Weekly Bulletin 12th June 2022

Glorious Feast of Pentecost

Sunday 12th June 2022- 5th Baouna1738 Pentecost

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

The Departure of St. James of the East. ‫استشهاد القديس يعقوب المشرقى‬ 12th June - 5th Baouna ‫ بؤونة‬٥ - ‫ يونية‬١٢ On this day, St. James of the East (Oriental), the ‫في مثل هذا اليوم تنيح القديس يعقوب‬ confessor, departed. He lived and worshipped in one ‫ كان يتعبد في أحد‬. ‫المشرقي المعترف‬ of the monasteries of the East. He was a contemporary ‫ديارات المشرق وقد عاصر قسطينوس‬ of Emperor Constantine the Great, Julian the Infidel, ‫بن قسطنطين الكبير ويوليانس المعاند‬ and Jovianus the Believer. When the latter was killed, ‫ويوبيانوس المؤمن الذي لما قتل تملك‬ Valens, his brother, reigned in his stead. He was an arian ‫أخوه فالنز وكان أريوسي المذهب فأذن‬ and he closed the Orthodox churches and allowed the ‫كنائس‬ ‫لالريوسيين بفتح كنائسهم وإغالق‬ Arians to open their churches. The grace of God moved ‫بالنعمة‬ ‫األرثوذكسيين فتحرك هذا القديس‬ this Saint and he went to the city of Constantinia. He ‫اإللهية وأتي إلى القسطنطينية فالتقي‬ met the Emperor on his way to war. He stood before the ‫بالملك وهو خارج للحرب فوقف أمامه‬ Emperor and said, “I ask you to open the churches of the believers, that they may pray for you, so may God make ‫وقال له أنا أسألك أن تفتح كنائس المؤمنين‬ ‫للصالة عنك لينصرك هللا علي أعدائك‬ you victorious against your enemies, otherwise God ‫وان لم تفعل ذلك فان هللا سيتخلى عنك‬ will forsake you and you will be defeated before your ‫فتهزم أمام أعدائك فغضب الملك من ذلك‬ enemies.” The Emperor became angry at what St. James said and commanded to beat and imprison him. The Saint ‫ فقال له القديس‬. ‫وأمر بضربه وحبسه‬ told him; “Know that you shall be defeated before your ‫اعلم أنك ستهزم أمام أعدائك وتموت حرقا‬ enemies, and you shall die by burning.” The Emperor ‫ فازداد الملك غضبا وأمر باعتقاله إلى‬. became enraged and ordered to keep him under guard until ‫أن يعود من الحرب فقال له القديس ان‬ he should return from war. The Saint told him, “If you ‫عدت سالما فال يكون الرب قد تكلم علي‬ return safely, then God has not spoken by my mouth.” ‫فمي وسار الملك لمحاربة أعدائه ولما‬ The Emperor went on to fight his enemies. When the two ‫التقي الجيشان تخلي الرب عنه فانهزم أمام‬ armies faced each other, the Lord forsake him, so he was ‫أعدائه وتتبعوه إلى أن دخل إحدى القرى‬ defeated before his enemies. They pursued him until he ‫فأشعلوا النيران حولها فهرب أهلها وبقي‬ came to a certain village to which they set fire. Its people ‫هو وبعض خاصته فأحرقوهم وعاد من‬ escaped, but he and some of his men remained and they ‫بقي حيا من جنده إلى مدينة القسطنطينية‬ were burned. Those of his soldiers who returned to the ‫وأخبروا المؤمنين بما حدث ز وبذلك‬ city of Constantinia told the believers what had happened. ‫تمت نبوة القديس فاجتمع المؤمنون‬ Thus the prophecy of the holy man was fulfilled. The believers assembled, and brought him out of prison with ‫وأخرجوه من السجن بإكرام جزيل وتحقق‬ ‫األريوسيون بأن روح هللا كانت عليه‬ great honor. The Arians knew that the divine grace and ‫كما صدقوا صحة إيمانه فرجعوا عن‬ the spirit of prophecy dwelt in him, as they believed in ‫ضاللهم معترفين بمساواة ابن هللا مع أبيه‬ the accuracy of his faith. Many turned from their error, confessing that the Son of God is equal with the Father in ‫في الجوهر وقضي هذا القديس بقية أيامه‬ essence. . ‫مجاهدا ناسكا حتى تنيح بسالم‬ This saint spent the rest of the days of his life in devotion ‫ آمين‬. ‫صالته تكون معنا‬ to the ascetic life, and in fighting the spiritual fight until he ‫استشهاد القديس ابسخيرون الجندى القلينى‬ departed in peace. ‫ بؤونة‬٧ - ‫ يونية‬١٤ May his prayers be with us. Amen. ‫في مثل هذا اليوم استشهد القديس الجليل‬ The Martyrdom of St. Abaskhiroun the Soldier. ‫ وكانت‬. ‫أبسخيرون الجندي الذي من قلين‬ 14th June - 7th Baouna ‫ ولما صدرت‬. ‫من جند أريانا والي أنصنا‬ On this day, the honorable St. Abaskhiroun, who was from the city of Qalin, was martyred. He was one of the soldiers ‫أوامر دقلديانوس بعبادة األوثان برز هذا‬ ‫القديس في وسط الجمع الحاضر مبينا‬ of Arianus, governor of Ansena (Antinoe). When the Edict ‫عليه‬ ‫ضالل الملك العنا أوثانه فقبضوا‬ of Diocletian to worship the idols was issued, this Saint ‫وأودعوه السجن الذي كان في قصر الوالي‬ arose in the middle of the people present, exposed the ( ‫بأسيوط فاتفق معه خمسة من الجنود‬ infidelity of the Emperor, and cursed his idols. They seized him and shut him up in the prison, which was in the palace ‫ألفيوس وأرمانيوس وأركياس وبطرس‬ of the Governor, in Asyut. Five other soldiers agreed with ‫وقيرايون ) علي أن يسفكوا دمهم علي اسم‬ him to shed their blood in the Name of Christ. Their names ‫المسيح فلما مثلوا أمام الوالي أمر بتقطيع‬ were: Alfius, Armanius, Arkias, Peter, and Cranius. When ‫مناطقهم وتعذيبهم وصلب بعضهم وقطع‬ they came before the Governor, he cut off their girdles, ‫ وأما القديس أبسخيرون‬، ‫رؤوس اآلخرين‬ tortured them, crucified some and cut off the heads of the ‫فقد عذبه الوالي بمختلف العذابات ولكن‬ others. ‫الرب كان يقويه ويصبره ويشفيه من‬

As for St. Abaskhiroun, the Governor tortured him with ‫ و استحضر ساحرا يسمي‬، ‫جراحاته‬ different kinds of tortures, but the Lord comforted him, ‫ ليقدم للقديس شيئا من السم‬، ‫اسكندر‬ strengthened him, and healed his wounds. The Governor ‫ قائال يا رئيس الشياطين اظهر‬، ‫القاتل‬ brought a sorcerer, whose name was Alexander. He gave ‫ فتناول القديس‬، ‫في هذا المسيحي قوتك‬ the Saint some deadly poison, saying; “O master of the ‫السم ورسم عليه عالمة الصليب وشربه‬ powers of darkness, manifest in this Christian your powers.” ‫ فتعجب الساحر وآمن‬, ‫فلم ينله أي آذى‬ The Saint took the poison, made the sign of the cross over ‫بإله القديس أبسخيرون فقطع الوالي‬ it, and drank it, but no harm came upon him. The sorcerer . ‫رأس الساحر ونال إكليل الشهادة‬ ‫أما‬ Abaskhiroun.

