Spiritual Words.

[Mark Sadek]

Christ is Risen! Truly He is Risen!

"The reign of life has begun, the tyranny of death is ended. A new birth has taken place, a new life has come, a new order of existence has appeared, our very nature has been transformed! This birth is not brought about by human generation, by the will of man, or by the desire of the flesh, but by God."

St. Gregory of Nyssa, On the Resurrection.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

"Glory in His holy name; Let the hearts of those rejoice who seek the Lord! Seek the Lord and His strength; Seek His face evermore! Remember His marvelous works which He has done, His wonders, and the judgments of His mouth,"  Psalm 105:3-5

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

The Gospel reading for the 6th of the Coptic month of Baramouda, April 14:
9 Now when He rose early on the first day of the week, He appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom He had cast seven demons. 10 She went and told those who had been with Him, as they mourned and wept. 11 And when they heard that He was alive and had been seen by her, they did not believe. 12 After that, He appeared in another form to two of them as they walked and went into the country. 13 And they went and told it to the rest, but they did not believe them either. 14 Later He appeared to the eleven as they sat at the table; and He rebuked their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they did not believe those who had seen Him after He had risen. 15 And He said to them, Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. 16 He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned. 17 And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; 18 they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover. 19 So then, after the Lord had spoken to them, He was received up into heaven, and sat down at the right hand of God. 20 And they went out and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them and confirming the word through the accompanying signs. Amen.  Mark 16:9-20
Commemoration of the Appearance of the Lord to Thomas the Apostle after His Resurrection.
Departure of St. Mary of Egypt.
Departure of Fr. Abd El Maseeh El Manhary.

The Gospel reading for the 7th of the Coptic month of Baramouda, April 15: John 2:12-25
Departure of the Righteous Joachim, The Lord Christ Grandfather.
Departure of St. Macrobius.
Departure of Sts. Agapius, Theodora, and Metruf.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Prayer Requests:
If you have an update on a prayer request, please let me know.

Please keep the following in your prayers:

Marian R
Andrew Wolfe, The National Guardsman shot in DC
The family of Sarah Beckstrom
Mario - Cancer
Mina - Bad company
K - Drug addiction
Jean - Stage 4 cancer
A - Mental disorders
Esquibies - Brain Tumor
Carmen - Cancer
K - Addiction
P - In recovery
Sherry - In recovery
Y - Anxiety
Kamal D. - Cancer
Luis F - Advanced respiratory disease
MH - Drug Addiction
Mary D. - Cancer
Karas A. - Child in need of 3 surgeries
Luz R - Cancer
M - Anger, anxiety and job success
Antonius - Crohn's disease

The unity of the Churches and all Christians.

Egypt and the Christians in Egypt, Syria, Iraq, Ethiopia and Pakistan. "Blessed is Egypt My people." Isaiah 19:25

Please pray for the peace and safety of the world.

Please keep me in your prayers.

"casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you." 1 Peter 5:7

https://groups.google.com/forum/?nomobile=true#!forum/spiritualwords

[Mark Sadek]

Christ is Risen! Truly He is Risen!

"Faith is the womb that conceives this new life, baptism the rebirth by which it is brought forth into the light of day. The Church is its nurse; her teachings are its milk, the bread from heaven is its food. It is brought to maturity by the practice of virtue; it is wedded to wisdom; it gives birth to hope. Its home is the kingdom; its rich inheritance the joys of paradise; its end, not death, but the blessed and everlasting life prepared for those who are worthy."

St. Gregory of Nyssa, On the Resurrection.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

"Praise the Lord! Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever. Who can utter the mighty acts of the Lord? Who can declare all His praise?"  Psalm 106:1-2

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

The Gospel reading for the 7th of the Coptic month of Baramouda, April 15:

12 After this He went down to Capernaum, He, His mother, His brothers, and His disciples; and they did not stay there many days. 13 Now the Passover of the Jews was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. 14 And He found in the temple those who sold oxen and sheep and doves, and the moneychangers doing business. 15 When He had made a whip of cords, He drove them all out of the temple, with the sheep and the oxen, and poured out the changers' money and overturned the tables. 16 And He said to those who sold doves, Take these things away! Do not make My Father's house a house of merchandise! 17 Then His disciples remembered that it was written, Zeal for Your house has eaten Me up. 18 So the Jews answered and said to Him, What sign do You show to us, since You do these things? 19 Jesus answered and said to them, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up. 20 Then the Jews said, It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, and will You raise it up in three days? 21 But He was speaking of the temple of His body. 22 Therefore, when He had risen from the dead, His disciples remembered that He had said this to them; and they believed the Scripture and the word which Jesus had said. 23 Now when He was in Jerusalem at the Passover, during the feast, many believed in His name when they saw the signs which He did. 24 But Jesus did not commit Himself to them, because He knew all men, 25 and had no need that anyone should testify of man, for He knew what was in man.  John 2:12-25

Departure of the Righteous Joachim, The Lord Christ Grandfather.
Departure of St. Macrobius.
Departure of Sts. Agapius, Theodora, and Metruf.

The Gospel reading for the 8th of the Coptic month of Baramouda, April 16: Luke 7:11-17
Martyrdom of the Holy Virgins: Agape, Eirene, and Shiona.
Martyrdom of the One Hundred and Fifty believers by the hand of king of Persia.

[Mark Sadek]

Christ is Risen! Truly He is Risen!

"This is the day the Lord has made - a day far different from those made when the world was first created and which are measured by the passage of time. This is the beginning of a new creation. On this day, as the prophet says, God makes a new heaven and a new earth. What is this new heaven? you may ask. It is the firmament of our faith in Christ. What is the new earth? A good heart, a heart like the earth, which drinks up the rain that falls on it and yields a rich harvest."

St. Gregory of Nyssa, On the Resurrection.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

"Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever. Let the redeemed of the Lord say so, Whom He has redeemed from the hand of the enemy."  Psalm 107:1-2

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

The Gospel reading for the 8th of the Coptic month of Baramouda, April 16:

11 Now it happened, the day after, that He went into a city called Nain; and many of His disciples went with Him, and a large crowd. 12 And when He came near the gate of the city, behold, a dead man was being carried out, the only son of his mother; and she was a widow. And a large crowd from the city was with her. 13 When the Lord saw her, He had compassion on her and said to her, Do not weep. 14 Then He came and touched the open coffin, and those who carried him stood still. And He said, Young man, I say to you, arise. 15 So he who was dead sat up and began to speak. And He presented him to his mother. 16 Then fear came upon all, and they glorified God, saying, A great prophet has risen up among us; and, God has visited His people. 17 And this report about Him went throughout all Judea and all the surrounding region.  Luke 7:11-17

Martyrdom of the Holy Virgins: Agape, Eirene, and Shiona.
Martyrdom of the One Hundred and Fifty believers by the hand of king of Persia.

The Gospel reading for the 9th of the Coptic month of Baramouda, April 17: Mark 16:2-8
Departure of St. Zosimus (Zocima).
Commemoration of the Wonder that took place on the hand of Pope Sinuthius (Shenouda I), 55th Patriarch.

[Mark Sadek]

Christ is Risen! Truly He is Risen!

"In this new creation, purity of life is the sun, the virtues are the stars, transparent goodness is the air, and the depths of the riches of wisdom and knowledge, the sea. Sound doctrine, the divine teachings are the grass and plants that feed God’s flock, the people whom he shepherds; the keeping of the commandments is the fruit borne by the trees."

