on the journey of the Golgotha ... On the second occasion, the Church has crossed with the crucified Lord the squeeze of Pain, and a new bride came out washed with the blood of victory over death and sin. This church goes through this world bearing the signs of Christ crucified and the power and glory and support of the risen Christ and has been seen with the apostles from the Mount of Olives up to heaven awaiting the second coming of her beloved Bridegroom to the heavenly life to dwell in Heavenly Jerusalem ....

The first time, the Samaritan represents the sinful person who persists in his sin, who has been living in it for a long time, and hers is the Lord is crowned by thorns, knocking on the doors of his heart, calling him to return and speaks to him about the heavenly water from which whoever drank, never thirst ...

The Lord invites her to go with Him the journey of the Cross ... to go with Him in the tears of repentance and ask her to crucify all her desires and get washed with His blood .... But after the resurrection ... Samaritan represents one of those who have not yet resurrected with Christ ... Perhaps they walked in the way of Golgotha but did not complete the path to victory ... Perhaps Samaritan was one of his crucifiers. ... perhaps one of those who stabbed him ... and mocked him on the cross ... Does such a soul have a share in the resurrection ...? Is such a soul still the Lord is ready to invite her to come back to Him? This is what the story of the Samaritan tells us after the resurrection. This is the soul that has become alienated from the Crucified Christ ... She has humiliated Himit ... She has mocked Him, stabbed Him, crowned Him with thorns and whipped Him. The Lord is still ready to go to those who live in darkness and tell them enough of the life of darkness ... Do not you know that Christ has risen. I still miss you ... Give me drink. How to ask me to drink +++

This is a wonderful question ... Perhaps it is an exclamation question ... perhaps it is an accusation ... perhaps not believing ... and there are many who meet the Lord risen from the dead with the same question.

Exclamation .... I admire you Lord ... Do not know that I have become an enemy of you ... Do not know that I have been a stranger for you a long time .... How ??? I am Samaritan my Lord ... Do You still love the Samaritans?... God loves his children very much ... even those who are very far from him ... and seeks to save their souls ...

God accepted Rahab the harlot who hosted the spies in Jericho ...

God accepted Ruth the Moabite among his people .... but also, the Lord Christ is glad that He came from her offspring ... Ruth married Boaz, the grandfather of David King .... God did not forget the wicked people of Nineveh .... and sent for them Jonah to save their souls .... But God did not forget the people of Sodom the very wicked and among them lived Lot the righteous ... but their evil was unbearable.

These are the ones who reject the Lord Who knocks their doors over and over again ... in stubbornness ... in arrogance ... in pride they say how do You ask me this??? ... Do not You know Lord I have dignity ... Do You not know that my position is great ...? How to ask me to make up with my brother ... How to ask me to give up and deal with these people .... Truly ... we often meet the will of God with rejection ... but they go as far as to put the kingdom of heaven on one hand and their implementation of the commandments of God on the other ... and thus lose the salvation of their souls and perish .... Beloved ... Do you know that Christianity lost so much when it refused to carry out the commandments of God?

Christianity in Europe flourished and grew and grew during the time of the Roman persecution of Christians .... Christianity grew with love and humility and then lost very much when it began to resort to international methods in their dealings ... The wars and problems and hatred between Christians and themselves. But they have split among themselves and persecuted each other ... It is really hard to denounce the commandments of God!!

We used to hear about Christians martyred by pagans ... Christianity was flourishing .... Then we heard about Christians being killed by Christian hands ... Christianity began to crumble.

Do you not believe .... This is the sinner man who yearns to the light but is afraid that God will not accept him .... And ask is it true Lord, you are willing to accept me after all these sins that I have committed???? The loving Lord answers ... even if you have seven demons such as the Magdalene ... even if you deny me three times in front of a servent like Peter ... even if you stabbed me on the cross like the soldier Longinus .... After all this I, still am ready to accept you ... I’m thirsty for you ...

I love you ....

You are worshiping what you do not know

There are many prostrating ... And few worshipers ... Do you know that not all prostrating is worshipping? There is a prostration of respect ... And prostrate to greet ... And prostrate to gain satisfaction and affection .. Not every prostration is worship ... but there are those who prostrate for worship ... and just prostrate with his body only ... But his mind is still lost in the middle of the world ... there are still many prostrate to God who is frightening scary ... for fear of cruel punishment ... ... and who impose his commandments by force that they really worship what they do not know ... still living in the era of pre-salvation Today we worship Whom we love We worship to kiss the feet that were pierced for us ... What is the greatest difference between the prostration of fear ... and the prostration of love The prostration of love carries with it the tears of repentance ... not for fear of punishment ... but regret because we wounded the heart of the One Who loved us ... prostration of love has humbleness ... not fear ... but a real desire to live under the feet of the One Who loved us .... Beloved ... Do you know who you worship ... Do you know why you worship ...? Do you know how to worship ...?