St. of marvelled, and he believed in the God ‫القديس فقد ازداد الوالي غضبا‬ ‫عليه‬ The Governor cut off the head of the sorcerer, and he ‫وبعد أن عذبه كثيرا أمر بقطع‬ ‫رأسه‬ became Governor The received the crown of martyrdom. ‫أيضا فنال إكليل الشهادة‬ more enraged with the Saint. He tortured him extensively, . ‫صالته تكون معنا‬ ‫ولربنا‬ ‫المجد‬ .‫دائما‬ the received he and then he ordered to cut off his head, ‫آمين‬ crown of martyrdom. ‫نياحة‬ ‫صموئيل‬ ‫النبى‬ forever.

God to be May his prayers be with us and Glory ‫ بؤونة‬٩ - ‫ يونية‬١٦ Amen. ‫ للعالم‬2947 ‫في مثل هذا اليوم من سنة‬ Departure of St. Samuel the Prophet 16th June - 9th Baouna . ‫تنيح الصديق العظيم صموئيل النبي‬ On this day, of the year 2947 of the world, the upright and ‫وقد ولد هذا البار في رامتايم صوفيم‬ great, Samuel the Prophet, departed. This righteous man was ‫من جيل أفرايم واسم أبيه ألقانا وأمه‬ born in Ramathaim Zophim, of the mountains of Ephraim. ‫ وبمداومتها الطلبة‬، ‫ وكانت عاقرا‬. ‫حنة‬ His father›s name was Elkanah and his mother was Hannah. ‫ فربته في بيتها‬. ‫رزقها هللا صموئيل‬ She was barren, and by continual supplication, the Lord ‫ثالث سنوات ثم قدمته إلى هيكل هللا‬ gave her Samuel. She raised him in her house for three . ‫كما سبق أن نذرت قبل الحبل به‬ ‫فخدم‬ years, and then she offered him to the temple of God as she ‫ وكان‬، ‫عالي الكاهن إلى أن كبر‬ ‫ولدا‬ vowed before she conceived him. He served Eli the priest ‫عالي قد سلكا سلوكا رديا فدعا‬ ‫الرب‬ and badly behaved until he grew up. Eli›s two sons had ‫صموئيل في إحدى الليالي هو‬ ‫نائم‬ ‫فظن‬ defiled the temple. ‫أن عالي هو الذي يدعوه‬ ‫فذهب‬ ‫إليه‬ ‫وقال‬ called LORD the While Samuel was lying down to sleep, ‫له هل دعوتني يا سيدي فأجابه ال ارجع‬ Samuel. And he answered, «Here I am!» So he ran to Eli ‫ فلما مضي دعاه الرب ثانية‬. ‫أضطجع‬ and said, «Here I am, for you called me.» And Eli said, «I ‫وثالثة وهو في كل مرة يقوم ويذهب إلى‬ did not call; lie down again.» And he went and lay down. ‫ فعلم عالي أن الرب هو الذي‬. ‫عالي‬ And the LORD called yet again, «Samuel!» So Samuel ‫ ارجع اضطجع وإذا‬. ‫يدعوه فقال له‬ arose and went to Eli, and said, «Here I am, for you called ‫دعاك تقول تكلم يارب ألن عبدك سامع‬ me.» And Eli answered, «I did not call, my son; lie down again.» Now Samuel did not yet know the LORD, nor was ‫ ولما دعاه الرب وأجابه كما علمه عالي‬. the word of the LORD yet revealed to him. And the LORD ‫ « هوذا أنا فاعل أمرا كل‬: ‫قال له الرب‬ called Samuel again a third time. Then Samuel arose and ‫ في ذلك اليوم‬. ‫من سمع به تطن أذناه‬ went to Eli, and said, «Here I am, for you did call me.» ‫أقيم علي عالي كل ما تكلمت به علي‬ Then Eli perceived that the LORD had called the boy. ‫ ابتدئ وأكمل وقد أخبرته بأني‬. ‫بيته‬ Therefore Eli said to Samuel, «Go, lie down; and it shall ‫أقضي علي بيته إلى األبد من أجل الشر‬ be, if He calls you, that you must say, ‹Speak, LORD, for ‫الذي يعلم أن بنيه قد أوجبوا به اللعنة‬ Your servant hears.› « So Samuel went and lay down in his ‫ ولذلك أقسمت‬. ‫علي أنفسهم ولم يردعهم‬ place. Then the LORD came and stood and called as at other ‫لبيت عالي أنه ال يكفر عن شر بيت‬ times, «Samuel! Samuel!» And Samuel answered, «Speak, « ‫عالي بذبيحة أو بتقدمه إلى األبد‬ 1( for Your servant hears.» Then the LORD said to Samuel: )14 – 1 : 3 ‫صم‬ of ears both which at Israel «Behold, I will do something in everyone who hears it will tingle. «In that day I will perform ‫وبعد هذا أمر الرب أن يمسح شاول بن‬ ‫ ولما خالف‬. ‫قيس ملكا علي إسرائيل‬ against Eli all that I have spoken concerning his house, from ‫شاول أوامر الرب مسح صموئيل داود‬ beginning to end. For I have told him that I will judge his house forever for the iniquity which he knows, because his ‫بن يسى ملكا بأمر الرب وتنبأ وحكم بني‬ . ‫إسرائيل عشرين سنة‬ sons made themselves vile, and he did not restrain them. ‫ آمين‬. ‫صالته تكون معنا‬ And therefore I have sworn to the house of Eli that the iniquity of Eli›s house shall not be atoned for by sacrifice or ‫استشهاد القديس اقالديوس‬ offering forever.» (1 Samuel 3:1-14) ‫ بؤونة‬١١ - ‫ يونية‬١٨ Afterward, the Lord commanded Samuel to anoint Saul ‫في مثل هذا اليوم استشهد القديس الجليل‬

the son of Kish, a king for Israel. When Saul disobeyed the ‫أقلوديوس بن أبطلماوس أخي الملك‬ Lord Samuel anointed David, the son of Jesse, a king by ‫نوماريوس (ابن ذوماريوس هو الشهيد‬ the command of the Lord. He prophesied and judged for the ‫ وقد وردت سيرته تحت اليوم‬، ‫يسطس‬ people of Israel for twenty years. .) ‫العاشر من شهر أمشير‬ May his prayer be with us. Amen. ‫كان محبوبا من جميع أهل إنطاكية‬ The Martyrdom of St. Claudius. ‫لحسن صورته وشجاعته ولمحبتهم له‬ 18th June - 11th Baouna ‫عملوا له صورة وعلقوها علي باب‬ On this day, the honorable St. Claudius, was martyred. He ‫مدينة إنطاكية ولما كفر دقلديانوس‬ was the son of Ptolemy (Abtelmawos), who was Emperor ‫وأثار االضطهاد علي المسيحيين‬ Numerianus› (1) brother. He was loved by the people of ‫بن‬ ‫بقطر‬ ‫اتفق هذا القديس مع القديس‬ Antioch for his courage and good appearance. Because they ‫رومانوس علي االستشهاد من أجل‬ loved him so greatly, they painted a picture of him on the ‫اسم المسيح فظهر لهما الشيطان في‬ doors of the city of Antioch. ‫ يا ولدي أنتما في‬: ‫شبه شيخ وقال لهما‬ When Diocletian reneged the faith and incited the ‫ ومن أوالده األكابر‬، ‫سن الشباب بعد‬ persecution against the Christians, this Saint agreed with St. Boctor (Victor) Ebn Romanus to be martyred for the sake of . ‫وأخاف عليكما من هذا الملك الكافر‬ . ‫فان قال لكما اسجدا لألوثان فوافقاه‬ the Name of Christ.

