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. May his prayers be with us and glory be to God forever. Amen.
The Departure of St. Athanasius the Apostolic the 20th. Pope of Alexandria. 15th May – 7th Bashans
On this day of the year 89 A.M. )373 A.D.( the great Pope Anba Athanasius the apostolic, the 20th. Pope of Alexandria, departed. He was born to pagan parents about the year 295 - 298 A.D. It happened that when he was in school, he saw some Christian children acting the Christian rituals some as priests, some as deacons and one of them as a bishop. He asked their permission to participate with them, but they refused saying: “You are pagan, and you are not allowed to mix with us.” He answered them: “I am from now on a Christian.” They rejoiced with him, they made him a patriarch over them in the play, they enthroned him on a high place,
Meditations on the Holy Gospel readings of the Eucharist of 3rd Sunday of Pentecostal fifty days. John 4:1-24.
“whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst” John 4:14.
The Lord is Risen from death trampling death, victorious over death…the Lord has crushed the bonds and locks opening the doors to paradise…. the way to heavens is wide open to all who accept the Lord Jesus and believe in Him…to be Baptised washing one’s sins in Christ’s Blood which absolves us… All who offer a true repentance, confessing one’s sins and part-take of the Lord’s Body and Blood )the Holy Eucharist( will have a part in the eternal life…. Indeed, we live in an era where heaves are unlocked to mankind… But alas, how many still do not realize this fact? Still wasting their lives searching for sins and illusions! They still tying themselves to the world’s wheel which is for ever spinning and sooner )or later( will drag them between the wheels grinding teeth to lift them up then drop them to the bottom of the abyss crushed and destroyed… The Samaritan woman today after the resurrection still goes the world’s water well to drink…still going to Jacob’s well which he has honed for his sheep…. Thus, this Samaritan still living in the era of before the Cross! Still searching for the place to worship… is it in Jerusalem or in the mountain… she still thirsty and hungry despite the existence of the life-giving water and the heavenly manna…. She still does not know the way even though the Truth, the Way and the Life is here… and you my beloved… are you still thirsty and hungry… do you still don’t know the Way… are still attached to five husbands )wives(… Don’t you know that the true food which fulfils is here… don’t you know that the true knowledge and understanding has been given to mankind… don’t you see? IT IS THE RESURRECTION.
+ “Whoever drinks of this water will thirst again”… Do you know why you are thirsty??? Despite you drink much water!
This is you are still drinking only the world’s water which will never satisfy )alone(… there is no one man can say he has been fulfilled by this world and its lusts…
King Solomon the wise man says “All the rivers run into the sea, Yet the sea is not full; The eye is not satisfied with seeing, Nor the ear filled with hearing” Ecclesiastes 1: 7&8( … King Solomon has experienced this himself… he was the richest king of his time and most wise.. he had thousand wives and concubines… despite all this, he never felt that he was fulfilled or satisfied.
What does fulfil mankind…???
Money?... what did Nebuchadnezzar with the great Babylon which he has built according to his means and majesty… was he fulfilled with it?... he was driven from men and ate grass like an ox?? )Daniel 4:33(
What did money do for Judas Iscariot… did the thirty pieces of silver fulfil him?? What did Nabal do with all his money, and refused to reward David for protecting and guarding his men, sheep and possessions?? )1st Samuel 25(. What did the foolish rich man do with the store and barns, he thought to build for himself, thinking it will last him many years to come… did he find the time to be fulfilled from it?? )Luke 12:16-20(. Because of money and love of money, mankind had committed the worst of sins… how many families did divide and lost the loving bond because of love of money?... But how many nations got destroyed fully because greed and money… is there anyone was ever fulfilled with money alone???...
This is the first husband )wife(… a husband or wife with no benefit… a failed marriage. Gluttony, food and drink and cravings of the stomach… does man ever gets fulfilled?? What did Esau do with his meal of lentils… did it fulfil him and replaced hi first-born rights… what did Eglon king of Moab do with food… was he fulfilled of it… he became obese... and his obesity was the cause of his death )Judges 3(. What has food )love of ( done to mankind nowadays?? Why is the spread of hyper-tension, diabetes, diseases of the colon and the heart and many others??? Why did mankind became an expert nowadays in special diets for losing weight and inventing replacement food which gives no extra calories or is fattening?? But even, what has man done with his food which is full of chemicals and radiations which is polluting it??.. Food ha become a slow acting poison for man till it destroys man. This is the second husband )wife(… a husband )wife( which do not fulfil… a failed marriage. Lustful eyes )vision(… and what a troubling husband )wife(…
A sinful man’s eye follows the physical beauty… the problem with human eyes is it only sees the external image… how often many facts is hidden behind the physical beauty… so, beauty can be deceiving, and pleasant appearance can vanity… and how much troubles this caused to those who seek it )vain beauty(.
