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Daily Readings
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Sunday, 10th June 2012 --- 3 Baounah 1728
Readings for First Sunday of Baounah
Vespers
Vespers Psalm
From the Psalms of our teacher David the prophet.
May his blessings be with us all.
Psalms 9 : 10 - 10
Chapter 9
| 10 | And those who know Your name will put their trust in You; For You, LORD, have not forsaken those who seek You.
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Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. Our Lord God, Savior, and King of us all, Jesus Christ, the Living Son of God to whom be glory forever.
Amen.
Vespers Gospel
Stand in the fear of God and listen to the Holy Gospel.
A reading from the Gospel according to our teacher Saint Matthew the Evangelist.
May His Blessings be with us all.
Matthew 17 : 1 - 13
Chapter 17
| 1 | Now after six days Jesus took Peter, James, and John his brother, led them up on a high mountain by themselves;
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| 2 | and He was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and His clothes became as white as the light.
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| 3 | And behold, Moses and Elijah appeared to them, talking with Him.
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| 4 | Then Peter answered and said to Jesus, "Lord, it is good for us to be here; if You wish, let us make here three tabernacles: one for You, one for Moses, and one for Elijah."
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| 5 | While he was still speaking, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them; and suddenly a voice came out of the cloud, saying, "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Hear Him!"
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| 6 | And when the disciples heard it, they fell on their faces and were greatly afraid.
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| 7 | But Jesus came and touched them and said, "Arise, and do not be afraid."
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| 8 | When they had lifted up their eyes, they saw no one but Jesus only.
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| 9 | Now as they came down from the mountain, Jesus commanded them, saying, "Tell the vision to no one until the Son of Man is risen from the dead."
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| 10 | And His disciples asked Him, saying, "Why then do the scribes say that Elijah must come first?"
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| 11 | Jesus answered and said to them, "Indeed, Elijah is coming first and will restore all things.
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| 12 | But I say to you that Elijah has come already, and they did not know him but did to him whatever they wished. Likewise the Son of Man is also about to suffer at their hands."
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| 13 | Then the disciples understood that He spoke to them of John the Baptist.
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And Glory be to God forever.
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Matins
Matins Psalm
From the Psalms of our teacher David the prophet.
May his blessings be with us all.
Psalms 67 : 1 - 2
Chapter 67
| 1 | God be merciful to us and bless us, And cause His face to shine upon us,Selah
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| 2 | That Your way may be known on earth, Your salvation among all nations.
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Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. Our Lord God, Savior, and King of us all, Jesus Christ, the Living Son of God to whom be glory forever.
Amen.
Matins Gospel
Stand in the fear of God and listen to the Holy Gospel.
A reading from the Gospel according to our teacher Saint Matthew the Evangelist.
May His Blessings be with us all.
Matthew 28 : 1 - 20
Chapter 28
| 1 | Now after the Sabbath, as the first day of the week began to dawn, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to see the tomb.
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| 2 | And behold, there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat on it.
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| 3 | His countenance was like lightning, and his clothing as white as snow.
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| 4 | And the guards shook for fear of him, and became like dead men.
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| 5 | But the angel answered and said to the women, "Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified.
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| 6 | He is not here; for He is risen, as He said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay.
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| 7 | And go quickly and tell His disciples that He is risen from the dead, and indeed He is going before you into Galilee; there you will see Him. Behold, I have told you."
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| 8 | So they went out quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, and ran to bring His disciples word.
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| 9 | And as they went to tell His disciples, behold, Jesus met them, saying, "Rejoice!" So they came and held Him by the feet and worshiped Him.
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| 10 | Then Jesus said to them, "Do not be afraid. Go and tell My brethren to go to Galilee, and there they will see Me."
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| 11 | Now while they were going, behold, some of the guard came into the city and reported to the chief priests all the things that had happened.
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| 12 | When they had assembled with the elders and consulted together, they gave a large sum of money to the soldiers,
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| 13 | saying, "Tell them, "His disciples came at night and stole Him away while we slept.'
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| 14 | And if this comes to the governor's ears, we will appease him and make you secure."
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| 15 | So they took the money and did as they were instructed; and this saying is commonly reported among the Jews until this day.
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| 16 | Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, to the mountain which Jesus had appointed for them.
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| 17 | When they saw Him, they worshiped Him; but some doubted.
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| 18 | And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.
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| 19 | Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
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| 20 | teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Amen.
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And Glory be to God forever.