Satan appeared to them in the form of an old man and told ‫وفي منزلكما يمكنكما أن تعبدا المسيح‬ them, «O my sons, you are young men, the sons of nobility, ‫ ففطن االثنان إلى أنه شيطان‬. ‫خفية‬ and I am afraid for you from this infidel Emperor; so if he ‫في زي شيخ وقاال له يا ممتلئا من كل‬ asked you to worship the idols, accept his command, and ‫ وللوقت تبدل شخصه‬. ‫شر اذهب عنا‬ in your houses you can worship Christ in secret.» They ‫ هوذا أنا‬: ‫وصار كعبد أسود وقال لهما‬ realized that he was satan disguised as an old man and told ‫أسبقكما إلى الملك وأحرضه علي سفك‬ him, «O you who are filled with all evil, go away from us.» . ‫دمكما‬ Straightway the old man changed his appearance and became ‫واستحضر الملك القديس أقلوديوس‬ like a black slave and told them, «Behold, I will go before ‫وعرض عليه عبادة األوثان ووعده‬ you to the Emperor and instigate him to shed your blood.» ‫ فلم يلتفت إلى‬. ‫أن يجعله مكان أبيه‬ The Emperor brought St. Claudius and proposed to him ‫إياه‬ ‫وعوده وخاطبه بكل جرأة موبخا‬ the worship of the idols, and promised to give him his ‫علي عبادته األوثان فلم يجسر الملك‬ father›s position. Claudius neither accepted his promise, ‫علي أن يمسه بأذى لمحبة االنطاكيين‬ nor submitted to his order. He spoke to him boldly and ‫له فأشار عليه رومانس الوزير والد‬ fearlessly reviling him for orshipping the idols. The Emperor ‫القديس بقطر بإرساله إلى مصر ليقتل‬ did not dare to harm him for the people of Antioch loved ‫هناك فأرسله مصحوبا بكتاب إلى والي‬ him. Romanus, St. Victor›s father, advised the Emperor ‫أنصنا يقول له فيه ان أقلوديوس لم‬ to send him to Egypt to be killed there. He sent him with a letter to the Governor of Ansena (Antinoe) stating in it: ‫يخضع آلمرنا وال أذعن لقولنا فالطفه‬ «Claudius neither obeyed our orders, nor hearkened our ‫بكل جهدك أوال فان لم يرجع عن رأيه‬ words. Persuade him with all your power first, and if he . ‫فاقطع رأسه‬ does not return on his counsel, cut off his head.» When the ‫فلما علم القديس بذلك استدعي‬ Saint heard that, he called Sidrakhos, his sister›s husband, ‫صدريخس زوج أخته وأوصاه علي‬ asked him to care for his sister, his possessions and bid him ‫ماله ثم ودعه ومضي مع الجند إلى‬ farewell. The Saint went with the soldiers to Egypt. When he ‫ ولما وصل إلى أريانا والي‬. ‫مصر‬ arrived to Arianus, the governor of Ansena, he received him ‫ يا‬: ‫أنصنا استقبله واقفا وقبل يديه قائال‬ standing, kissed his hand, and said, «O my master Claudius, ‫سيدي أقلوديوس ال تخالف أمر الملك‬ do not transgress the command of the Emperor.» The Saint ‫لتطغيني‬ ‫فأجابه القديس لم أرسل إليك‬ replied, «I was not sent to you for you to lead me astray ‫ بل لتتم ما أمرك به الملك‬، ‫بكالمك‬ by your words, but that you might fulfil what the emperor ‫ وظل االثنان بين أخذ ورد إلى أن‬. commanded.» They argued with each other till Arianus became enraged with the answers of the Saint, and he drove ‫اغتاظ أريانا من أجوبة القديس وطعنه‬ the spear into the Saint. He delivered up his pure spirit and ‫بحربه فاسلم الروح ونال إكليل الشهادة‬ ‫ وأتي قوم من المؤمنين وأخذوا جسده‬. received the crown of martyrdom. Some of the believers, took his body and shrouded it. They placed it with the body ‫وكفنوه ووضعوه مع جسد القديس بقطر‬ of St. Victor who was martyred shortly before that. After the ‫الذي كان قد استشهد قبل ذلك بقليل‬ end of the time of persecution, Victor›s mother came, and ‫حتى انقضي االضطهاد فأتت أم بقطر‬ took their bodies to Antioch. . ‫وأخذتهما إلى إنطاكية‬ May their prayers be with us. Amen. ‫ آمين‬. ‫صالتهما تكون معنا‬

