Verses and Fathers Sayings

If anyone desires to be first,
he shall be last of all and servant of all.
Mark 9: 35


St. John Chrysostom Saying

For nothing is so acceptable to God as to
number one's self with the last. This is a
first principle of all practical wisdom.

St. John Chrysostom

Psalms 148

Chapter 148

1. Praise the LORD! Praise the LORD from the heavens; Praise Him in the heights!

2. Praise Him, all His angels; Praise Him, all His hosts!

3. Praise Him, sun and moon; Praise Him, all you stars of light!

4. Praise Him, you heavens of heavens, And you waters above the heavens!

5. Let them praise the name of the LORD, For He commanded and they were created.

6. He also established them forever and ever; He made a decree which shall not pass away.

7. Praise the LORD from the earth, You great sea creatures and all the depths;

8. Fire and hail, snow and clouds; Stormy wind, fulfilling His word;

9. Mountains and all hills; Fruitful trees and all cedars;

10. Beasts and all cattle; Creeping things and flying fowl;

11. Kings of the earth and all peoples; Princes and all judges of the earth;

12. Both young men and maidens; Old men and children.

13. Let them praise the name of the LORD, For His name alone is exalted; His glory is above the earth and heaven.

14. And He has exalted the horn of His people, The praise of all His saints--Of the children of Israel, A people near to Him. Praise the LORD!

Verses and Fathers Sayings

I have loved you with an everlasting love;
Therefore with lovingkindness I have drawn you.
Jer. 31: 3


St. John Chrysostom Saying

He then who is so anxious to be loved by us...
and did not spare even His only begotten Son
on account of His love towards us... how shall He
not welcome and love us when we repent?

St. John Chrysostom

Psalms 149

Chapter 149

1. Praise the LORD! Sing to the LORD a new song, And His praise in the assembly of saints.

2. Let Israel rejoice in their Maker; Let the children of Zion be joyful in their King.

3. Let them praise His name with the dance; Let them sing praises to Him with the timbrel and harp.

4. For the LORD takes pleasure in His people; He will beautify the humble with salvation.

5. Let the saints be joyful in glory; Let them sing aloud on their beds.

6. Let the high praises of God be in their mouth, And a two-edged sword in their hand,

7. To execute vengeance on the nations, And punishments on the peoples;

8. To bind their kings with chains, And their nobles with fetters of iron;

9. To execute on them the written judgment--This honor have all His saints. Praise the LORD!

Coptic Church renews calls to investigate Alexandria church bombing

Coptic Church renews calls to investigate Alexandria church bombing


Photographed by Steven Viney

Saint Mark's Coptic Orthodox Cathedral in Alexandria renewed demands Saturday for authorities to reveal who planned the bombing of the Two Saints Church that left 23 Copts dead on 1 January.

Nader Morcos of the Coptic Ecclesiastical Council in Alexandria criticized the slow pace of the investigation and lack of steps taken to compensate the families of those killed, eight months after the attack took place.

He said the Coptic Orthodox Church is demanding the intervention of the head of the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces, Hussein Tantawi, and Prime Minister Essam Sharaf to speed up the process of providing redress for the murders.

Morcos added that a lawyer has been assigned to request the attorney general call for expediting the investigation.

The lawyer for the church and the families of those killed, Joseph Malak, told Al-Masry Al-Youm that several legal procedures will be undertaken to address what he described as the deliberate slowness of the investigation.

Malak said Copts are wondering why the investigation into the killings is taking so long, and that many of them believe that religious discrimination is continuing after the revolution.

News reports have said that documents seized from the now-disbanded State Security Investigation Services after the revolution implicated ex-Interiror Minister Habib al-Adly in the attack. This information, however, has not been confirmed by any official source.


http://www.almasryalyoum.com/en/node/490463

Verses and Fathers Sayings

But as for me, I would seek God,
and to God I would commit my cause.
Job 5: 8


St. John Chrysostom Saying

Let us apply ourselves to Prayer. It is a
mighty weapon.... It has turned back wars
.… It is itself a saving medicine, and has
power to prevent sins, and to heal misdeeds.

St. John Chrysostom

Verses and Fathers Sayings

Let not mercy and truth forsake you
Pro. 3: 3


St. John Chrysostom Saying

For mercifulness is… a protector of those
who labor at it. For it is dear to God,
and ever stands near Him readily asking
favor for whomsoever it will

St. John Chrysostom

The Transfiguration

The Transfiguration
By His Holiness Pope Shenouda III

The first transfiguration of our nature is that God created us in his own image and likeness.

The second transfiguration is what took place on the Mount of Tabor. During the transfiguration, the Lord Jesus Christ did not appear alone, but Moses and Elijah were with Him, representing humanity. It is the transfiguration with which our nature will be crowned in glory.

