Weekly Bulletin 5th May 2024

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

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

Discipleship Clas Class 7-8:30pm

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 & English

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., Kensington Vic 3031 Tel: 93766651

Fr Kerillos Tawadros 0411 518 399

Fr John Makary 0433 445 636

The Martyrdom of the Great Saint Mark, the Apostle

The Evangelist 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 Holy Feast of Resurrection

Today, Sunday 5th May 2024 – 27th Paremoude 1735 (of the Coptic Calendar( is the feast of the Resurrection of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ from death on the third day … today is the feast of feasts, the day of triumph and true joy … for the Lord is Risen triumphant and bestowing a new covenant and life to all whole of mankind … the face of whole world has changed in the Resurrection and so did our understanding of the Resurrection … the Resurrection has granted mankind to live a life of Love, Illumination and Peace and no longer mankind would seek these attributes externally but it became overflowing from within (mankind( as fountains of living waters, so we have gained the powers of true love which we learned in it to love all regardless of colour or creed … even those who are consider themselves our enemies … for the Christian has no enemies and the word enemy does not exist in his vocabulary … in the past, man lived in estrangement from his brethren, so we find the Jews would not deal with the Samaritans who were the closet to them and despise the Canaanites their neighbours and loath the gentiles surrounding them … to the extent they will not tolerate a leper, but will exile him to outside the city and he had to shout “leper” before himself (if walked near them( declared himself as an outcast … but in the Lord’s Resurrection the enmity had become love … we hear of the saint who yearned to dedicate himself for the service of the lepers till he became a leper … and again we hear of Emperor Diocletian the tyrant who at the end of his days contacted a severe debilitating disease and did not find anyone to care for him except a Christian woman like the thousands he had killed … and we hear of many who the love of Christ (within them( compelled them to serve their enemies … such as the red cross who raise the sign of the cross as indication of love in the midst of the arenas of wars and destruction serving all with absolute love without any partialities … again, we hear of those who dedicate their lives to serve the poor and the destitute in foreign land like mother Treasa … and those who serve in the Zabbaleen suburb of Cairo Egypt and history tells us of St Verena the Egyptian who served the Europeans in the 4th century teaching them the principals of hygiene’s and sanitation … it is a love without any limitations,

obstacles or borders … it is the same service of washing the feet who the Lord established by Himself (John 13: 1-17( and the service of pouring the pure perfume which the Lord praised (John 12( … it is the service of Love and amazing Humility which stems from and enabled by the Holy Resurrection … Christianity has emerged offering love dependant of her Lover who Loved us first … let us live in this understanding of true Love which is void of any selfishness or materialistic attributes for Christian Love cannot combine with the materialistic attributes or selfishness which are the thorns chocking Love … let your love stem from the Lord’s Holy Resurrection … the second power (of the Resurrection( is Illumination because the Resurrection had granted us to live in the Light and become sons (and daughters( of the Light … Christianity had set mankind free from darkness to the extent that all principles of democracy and the humanitarian foundations of most (advanced( nations’ constitutions, in fact are the Christian principles which Christianity had brought it in the light and all the people loved … we find the principles of human rights and the founding principles of the united nations all are based on the Holy Bible who taught us to love all and respect the humanity of mankind … Christianity was the first to call for the end of slavery and man’s dominating his brothers as we can ses from St Paul returning Onesimus the slave to his master Philemon with an amazing letter of love in it Onesimus becomes no longer a slave but a brother (Philemon 1:10-13(, the new man in Christ and a loved brother loved in Christ … St Pachomius the great, had a great surprise when he was an officer in the army prior to his conversion to Christianity, when the inhabitants of Esna who were supposed to be the enemy, acted very hospitably to him and the solders accompanying him. When he asked why are they doing this , he was told because they are Christians … he loved their Christianity and became a Christian then a saint, teacher and father of monks … Europe prior to the advent of Christianity was a waring collection of tribes, uncivilized living in a harsh environment but Christianity has changed all this and