St. Gregory of Nyssa, On the Resurrection.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

"But I am poor and needy; Make haste to me, O God! You are my help and my deliverer; O Lord, do not delay."  Psalm 70:5

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

The Gospel reading for the 9th of the Coptic month of Baramouda, April 17:

2 Very early in the morning, on the first day of the week, they came to the tomb when the sun had risen. 3 And they said among themselves, Who will roll away the stone from the door of the tomb for us? 4 But when they looked up, they saw that the stone had been rolled away--for it was very large. 5 And entering the tomb, they saw a young man clothed in a long white robe sitting on the right side; and they were alarmed. 6 But he said to them, Do not be alarmed. You seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He is risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid Him. 7 But go, tell His disciples--and Peter--that He is going before you into Galilee; there you will see Him, as He said to you. 8 So they went out quickly and fled from the tomb, for they trembled and were amazed. And they said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid.  Mark 16:2-8

Departure of St. Zosimus (Zocima).
Commemoration of the Wonder that took place on the hand of Pope Sinuthius (Shenouda I), 55th Patriarch.

The Gospel reading for the 10th of the Coptic month of Baramouda, April 18: Luke 9:28-35
Departure of Anba Isaac, the Disciple of Anba Apollo.
Departure of Pope Gabriel II, the Seventy Pope of Alexandria, who was known as Ibn Turaik.

The Gospel reading for the 11th of the Coptic month of Baramouda, April 19:  John 20:19-31
Thomas Sunday.
Departure of St. Theodora.
Departure of St. John, Bishop of Gaza.

[Mark Sadek]

Christ is Risen! Truly He is Risen!

"Yesterday I was crucified with Him; today I am glorified with Him; yesterday I died with Him; today I am quickened with Him; yesterday I was buried with Him; today I rise with Him. But let us offer to Him Who suffered and rose again for us- you will think perhaps that I am going to say gold, or silver, or woven work or transparent and costly stones, the mere passing material of earth, that remains here below, and is for the most part always possessed by bad men, slaves of the world and of the Prince of the world. Let us offer ourselves, the possession most precious to God, and most fitting; let us give back to the Image what is made after the Image. Let us recognize our Dignity; let us honour our Archetype; let us know the power of the Mystery, and for what Christ died."

St. Gregory of Nyssa, On the Resurrection.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

"Arise, O Lord, in Your anger. Lift Yourself up because of the rage of my enemies; Rise up for me to the judgment You have commanded! So the congregation of the peoples shall surround You; For their sakes, therefore, return on high. The Lord shall judge the peoples; Judge me, O Lord, according to my righteousness, And according to my integrity within me."  Psalm 7:6-8

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

The Gospel reading for the 12th of the Coptic month of Baramouda, April 20:
31 He who comes from above is above all; he who is of the earth is earthly and speaks of the earth. He who comes from heaven is above all. 32 And what He has seen and heard, that He testifies; and no one receives His testimony. 33 He who has received His testimony has certified that God is true. 34 For He whom God has sent speaks the words of God, for God does not give the Spirit by measure. 35 The Father loves the Son, and has given all things into His hand. 36 He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him. John 3:31-36
Departure of St. Alexander, Bishop of Jerusalem.
Commemoration of St. Antonios, Bishop of Tamoui.

The Gospel reading for the 13th of the Coptic month of Baramouda, April 21: John 5:22-24
Martyrdom of the Sts. Joshua and Joseph.
Commemoration of Dionisa (Denisa) the Deaconess and Medius the Martyr.
Departure of Pope Yoannis the Seventeenth, 105th Patriarch of Alexandria.

[Mark Sadek]

Christ is Risen! Truly He is Risen!

"But now that the Savior has raised His body, death is no longer terrible, but all those who believe in Christ tread it underfoot as nothing, and prefer to die rather than to deny their faith in Christ, knowing full well that when they die they do not perish, but live indeed, and become incorruptible through the resurrection."

St. Athanasius the Great, 20th Pope of Alexandria, On the Resurrection.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

"I will praise You, O Lord, with my whole heart; I will tell of all Your marvelous works. I will be glad and rejoice in You; I will sing praise to Your name, O Most High."  Psalm 9:1-2

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

The Gospel reading for the 13th of the Coptic month of Baramouda, April 21:

22 For the Father judges no one, but has committed all judgment to the Son, 23 that all should honor the Son just as they honor the Father. He who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent Him. 24 Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life. John 5:22-24

Martyrdom of the Sts. Joshua and Joseph.
Commemoration of Dionisa (Denisa) the Deaconess and Medius the Martyr.
Departure of Pope Yoannis the Seventeenth, 105th Patriarch of Alexandria.

The Gospel reading for the 14th of the Coptic month of Baramouda, April 22: John 5:31-37
Departure of the Holy Father Anba Maximus The Fifteenth Pope of Alexandria.

[Mark Sadek]

Christ is Risen! Truly He is Risen!

"The Lord did not come to make a display. He came to heal and to teach suffering men. For one who wanted to make a display the thing would have been just to appear and dazzle the beholders. But for Him Who came to heal and to teach the way was not merely to dwell here, but to put Himself at the disposal of those who needed Him, and to be manifested according as they could bear it, not vitiating the value of the Divine appearing by exceeding their capacity to receive it."

St. Athanasius the Great, 20th Pope of Alexandria.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

"What is man that You are mindful of him, And the son of man that You visit him? For You have made him a little lower than the angels. You have crowned him with glory and honor."  Psalm 8:4-5

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

The Gospel reading for the 14th of the Coptic month of Baramouda, April 22:

31 If I bear witness of Myself, My witness is not true. 32 There is another who bears witness of Me, and I know that the witness which He witnesses of Me is true. 33 You have sent to John, and he has borne witness to the truth. 34 Yet I do not receive testimony from man, but I say these things that you may be saved. 35 He was the burning and shining lamp, and you were willing for a time to rejoice in his light. 36 But I have a greater witness than John's; for the works which the Father has given Me to finish--the very works that I do--bear witness of Me, that the Father has sent Me. 37 And the Father Himself, who sent Me, has testified of Me. You have neither heard His voice at any time, nor seen His form. John 5:31-37

Departure of the Holy Father Anba Maximus The Fifteenth Pope of Alexandria.

The Gospel reading for the 15th of the Coptic month of Baramouda, April 23: John 5:39-47
Commemoration of the Consecration of the first altar for St. Nicholas, Bishop of Mora for the Jacobite Christians.
Commemoration of the Consecration of the church of St. Agabus, the Apostle.
Departure of St. Alexandra, the Empress.
Departure of Pope Mark (Marcus) VI, the 101st. Patriarch.

[Mark Sadek]

Christ is Risen! Truly He is Risen!

"It is a fact, brothers and sisters, that the path of the saints in this life is one full of troubles. They either endure the pain of longing for that which is to come, like the one who said, ‘Woe is me that I have such a long pilgrimage’ (Ps. 120:5) or they are distressed by their longing for the salvation of others, as Paul wrote to the Corinthians, ‘I am afraid that when I come to you, God may humble me and cause me to weep and mourn over many who have sinned and not repented of impurity, fornication and licentiousness which they have practiced.'"