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Liturgy Gospel
Paulines Epistle
Paul, the servant of our Lord Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, appointed to the Gospel of God.
A reading from the Epistle of our teacher Paul to the Romans .
May his blessings be upon us.
Amen.
Romans 15 : 13 - 29
Chapter 15
| 13 | Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
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| 14 | Now I myself am confident concerning you, my brethren, that you also are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, able also to admonish one another.
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| 15 | Nevertheless, brethren, I have written more boldly to you on some points, as reminding you, because of the grace given to me by God,
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| 16 | that I might be a minister of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles, ministering the gospel of God, that the offering of the Gentiles might be acceptable, sanctified by the Holy Spirit.
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| 17 | Therefore I have reason to glory in Christ Jesus in the things which pertain to God.
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| 18 | For I will not dare to speak of any of those things which Christ has not accomplished through me, in word and deed, to make the Gentiles obedient--
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| 19 | in mighty signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God, so that from Jerusalem and round about to Illyricum I have fully preached the gospel of Christ.
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| 20 | And so I have made it my aim to preach the gospel, not where Christ was named, lest I should build on another man's foundation,
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| 21 | but as it is written: "To whom He was not announced, they shall see; And those who have not heard shall understand."
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| 22 | For this reason I also have been much hindered from coming to you.
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| 23 | But now no longer having a place in these parts, and having a great desire these many years to come to you,
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| 24 | whenever I journey to Spain, I shall come to you. For I hope to see you on my journey, and to be helped on my way there by you, if first I may enjoy your company for a while.
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| 25 | But now I am going to Jerusalem to minister to the saints.
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| 26 | For it pleased those from Macedonia and Achaia to make a certain contribution for the poor among the saints who are in Jerusalem.
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| 27 | It pleased them indeed, and they are their debtors. For if the Gentiles have been partakers of their spiritual things, their duty is also to minister to them in material things.
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| 28 | Therefore, when I have performed this and have sealed to them this fruit, I shall go by way of you to Spain.
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| 29 | But I know that when I come to you, I shall come in the fullness of the blessing of the gospel of Christ.
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The grace of God the Father be with you all.
Amen.
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Catholic Epistle
A Reading from Epistle 1 of St. Peter .
May his blessing be upon us.
Amen.
1 Peter 1 : 1 - 19
Chapter 1
| 1 | Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, To the pilgrims of the Dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia,
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| 2 | elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace be multiplied.
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| 3 | Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
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| 4 | to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you,
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| 5 | who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
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| 6 | In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials,
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| 7 | that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ,
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| 8 | whom having not seen you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory,
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| 9 | receiving the end of your faith--the salvation of your souls.
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| 10 | Of this salvation the prophets have inquired and searched carefully, who prophesied of the grace that would come to you,
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| 11 | searching what, or what manner of time, the Spirit of Christ who was in them was indicating when He testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ and the glories that would follow.
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| 12 | To them it was revealed that, not to themselves, but to us they were ministering the things which now have been reported to you through those who have preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven--things which angels desire to look into.
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| 13 | Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ;
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| 14 | as obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance;
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| 15 | but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct,
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| 16 | because it is written, "Be holy, for I am holy."
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| 17 | And if you call on the Father, who without partiality judges according to each one's work, conduct yourselves throughout the time of your stay here in fear;
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| 18 | knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers,
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| 19 | but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.
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Do not love the world or the things in the world.
The world passes away, and its desires; but he who does the will of God abides forever.
Amen.
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Acts of the Apostles
The Acts of our fathers the apostles, may their blessings be with us.
Acts 12 : 25 - 13 : 12
Chapter 12
| 25 | And Barnabas and Saul returned from Jerusalem when they had fulfilled their ministry, and they also took with them John whose surname was Mark.
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Chapter 13
| 1 | Now in the church that was at Antioch there were certain prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul.
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| 2 | As they ministered to the Lord and fasted, the Holy Spirit said, "Now separate to Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them."
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| 3 | Then, having fasted and prayed, and laid hands on them, they sent them away.
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| 4 | So, being sent out by the Holy Spirit, they went down to Seleucia, and from there they sailed to Cyprus.
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| 5 | And when they arrived in Salamis, they preached the word of God in the synagogues of the Jews. They also had John as their assistant.