‫تأمالت في إنجيل القداس‬ Meditations on the Bible Reading of the Pentecostal ‫ عيد حلول الروح القدس‬- ‫عيد البنطقستي‬ Feast Day. ٥٦--٢٦:١٥ ‫يو‬ ٥٦ The Feast of the coming of the Holy Spirit ‫ كلمة البنطقستي معناها‬،‫عيد البنطقستي‬ John 15:26-John 16:5. ‫يوم الخمسين وهو االسم اليوناني للعيد‬ The Feast of Pentecost, the word Pentecost means ‫اليهودي المسمى بعيد األسابيع وسمي‬ the fiftieth day and it is a Greek word for the ‫بذلك ألنه يقع في يوم الخمسين بعد قطع‬ Jewish feast of Weeks (Leviticus 23). It is named ‫وتقديم أول حزمة من حصاد الشعير‬ thus because it falls fifty days after the harvesting ‫والذي يتم عادة خالل فترة عيد الفصح‬ and offering of the first-fruits of barley, which is ‫اليهودي وفِي يوم الخمسين يكمل الحصاد‬ normally celebrated during the Jewish pass-over ‫فهو عيد الحصاد وفيه تقدم للرب في‬ period. On the fiftieth day, the harvest is completed ‫ الحصاد عادة‬.‫الهيكل باكورة الثمار‬ and hence it is the feast for harvest and on this day ‫يبدأ بحصاد الشعير ثم ينتهي بحصاد‬ the first-fruits is offered as an offertory on the Altar for God in the temple. The harvest season normally ‫القمح الذي يكمل في يوم الخمسين وبعد‬ ‫خراب أورشليم وهدم الهيكل صار هذا‬ begins with barley until wheat is harvested last ‫ْاليَوْ َم يحمل معنى واحد وهو االحتفال‬ on the fiftieth day. After the destruction of the ‫بالناموس إذ كان يعتبر هذا ْاليَوْ َم أيضا‬ Jerusalem and the Temple, this day (feast) had a .‫هو تذكار تقديم الناموس لشعب إسرائيل‬ singular meaning which is to celebrate the Law, ‫وبال شك ْاليَوْ َم بمعانيه المتعددة كان‬ this day is also considered the day the Law was ‫أنسب األيام لحلول الروح القدس على‬ presented to the Jewish people. No doubt, this feast ‫التالميذ فهو عيد تأسيس كنيسة العهد‬ with all it’s different meanings is the most suitable ‫الجديد كما هو يوم استالم شريعة العهد‬ for the Coming (descending) of the Holy Spirit on ‫القديم وهو يوم تقديم ثمار الخالص أمام‬ the disciples, for this is the day of establishment of the church of the New Testament as it is the day ‫الرب كما هو يوم تقديم الثمار األرضية‬ ‫للهيكل وهو ْاليَوْ َم الذي قدم فيه ماء‬ of receiving the Law of the Old Testament and is ‫الخالص للعطاش للشعب الجالس في‬ the day of offering the fruits of salvation before the ‫ كما هو يوم‬.‫ لألمم وكل العالم‬،‫الظلمة‬ Lord as it is the day offering the First-Fruit of the earth to the Temple. Again, it is the day which the ‫يستقي فيه الشعب بفرح من ثمار األرض‬ .‫الحديدة‬ waters of salvation were offered to the thirst people ‫ كلمة عنصرة هي كلمة عبرية‬:‫العنصرة‬ :‫العنصرة‬ who were in darkness, to the gentiles and all the ‫ والمقصود به عيد حلول‬،‫معناها عيد‬ world, as it is the day all the followers are quenched ‫الروح القدس على التالميذ في يوم‬ their thirst with joy from the First-Fruits of the new ‫الخمسين وهذا ْاليَوْ َم الذي كان يعتبر أحد‬ grounds. ‫األعياد اليهودية الثالثة الكبيرة كان له‬ Shavuot (Pentecost): a Hebrew word meaning ‫أهمية خاصة إذ فيه يجتمع اليهود من‬ feast, and what is meant with this word is Feast ‫كل أنحاء األرض في أورشليم لالحتفال‬ of the Coming of the Holy Spirit on the disciples, ‫ أي‬. ‫بيوم الخمسين قبل العودة لبالدهم‬ on the fiftieth day which is one of the three great Jewish feasts with special meaning where all (male) ‫يتحد كل الغرباء وكل الشعوب في وحدة‬ ‫واحدة مقدمين ذبائح الشكر هلل وهكذا‬ Jews were required to gather in Jerusalem from all ‫صار الروح القدس رباطا يوحد كل‬ diaspora to celebrate the feast of Shavuot (Weeks or Pentecost). On this day all the strangers and nations ‫الشعوب واألمم واأللسنة في جسد الرب‬ ‫ ورغم أن كل فرد في السيد‬. ‫يسوع‬ would unite in one unity offering thanks giving offertory to God and on this day, all nations, people ‫المسيح له شخصيته وإرادته الكاملة ولكن‬ ‫من خالل الروح القدس يتآلف الجميع‬ and languages are united in the Holy Spirit as uniting bond in the Body of The Lord Jesus Christ. ‫ وهكذا يصير الجميع كأوتار‬،‫ويتناسقوا‬ Despite everyone in the Lord Jesus Christ, still has ‫متناغمة تعمل من ألة واحدة يعزف عليها‬ .‫الروح القدس أحلى النغمات السماوية‬ his or her own personality and free will but trough ‫إن وجود الروح القدس في أوالد هللا هو‬ the Holy Spirit the whole is in harmony and all become like strings of one instrument played by the ‫ فهو الذي‬،‫سر فرحهم ونصرتهم وقوتهم‬ .‫يرشد وهو الذي يعزي وهو الذي يبكت‬ Holy Spirit the most beautiful heavenly hymn. :‫ كلمتكم بهذا لكي ال تعثروا‬+ The presence of the Holy Spirit in God’s people is

‫ما أعمق إرشاد الروح القدس في حياة‬ the secret of their joy, victory and power for He ‫ إنه حقا يحفظهم من العثرة‬،‫أوالد هللا‬ (the Holy Spirit) who guides and comfort them. ‫والسقوط إنه العين األمينة التي ترى‬ + These things I have spoken to you, that you ‫ما ال يرى وتنبه وترشد وتعطي حكمة‬ should not be made to stumble: ‫عجيبة ال يستطيع كل المقاومين أن‬ How deep is the guidance of the Holy Spirit in ‫ في معجزة شفاء المقعد على‬.‫يعاندوها‬ the life of God’s sons and daughters, indeed He protects them from stumbling and falling, He (the ‫باب الهيكل يقف بطرس يخاطب الشعب‬ ‫قائال ما بالكم تتعجبون من هذا ولماذا‬ Holy Spirit) is faithful eye which sees the unseen ‫تشخصون إلينا كأننا بقوتنا أو تقوانا‬ and guides, alert and provides amazing wisdom ‫ ثم يقبل عليهم الكهنة‬،‫جعلنا هذا يمشي‬ which all the opposers cannot resist. In the miracle of curing the lame man at the gate of the temple, St ‫وقائد جند الهيكل متضجرين من تعليمهم‬ Peter stands and address the people saying “why do ‫ويضعوهما في السجن إلى الغد وفِي الغد‬ you marvel at this? Or why look so intently at us, as ‫ ويجيب‬.‫يسألونهم بأي قوة صنعوا هذا‬ ‫بطرس «فليكن معلوما عند جميعكم‬ though by our own power or godliness we had made ‫يسوع‬ ‫وجميع شعب إسرائيل أنه باسم‬ this man walk?” and when the priests and captains ‫الناصري الذي صلبتموه أنتم بذاك وقف‬ of the temple put them in prison till the morning and asked them how they did this and Peter answers ‫هذا أمامكم صحيحا» وكانوا يتعجبون‬ “let it be known to you all, and to all the people of ‫من كالمهما حيث أنهما إنسانان عاميان‬ ‫وعديما العلم «سفر أعمال الرسل‬ Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, .»4 .»

4 ،،3 3 ‫إصحاحات‬ whom you crucified…by Him this man stands here before you whole” and the marvelled as “they were ‫هكذا ينظر إلينا العالم ويقيسنا بمقاييس‬ ‫العلم والفهم العالمي أما الروح القدس‬ uneducated and untrained men” (Acts: 3&4). ‫كل‬ ‫فيعطي أوالد هللا مقياس آخر فوق‬ Thus, the world sees us with scientific measures ‫ إن منطق‬.‫علم العالم وحكمته وفهمه‬ and worldly logic, but the Holy Spirit gives God’s ‫العالم ال يستطيع أن يثبت أمام منطق‬ children a different measure above all the world’s ‫ حاول اإلمبراطور‬،‫وحكمة أوالد هللا‬ knowledge and wisdom. The world logic cannot ‫الروماني يوليانوس الجاحد أن يثبت‬ last before the logic and wisdom of God’s children.