St. Athanasius the Great, 20th Pope of Alexandria.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

"And those who know Your name will put their trust in You; For You, Lord, have not forsaken those who seek You. Sing praises to the Lord, who dwells in Zion! Declare His deeds among the people."  Psalm 9:10-11

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

The Gospel reading for the 15th of the Coptic month of Baramouda, April 23:

39 You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me. 40 But you are not willing to come to Me that you may have life. 41 I do not receive honor from men. 42 But I know you, that you do not have the love of God in you. 43 I have come in My Father's name, and you do not receive Me; if another comes in his own name, him you will receive. 44 How can you believe, who receive honor from one another, and do not seek the honor that comes from the only God? 45 Do not think that I shall accuse you to the Father; there is one who accuses you--Moses, in whom you trust. 46 For if you believed Moses, you would believe Me; for he wrote about Me. 47 But if you do not believe his writings, how will you believe My words? John 5:39-47

Commemoration of the Consecration of the first altar for St. Nicholas, Bishop of Mora for the Jacobite Christians.
Commemoration of the Consecration of the church of St. Agabus, the Apostle.
Departure of St. Alexandra, the Empress.
Departure of Pope Mark (Marcus) VI, the 101st. Patriarch.

The Gospel reading for the 16th of the Coptic month of Baramouda, April 24: John 6:54-58
Martyrdom of St. Antipas, Bishop of Pergamos.

[Mark Sadek]

Christ is Risen! Truly He is Risen!

"Let us remember the poor, and not forget kindness to strangers; above all, let us love God with all our soul, and might, and strength, and our neighbour as ourselves."

St. Athanasius the Great, 20th Pope of Alexandria.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

"I will praise the Lord according to His righteousness, And will sing praise to the name of the Lord Most High."  Psalm 7:17

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

The Gospel reading for the 16th of the Coptic month of Baramouda, April 24:

54 Whoever eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day. 55 For My flesh is food indeed, and My blood is drink indeed. 56 He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood abides in Me, and I in him. 57 As the living Father sent Me, and I live because of the Father, so he who feeds on Me will live because of Me. 58 This is the bread which came down from heaven--not as your fathers ate the manna, and are dead. He who eats this bread will live forever. John 6:54-58

Martyrdom of St. Antipas, Bishop of Pergamos.

The Gospel reading for the 17th of the Coptic month of Baramouda, April 25: John 6:1-14
Martyrdom of St. James the Apostle Brother of St. John the Apostle.

The Gospel reading for the 18th of the Coptic month of Baramouda, April 26: John 6:35-45
Martyrdom of St. Arsenius, Slave of St. Sousnyous.

[Mark Sadek]

Christ is Risen! Truly He is Risen!

"Yesterday the Lamb was slain and the door-posts were anointed, and Egypt bewailed her Firstborn, and the Destroyer passed us over, and the Seal was dreadful and reverend, and we were walled in with the Precious Blood. Today we have clean escaped from Egypt and from Pharaoh; and there is none to hinder us from keeping a Feast to the Lord our God - the Feast of our Departure; or from celebrating that Feast, not in the old leaven of malice and wickedness, but in the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth, 1 Corinthians 5:8 carrying with us nothing of ungodly and Egyptian leaven."

St. Gregory of Nyssa, On the Resurrection.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

"Make Your face shine upon Your servant, And teach me Your statutes."  Psalm 119:135

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

The Gospel reading for the 19th of the Coptic month of Baramouda, April 27:
39 But this He spoke concerning the Spirit, whom those believing in Him would receive; for the Holy Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified. 40 Therefore many from the crowd, when they heard this saying, said, Truly this is the Prophet. 41 Others said, This is the Christ. But some said, Will the Christ come out of Galilee? 42 Has not the Scripture said that the Christ comes from the seed of David and from the town of Bethlehem, where David was? John 7:39-42
Martyrdom of St. Simeon the Armenian, Bishop of the country of Persia and 150 with him.
Martyrdom of the blessed Youhanna (John) Abu Nagaah El-Kabeer.
Martyrdom of the Vizier Abu Elaala Fahd ibn Ibrahim and his companions.
Martyrdom of Daoud (David), the Monk.

The Gospel reading for the 20th of the Coptic month of Baramouda, April 28: John 8:12-16
Martyrdom of St. Babnuda (Paphnute).

[Mark Sadek]

Christ is Risen! Truly He is Risen!

"Let us become like Christ, since Christ became like us. Let us become God's for His sake, since He for ours became Man. He assumed the worse that He might give us the better; He became poor that we through His poverty might be rich; 2 Corinthians 8:9 He took upon Him the form of a servant that we might receive back our liberty; He came down that we might be exalted; He was tempted that we might conquer; He was dishonoured that He might glorify us; He died that He might save us; He ascended that He might draw to Himself us, who were lying low in the Fall of sin. Let us give all, offer all, to Him Who gave Himself a Ransom and a Reconciliation for us. But one can give nothing like oneself, understanding the Mystery, and becoming for His sake all that He became for ours."

St. Gregory the Theologian, On the Resurrection.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

"Save me, O God, by Your name, And vindicate me by Your strength. Hear my prayer, O God; Give ear to the words of my mouth."  Psalm 54:1-2

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

The Gospel reading for the 20th of the Coptic month of Baramouda, April 28:

12 Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life. 13 The Pharisees therefore said to Him, You bear witness of Yourself; Your witness is not true. 14 Jesus answered and said to them, Even if I bear witness of Myself, My witness is true, for I know where I came from and where I am going; but you do not know where I come from and where I am going. 15 You judge according to the flesh; I judge no one. 16 And yet if I do judge, My judgment is true; for I am not alone, but I am with the Father who sent Me.  John 8:12-16

Martyrdom of St. Babnuda (Paphnute).

The Gospel reading for the 21st of the Coptic month of Baramouda, April 29: John 8:23-26
Commemoration of the Theotokos and Ever-Virgin St. Mary.
Departure of St. Hierotheos, of Athens.

[Mark Sadek]

Christ is Risen! Truly He is Risen!

"As you see, He offers you a Shepherd; for this is what your Good Shepherd, who lays down his life for his sheep, is hoping and praying for, and he asks from you his subjects; and he gives you himself double instead of single, and makes the staff of his old age a staff for your spirit. And he adds to the inanimate temple a living one; to that exceedingly beautiful and heavenly shrine, this poor and small one, yet to him of great value, and built too with much sweat and many labours. Would that I could say it is worthy of his labours. And he places at your disposal all that belongs to him (O great generosity!- or it would be truer to say, O fatherly love!) his hoar hairs, his youth, the temple, the high priest, the testator, the heir, the discourses which you were longing for; and of these not such as are vain and poured out into the air, and which reach no further than the outward ear; but those which the Spirit writes and engraves on tables of stone, or of flesh, not merely superficially graven, nor easily to be rubbed off, but marked very deep, not with ink, but with grace."

St. Gregory the Theologian, On the Resurrection.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

"For God is my King from of old, Working salvation in the midst of the earth. You divided the sea by Your strength; You broke the heads of the sea serpents in the waters."  Psalm 74:12-13

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

The Gospel reading for the 21st of the Coptic month of Baramouda, April 29:

23 And He said to them, You are from beneath; I am from above. You are of this world; I am not of this world. 24 Therefore I said to you that you will die in your sins; for if you do not believe that I am He, you will die in your sins. 25 Then they said to Him, Who are You? And Jesus said to them, Just what I have been saying to you from the beginning. 26 I have many things to say and to judge concerning you, but He who sent Me is true; and I speak to the world those things which I heard from Him.  John 8:23-26

Commemoration of the Theotokos and Ever-Virgin St. Mary.
Departure of St. Hierotheos, of Athens.

The Gospel reading for the 22nd of the Coptic month of Baramouda, April 30: John 8:28-30
Departure of St. Isaac (Ishaq), of Hourin.
Departure of St. Alexander I, 19th Pope of the See of St. Mark.
Departure of St. Mark 11, 49th Pope of the See of St. Mark.
Departure of St. Michael 11, 53rd Pope of the See of St. Mark.

[Mark Sadek]

Christ is Risen! Truly He is Risen!