The third transfiguration is the forthcoming resurrection, when we rise in spiritual bodies of light, like the Lord's body of glory! We will be like God's angels in Heaven. The feast of the transfiguration reminds us of the glory that our nature will receive.

God has not deprived us from glory. He has taken us from one glory to another, "For whom he foreknew, he also pre-destined to be conformed to the image of His Son ... He also glorified." Rom 8 : 29-30

In the transfiguration that is to come, we will be completely free from sin and from spiritual combats. We will be free from the material, as we take off this body and leave the whole materialistic world. The corruptible will be clothed in incorruption, "because the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God," and, "... eagerly waiting for the adoption, the redemption of our body." Rom 8: 21 & 23. "We will be free from sin when we receive the crown of righteousness". 2 Tim 4: 8

This righteousness will make us forget whatever relates to sin. There would not be sin and we would not know it, remember it or fight against it. We will be completely free from it and we will live in righteousness, "in the glorious liberty of the children of God."

That illustrates accurately the saying that, "Whoever is born of God does not sin, and the wicked one does not touch him." 1 John 5: 18. We are not going to transfigure alone, but the whole city if God’s Heavenly Jerusalem that had no need of the sun or the moon to shine in it, "for the glory of God illuminated it." Rev 22: 5.

Permanent joy is the characteristic of this transfiguration. Sorrow, pain and fear, the effects of sin, will all disappear.

Verses and Fathers Sayings

For the love of Christ compels us.
2 Cor. 5: 14


ST. Augustine Saying

For your omnipotence is not far from us even when we are far from you.

ST. Augustine

First Coptic church in Hungary consecrated

First Coptic church in Hungary consecrated
By: MTI
2011-08-23 13:20

Pope Shenouda III, the leader of the Coptic Christian community, consecrated the first Coptic church in Hungary on Sunday.

The Coptic Pope, as he is called in the Egyptian religious community, consecrated the church in a three-hour ceremony in the presence of five Coptic bishops and hundreds of faithful in Budapest's 18th district amid tight security measures.

The church was dedicated to Mother of God, the Holy Virgin Mary, and Archangel Michael.

The Coptic Pope prayed for the ill, those on the way, the air and the crops, the dead and the victims as well as for peace, the religious community and the president of Egypt, then consecrated all the three altars, the altar-cloths, the holy chalices, the icons and the paintings in the church.

Two hundred believers who failed to enter the crowded church followed the liturgy on a huge screen.

Pope Shenouda III, head of the Christian church which was founded, according to tradition, by Saint Mark, arrived in Hungary on Friday on the invitation of Deputy Premier Zsolt Semjen to attend celebrations on Saint Stephen's Day, Hungary's national holiday of August 20.

Pope Shenouda III met President Pal Schmitt and Prime Minister Viktor Orban, and held talks with Semjen.

The deputy prime minister described the Coptic Pope's visit as an outstanding event of dialogue between Eastern and Western churches.

Pope Shenouda III called the consecration an important milestone from the aspect of his church's presence in Eastern Europe.

Expressing pleasure over the warm welcome in Hungary, he said, "I would like to maintain friendly relations with Hungarians throughout my life."


http://www.caboodle.hu/
http://www.caboodle.hu/nc/news/news_archive/single_page/?tx_ttnews[tt_news]=9337

Verses and Fathers Sayings

Behold, the eye of the LORD is on those who fear Him, on those who hope in His mercy.
Ps. 33: 18


St. John Chrysostom Saying

The fear of the Lord excels everything;
fear God, and keep His commandments;
for this is the whole of man.

St. John Chrysostom

H. H. Pope Shenouda III Sermon - Hidden and Manifested Sins

H. H. Pope Shenouda III Sermon 'Hidden and Manifested Sins'

http://coptorthodox.blogspot.com/2011/08/h-h-pope-shenouda-iii-sermon-hidden-and.html

Verses and Fathers Sayings

Nevertheless I am continually with You;
You hold me by my right hand.
You will guide me with Your counsel.
Ps. 73: 23, 24


St. John Cassian Saying

The believer is in need of the spirit of heavenly wisdom, and discernment, to keep on going; yet along the royal way, and with no diversion.
St. John Cassian

First Coptic church in Budapest

WATANI International
Victor Salama
21 August 2011

Last Sunday, Pope Shenouda III inaugurated the first Coptic Orthodox Church in Hungary, in Budapest’s eighteenth district. The Pope presided over an evening service ceremony during which he anointed and consecrated the altar and the icons.