Julian the Apostate the roman emperor tried rebuild ‫خطأ المسيحية وحاول أن يبني الهيكل‬ ‫في أورشليم مرة أخرى لكي يثبت خطأ‬ the Jewish temple as a proof of Christianity’s teaching and refute the Holy Bible in saying temple ‫الكتاب المقدس أنه سوف يترك خرابا‬ ‫ولكن مرتين تبوء محاوالته بالفشل‬ will be destroyed and twice his attempt fail and tongues of fire emit from the ground preventing the ‫وتخرج نار من األساسات وتمنع إتمام‬ ‫ وفِي الحرب يصاب بسهم من‬.‫البناء‬ laying of foundations for the temple, even to the ‫مكان مجهول ويسقط صارخا «لقد‬ extent that he was killed in war by an arrow and he ‫األباطرة‬ ‫انتصرت أيها الجليلي» لقد كان‬ said “You have won O’ Galilean”! Emperors and ‫والوالة يرتعبون أمام الشهداء أثناء‬ governors trembled before the (Christian) martyrs ‫محاكماتهم لقد ارتعب فيلكس الوالي من‬ at their trails, Phelix the governor was taken back ‫كالم بولس الرسول عن البر والتعفف‬

by St Paul the apostle’s speech about salvation and .‫والدينونة‬ purity and judgment. ‫إن اريانوس والي أنصنا أفظع الوالة‬ Erianos governor Antinopolis of southern Egypt was known for his vicious persecution of Christians ،‫وأقساهم وأشدهم في اضطهاد المسيحية‬ ‫حولته المسيحية من ذئب متعطش لسفك‬ martyrs and that he used to enjoy tormenting and ‫الدماء إلى حمل وديع يساق إلى الذبح‬ subjecting the martyrs to severe agony, Christianity ‫على يد عازف مزمار مسيحي اسمه‬ has converted him from a human wolf hungry for the shedding of blood to a meek lamb taken to the ‫ أغراه شماس يدعى أبوليناريوس‬.‫فليمون‬ ‫أن يذهب بدال منه ليبخر لألوثان وقدم‬ slaughter on the hands of a Christian piper called ‫ولكن‬ ‫له ماال حتى يهرب من االستشهاد‬ Philemon, who was tempted by a deacon called ‫أمام الوالي القاسي يعمل الروح القدس‬ Apollinaris to go and offer incense in his place ‫في قلب فليمون ويرفض التبخير لألوثان‬ to pagan gods, but before the governor (Erianos) ‫ويعترف بمسيحه ويكتشف الوالي الحقيقة‬ the Holy Spirit worked in him (Philemon) and ‫ويقبض على الشماس ويعذبه كثيرا‬ confessed his Christianity and refused to offer

incense to idols, the governor became angry ‫ويعلق فليمون من رجليه ويأمر بضربه‬ and orders the arrest of the deacon and killing ‫بالنشاب ولكن السهام ال تؤذيه ويقترب‬ of Philemon by arrows, however his eye was ‫أريانوس الوالي ليرى هذا المنظر العجيب‬ wounded by an arrow meant for Philemon, and he ‫فيصيبه سهم في عينيه فيبكي ويصرخ‬ asked Philemon to cure him, but Philemon told ‫ويطلب من فليمون أن يشفيه ولكن فليمون‬ him after his martyrdom, he can go to his grave ‫أخبره أنه عندما يموت يستطيع أن يذهب‬ and rub some of the earth of his grave on his eye, ‫ويأخذ التراب الذي في قبره ويدعك بِه‬ and it will be cured, After Philemon martyrdom ‫عينيه لكي يشفيه وفعال بعد استشهاد فليمون‬ the governor went to his grave and rubbed his eye ‫يذهب الوالي إلى القبر ويدعك عينيه‬ with some of the earth and his eye was cured and ‫بالتراب فيشفي ويتحول أريانوس إلى‬ Erianos became a Christian and was martyred for ‫إنسان مسيحي ويتقدم لالستشهاد على اسم‬ the sake of Jesus Christ. .‫السيد المسيح‬ You my beloved, who do you take your guidance, ‫وأنت أيها الحبيب من أين تأخذ إرشادك‬ encouragement and power in your tribulations, ،‫وتشجيعك وقوتك في متاعبه وضيقاتك‬ do you take it from your peers and their wisdom ‫هل تأخذها من كالم الناس وحكمتهم؟ أم‬ or from the Holy Spirit in your life? How often, ‫تأخذها من إرشاد الروح القدس في حياتك‬ we open our hearing to people’s idol talk seeking ‫ما أكثر ما تفتح آذاننا لكالم الناس نبحث فيه‬ comfort for ourselves and find only pain, troubles ‫عن راحة لنفوسنا فال نجد فيه سوى التعب‬ and discomfort. Have you ever thought, my .‫واأللم والضيق‬ beloved, to open your heart to God’s Love and put ‫هل فكرت أيها الحبيب أن تفتح قلبك هلل‬ all your trobles between His hands instead of the ‫المحب وتضع متاعبك بين يديه بدال من‬ world, for the people’s wisdom will never solve ‫ إن حكمة الناس لن تحل مشاكلك أبدا‬،‫العالم‬ your problems, but it might even complicate it ‫بل سوف تعقدها عندما تكون متعبا سوف‬ more, when you are troubled, it might make more ‫ عندما تكون مريضا سوف‬.‫يزيدك تعبا‬ troubled! When you are sick, they (the world) ‫يزيدونك مرضا أما الروح القدس الذي‬ offers more sickness, but the Holy Spirit within ‫في داخلك فهو وحده الذي سوف يريحك‬ you He alone can cure, comfort and offer you .‫ويعزيك ويشفيك‬ solace. :‫ إن لم انطلق ال يأتيكم المعزي‬+ + for if I do not go away, the Helper will not ‫ إنه السر‬،‫ المريح‬،‫ إنه المفرح‬،‫إنه المعزي‬ come to you: ‫في فرح أوالد هللا حتى وسط أشر اآلالم‬ He (the Holy Spirit) is the Helper, the Comforter ‫ أوالد العالم عند األلم يلجأون إلى‬.‫وأقساها‬ and Joyful and He is the reason for God’s ‫أساليب الهروب من الواقع فهم ال يتحملون‬ children’s joy in the midst of all tribulations and ‫األلم ولذلك يهربون منه وما أكثر وسائل‬ heaviest pain. People of the world when faced ‫الهروب التي يلجأ إليها أهل هذا العالم‬ with troubles, seek escapism from reality because ‫ ملذات‬،‫ االلتجاء إلى شهوات الجسد‬:‫مثل‬ they cannot endure tribulations and look fore ‫العالم حفالته وطربه ورقصه هل هو‬ escapism and there are many ways in the world ‫ إنهم تماما مثل نيرون‬،‫عالج للنفس المتعبة‬ for escapism. Such as adopting physical pleasures ‫الذي جلس ليغني ويرقص وهو يرى‬ or worldly pleasure and loud parties with much ‫ إنه نوع من‬.‫روما عاصمة بالده تحترق‬ song and dance but is this a true cure for the ‫االنتحار واليأس وعدم قدرة على مواجهة‬ troubled sole, they are like Nero (the Roman ‫حقائق الحياة مثل اإلنسان الذي يقنع نفسه‬ Emperor) who sat drinking and dancing while ‫أن يخرج همومه في دخان السجائر أو في‬ Rome was burning. It is a kind of committing ‫ وآخرون يلجأون إلى العزاء‬.‫كأس الخمر‬ suicide and giving up unable to face reality, ‫في الفرجة على اآلخرين مسك سيرتهم أو‬ like the person who convinces himself, that ‫بمعنى أصح في نهش لحومهم والعجيب‬ smoking or drinking alcohol is the way to drown ‫أنهم يقاسون من نفس آالم اآلخرين الذين‬ his sorrows. Others seek comfort, in gossiping ‫يتكلمون عنهم ويفضحونهم ويدينونهم بل‬ about others and watching them, in other words, ‫وربما أكثر وأسوأ تماما مثل حام الذي‬ devouring them and what is amazing is that they ‫وجد أبيه عاريا فخرج خارجا يخبر إخوته‬ suffer the same from others who will gossip ‫فاستحق اللعنة وأن يصير عبد العبيد‬ about them and judge them and maybe more and .‫إلخوته‬