"The angels proclaimed the news of Christ’s resurrection to the women saying, "Why do you seek the living among the dead? He is not here, but He is risen" (Luke 24: 5-6) The news of the risen Christ brought tremendous joy to the disciples, but terrified the Jewish leaders. As much as the day of the crucifixion was painful emotionally, it was a day of salvation."

H.H. Pope Shenouda III, Joy of The Resurrection.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

"God be merciful to us and bless us, And cause His face to shine upon us."  Psalm 67:1

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

The Gospel reading for the 22nd of the Coptic month of Baramouda, April 30:

28 Then Jesus said to them, When you lift up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am He, and that I do nothing of Myself; but as My Father taught Me, I speak these things. 29 And He who sent Me is with Me. The Father has not left Me alone, for I always do those things that please Him. 30 As He spoke these words, many believed in Him.  John 8:28-30

Departure of St. Isaac (Ishaq), of Hourin.
Departure of St. Alexander I, 19th Pope of the See of St. Mark.
Departure of St. Mark 11, 49th Pope of the See of St. Mark.
Departure of St. Michael 11, 53rd Pope of the See of St. Mark.

The Gospel reading for the 23rd of the Coptic month of Baramouda, May 1: John 8:31-39
Martyrdom of St. George, Prince of the Martyrs.

[Mark Sadek]

Christ is Risen! Truly He is Risen!

"People did not see Christ opening the doors of paradise, they only saw the suffering, insults and nails. As much as the disciples were disturbed and sad on Friday, they were very joyful on Sunday. The promise of the Lord to them was fulfilled when He said, "But I will see you again and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy away from you" (John 16:22). Through His resurrection, they rejoiced that the resurrection is possible and realistic."

H.H. Pope Shenouda III, Joy of The Resurrection.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

"The earth is the Lord's, and all its fullness, The world and those who dwell therein."  Psalm 24:1

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

The Gospel reading for the 23rd of the Coptic month of Baramouda, May 1:

31 Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. 32 And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. 33 They answered Him, We are Abraham's descendants, and have never been in bondage to anyone. How can you say, `You will be made free'? 34 Jesus answered them, Most assuredly, I say to you, whoever commits sin is a slave of sin. 35 And a slave does not abide in the house forever, but a son abides forever. 36 Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed. 37 I know that you are Abraham's descendants, but you seek to kill Me, because My word has no place in you. 38 I speak what I have seen with My Father, and you do what you have seen with your father. 39 They answered and said to Him, Abraham is our father. Jesus said to them, If you were Abraham's children, you would do the works of Abraham.  John 8:31-39

Martyrdom of St. George, Prince of the Martyrs.

The Gospel reading for the 24th of the Coptic month of Baramouda, May 2: John 6:47-56
Departure of Pope Sinuthius (Shenouda I), 55th Pope of Alexandria.
Martyrdom of St. Sina, the Soldier.

The Gospel reading for the 25th of the Coptic month of Baramouda, May 3: John 4:1-42
Martyrdom of St. Sarah, and her two sons.
Commemoration of Sts. Babnuda (Paphnute) the hermit, Theodore the worshipper, and the One hundred martyrs.

[Mark Sadek]

Christ is Risen! Truly He is Risen!

"Are we only dying with the Master and are we only sharing in His sadness? Most of all, let me say that sharing the Master's death is no sadness. Only wait a little and you shall see yourself sharing in His benefits. 'For if we have died with Him,' says St. Paul, `we believe that we shall also live together with Him.' For in baptism there are both burial and resurrection together at the same time. He who is baptized puts off the old man, takes the new and rises up, `just as Christ has arisen through the glory of the Father.' Do you see how, again, St. Paul calls baptism a resurrection?"

St. John Chrysostom.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

"But I am poor and needy; Make haste to me, O God! You are my help and my deliverer; O Lord, do not delay."  Psalm 70:5

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

The Gospel reading for the 26th of the Coptic month of Baramouda, May 4:
39 They answered and said to Him, Abraham is our father. Jesus said to them, If you were Abraham's children, you would do the works of Abraham. 40 But now you seek to kill Me, a Man who has told you the truth which I heard from God. Abraham did not do this. 41 You do the deeds of your father. Then they said to Him, We were not born of fornication; we have one Father--God. 42 Jesus said to them, If God were your Father, you would love Me, for I proceeded forth and came from God; nor have I come of Myself, but He sent Me. John 8:39-42
Martyrdom of St. Sousenyos.
Departure of Pope Youannis VII, 78th. Patriarch.

The Gospel reading for the 27th of the Coptic month of Baramouda, May 5: John 8:51-55
Martyrdom of St. Boctor Ebn Romanus.

[Mark Sadek]

Christ is Risen! Truly He is Risen!

"Come you all: enter into the joy of your Lord. You the first and you the last, receive alike your reward; you rich and you poor, dance together; you sober and you weaklings, celebrate the day; you who have kept the fast and you who have not, rejoice today. The table is richly loaded: enjoy its royal banquet. The calf is a fatted one: let no one go away hungry."

St. John Chrysostom, On the Resurrection.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

"Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good; Blessed is the man who trusts in Him!"  Psalm 34:8

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

The Gospel reading for the 27th of the Coptic month of Baramouda, May 5:

51 Most assuredly, I say to you, if anyone keeps My word he shall never see death. 52 Then the Jews said to Him, Now we know that You have a demon! Abraham is dead, and the prophets; and You say, `If anyone keeps My word he shall never taste death.' 53 Are You greater than our father Abraham, who is dead? And the prophets are dead. Whom do You make Yourself out to be? 54 Jesus answered, If I honor Myself, My honor is nothing. It is My Father who honors Me, of whom you say that He is your God. 55 Yet you have not known Him, but I know Him. And if I say, `I do not know Him,' I shall be a liar like you; but I do know Him and keep His word. John 8:51-55

Martyrdom of St. Boctor Ebn Romanus.

The Gospel reading for the 28th of the Coptic month of Baramouda, May 6: John 7:14-29
Martyrdom of St. Milius, The Ascetic.

[Mark Sadek]

Christ is Risen! Truly He is Risen!

"But now that the Savior has raised His body, death is no longer terrible, but all those who believe in Christ tread it underfoot as nothing, and prefer to die rather than to deny their faith in Christ, knowing full well that when they die they do not perish, but live indeed, and become incorruptible through the resurrection."

St. Athanasius the Great, 20th Pope of Alexandria, On the Resurrection.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

"I will praise You, O Lord, with my whole heart; I will tell of all Your marvelous works. I will be glad and rejoice in You; I will sing praise to Your name, O Most High."  Psalm 9:1-2

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

The Gospel reading for the 28th of the Coptic month of Baramouda, May 6:

14 Now about the middle of the feast Jesus went up into the temple and taught. 15 And the Jews marveled, saying, How does this Man know letters, having never studied? 16 Jesus answered them and said, My doctrine is not Mine, but His who sent Me. 17 If anyone wants to do His will, he shall know concerning the doctrine, whether it is from God or whether I speak on My own authority. 18 He who speaks from himself seeks his own glory; but He who seeks the glory of the One who sent Him is true, and no unrighteousness is in Him. 19 Did not Moses give you the law, yet none of you keeps the law? Why do you seek to kill Me? 20 The people answered and said, You have a demon. Who is seeking to kill You? 21 Jesus answered and said to them, I did one work, and you all marvel. 22 Moses therefore gave you circumcision (not that it is from Moses, but from the fathers), and you circumcise a man on the Sabbath. 23 If a man receives circumcision on the Sabbath, so that the law of Moses should not be broken, are you angry with Me because I made a man completely well on the Sabbath? 24 Do not judge according to appearance, but judge with righteous judgment. 25 Now some of them from Jerusalem said, Is this not He whom they seek to kill? 26 But look! He speaks boldly, and they say nothing to Him. Do the rulers know indeed that this is truly the Christ? 27 However, we know where this Man is from; but when the Christ comes, no one knows where He is from. 28 Then Jesus cried out, as He taught in the temple, saying, You both know Me, and you know where I am from; and I have not come of Myself, but He who sent Me is true, whom you do not know. 29 But I know Him, for I am from Him, and He sent Me. John 7:14-29

Martyrdom of St. Milius, The Ascetic.