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| 6 | Now when they had gone through the island to Paphos, they found a certain sorcerer, a false prophet, a Jew whose name was Bar-Jesus,
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| 7 | who was with the proconsul, Sergius Paulus, an intelligent man. This man called for Barnabas and Saul and sought to hear the word of God.
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| 8 | But Elymas the sorcerer (for so his name is translated) withstood them, seeking to turn the proconsul away from the faith.
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| 9 | Then Saul, who also is called Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, looked intently at him
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| 10 | and said, "O full of all deceit and all fraud, you son of the devil, you enemy of all righteousness, will you not cease perverting the straight ways of the Lord?
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| 11 | And now, indeed, the hand of the Lord is upon you, and you shall be blind, not seeing the sun for a time." And immediately a dark mist fell on him, and he went around seeking someone to lead him by the hand.
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| 12 | Then the proconsul believed, when he saw what had been done, being astonished at the teaching of the Lord.
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The word of the Lord shall grow, multiply, be mighty, and be confirmed, in the holy Church of God.
Amen.
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Synaxarium
Day 3 of the Blessed Coptic Month of Baounah, may God make it always received, year after year, with reassurance and tranquility, while our sins after forgiven by the tender mercies of our God my fathers and brothers.
Amen.
The Third Day of the Blessed Month of Baounah
Construction of the first church of St.George
in the cities of Birma and Beer Maa (Water Well) in the Oases
On this day, the first church in the name
of St. George was built in Egypt in the city of Beer Maa in the Oasis.
As was consecrated also on this day a church in his name in the city of
Birma, district of Tanta. For after the perishing of Diocletian, and the
reign of the righteous Emperor Constantine, all the temples of the idols
were destroyed. Churches were built after the name of the heroic martyrs,
who strived with their blood to defend the faith. Some Christian soldiers
in the land of Egypt, had donated a piece of the land where the city of
Birma is now located. One of them was a righteous and meek young man, who
lived on a piece of this land with some of the farmers. In this area there
was a well of water. This young man heard of the wonders of the great among
the martyrs, St. George. He searched until he found his biography. He wrote
it, and it comforted him to read it, which he did without boredom. While
he stood praying, on the evening of the twenty-fourth of the month of Bashans,
he saw that an assembly of the saints had come down beside the well. They
were praising God and chanting with angelic voices. They were surrounded
by heavenly light, and he was astounded. One of them, who was in the uniform
of a soldier, came forward and informed him that he was Gawargios (George)
who was martyred at the hands of Diocletian. He ordered him to build a
church for him on that site, for that was the Will of God. The assembly
left him, and raised up to heaven while they were glorifying the Most High.
The young man spent that night awake till
morning. Few days passed during which he was thinking about how he could
build this church, knowing that he did not have the money for a small piece
of it. One night, while he stood praying, the great martyr St. George appeared
to him. The Saint pointed out to him the place to build the church. Then
he directed the young man to another place and told him, "Dig here and
you shall find what you need to build the church." When he woke up in the
morning, he went where the honorable martyr had directed him. He dug there
and found a vessel filled with gold and silver. He praised God, and glorified
his patron saint. He built the church and called the father the Patriarch
who consecrated it on this day. The relics of St. George, that were kept
in his church in the city of Beer Maa in the Oasis, were relocated to the
monastery of Anba Samuel by its monks. That was during the days of the
Saint Abba Mattheos (87th Patriarch), and the monastery was under the direction
of Fr. Zachary Ebn-Elkomos and Fr. Soliman El-Qualamony. During the Papacy
of Pope Gabriel (88th Patriarch) the relics of the saint were relocated
to his well-known church in Old Cairo. That was on the 16th of Abib, 1240
A.M. (July 10, 1024 A.D.). A great celebration takes place annually, where
the church was built beside the water well, to commemorate this venerable
event. There, many signs of casting out of evil spirits and healing of
the sick take place with the intercession of this great martyr.
May his prayers be with us. Amen.
Departure of St.Martha of Egypt
On this day also, the ascetic and fighter St. Martha,
departed. She was born in the city of Mesr (Cairo) to wealthy Christian
parents. She loved fornication and unchastity in her youth and her works
became known. However, the mercy of God from above encompassed her, and
moved her to go to the church. That was on the Nativity of Our Lord. When
she came to its door and wished to go inside, the servant delegated to
watch the door told her, "It is not meet for you to go into the holy church,
for you know what you are?" A confrontation took place between them, and
when the Bishop heard the clamor, he came to the door of the church to
see what had happened. When he saw the girl, he said to her, "Do you not
know that the house of God is holy, and only the pure enter it." She wept
and said, "Accept me O father, for I am repentant from this instant, and have
decided not to go back to my sin." The bishop replied, "If it is true what
you have said, go and bring back here all your silk clothes and gold ornaments."