worse, like Ham who saw his father (Noah) exposed ‫وآخرون متخصصون في حل المشاكل‬ (Genesis 9), so he went out and told his brothers and ‫بالمشاكل بل يتفننون في خلق المشاكل‬ thus deserved to be cursed and become a slave to his ‫عندما تزداد متاعبهم يخلقون لآلخرين‬ brothers. ‫مشاكل يشغلونهم بها حتى ينسوا‬ Others, specialise in solving problems with more ‫مشاكلهم الشخصية ومتاعبهم يعالجون‬ problems! They excel in creating problems and when ‫ يستخدمون الشيطان‬،‫الخطأ بالخطأ‬ their problems occur, they will create problems for ‫إلخراج الشيطان ومثل هذا يقول لهم‬ others to forget their own problems. It is treating ‫الرب يسوع «كل مملكة منقسمة على‬ wrong with wrong, using Satan to expel Satan and .»‫ذاتها تخرب‬ like those The Lord Jesus Christ says to them “If ‫وأنت أيها الحبيب أين هو عزائك؟ إلى‬ a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom ‫من تلجأ عندما تكون متعبا متضايقا‬ cannot stand” (Mark 3:24). ‫متألما هل تهرب إلى هللا؟ هل تدخل‬ You, my beloved where is your helper? To whom do ‫إلى مخدعك وتغلق على نفسك بابك‬ you go for hep when you are in trouble or in pain? Do ‫وتتصارع مع هللا إلى الفجر؟‬ you escape to God? Do you entre your bedroom and ‫أيتها النفس المتعبة لن تستقري ولن‬ lock the door and wrestle with God till the morning? ‫ترتاحي لن تهدئ نفسك إال بين أحضان‬ O’ troubled sole, you will not be comforted or find ‫ إال في جنبه المجروح‬،‫الرب يسوع‬ help and comfort except in the bosom of the Lord ‫ إنه وحده المعزي‬.‫المفتوح الستقبالك‬ Jesus Christ, only in His side which is wounded ‫ألن نفوسنا هي منه ولن تجد راحتها‬ and open for you to entre. He alone is the comforter .‫إال فيه‬ because our soles is from Him and will only find its ‫ يبكت العالم على خطية على بر على‬+ comfort in Him. :‫دينونة‬ + He will convict the world of sin, and of ‫وهل أنت مستعد ألن تقبل التبكيت؟‬ righteousness, and of judgment: ‫ها أنت مستعد أن توبّخ على خطاياك‬ Are you willing to accept convictions? Are you ‫وتقصيرك؟ على خطاياك وعثراتك‬ ready to be convicted for your sins and short ‫وشرورك؟ فالروح القدس يبكت‬ comings? For your sins, evil doings and stumbling? ‫على خطية التي هي على صورة‬ The Holy Spirit will condemn the sin which ‫عدم اإليمان وعدم الثقة في مواعيده‬ unbelieving and not trusting in His promises to you. ‫ كما أنه يبكت على تقصيرك في‬.‫لك‬ Just as He condemn for the short comings in doing ‫ فأنت األن متروك لذاتك‬،‫أعمال البر‬ good. Because you are now left for yourself to do ‫لتعمل وينبغي أن تعمل البر والصالح‬ good and righteous deeds, Therefore, to him who ‫وكل من يعرف أن يعمل صالحا وال‬ knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is ‫ إن الرب يسوع‬.‫يعمله فذاك خطية له‬ sin (James 4:17). The Lord Jesus Christ is risen to ‫صعد إلى السماء ولكنه من هناك‬ heavens, but He sees you and asks you for your short ‫يراك ويعاتبك على تقصيرك وضعف‬ comings and the weakness in your love and being ‫محبتك وفتورك إنك تركت محبتك‬ lukewarm for you have left your earlier love. .‫األولى‬ Know this my beloved, there is judgement, there is ‫ إن‬،‫اعلم أيها الحبيب أن هناك دينونة‬ giving an account for every bad word, all wasted time ‫ على‬،‫هناك حساب على كل كلمة بطالة‬ and every action which is not fitting. Be not a lover ‫كل وقت ضائع على كل تصرف غير‬ of the world, for the Lord has judged the world and ‫الئق إياك أن تكون من أحباء هذا العالم‬ condemned all it’s sinful ways as we are not from the ‫الذي قد أدان الرب أعماله وشروره‬ world or followers of the world. ‫أما نحن فلسنا من هذا العالم ولسنا من‬ My beloved, let the (Holy) Spirit within you, guide .‫أتباعه‬ you teach you and work within you for righteousness. ‫أيها الحبيب اترك الروح الذي في‬ Let Him comfort you in your troubles and convict ‫داخلك يعمل يرشدك ويعلمك يرشدك‬ and condemn (the sin) and by this He will take you to ‫ اتركه يعطيك‬،‫إلى جميع الحق‬ a triumphant life and glory. ‫ويريحك في أتعابك اتركه يوبخك‬ ‫ويؤنبك وبذلك ينقذك من الهالك‬ .‫ويأخذك إلى األمجاد إلى حياة النصرة‬

Holy Apostles Fasting Tomorrow Monday 13th June the Holy Apostles tasting starts directly after we celebrate the Holy Feast of Pentecost. The Fasting is continuing until 12th July which is the east of Martyrdom of St Peter and Paulthe feast of the Holy Apostles. This fasting has been ordered by the Lord Himself when He was asked by the Pharisees why His disciples do not fast as St John’s disciples. The Lord told them that when the Bridegroom is taken from them they will fast. This was pointing to the Resurrection and Ascension of our Lord.