The Gospel reading for the 29th of the Coptic month of Baramouda, May 7: John 8:54-59
Departure of St. Erastus, the Apostle.
Departure of St. Acacius, Bishop of Jerusalem.

[Mark Sadek]

Christ is Risen! Truly He is Risen!

"If, again, you want to sing Psalms that speak especially about the Saviour, you will find something in almost all of them; but 45 and 110 to relate particularly to His Divine Begetting from the Father and His coming in the flesh, while 22 and 69 foretell the holy cross, the grievous plots He bore and how great things He suffered for our sakes. The 3rd and 109th also display the snares and malice of the Jews and how Iscariot betrayed Him; 21, 50, and 72 all set Him forth as judge and foretell His Second Coming in the flesh to us; they also show the Gentiles' call. The 16th shows His resurrection from the dead, in flesh, the 24th and 47th His ascension into heaven. And in the four Psalms 93, 96, 98, and 99, all the benefits deriving to us from the Saviour's Passion are set forth together."

St. Athanasius the Great, 20th. Pope of Alexandria, The Letter to Marcellinus.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

"The earth is the Lord's, and all its fullness, The world and those who dwell therein."  Psalm 24:1

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

The Gospel reading for the 29th of the Coptic month of Baramouda, May 7:

54 Jesus answered, If I honor Myself, My honor is nothing. It is My Father who honors Me, of whom you say that He is your God. 55 Yet you have not known Him, but I know Him. And if I say, `I do not know Him,' I shall be a liar like you; but I do know Him and keep His word. 56 Your father Abraham rejoiced to see My day, and he saw it and was glad. 57 Then the Jews said to Him, You are not yet fifty years old, and have You seen Abraham? 58 Jesus said to them, Most assuredly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM. 59 Then they took up stones to throw at Him; but Jesus hid Himself and went out of the temple, going through the midst of them, and so passed by. John 8:54-59

Departure of St. Erastus, the Apostle.
Departure of St. Acacius, Bishop of Jerusalem.

The Gospel reading for the 30th of the Coptic month of Baramouda, May 8: John 10:34-38
Martyrdom of the Great Saint Mark, the Apostle The Evangelist of the Land of Egypt.

[Mark Sadek]

Christ is Risen! Truly He is Risen!

“Pascha, the Pascha of the Lord!” By His Resurrection, the Lord has brought us from death to life, and that Resurrection the “Angels in Heaven cry,” [for they have] seen the light of deified human nature in fore-ordained glory in the person of our Lord and Redeemer, in Whose Image and through the power of Whose Resurrection, all true believers in Him, all who have united with Him with all their souls, are transformed. Glory, O Lord, to Thy Most-glorious Resurrection! The Angels sing, rejoicing together with us and foreseeing the swelling of their ranks. O Lord, make us worthy, to hymn Thee, the Resurrected One, with pure hearts, seeing in Thy Resurrection the cessation of our corruption, the seeds of a new resplendent life and the dawn of coming eternal glory whose forerunner Thou becamest, being resurrected for our sake. The tongues of neither men nor angels are capable of expressing Thy ineffable mercy toward us, O most-gloriously Resurrected Lord!

Bishop Theophanes the Recluse.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

"In whose eyes a vile person is despised, But he honors those who fear the Lord."  Psalm 15:4

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

The Gospel reading for the 30th of the Coptic month of Baramouda, May 8:

34 Jesus answered them, Is it not written in your law, `I said, You are gods '? 35 If He called them gods, to whom the word of God came (and the Scripture cannot be broken), 36 do you say of Him whom the Father sanctified and sent into the world, `You are blaspheming,' because I said, `I am the Son of God'? 37 If I do not do the works of My Father, do not believe Me; 38 but if I do, though you do not believe Me, believe the works, that you may know and believe that the Father is in Me, and I in Him. John 10:34-38

Martyrdom of the Great Saint Mark, the Apostle The Evangelist of the Land of Egypt.

The Gospel reading for the 1st of the Coptic month of Bashans, May 9: John 7:14-24
The Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary The Mother of God.

The Gospel reading for the 2nd of the Coptic month of Bashans, May 10: John 12:35-50
Departure of the righteous Job.
Departure of St. Tadros (Theodore), the disciple of St. Pachomius.
Martyrdom of St. Philothaos.

[Mark Sadek]

Christ is Risen! Truly He is Risen!

"Christ’s Resurrection became life and healing from passions for those who believe on Him, that they might live in God and bring forth the fruits of truth."

Venerable Abba Isaiah.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

"But I am poor and needy; Make haste to me, O God! You are my help and my deliverer; O Lord, do not delay."  Psalm 70:5

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

The Gospel reading for the 3rd of the Coptic month of Bashans, May 11:
25 Then there arose a dispute between some of John's disciples and the Jews about purification. 26 And they came to John and said to him, Rabbi, He who was with you beyond the Jordan, to whom you have testified--behold, He is baptizing, and all are coming to Him! 27 John answered and said, A man can receive nothing unless it has been given to him from heaven. 28 You yourselves bear me witness, that I said, `I am not the Christ,' but, `I have been sent before Him.' 29 He who has the bride is the bridegroom; but the friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly because of the bridegroom's voice. Therefore this joy of mine is fulfilled. 30 He must increase, but I must decrease. John 3:25-30
Departure of St. Jason, one of the Seventy disciples.
Departure of St. Otimus, the Priest.
Departure of Pope Gabriel IV, the 86th. Patriarch of Alexandria.

The Gospel reading for the 4th of the Coptic month of Bashans, May 12: John 12:44-48
Departure of Pope John (Youhanna) the First, the Twenty Ninth Patriarch of the See of St. Mark.
Departure of pope Yoannis the Fifth the Seventy Second Patriarch.

[Mark Sadek]

Christ is Risen! Truly He is Risen!

"On this Great Day, Christ is called from among the dead which he had emulated. On this day he repelled death’s sting, laid low the gloomy confines of hell, and granted freedom to the souls. On this day, risen from the tomb, He appeared to people for whom he had been born, had died, and been awakened from the dead, so that we, having been reborn and escaped death, might be resurrected with Him, the Resurrected One. On this bright glorious and great day, the angelic hosts, filled with joy, sing a song of victory."

Holy Hierarch Gregory the Theologian.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

"Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good; Blessed is the man who trusts in Him!"  Psalm 34:8

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

The Gospel reading for the 4th of the Coptic month of Bashans, May 12:

44 Then Jesus cried out and said, He who believes in Me, believes not in Me but in Him who sent Me. 45 And he who sees Me sees Him who sent Me. 46 I have come as a light into the world, that whoever believes in Me should not abide in darkness. 47 And if anyone hears My words and does not believe, I do not judge him; for I did not come to judge the world but to save the world. 48 He who rejects Me, and does not receive My words, has that which judges him--the word that I have spoken will judge him in the last day. John 12:44-48

Departure of Pope John (Youhanna) the First, the Twenty Ninth Patriarch of the See of St. Mark.
Departure of pope Yoannis the Fifth the Seventy Second Patriarch.