What has Ahab gained from Jezebel’s beauty and
the sinful one… he lost himself and sank to worshipping idol gods and its sinful ways )1 Kings 18-19( ….
What has Samson gained form Delilah the philistine’s beauty )Judges 16( … he lost his powers and destroyed himself. This is the third husband )wife( which is of no value…
+ Extravagant living … Love of luxuries and the world trappings… it is a very troublesome husband )wife(. Where are the best palaces of the world… where are the jewels and ornaments which the world greatest artisan have created… do you know where it is?? All are buried in the dust and trampled by foot…
My Beloved… do you feel that you are fulfilled and more at ease after immigrating to this land… do you are the expensive clothing and ride in luxury cars… is you house full best furnishings… do you feel satisfies and fulfilled… you did seek comfort and peace of mind… did you find them in the extravagant living which you seek in this land.. ??
Do you know what the world has achieved in the seeking imitations and appearances of the world???
It has become the world has invented for it self new fashions and found nothing new, so it reverted back to the old and thus the torn and thread-bear became a fashion, uncombed hair became a fashion and soon living is a dump or sleeping in puddles might be fashionable too? Man is never satisfied… this is the fourth marriage and a failed marriage too.
+ Love of knowledge…. Science and philosophy… some might think that he or she will be satisfied and fulfilled when they attain the highest degrees or scientific achievements or having one’s name on great discoveries and they will be published in scientific magazines and conferences… whoever was satisfied or fulfilled with the knowledge of this world )alone(?
The book of Proverbs says those who increase their knowledge, increase their sorrows… and the more man knows the more he realizes his ignorance, and this is the fifth failed marriage…
The Samaritan woman was very troubled with loving knowledge… she thought that she knew. or at least is aware where she can worship… this if she wanted to worship!!.. and she did not want this till now… she wants to know God but without following God’s commandments… God, man cannot know him by mental ability alone… but one must know Him in the heart and by spirit.
+ The true worshippers, worship the Father in spirit and truth…
The man who is not fulfilled or satisfied is a man with a great emptiness within him… he might try to fill this emptiness with air… he is filling voids with voids
Marriage Preparation Course 18, 19 and 20 July
Marriage is a Sacrament and a Sacred Institution established by God and revered by the Orthodox Church. It is vital of all couples entering into this Holy Estate to give it the full and honest attention that it deserves. The Marriage Preparation Course is designed to help couples planning for a marriage or who are newly married to explore and deepen their relationship. Important topics included in the course include the following with a variety of speakers: ‘Art of Communication’, ‘Conflict Resolution’, ‘Discovering yourself’, ‘The Engagement Period’, ‘Boundaries’, ‘Physical & Sexual Health’, ‘Budgeting’, ‘After the Honeymoon’, ‘The Christian Family’ and ‘The Crowning Ceremony’. The Diocese of Melbourne Marriage Preparation Course provides a great opportunity to enrich your relationship and prepare for the lifelong commitment of marriage. The Course runs from Friday 18/07/2025 )6:30 -9:00 PM(, Saturday 19/07/2025 )10:00 AM-6: 15 PM(, and Sunday 20/07/2025 )1:00 PM –8:00 PM(. All sessions are held at the Pope Shenouda III Auditorium, Donvale )100 Park Road Donvale(. We strongly encourage every engaged couple, those about to become engaged and those in their first year of marriage to attend this course.
Based on the evidence of the benefits of such courses, the Holy Synod of the Coptic Orthodox Church has deemed it a compulsory prerequisite before Marriage is granted in the Church. The cost is only $100 per couple, which includes course booklets, lunches, tea/coffee, etc.
Please note Places are limited to the first 15 Couples to Register and Pay. For further details please Contact Fr Daniel Ghabrial on 0403 336 725 or Fr Samuel Elias on 0412 884 434. https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdxURatyrpezTHytuuZh8prbPe-