The Lord also ordered His disciples not to leave Jerusalem until they are filled with the Holy Spirit. So, the day of Pentecost is truly the day of a start for the new church. The Birthday of the church of New Testament. That is why the church who feels as stranger in this world is carrying the Cross following the Lord. Fasting is also a sign of carrying the Cross in rejection to the world pleasures. We have also witnessed His Resurrection and Ascension and looking forward for His Second Coming. Let us follow the steps of our Lord declaring and witnessing for His Salvation on the Cross on the way to get united with her Bridegroom.

‫صوم أالباء ألرسل‬ ‫ يونية صوم أآلباءألرسل‬١٣ ‫يبدأ غدأ أالثنني‬ ‫ألقديسني وعادة‬ ‫يبدأهذألصوم مبارشة‬ ..‫بعدعيد البنطيقستى‬ 12 ‫ويستمرحتى يوم‬ ‫ أبيب) وهو‬٥ (‫يولية‬ ‫عيد أستشهأد القديسني‬ ‫بطرس وبولس – عيد‬ ‫ وهذأ ألصوم قد‬.. ‫الرسل‬ ‫أمر به ألرب يسوع ذأته‬ ‫عندما سأله ألفريسني ملاذأ‬ ‫يصوم تالميذ يوحنا بينام‬ ‫تالميذك اليصومون فقال‬ ‫لهم أنهم عندما يرفع‬ ‫ألعريس عنهم فحينئد‬ ‫ ورفع ألعريس‬..‫يصومون‬ ‫كان أشارة أىل قيامة ألرب‬ ‫وصعوده أىل ألسموأت‬ ‫وقد أوىص ألرب تالمبده‬ ‫أن ال يربحوا أورشليم ليكرزوأ للعامل أجمع‬ ‫قبل أن يلبسوأ قوة من أآلعاىل وهذأ قد‬ ‫تم ىف بوم ألخمسني وبدلك أصبح ألجو‬ ‫مهيئا ومناسبا للبدء ىف ألعمل ألكرأزى‬ ‫ورحلة ألغربة ىف هدأ ألعامل وبدلك صار‬ ‫من أملناسب جدأ أن تبدأ ألكنيسة بالصوم‬ ‫وهو أعالن حى أن ألكنيسة متغربة عن‬ ۶ ً ‫هدأ ألعامل وأنها ال تبحث وال تسعى ورا‬ ‫ ألصوم هدا‬.. ‫هدأ ألعامل ومرساته وملذاته‬ ‫أبضا رمز لحمل ألصايب وقد طلب ألرب أن‬ ‫نحمل ألصليب ونتبعه وهانحن قد فرحنا‬ ‫ياارب ألقائم من أألموأت وها أيضا قد عاينا‬ ‫صعوده ونلنا أبضا وعد مجيئه ألثاىن وها‬ ‫ فلنحمل‬٠.‫أيضا قد لبسنا قوة من أألعاىل‬ ‫أذأ صليبه ومنىض ىف طربق غربتنا معلنيىن‬ ‫عن ألخالس ألعجيب الدى تم عىل ألصليب‬ ‫ صوم ألرسل‬.. ‫منادين بالخالص للعامل أجعع‬ ‫هو أعالن عن مسرية ألكنيسة أملجاهدة ىف‬ ‫طريقها أىل لقاء عريسها‬

The Feast of Pentecost

By H. H. Pope Shenouda III The Glorified Lord Christ lived with them in His body until He rose to Heaven then promised them the Holy Spirit to stay with them forever, the Spirit of truth, the Comforter. So what should we know about the Holy Spirit?

The Holy Spirit is God’s Spirit, therefore it existed since ever. We read about it in the first verses of the Genesis Book. The divine response says: “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was without form, and void; and darkness was on the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters.” (Gn 1:1, 2).

And Isaiah talks about the Holy Spirit and gives Him names in his saying: “The Spirit of the LORD…The Spirit of wisdom and understanding, The Spirit of counsel and might, The Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD.” (Is 11:2).

And we add to that in the third Hour Prayer (Terce) of every day and say: “a spirit of prophecy and chastity, a spirit of holiness, justice and authority” and call Him by saying: “O Heavenly King, the Comforter, the Spirit of truth, who is present in all places and fills all, the treasury of good things and the Life-Giver”.

And the Lord says about Him in the St John’s Gospel “the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father” (Jn 15:26). And the doctrine of being proceeded from the Father was mentioned by the Ecumenical Council in Constantinople in the Faith Creed. Yet our brothers, the Catholics add to it “Filioque” meaning “and from the Son”. And this is opposing to the Holy Trinity Doctrine. In assimilating the Holy Trinity to Fire we say: “Fire brings forth heat; and light proceeds from it” and we do not say that the light proceeds from heat! But the light and the heat both come from the origin, which is the fire and not one from the other.

The Holy Spirit used to work in the Old Testament as well.

In the story of Samson we read that “the Spirit of the LORD began to move upon him at Mahaneh Dan” (Judges 13:25). And we also read that after Saul was anointed as king that “the Spirit of God came upon him, and he prophesied” (1 S 10:10). This also happened when David was anointed by Prophet Samuel to be king “the Spirit of the LORD came upon David from that day forward” (1 Sam 16:13). And the way the Holy Spirit came upon both Saul and David were through the Anointing Oil that the Lord ordered them to prepare in Exodus Book (Ex 30:22-31). And Aaron was anointed as a high priest when Moses poured from this holy anointing oil on Aaron’s head and anointed him (Lv 8:12), as we say in the psalm “It is like the precious oil upon the head, running down on the beard, the beard of Aaron, Running down on the edge of his garments.” (Ps 133:2). And with this anointing oil the tent of meeting along with the altars and the utensils were anointed and became holy (Ex 40, Lv 8). With this anointing oil also, kings and prophets were anointed (1 Kings 19). And as a result, to the anointing, the Holy Spirit comes upon them and so comes His gifts as well.

And we read in prophet Joel the Lord’s saying: “And it shall come to pass afterward That I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh; Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, Your old men shall dream dreams, Your young men shall see visions.”

(Joel 2:28) And this is what happened on the fiftieth day (the Day of Pentecost), as St Peter the Apostle explained this verse from Prophet Joel’s Book

(Ac 2:16, 17) The Holy Spirit also could be transferred from one person to another.

This happened to the seventy elders on the days of Prophet Moses when the Lord said to him: “Gather to Me seventy men of the elders of Israel. Then I will come down and talk with you there. I will take of the Spirit that is upon you and will put the same upon them” (Nm 11:16, 17). And here the bible says: “Then the LORD came down in the cloud, and spoke to him, and took of the Spirit that was upon him, and placed the same upon the seventy elders; and it happened, when the Spirit rested upon them, that they prophesied” (Nm 11:25) We notice that before Moses, when Joseph the Righteous interpreted the Pharaoh’s dream, “Pharaoh said to his servants, “Can we find such a one as this, a man in whom is the Spirit of God?”” (Gn 41:38). And here was the Holy Spirit’s gift interpreting dreams, i.e., the Spirit of knowledge.

Also there is another work for God’s Spirit in every art, so as to what the tent of meeting needed “Then the LORD spoke to Moses, saying: “See, I have called by name Bezalel the son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah. And I have filled him with the Spirit of God, in wisdom, in understanding, in knowledge, and in all manner of workmanship, to design artistic works, to work in gold, in silver, in bronze, in cutting jewels for setting, in carving wood, and to work in all manner of workmanship.” (Ex 31:1- 5) Here we see that the Holy Spirit works even in the talent of workmanship that is given to some even in jewellery and carving woods.