The Gospel reading for the 5th of the Coptic month of Bashans, May 13: John 13:16-20
Martyrdom of St. Jeremiah the Prophet.

[Mark Sadek]

Christ is Risen! Truly He is Risen!

"Christ is resurrected in one who is prepared [for the Resurrection], and His tomb, the heart, once again becomes the Temple of God. Arise, O Lord, and save me, O my God - In this, Thy mystical, essential, material Resurrection, lies my salvation."

Holy Hierarch Ignatiy Brianchanino.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

"It is better to trust in the Lord Than to put confidence in man. It is better to trust in the Lord Than to put confidence in princes."  Psalm 118:8-9

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

The Gospel reading for the 5th of the Coptic month of Bashans, May 13:

16 Most assuredly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master; nor is he who is sent greater than he who sent him. 17 If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them. 18 I do not speak concerning all of you. I know whom I have chosen; but that the Scripture may be fulfilled, `He who eats bread with Me has lifted up his heel against Me.' 19 Now I tell you before it comes, that when it does come to pass, you may believe that I am He. 20 Most assuredly, I say to you, he who receives whomever I send receives Me; and he who receives Me receives Him who sent Me. John 13:16-20

Martyrdom of St. Jeremiah the Prophet.

The Gospel reading for the 6th of the Coptic month of Bashans, May 14: John 17:18-21
Martyrdom of St. Isaac El-Defrawi.
Departure of St. Macarius of Alexandria.
Departure of Father Paphnute of El-Bandarah.

[Mark Sadek]

Christ is Risen! Truly He is Risen!

"Lift up your gates, O ye princes, and be ye lift up, ye everlasting doors." [Psalm 24:7] For it was not the Word Himself Who needed an opening of the gates, He being Lord of all, nor was any of His works closed to their Maker. No, it was we who needed it, we whom He Himself upbore in His own body-that body which He first offered to death on behalf of all, and then made through it a path to heaven."

St. Athanasius the Great, 20th Pope of Alexandria, On the Resurrection.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

"Hear my prayer, O Lord, And give ear to my cry; Do not be silent at my tears; For I am a stranger with You, A sojourner, as all my fathers were."  Psalm 39:12

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

The Gospel reading for the 6th of the Coptic month of Bashans, May 14:

18 As You sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world. 19 And for their sakes I sanctify Myself, that they also may be sanctified by the truth. 20 I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; 21 that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me. John 17:18-21

Martyrdom of St. Isaac El-Defrawi.
Departure of St. Macarius of Alexandria.
Departure of Father Paphnute of El-Bandarah.

The Gospel reading for the 7th of the Coptic month of Bashans, May 15: John 17:22-26
Departure of St. Athanasius the Apostolic the 20th. Pope of Alexandria.

[Mark Sadek]

Christ is Risen! Truly He is Risen!

"Fitting indeed, then, and wholly consonant was the death on the cross for us; and we can see how reasonable it was, and why it is that the salvation of the world could be accomplished in no other way. Even on the cross He did not hide Himself from sight; rather, He made all creation witness to the presence of its Maker. Then, having once let it be seen that it was truly dead, He did not allow that temple of His body to linger long, but forthwith on the third day raised it up, impassable and incorruptible, the pledge and token of His victory."

St. Athanasius the Great, 20th Pope of Alexandria, On the Resurrection.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

"I cry out with my whole heart; Hear me, O Lord! I will keep Your statutes. I cry out to You; Save me, and I will keep Your testimonies."  Psalm 119:145-146

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

The Gospel reading for the 7th of the Coptic month of Bashans, May 15:

22 And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one: 23 I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me. 24 Father, I desire that they also whom You gave Me may be with Me where I am, that they may behold My glory which You have given Me; for You loved Me before the foundation of the world. 25 O righteous Father! The world has not known You, but I have known You; and these have known that You sent Me. 26 And I have declared to them Your name, and will declare it, that the love with which You loved Me may be in them, and I in them. John 17:22-26
Departure of St. Athanasius the Apostolic, 20th Pope of Alexandria.

The Gospel reading for the 8th of the Coptic month of Bashans, May 16: John 14:1-11
Martyrdom of St. John of Senhout.
Departure of St. Daniel the Archpriest of Sheahat (Scetis).

The Gospel reading for the 9th of the Coptic month of Bashans, May 17: John 14:1-11
Departure of St. Helena, The Empress.
Departure of Pope Yoannis the Eleventh, 89th Patriarch of Alexandra.
Departure of St. Gabriel the Eighth, 97th Patriarch of Alexandria.

[Mark Sadek]

Christ is Risen! Truly He is Risen!

"It was, of course, within His power thus to have raised His body and displayed it as alive directly after death. But the all-wise Savior did not do this, lest some should deny that it had really or completely died. Besides this, had the interval between His death and resurrection been but two days, the glory of His incorruption might not have appeared. He waited one whole day to show that His body was really dead, and then on the third day showed it incorruptible to all. The interval was no longer, lest people should have forgotten about it and grown doubtful whether it were in truth the same body."

St. Athanasius the Great, 20th Pope of Alexandria, On the Resurrection.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

"Save Your people, And bless Your inheritance; Shepherd them also, And bear them up forever."  Psalm 28:9

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

The Gospel reading for the 10th of the Coptic month of Bashans, May 18:
15 All things that the Father has are Mine. Therefore I said that He will take of Mine and declare it to you. 16 A little while, and you will not see Me; and again a little while, and you will see Me, because I go to the Father. 17 Then some of His disciples said among themselves, What is this that He says to us, `A little while, and you will not see Me; and again a little while, and you will see Me'; and, `because I go to the Father'? 18 They said therefore, What is this that He says, `A little while'? We do not know what He is saying. 19 Now Jesus knew that they desired to ask Him, and He said to them, Are you inquiring among yourselves about what I said, `A little while, and you will not see Me; and again a little while, and you will see Me'? 20 Most assuredly, I say to you that you will weep and lament, but the world will rejoice; and you will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will be turned into joy. 21 A woman, when she is in labor, has sorrow because her hour has come; but as soon as she has given birth to the child, she no longer remembers the anguish, for joy that a human being has been born into the world. 22 Therefore you now have sorrow; but I will see you again and your heart will rejoice, and your joy no one will take from you. 23 And in that day you will ask Me nothing. Most assuredly, I say to you, whatever you ask the Father in My name He will give you. John 16:15-23
Departure of the Three Hebrew Young Men Hananiah, Azariah and Mishael.

The Gospel reading for the 11th of the Coptic month of Bashans, May 19: John 16:23-33
Martyrdom of St. Theoclia, the wife of St. Justus.
Departure of St. Paphnotius (St. Paphnuti), the Bishop.

[Mark Sadek]

Christ is Risen! Truly He is Risen!

"While those who had put Him to death were still on the spot and themselves witnessing to the fact of it, the Son of God after three days showed His once dead body immortal and incorruptible; and it was evident to all that it was from no natural weakness that the body which the Word indwelt had died, but in order that in it by the Savior's power death might be done away."

