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

EGYPT: Religious conflict becomes the revolution’s biggest enemy

Churches burn in Egypt violence

Mobs set two churches on fire in western Cairo on Sunday as clashes broke out between Muslims and Christians, killing up to 12 people and injuring more than 200. May 8, 2011

The clashes between thousands of Muslim extremists and Coptic Christians that left 12 people dead, more than 200 injured and a burned church on Sunday rings yet another alarm to the threat Egypt faces over deepening religious animosity.

For decades, recrimination between Egypt’s Muslim majority and Coptic Christians, who make up about 10% of the population, has been taboo, with many Muslims refusing to acknowledge the lack of harmony. But the last few years have marked a notable rise in violence between the two sides, especially in southern Egypt, where large communities of Copts live next door to Muslims.

Former President Hosni Mubarak's regime relied on dividing Egyptians. Authorities carefully presided over a volatile status quo between Muslims and Copts, all the while pretending religious strife didn't exist. Tribal settlements to conflicts were preferred and supported by police officials, who often blamed disputes on individual grudges or foreign terrorists. Mubarak skillfully manipulated the threat of outside extremists to convince the West, which long criticized Egypt's human-rights record, that he was an ally in battling terrorism.

Nonetheless, Copts felt secure under Mubarak, who tightened his grip over Islamists -- the relatively moderate Muslim Brotherhood as well as the more extreme Salafis and jihadists. Copts worried that the 18-day revolution that overthrew Mubarak in February would unbottle ultraconservative Islamist voices and lead to greater problems. What has been unfolding recently justifies those fears.

In less than two months, two churches were set ablaze and more than 20 were killed in separate clashes between Copts and Muslims. Salafis, who had stayed away from politics and demonstrations during Mubarak’s reign, now protest regularly against what they call “the Christian abduction of three women by the church” after their alleged conversion to Islam, threatening to storm into churches where “those women are being locked up.”

Saturday’s bloodshed in Cairo was ignited after several thousand Muslims, led by Salifis, attempted to break into the Church of St. Mena, looking for a woman who converted to Islam from Christianity last year. With Mubarak's police state gone, it took hours for security forces to respond. Copts blame the military-led government for ignoring their fears, and many say the revolution to bring democracy and political freedoms to Egypt rings hollow for Christians.

Egypt' interim government has been preoccupied with economic and political problems, but sectarian tensions could prove the most pressing danger in the post-Mubarak era. Copts are losing faith in the revolution, and continuing religious unrest could have severe effects on the social, financial and political future of the country.


http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/babylonbeyond/2011/05/egypt-sectarian-conflict-becomes-the-revolutions-biggest-enemy.html

Justice

HH Pope Shenouda Sermon New The Resurrection 27-4-2011

British Orthodox Churches Celebrate Holy Pascha

British Orthodox Churches Celebrate Holy Pascha
Paschal Sermon - Abba Seraphim

As once again, the date for Holy Pascha was common to both East and West, there was a great sense of oneness among Christians in celebrating the Lord’s Resurrection. British Orthodox congregations observed the Holy Week services whilst at Charlton, Father Sergius Scott joined in an Ecumenical Procession of Witness on Good Friday. In all our churches the Paschal Vigil and Liturgy was celebrated on Pascha Eve (23 April), which also coincided with the traditional observance of St. George’s Day in England. The exceptionally fine weather and the fact that so many trees, shrubs and flowers had burst into bloom, added to the sense of the glory of the new life revealed in the Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Because of its elderly congregation and the church being isolated in the countryside, St, Mary & St. Felix at Babingley in Norfolk began the Vigil service just before sunset. Abba Seraphim presided and was the first to proclaim, “Christ is Risen”. As there were a good number of Orthodox Christians from Moldova and Russia joining the regular congregation, they were also greeted in Russian. At the conclusion of the Liturgy when Abba Seraphim blessed and distributed dyed eggs, he also blessed their traditional festive foods of pascha and kullich, which they had brought to the church. Father Simon reports that the Bournemouth and Portsmouth congregations celebrated Holy Week and the feast at the Church of Christ the Saviour at Winton (Bournemnouth) and services were well supported. Following the Vigil and Liturgy on Pascha Eve, on the forenoon of Pascha, prayers for the departed were said at church and in a long-established local tradition their graves at Wimborne Road Cemetery were visited and the Resurrection hymn sung as eggs were placed on their graves. At Cusworth the local congregation were also joined by Orthodox Christians from Eastern Europe and the church was filled, whilst at Chatham a new catechumen was received during the evening and the joyous celebration concluded with an extensive buffet which continued into the early hours.