She went quickly and brought back all of her clothes and ornaments and
gave them to the Bishop. He ordered that they be burned immediately, then he shaved off the hair
of her head. He put on her the monastic garb and sent her to one of the
convents. She fought a great spiritual fight, and she frequently said in
her prayers: "O Lord, if I could not bear the disgrace from the servant
of Your house, so please do not put me to shame before Your angels and
saints." She continued the spiritual fight for twenty-five years, during
which she did not go out of the door of the convent, then departed in peace.
May his prayers be with us. Amen.
Martyrdom of St.Alladius the Bishop
Today also marks the
martyrdom of St. Alladius (Hilarius or Hilarion), bishop of one of the
countries of the East. One day, he rebuked Emperor Julian for worshipping
the idols. The Emperor replied, "If I am, in your opinion infidel, because
I do not worship that whom was crucified, I shall make you also forsake
worshipping him." Then the Emperor handed him to one of his officers and
commanded him to torture Alladius without mercy for one year. When he did
not turn away from his firm intention, he lit a fire in a pit and threw
him in it, but no harm came upon him. Many believed, and the Emperor ordered
their heads to be cut off. Finally, they brought the saint out of the pit,
and ordered to cut off his head. He delivered up his soul in the hand of
the Lord Christ and received the crown of martyrdom.
May his prayers be with us. Amen.
Departure of Pope Cosmas, the 44th Patriarch
This day also marks the
departure of Pope Cosmas the First (44th Patriarch), in the year 446 A.M.
(June 24, 730 A.D.). He was from the village of Abi-Sair. He became a monk
in the monastery of St.Macarius. He was ordained against his will a patriarch
on Sunday the 30th of Baramhat, 445 A.M.(Marsh 729 A.D.). He did not cease,
since his enthronement, from asking God to repose his soul speedily. God
responded to his request after one year and three months of his enthronement.
May his prayers be with us. Amen.
Departure of St.Abraam, Bishop of El-Fayyoum
Today also, the saint Anba
Abraam, Bishop of El-fayyoum and El-Giza, departed. This was in the year
1630 A.M. (June 10, 1914 A.D.). This saint, whose name was Paul (Boulos),
was born in 1545 A.M. (1829 A.D.) in the Estate of "Gilda", district of
Mallawi, governate of Miniah, to righteous parents. They brought him up
in a Christian manner. They sent him to the church school, where he learned
religious subjects and the church hymns. As he was a very bright student,
Anba Yousab, the Bishop of Sunabbo ordained him a deacon for the church
of Gilda. His heart longed for the monastic life, so he went to El-Muharrak
monastery where he was ordained a monk by the name of Paul Gabriel El-Muharraki.
He was nineteen years old. He was meek, humble, had a pure life, and he
prayed much in seclusion. Accordingly, the monks loved him exceedingly.
When Anba Yakoubos, bishop of El-Meniah, heard of him, he summoned him.
He retained him in the episcopate for a period of time during which he
promoted him to a priest. When he returned to his monastery, the monks
with a consensus decided to make him the abbot over the monastery after
the death of their Abbot. He was then promoted to archpriest (hegumen)
in the days of Abba Demitrius the second (111th Patriarch). He remained
Abbot of the monastery for five years, during which the monastery was the
refuge for thousands of the poor. So he was called the father of the poor
and the destitute. During his time as abbot, he did not spare an effort
to improve the condition of the monastery spiritually and physically. He
improved its finances by developing its agricultural land.
As he increased his charity
toward the poor, the orphans and the widows, some of the monks became more
resentful of him, for they considered these charitable works as squandering
and extravagant acts. They complained against him to Anba Morcos, Metropolitan
of El-Behira, who was the acting Patriarch after the death of Pope Demitrius.
Anba Morcos accepted their complaints and deposed him as the abbot of their
monastery. Shortly after his dismissal, he left El-Muharrak monastery and
went to the monastery of El-Baramous. Several monks from the El-Muharrak
monastery went to the monastery of El-Baramous, with archpriest Bolous
(Abba Abraam), because they did not like the attitudes of the complaining
monks. He stayed there for some time studying the Bible and teaching the
monks. The abbot of the monastery of El-Baramous at that time was archpriest
Youhanna the Scribe, who became later on Pope Kyrillos the fifth (112th
Patriarch). In the year 1597 A.M. (1881 A.D.), Pope Kyrillos the Fifth
chose and ordained him a bishop for the parish of El-Fayyoum and El-Giza.