St. Athanasius the Great, 20th Pope of Alexandria, On the Resurrection.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

"I love the Lord, because He has heard My voice and my supplications. Because He has inclined His ear to me, Therefore I will call upon Him as long as I live."  Psalm 116:1-2

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

The Gospel reading for the 11th of the Coptic month of Bashans, May 19:

23 And in that day you will ask Me nothing. Most assuredly, I say to you, whatever you ask the Father in My name He will give you. 24 Until now you have asked nothing in My name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full. 25 These things I have spoken to you in figurative language; but the time is coming when I will no longer speak to you in figurative language, but I will tell you plainly about the Father. 26 In that day you will ask in My name, and I do not say to you that I shall pray the Father for you; 27 for the Father Himself loves you, because you have loved Me, and have believed that I came forth from God. 28 I came forth from the Father and have come into the world. Again, I leave the world and go to the Father. 29 His disciples said to Him, See, now You are speaking plainly, and using no figure of speech! 30 Now we are sure that You know all things, and have no need that anyone should question You. By this we believe that You came forth from God. 31 Jesus answered them, Do you now believe? 32 Indeed the hour is coming, yes, has now come, that you will be scattered, each to his own, and will leave Me alone. And yet I am not alone, because the Father is with Me. 33 These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world. John 16:23-33

Martyrdom of St. Theoclia, the wife of St. Justus.
Departure of St. Paphnotius (St. Paphnuti), the Bishop.

The Gospel reading for the 12th of the Coptic month of Bashans, May 20: John 17:1-9
Commemoration of the Consecration of the church of St. Demiana.
Commemoration of the Relocation of the relics of St. John Chrysostom.
Commemoration of the Appearance of a Cross of light above Golgotha.
Departure of Pope Mark the Seventh, 106th Patriarch of Alexandria.
Commemoration of the Martyrdom of Master (Moallem) Malati.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Prayer Requests:
If you have an update on a prayer request, please let me know.

Please keep the following in your prayers:

Marian R

Mario - Cancer
Mina - Bad company
K - Drug addiction
Jean - Stage 4 cancer

AF - Mental disorders

[Mark Sadek]

Christ is Risen! Truly He is Risen!

"A very strong proof of this destruction of death and its conquest by the cross is supplied by a present fact, namely this. All the disciples of Christ despise death; they take the offensive against it and, instead of fearing it, by the sign of the cross and by faith in Christ trample on it as on something dead. Before the divine sojourn of the Savior, even the holiest of men were afraid of death, and mourned the dead as those who perish. But now that the Savior has raised His body, death is no longer terrible, but all those who believe in Christ tread it underfoot as nothing, and prefer to die rather than to deny their faith in Christ, knowing full well that when they die they do not perish, but live indeed, and become incorruptible through the resurrection."

St. Athanasius the Great, 20th Pope of Alexandria, On the Resurrection.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

"Be pleased, O Lord, to deliver me; O Lord, make haste to help me!"  Psalm 40:13

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

The Gospel reading for the 12th of the Coptic month of Bashans, May 20:

1 Jesus spoke these words, lifted up His eyes to heaven, and said: Father, the hour has come. Glorify Your Son, that Your Son also may glorify You, 2 as You have given Him authority over all flesh, that He should give eternal life to as many as You have given Him. 3 And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent. 4 I have glorified You on the earth. I have finished the work which You have given Me to do. 5 And now, O Father, glorify Me together with Yourself, with the glory which I had with You before the world was. 6 I have manifested Your name to the men whom You have given Me out of the world. They were Yours, You gave them to Me, and they have kept Your word. 7 Now they have known that all things which You have given Me are from You. 8 For I have given to them the words which You have given Me; and they have received them, and have known surely that I came forth from You; and they have believed that You sent Me. 9 I pray for them. I do not pray for the world but for those whom You have given Me, for they are Yours. John 17:1-9

Commemoration of the Consecration of the church of St. Demiana.
Commemoration of the Relocation of the relics of St. John Chrysostom.
Commemoration of the Appearance of a Cross of light above Golgotha.
Departure of Pope Mark the Seventh, 106th Patriarch of Alexandria.
Commemoration of the Martyrdom of Master (Moallem) Malati.

The Gospel reading for the 13th of the Coptic month of Bashans, May 21: Luke 24:36-53
The Feast of Ascension.
Departure Of St. Arsanius The Tutor Of the Emperor's Children.

[Mark Sadek]

Rejoice! Christ Has Ascended!

"Today our Master Christ goes up to his father’s throne; today, he who was incarnated sits down with the Father; not that he was first separated from him, nor that he now sits with him for the first time, for he has always rested in the bosom of the Father, alone containing the Father, and alone contained by the Father. For "I", he said, "am in the Father, and the Father in me"; and the Word is in the Father and the Word is on the earth. Not descending and leaving the Father’s bosom empty, nor ascending into heaven and leaving the earth empty of his presence; but both living together with men, and sitting together with the Father; and both sitting together with the Father, and not separated from men. For "be sure of this", he says, "I am with you always, even to the end of the age."

St. John Chrysostom, On the Ascension.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

"And you who seek God, your hearts shall live. For the Lord hears the poor."  Psalm 69:32-33

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

The Gospel reading for the 14th of the Coptic month of Bashans, May 22:
26 But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you. 27 Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. 28 You have heard Me say to you, `I am going away and coming back to you.' If you loved Me, you would rejoice because I said, `I am going to the Father,' for My Father is greater than I. 29 And now I have told you before it comes, that when it does come to pass, you may believe. 30 I will no longer talk much with you, for the ruler of this world is coming, and he has nothing in Me. 31 But that the world may know that I love the Father, and as the Father gave Me commandment, so I do. Arise, let us go from here. John 14:26-31
Departure of St. Pachomius (Pakhom), the Father of the Spiritual Communal Monastic life (Cenobitic life).
Martyrdom of St. Epimachus (Ephimachus) of Pelusium.

The Gospel reading for the 15th of the Coptic month of Bashans, May 23: John 16:15-23
Martyrdom of St. Simon the Zealot, the Apostle who is known by (Simon the Canaanite).
Martyrdom of 400 martyrs in Dandara (Denderah).
Commemoration of St. Mina the Deacon.

The Gospel reading for the 16th of the Coptic month of Bashans, May 24: John 16:23-33
Commemoration of St. John The Evangelist.

[Mark Sadek]

Rejoice! Christ Has Ascended!

"For in times of old, heaven was utterly inaccessible to mortals, and no flesh as yet had ever traveled that pure and all-holy realm of the angels. But Christ was the first who consecrated for us the means of access to himself and granted to flesh a way of entrance into heaven. He did this by presenting himself as an offering to God the Father, the "firstfruits of those who are asleep" (1 Cor. 15:20) and are lying in the tomb, and by presenting himself as the first human being that ever appeared in heaven. For Christ did not ascend on high in order to present himself before the presence of God the Father. He always was and is and will be continually in the Father, in the sight of him who begat him."

St. Cyril of Alexandria, On the Ascension.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

"Arise, O God, judge the earth; For You shall inherit all nations."  Psalm 82:8

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

The Gospel reading for the 17th of the Coptic month of Bashans, May 25:
1 I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. 2 Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit. 3 You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. 4 Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. 5 I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. 6 If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned. 7 If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. 8 By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples. John 15:1-8
Departure of St. Epiphanius, Bishop of Cyprus.

The Gospel reading for the 18th of the Coptic month of Bashans, May 26: John 15:9-15
Departure of St. George (Ga'orgi), the Friend of St. Abraam.
Commemoration of the feast of Pentecost.

[Mark Sadek]

Rejoice! Christ Has Ascended!