Among the most important characteristics of the Holy Spirit is that it is Who spoke in the prophets.

This is a statement in the content of the Faith Creed. This means that the Holy Spirit is the source of the divine response of the Holy books. the Holy Spirit was the source of all what the prophets and apostles said in the holy books.

In this St Peter the Apostle said in his second epistle “for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.” (2 P 1:21) Nowadays, In the New Testament, the Holy Spirit is given through three ways: The Holy Anointing, Laying Priests’ Hands and The Holy Breath.

As for The Holy Breath, it was written in St John’s Gospel that our Lord Jesus, after His Resurrection, when He appeared to His disciples, the saints, in the upper room, He told them “As the Father has sent Me, I also send you.” And when He had said this, He breathed on them, and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.”” (Jn 20:21-23) In the ordination of the bishop or the priest we breathe in his face and say “Accept the Holy Spirit”, so he opens his mouth to accept the holy breath and says with the psalm “I opened my mouth and accepted myself a spirit”.

As for Laying Hands, the Holy Spirit in the time of our fathers the apostles was given through the apostles laying hands. This was mentioned in giving the Holy Spirit to the People of Samaria. The Apostles Synod in Jerusalem sent them St Peter and St John “Then they laid hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.” (Ac 8:14-17) And the same was done to the People of Ephesus “And when Paul had laid hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them” (Ac 19:7).

Same applied to the Priesthood Sacrament, St Paul the Apostle said to his disciple Timothy “I remind you to stir up the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands.”

(2 Ti 1:6)

The Holy Anointing was also known in the apostolic age. St John the Apostle says about that: “But you have an anointing from the Holy One…” (1 Jn 2:20) “… But the anointing which you have received from Him abides in you.”

(1 Jn 2:27) We, in anointing children after baptism: we anoint them with the Holy Chrism (Myron) and lay hands on them and breathe in their faces. And say to them: “Receive the Holy Spirit.”

With the Holy Anointing Sacrament, we become temples for the Holy Spirit.

And the Holy Spirit dwells in us. St Paul the Apostle talks about that in his first epistle to Corinthians and says: “Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?” (1 Co 3:16), and “Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you” (1 Co 6:19).

Then every one of should remember that on the day he was anointed with the Holy Chrism (Myron) that he became a temple for the Holy Spirit and the Holy Spirit became dwelling in him.

The Holy Spirit works in priesthood and priesthood is granted through the Holy Spirit. It has the power of forgiving sins. But someone may say: How is that? And no one can forgive sins except God alone! We say: Yes, the Holy Spirit that is in the priest is one who forgives sins. As we say in the Holy Liturgy “be absolved by my mouth through the Holy Spirit,” so it is the Holy Spirit that forgives sins.

And this forgiveness comes from the priest’s mouth. And the absolution that the priest gives through the absolution prayer in which he says: May God absolve you, may God pardon you, may God forgive you. And the Holy Spirit is present also in all the Church Sacraments. He also is present in all the Holy Synod decisions. In the first decision that came from the Synod in Jerusalem on the days of our fathers the apostles, they said: “it seemed good to the Holy Spirit, and to us.” (Ac 15:28) The Holy Spirit works in the Service too. The Church fathers, the apostles did not start the service until the Holy Spirit came upon them and the Lord’s promise saying: “But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me” (Ac 1:8) was fulfilled in them. The Holy Spirit was the One choosing the servants, like when He said: “Now separate to Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them” (Ac 13:2, 4).

And it was Him who directed the servants in their paths and worked in them and using them.

Asking for the Holy Spirit is a point of our daily prayer of the Third Hour (Terce).

We ask it to come upon us and purify us from all defilement of body and spirit.

And we cry to God saying: Your Holy Spirit, O Lord, do not take away from us.

It is part of our freedom to accept the Holy Spirit, work with Him, and go into the “Holy Spirit Partaking”. And we are also free to reject and quench the Spirit and fight the Spirit. And the most serious thing is to blaspheme against the Holy Spirit, meaning to reject it completely all through the life. But how beautiful is the bible’s saying: “For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.” (Ro 8:14) Here I would like to warn those who are deceived and think that every spirit that leads them is God’s Spirit!! The apostle says: “do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world.”

(1 Jn 4:1)

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

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

Final List of Candidates for Parish Board of Deacons St Mary›s Church Less than 35: Fady Ilias George Ibrahim Mina Nayrouz

‫القائمة النهائية للمرشيحين لمجلس شمامسة‬ ‫كنيسة القديسة العذراء مريم‬

Older than 35: Gergis Rizkalla Gerges Mina Remon Tawadros Tony Sidrak Kerillos Danial Fouad Habashy

‫ سنة‬٣٥ ‫المرشحين أصغر من‬ ‫فادى ألياس‬ ‫جورج أبراهيم‬ ‫مينا ناروز‬ ‫ سنة‬٣٥ ‫المرشحين أكبر من‬ ‫جرجس رزقاهلل‬ ‫جرجس مينا‬ ‫ريمون تاوضروس‬ ‫تونى سدراك‬ ‫كيرلس دانيال‬ ‫فؤاد حبشى‬

+ Remember O Lord the Departed: Reposed in the Lord, Nabil Shafik Mina. Adored husband of Samira and father of Jacqueline, and John and Angela Mina and beloved Grandfather of Oliver, Samuel and Felix. Brother of Nagy Mina and Marie El-Senity and uncle of Adel Roufail (Sydney), George and Jenny Mina and Tony ElSenity. Brother-in-law of Saad Saad, Violette Hanna and Sam Saad. May the risen lord repose his soul in the paradise of joy.

Funeral 10.45 am at st john and st verenas church (armadale) on the 9 th of June. Followed by prayer at springvale cemetery and then 3 rd day prayer at at 3 pm at St Johns.

May the Lord repose his soul and grant peace and comfort for all family members :‫ عيد البنطيقستى‬+ ‫ تقام القداسات فى مواعيدها‬.‫ يونية هو عيد البطيقستى – عيد حلول الروح القدس‬12 ‫يوم األحد‬ ‫المعتادة بكنيسة العذراء مريم مع أعتبار أن دورة القيامة فى خالل هذا اليوم تتم خالل صالة رفع‬ .‫بخور باكر قبل القداس األلهى‬ .‫ بعد الظهر‬2 – 12:30 ‫ تقام بعد القداس األلهى مباشرة‬:‫صالة السجدة‬ .‫ يونية القادم‬13 ‫يبدأ صوم األباء الرسل األطهار يوم األثنين‬ + Feast of Pentecost: Next Sunday 12th June is the Feast of Pentecost when the Holy Apostles were filled by the Holy Spirit in the 50th day of Holy Resurrection.

Services on this day at St. Mary church are as normal. Procession of Holy Resurrection will be during the Matins.

Kneeling Prayers: After Liturgy 12:30 – 2pm.

Holy Apostles Fasting starts on Monday 13th June.

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