He replaced its reposed bishop, Anba Eisak, and was ordained with the name
of Abba Abraam.
During his episcopate, he became famous for two attributes:
The First: His charity to the multitude of poor that came to
the bishopric residence. He gave them all what he had of money. He made
the bishopric residence a shelter for many of them. He offered clothing
for those who had no clothes and food for those who were hungry. He never
allowed anyone to offer him food that was better than that offered to the
poor. Once he went down to visit the poor while they were eating, and found
that the food he was offered that day was better than that offered to them.
He became very sad, and immediately relieved the nun supervising the feeding
service of the poor from her duties.
The Second: He was famous for his prayer of faith. Many miracles
were performed, through his prayers, on his hands. His fame was spread
to all parts of Egypt and also to some parts of Europe. Many patients,
of different religions, came to him, seeking the blessing of his prayers
and were healed. Anba Abraam was well read of the holy books. He always
gave to his visitors advice, instructions and sermons which showed the
great depth of his knowledge. More important was that he possessed a pure
nature and many virtues. Particularly, his severe denial of himself, and
his true renouncement of the pleasures of life and its vain glory. His
food and clothing were just bare necessities. His ambition never looked
up to the glory of higher ranks or positions. When the Patriarch wanted
to promote him to the rank of metropolitan he apologized saying that the
Holy Bible did not mention any ranks in the priesthood except the ranks
of the priest and the bishop. He was also straightforward in revealing
his own opinion, looking only for the truth. He never gave any attention
to the rank and greatness of people in higher places, for their greatness
was far less than the greatness of the truth. For this reason, all the
metropolitans and bishops of the church avoided his anger and sought to
please him.
Abba Abraam departed to
the heavenly bless on the third of Baouna, 1630 A.M. (June 10, 1914 A.D.).
More than ten thousand Christian and Moslems walked in his funeral precession.
His pure body was laid in the tomb, which was prepared for him in the monastery
of the Virgin Mary in El-Ezab. Many miracles were manifested through him
after his departure, and his tomb became and still is a pilgrimage for
many who have special needs or infirmities.
May his prayers be with us and Glory be to God forever. Amen.
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Divine Psalm
Stand in the fear of God and listen to the Holy Gospel.
A reading from the Gospel according to our teacher Saint John the Evangelist.
May His Blessings be with us all. Amen.
From the Psalms of our teacher David the prophet, and the Good King.
May his blessings be with us all.
Psalms 143 : 10,8
Chapter 143
| 10 | Teach me to do Your will, For You are my God; Your Spirit is good. Lead me in the land of uprightness.
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| 8 | Cause me to hear Your lovingkindness in the morning, For in You do I trust; Cause me to know the way in which I should walk, For I lift up my soul to You.
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Hallelujah.
Divine Gospel
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.
Our Lord God, Savior, and King of us all, Jesus Christ, the Living Son of God to whom be glory forever.
Amen.
Luke 11 : 1 - 13
Chapter 11
| 1 | Now it came to pass, as He was praying in a certain place, when He ceased, that one of His disciples said to Him, "Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples."
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| 2 | So He said to them, "When you pray, say: Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done On earth as it is in heaven.
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| 3 | Give us day by day our daily bread.
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| 4 | And forgive us our sins, For we also forgive everyone who is indebted to us. And do not lead us into temptation, But deliver us from the evil one."
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| 5 | And He said to them, "Which of you shall have a friend, and go to him at midnight and say to him, "Friend, lend me three loaves;
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| 6 | for a friend of mine has come to me on his journey, and I have nothing to set before him';
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| 7 | and he will answer from within and say, "Do not trouble me; the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed; I cannot rise and give to you'?
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| 8 | I say to you, though he will not rise and give to him because he is his friend, yet because of his persistence he will rise and give him as many as he needs.
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| 9 | "So I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.
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| 10 | For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.
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| 11 | If a son asks for bread from any father among you, will he give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent instead of a fish?
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| 12 | Or if he asks for an egg, will he offer him a scorpion?
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| 13 | If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!"
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And Glory be to God forever.
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Acknowledgement
Opening page