God is Spirit, and those who worship Him, in spirit and truth, should worship.

+ Holy Fifty Days:

These wonderful days of the fifty days after Resurrection are really joyful days. During this time the church readings concentrate on presenting for us the Resurrected Lord Who is the source of every fulfilment, happiness and real peace which this world cannot give. The Lord in His Resurrection gives us guarantees no one ever can give. The Lord promises that those who come to Him, He will not cast out and those in His hands will never be lost and also those who believe in Him will have everlasting life. Today also we see how the Samaritan woman found her real fulfilment which she could not find before. So she left her jar and went to witness for the Lord Who can heal all our maladies and grants us the inner peace. The Lord entered behind the doors which was closed by hatred, enmity and isolation and gave His real peace and gave them also the real knowledge which made them declare that they have now seen and heard and can assuredly testify that He is the real Messiah. The Lord has given us the strength to go forward from Jerusalem to Samaria to the end of the world preach and testify about His Salvation. Let us rise with the Lord taking from Him strength, joy and peace and witness for Him for the entire world

Three Days and Nights

by Paul F. Taylor on June 29, 2009

If Jesus was to be in the grave three days and nights, how do we fit those between Good Friday and Easter Sunday?

https://answersingenesis.org/jesus-christ/resurrection/three-days-and-nights/ [Editor’s note: This article was taken, with slight modification, from The New Answers Book 2.]

If Jesus was to be in the grave three days and nights, how do we fit those between Good Friday and Easter Sunday?

There are several solutions to this problem. Some have suggested that a special Sabbath might have occurred, so that Jesus was actually crucified on a Thursday. However, a solution, which seems to me to be more convincing, is that Jesus was indeed crucified on a Friday but that the Jewish method of counting days was not the same as ours.

In Esther 4:16, we find Esther exhorting Mordecai to persuade the Jews to fast. “Neither eat nor drink for three days, night or day” (NKJV). This was clearly in preparation for her highly risky attempt to see the king. Yet just two verses later, in Esther 5:1, we read: “Now it happened on the third day that Esther put on her royal robes and stood in the inner court of the king’s palace.” If three days and nights were counted in the same way as we count them today, then Esther could not have seen the king until the fourth day. This is completely analogous to the situation with Jesus’s crucifixion and resurrection.

For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth (Matthew 12:40; NKJV).

Now after the Sabbath, as the first day of the week began to dawn, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to see the tomb (Matthew 28:1; NKJV). Then, as they were afraid and bowed their faces to the earth, they said to them, “Why do you seek the living among the dead? He is not here, but is risen! Remember how He spoke to you when He was still in Galilee, saying, ‘The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again’” (Luke 24:5–7; NKJV).

If the three days and nights were counted the way we count them, then Jesus would have to rise on the fourth day. But, by comparing these passages, we can see that in the minds of people in Bible times, “the third day” is equivalent to “after three days.”

In fact, the way they counted was this: part of a day would be counted as one day. The following table, reproduced from the Christian Apologetics and Research Ministry (CARM) website, shows how the counting works.

This table indicates that Jesus died on Good Friday; that was day one. In total, day one includes the day and the previous night, even though Jesus died in the day. So, although only part of Friday was left, that was the first day and night to be counted. Saturday was day two. Jesus rose in the morning of the Sunday. That was day three. Thus, by Jewish counting, we have three days and nights, yet Jesus rose on the third day. It should not be a surprise to us that a different culture used a different method of counting days. As soon as we adopt this method of counting, all the supposed biblical problems with counting the days disappear.

Extracted from:

Demolishing Supposed Bible Contradictions Volume 1

Editor: Ken Ham (Kenneth Alfred Ham is an Australian-born Christian fundamentalist and young Earth creationist living in the United States.)

Blessed Baptism

Baby Shiloh Theodora daughter of Adam & Natalie Soliman St Mary’s Churc 29th April 2023

St Mary’s Church Building Project Progress

On 21st March (Commemoration of Saint Fr Beshoy Kamel), the builder started erecting to walls of Ground and First Floors. The work is still continuing through this week. We thank our Lord for all the great works the Lord is blessing us with.

Total cost of the project; $13 million dollars. The Architecture and consultants cost is not included (estimated at $1.5 million Dollars)

Amount paid to the builder so far $4,355,775 - mostly from donations.

Current funds still available at the church accounts: $925,000

Government grant for the Child Care: $1,045,442 (50% has been paid to the church. The balance will be paid on October)

Amount drawn from the Bank Loan so far: $950,000 out of $8 million. Builder remaining cost to be paid by November 2023: $7 million

May the Lord reward all for their prayers, generous donations and support.

Blessed Marriage

Fred Youssef & Kiah

St John & St Verena Church

Sunday 30th April 2023