they went from one of the most tribal and backward societies to one of the most advanced nations in the world … Christianity have taught mankind to live in the Light, freedom and being free from sin … it has liberated man on the inside first, and today, the world condemns and criticise regimes which makes mankind live in the dark … communism which censured Christianity and attempted to eliminate it from the its land … this regimes had been demolished and the nations which lived under (communism( for long years, had risen against it demanding a life in the light and freedom … Christianity has opened a window of light and hope for mankind to live good … moreover, the Resurrection has granted mankind a covenant of Peace, for mankind love to live in peace with one another and ones self … but Christianity has enabled man to reject and despise the temptations of the world and does not pursue the follies (of the world(, when mankind has no ambitions in (the world follies(, one rises above the materialistic world and feels he (or she( is above the world, then his (or her( heart and life is filled with an amazing peace which surpass all human thoughts … wars and sufferings occur because of earthly greed, lusts and desires … but the Resurrection has lifted our eyes to the kingdom of heavens and we became a new creation in Christ and the Lord has granted us His Peace which is full of joy … this is the Resurrection which has burst (in us( the powers of Love, Light and Peace … indeed, mankind is in need of living in the view of the Holy Resurrection … the Christian home which lives in the prospect of the Resurrection, is a home full of true Love and transforms into a heavenly home on earth where God is glorified in the lives and deeds of (the house hold( … the person who lives in the scene of the Resurrection becomes overflowing with all the means of success spiritually and physically and a source of blessings for all those around him or her … so let us all live in the scene (and prospect( of the Resurrection, so that the Risen Lord from the death, grants us a righteous life emerging with Him to a life of triumph in heavens … Christ is Risen … Indeed He is Risen

+ Holy Fifty Days:

With the feast of Holy Resurrection starts the Holy fifty days. First Sunday is Thomas Sunday, which is one of the Lord’s minor feasts. The church remember how the Lord revealed to His disciples the signs of His sufferings, as He called St Thomas to put his fingers and touch the prints of the nails, and the place of the spear in His side to remove away any doubts and give them a proof of His resurrection so that they can witness to all the world that we preach to you about the One Whom we have seen with our eyes and touched with our hands. The Lord manifested in His Resurrected Body the signs of the Cross even It was a glorified body. In these fifty days, the church embarks with Lord in a glorious journey in which the Lord reveal His Glory and His Kingdom. These are joyful days in which we do not fast as the Bridegroom is with us. The Lord is filling His disciples with support and peace to witness for Him and to be ready to be filled with the Holy Spirit Which abides with forever and is ready for His Second Coming. How wonderful are these days as the Lord reveal to His Bride the Human soul the Glories of the Heaven. I His Resurrection He opened for His Bride the Gates of the Paradise and accompany her in a journey through this world to Heavenly Jerusalem to live there forever. Let us make these days real spiritual days. Even there is no fasting but this body who enjoyed the spiritualities of the Lent and went through the passions of the Lord cannot any more get entangled in these materialistic lusts of the world. Let rejoice in the Lord and let us be elevated by Him to the Heaven. These are blessed days let us sanctify our thoughts and bodies and have the real joy of Resurrection.

Departure to Eternity

The Editorial Article by His Holiness Pope Tawadros II

One of the ingenuities of our Coptic Church, and its relationship with the holy word, is reading the last book of the Bible in a single yearly service called “The Evening of the Book of Revelation” or “The Vigil of Apocalypse” (Abou-Ghaslamsis(. This book is of a unique nature in its content, texts, events, and prophecies. A large number of the Fathers call it “The Book of the Departure to Eternity” because it prepares the person for the events of the end and the Coming of the just Judge, our Lord Jesus Christ.

The preface of the Book of Revelation defines two main themes around which this holy book revolves:

First: A vision of the personhood of the blessed Lord Jesus Christ

Second: A vision of God’s teachings for the holy Church

As we advance through the book, these two topics become increasingly manifest.