Pope Shenouda had arrived at Budapest two days earlier to a warm, resounding welcome by Europe’s Coptic community, some of whom had come to the city especially for the occasion. The Pope was accompanied by the bishops Anba Rweiss, Anba Boutros, Anba You’annis, Anba Ermiya, and Father Boutros Boutros Gayed.

On Friday 19 August, Pope Shenouda III was granted an honorary doctorate degree by Pázmány Péter Catholic University in Budapest. The university president György Fodor was joined by Cardinal Péter Erdő in handing the degree to the Pope, for his outstanding academic work in humanities, especially in literature, philosophy and history of sciences.

Pope Shenouda had been invited by the Hungarian Deputy Prime Minister Zsolt Semjén to take part in the 20 August celebrations for the national day of Hungary. He participated in the official ceremony at the parliament building where he met President Pál Schmitt who decorated the Pope with the Hungarian medal of State. He then joined Zsolt Semjén to attend Mass in St Stephen's Basilica.

The Pope then headed to the Egyptian embassy in Budapest where a reception was held in his honour.

Mr Semjén, who is also responsible for religious affairs, said that the visit by Pope Shenouda III to Hungary was a landmark event in East-West religious dialogue.

Sunday saw the Pope’s visit to Budapest come to an end, following which he flew to the United States for a pastoral visit, as well as for medical consultations at Cleveland Clinic in Ohio.

Earlier this year, the Pope was awarded Germany’s Augsburg Peace Prize for 2011. The prize is awarded every three years to individuals who contributed significantly to the cause of peaceful coexistence between different communities. Pope Shenouda was chosen for his role in building bridges between the Copts and Muslims in Egypt


http://www.wataninet.com/
http://www.wataninet.com/ArticleDetailsEX.aspx?A=651

Verses and Fathers Sayings

I am coming and I will dwell in your midst, says the LORD.
Zechariah 2:10


St. John Chrysostom Saying

God is hastening now to us, so that being attached to him, we would know many things considered so far as secrets, and to enjoy the very blessed life and wisdom.

St. John Chrysostom

Coptic church leader, Pope Shenouda III received Honorary Doctorate Degree at Pázmány Péter Catholic University

Coptic church leader, Pope Shenouda III received Honorary Doctorate Degree at Pázmány Péter Catholic University
Friday, August 19, 2011

Pázmány Péter Catholic University has granted Honorary Doctorate Degree to Coptic cleric Pope Shenouda III, on Friday in Budapest.

The Faculty of Arts degree has been handed over to Pope Shenouda III, by the president of the institution, György Fodor and Cardinal Péter Erdő. The doctorate degree has been granted to His Holiness for his outstanding academic work in humanities, especially in literature, philosophy and history of sciences.

The Coptic cleric has arrived to Hungary for the invitation of Deputy Prime Minister Zsolt Semjén to take part in the August 20th national celebrations.

The Coptic church leader will view the August 20th official ceremonies from the parliament building then he meets President Pál Schmitt.

On August 20, His Holiness meets Zsolt Semjén and attend the holiday Mass in the St Stephen's Basilica.

Deputy Prime Minister Zsolt Semjén who is also responsible for religious affairs said that Pope Shenouda III and the five Coptic Bishop's visit to Hungary is a landmark event in East-West religious dialog.

On the last day of his tour, on Sunday Pope Shenouda III inaugurates the first Coptic Christian church in Budapest's eighteenth district.

Zsolt Semjén called the 88 year old leader of the Coptic church a highly educated man with knowledge of Western culture. Between 1956 and 1962 he lived as a hermit, and in 1971 he was elected as the leader of the Coptic church.

Pope Shenouda III, even today actively participates in Egyptian public life and often expresses strong opinions in national issues.

He visited Hungary the first time in 1996, and as a monk toured the Pannonhalma Abbey.

The Coptic Church was founded by Saint Mark, who was the bishop and the first martyr of Alexandria.

(MTI – hungarianambiace.com)

Posted by HungarianAmbiance at 5:53 PM


http://www.hungarianambiance.com/
http://www.hungarianambiance.com/2011/08/coptic-church-leader-pope-shenouda-iii.html

Verses and Fathers Sayings

Blessed is she who believed, for there will be a fulfillment of those things which were told her from the Lord.
Luke 1: 45


St. Cyril of Alexandria Saying

Hail to Mary, Mother of God,
majestic treasure of the whole world,
the lamp unquenchable, the crown of virginity,
the sceptre of Orthodoxy, the indestructible temple,
the dwelling of the Illimitable, Mother and Virgin.

St. Cyril of Alexandria

Verses and Fathers Sayings

What shall I render to the LORD for all His benefits toward me?
Ps. 116: 12


St. Augustine Saying

Seek not how to reward Him:
give back unto Him His own image:
He requires no more; He demands His own coin.

St. Augustine