At the conclusion of the service at Babingley Abba Seraphim read the Paschal message from His Holiness Pope Shenouda III and all churches prayed with great fervour for Pope Shenouda and also Patriarch Mor Ignatius Zakka of Antioch, having a great burden of concern for their brothers and sisters in Egypt and Syria who are caught up in the civil disturbances in both countries.

Abba Seraphim returned to London at noon on Holy Pascha and went first to greet Father Michael Robson at Morden College, Blackheath, before visiting sick and housebound members of the church with Holy Communion.


http://britishorthodox.org/
http://britishorthodox.org/1738/british-orthodox-churches-celebrate-holy-pascha/

http://youtu.be/4gXyUj9octg

Paschal Message from Pope Shenouda III

Easter Message

His Holiness Pope Shenouda III

Pope of Alexandria & Patriarch of the See of St. Mark

April 2011

My beloved children in the lands of immigration, both clergy and laity.

I congratulate you for the Glorious Feast of the Resurrection, wishing you all that the Lord returns it upon you with all goodness and blessing.

The resurrection of the Lord Christ was distinguished with an amazing power. He is the only One who was victorious over death by Himself. In His resurrection, He crushed death, and arose with the power of His Divinity. Also, by His power, He came out of the closed tomb which had a great stone upon it, without anyone seeing Him. Also with the same power, He entered the upper room where the disciples were, while its doors were shut. After He spent forty days with them speaking to them about matters pertaining to the Kingdom of God, He ascended to the heavens with a great power, which is against all the laws of gravitational force. Of course, it is the power of His Divinity.

Therefore, St. Paul the Apostle said about Him, in the Epistle to the Philippians 3:10 “that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings...” This is why we also praised Him throughout the Holy Week, confessing His power and saying to Him: “To You is the power ... Thok te tee gom.”

Our Lord Jesus Christ, who arose with power, and ascended with power, also grants us power. The Church started its history with power, when the Holy Spirit descended upon the pure disciples. The Bible says: “And with great power the apostles gave witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And great grace was upon them all.”

This power remained in the life of the Church. With great power, St. George was able to tear the decree of the emperor. Even all the martyrs received death with power, and they did not fear it. Instead, they reiterated the expression “...having a desire to depart and be with Christ, which is far better.” (Philippians 1:23)

Therefore, my beloved children and brethren, always be powerful. I mean, that you have spiritual power by which you defeat Satan, all the power of the enemy, all the wars of the ego, and all evil desires.

And in your victory, do not attribute this to your own personal power, but to the power of God which works in you, now and always.

Lastly, be well and absolved from the Holy Spirit; and pray for me.

(Signed)

His Holiness Pope Shenouda III

Glorious Feast of Resurrection

April 2011

http://www.copticpope.org/
http://www.copticpope.org/modules.php?name=Content&pa=showpage&pid=67

At the conclusion of the service at Babingley Abba Seraphim read the Paschal message from His Holiness Pope Shenouda III and all churches prayed with great fervour for Pope Shenouda and also Patriarch Mor Ignatius Zakka of Antioch, having a great burden of concern for their brothers and sisters in Egypt and Syria who are caught up in the civil disturbances in both countries.

http://youtu.be/xZ7YtAShGwc


http://www.copticpope.org/
http://www.copticpope.org/modules.php?name=Content&pa=showpage&pid=67

http://youtu.be/xZ7YtAShGwc

An Act of Christ's Love and Care

Feast of the Resurrection 2011

Feast of the Resurrection
24 April 2011
His Grace Bishop Suriel
Bishop of Melbourne and Affiliated Regions
The Resurrection: An Act of Christ's Love and Care

Ⲭⲣⲓⲥⲧⲟⲥ ⲁ̀ⲛⲉⲥⲧⲏ Ⲁⲗⲏⲑⲟⲥ ⲁ̀ⲛⲉⲥⲧⲏ

Ⲭⲣⲓⲥⲧⲟⲥ ⲁ̀ⲛⲉⲥⲧⲏ Ⲁⲗⲏⲑⲟⲥ ⲁ̀ⲛⲉⲥⲧⲏ

Χριστός ἀνέστη! Ἀληθῶς ἀνέστη!

Khristós Anésti! Alithós Anésti!

Christ Is Risen! Truly, He Is Risen!

اخرستوس انستي اليسوس انستي