First: A Vision of the Personhood of the Blessed Lord Jesus Christ

St. John the Apostle was able to declare these truths:

1- “I am the Truth, the Redeemer, and the Victorious King” for the Book of Revelation is the completion of the theme of the Bible, centered on the Person of Christ the Savior

2- Characteristics of His blessed Person, including, but not limited to:

- “The Word of God” (Rev 1:2(

- “He who holds the seven stars in His right hand, who walks in the midst of the seven golden lampstands” (Rev 2:1(: the Lord Christ is the Shepherd of the Church and the watcher who protects Her from all Her enemies

- “…what the Spirit says to the churches” (Rev 3:22(: the letters of Christ the Master sent to the seven churches in Asia Minor indicate that

He knows everything about their actions, and He warns them of dangers, as well as praises them for every virtue

- “Behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has prevailed to open the scroll and to loose its seven seals” (Rev 5:5(: He is the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Slaughtered Lamb, and the Judge.

Second: A Vision of God’s Teachings for the Holy Church

1- Prophetic Aspect: the majority of the book prophesizes about future events, especially those related to the end times, and most of the prophecies describe the divine judgment for sin. In addition to the glorious victory of Christ the King in the latter chapters, and the kingdom of heaven and eternal life in chapters 21 and 22

2- Historical Aspect: the Book of Revelation reflects the final events of the world at the end of time, Judgment Day, and the method of applying righteous divine judgment to individuals and nations. The whole world, from the beginning of creation until Judgment Day, will place their will in the Lord’s hands, the Omnipotent who has total authority, that is, the Person of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Judge (Rev 20:11( 3- Dogmatic Learning: If the Book of Revelation was the only book in the Bible, it would be possible to deduce knowledge of the important doctrinal facts about humanity, sin, angels, demons, Judgment Day, salvation, the Church, prostration, heaven, and Hades. Moreover, God is a Trinity of Hypostases (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit(

4- Spiritual Application: it is the yearning of Christians to practical behavior of Christian teachings, which is one of the notable themes in the book: “Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written in it; for the time is near” (Rev 1:3(. These are four consecutive stages:

Read, Listen, Memorize, and Prepare

Indeed, our orthodox Christian faith is the only faith, the absolute truth, and the Way through which a person can know the true God, our Lord Jesus Christ, and take rest in Him as it is written in our holy Book, “There [is no] salvation in any other” (Acts 4:12(. Our Christianity simply summarizes its doctrine in specific tenets: 1- We believe in one God, a Trinity of Hypostases: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit (1 John 5:6, 7( 2- The Lord Jesus Christ is God who appeared in the flesh (1 Timothy 3:16(

3- The Lord Jesus became the propitiation for our sins, and He saved us from sin, the curse, and death 4- The Lord Jesus Christ will come as a judge to this world at the end of time, to give each one according to his or her deed

The Second Coming of our Lord Jesus at the end of the world is the truth confirmed by the Bible’s two testaments: “The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the coming of the great and awesome day of the Lord” (Joel 2:31(, and “… looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God” (2 Peter 3:12(. The Church also repeats it to our ears in the Creed, the Midnight Praise, and Agpeya hours throughout the day.

New Kitchen

New Bethlehem Meeting Room

Underground Car Park - 58 Cars

max

New Church, New Building and Car Park are ready We started to use the New Building and church last on Lazarus Saturday 27th April 2024. 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. We thank Our Lord for this great Gift Cost of building works is around $13,000,000. Your support and donations will be blessing and very appreciated.

Donations to St Mary’s Church and Building project can be made by the following

Feast of Holy Resurrection Sunday 5th

May:

Starts at Saturday Evening 4th May:

6:30pm Early Morning Prayers

7:30pm Holy Mass starts and including the Holy Resurrection Play at 9 pm.

Liturgy ends Mid-night

May the Lord grant us to benefit from these blessed days following the Lord in His Sufferings, crucifixion and His Holy Resurrection. May we all rejoice in His Holy Resurrection.

Christ Has Risen. Truly He Has Risen

St. Mary’s Church New Building Financial Report

Entrance to St John Chrysostom church

First group of congtregation entering the new church with a lot of joy and praises Lazarus Saturday 27th April

We thank the Lord for this great Gift

Church Hall

Parents Room

We thank our Lord Who gave us the blessings to start prayers and doxologies in this new building. We had the blessed start during this glorious time of the Passion Week and Feast of Holy Resurrection. May the Lord bless and support us through the prayers of St Mary and St John Chrysostom