"Why did a cloud receive Jesus? This too was a sure sign that He went up to Heaven. Not fire, as in the case of Elijah, nor fiery chariot, but a cloud received Him; which was a symbol of Heaven, as the Prophet says; Who makes the clouds His chariot Psalm 104:3; it is of the Father Himself that this is said. Therefore he says, on a cloud; in the symbol, he would say, of the Divine power, for no other Power is seen to appear on a cloud. For hear again what another Prophet says: The Lord sits upon a light cloud Isaiah 19:1. For it was while they were listening with great attention to what He was saying, and this in answer to a very interesting question, and with their minds fully aroused and quite awake, that this thing took place. Also on the mount [Sinai] the cloud was because of Him: since Moses also entered into the darkness, but the cloud there was not because of Moses."

St. John Chrysostom, On the Ascension.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

"I will sing to the Lord, Because He has dealt bountifully with me."  Psalm 13:6

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

The Gospel reading for the 18th of the Coptic month of Bashans, May 26:

9 As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love. 10 If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father's commandments and abide in His love. 11 These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full. 12 This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. 13 Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one's life for his friends. 14 You are My friends if you do whatever I command you. 15 No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I heard from My Father I have made known to you. John 15:9-15

Departure of St. George (Ga'orgi), the Friend of St. Abraam.
Commemoration of the feast of Pentecost.

The Gospel reading for the 19th of the Coptic month of Bashans, May 27: John 15:12-16
Commemoration of the Departure of Abba Isaac, the Priest of El-Qalali (Cells).
Commemoration of the Martyrdom of St. Isidorus (Isidore) of Antioch.

[Mark Sadek]

Rejoice! Christ Has Ascended!

"This is the Lord of glory Who is ascended into the heavens with a shout, and is seated on the right hand of the Father. Under His authority are angels, and dominions and powers, and it is He Who receives our pained prayers, and makes us victors over the pirates of this world. Under His dominion is every rank of the unclean spirits, as He says to us: 'Behold, I have given you authority to trample upon snakes and scorpions.'"

St. John Chrysostom, On the Ascension.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

"Blessed be the Lord forevermore! Amen and Amen."  Psalm 89:52

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

The Gospel reading for the 19th of the Coptic month of Bashans, May 27:

12 This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. 13 Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one's life for his friends. 14 You are My friends if you do whatever I command you. 15 No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I heard from My Father I have made known to you. 16 You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you. John 15:12-16

Commemoration of the Departure of Abba Isaac, the Priest of El-Qalali (Cells).
Commemoration of the Martyrdom of St. Isidorus (Isidore) of Antioch.

The Gospel reading for the 20th of the Coptic month of Bashans, May 28: John 15:17-25
Departure Of St. Ammonius The Hermit.

[Mark Sadek]

Rejoice! Christ Has Ascended!

"At this feast of the Master, the day of the Ascension, the devil is wailing, as we said, while the faithful are joyful. Now has the joyous spring dawned, and the beauty of flowers blossomed. The branches of vines are pruned, the olive trees give their sweet fragrance, the fig trees give their immature fruit, and the wind blows rustling the leaves, mimicking the dancing of the waves: all things rejoice with us at the ascension of the Master. Bring, therefore, with us the words of David, that we might rightly cry out to the Master Who has ascended: 'Let all the nations clap their hands, crying to God with a voice of rejoicing. The Lord ascends with the sound of the trumpet, to where He was.'"

St. John Chrysostom, On the Ascension.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

"Make Your face shine upon Your servant; Save me for Your mercies' sake. Do not let me be ashamed, O Lord, for I have called upon You."  Psalm 31:16-17

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

The Gospel reading for the 20th of the Coptic month of Bashans, May 28:

17 These things I command you, that you love one another. 18 If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you. 19 If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. 20 Remember the word that I said to you, `A servant is not greater than his master.' If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you. If they kept My word, they will keep yours also. 21 But all these things they will do to you for My name's sake, because they do not know Him who sent Me. 22 If I had not come and spoken to them, they would have no sin, but now they have no excuse for their sin. 23 He who hates Me hates My Father also. 24 If I had not done among them the works which no one else did, they would have no sin; but now they have seen and also hated both Me and My Father. 25 But this happened that the word might be fulfilled which is written in their law, `They hated Me without a cause.'. John 15:17-25

Departure Of St. Ammonius The Hermit.

The Gospel reading for the 21st of the Coptic month of Bashans, May 29: John 7:37-39
Commemoration of the Holy and Pure Virgin Mary.
Departure of St. Marcian (Martinianus).

[Mark Sadek]

Rejoice! Christ Has Ascended!

"By the Ascension of the Lord, we mean His bodily Ascension. Because in His divinity, He is everywhere, He does not ascend nor descend. Therefore, in the Liturgy of St. Gregory we say "And You ascended into the heavens in the body..."  This ascension is evidence that His Glorified Body is not subject to the earth's gravitational laws. It is also evidence of His Divinity. He ascended before His disciples as they were looking. This scene strengthened their faith because the Lord not only resurrected using His Divine Power, but He also ascended into heaven in front of them."

H.H. Pope Shenouda III, On the Ascension.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

"To You, O Lord, I lift up my soul. O my God, I trust in You; Let me not be ashamed; Let not my enemies triumph over me. Indeed, let no one who waits on You be ashamed."  Psalm 25:1-3

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

The Gospel reading for the 21st of the Coptic month of Bashans, May 29:

37 On the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. 38 He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water. 39 But this He spoke concerning the Spirit, whom those believing in Him would receive; for the Holy Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified. John 7:37-39

Commemoration of the Holy and Pure Virgin Mary.
Departure of St. Marcian (Martinianus).

The Gospel reading for the 22nd of the Coptic month of Bashans, May 30: John 17:14-26
Departure of St. Andronicus One of the Seventy Disciples.

The Gospel reading for the 23rd of the Coptic month of Bashans, May 31: John 15:26-16:15
The Holy Pentecost Feast.
Departure of St. Junia, One of the Seventy Disciples.
Martyrdom of St. Julian (Yulianus) and his mother in Alexandria.

[Mark Sadek]

"‘And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit’ (Acts 2:3-4). They partook of fire, not of burning but of saving fire; of fire which consumes the thorns of sins, but gives luster to the soul. This is now coming upon you also, and that to strip away and consume your sins which are like thorns, and to brighten yet more that precious possession of your souls, and to give you grace; for He gave it then to the Apostles. And He sat upon them in the form of fiery tongues, that they might crown themselves with new and spiritual diadems by fiery tongues upon their heads. A fiery sword barred of old the gates of Paradise; a fiery tongue which brought salvation restored the gift."

St. Cyril of Jerusalem (Catechetical Lectures: Lecture 17 no. 15), On Pentecost.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

"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, 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."  Matthew 28:19-20

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

The Gospel reading for the 25th of the Coptic month of Bashans, June 2:
9 Now when He had departed from there, He went into their synagogue. 10 And behold, there was a man who had a withered hand. And they asked Him, saying, Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?--that they might accuse Him. 11 Then He said to them, What man is there among you who has one sheep, and if it falls into a pit on the Sabbath, will not lay hold of it and lift it out? 12 Of how much more value then is a man than a sheep? Therefore it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath. 13 Then He said to the man, Stretch out your hand. And he stretched it out, and it was restored as whole as the other. 14 Then the Pharisees went out and plotted against Him, how they might destroy Him. 15 But when Jesus knew it, He withdrew from there. And great multitudes followed Him, and He healed them all. 16 Yet He warned them not to make Him known, 17 that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Isaiah the prophet, saying: 18 Behold! My Servant whom I have chosen, My Beloved in whom My soul is well pleased! I will put My Spirit upon Him, And He will declare justice to the Gentiles. 19 He will not quarrel nor cry out, Nor will anyone hear His voice in the streets. 20 A bruised reed He will not break, And smoking flax He will not quench, Till He sends forth justice to victory; 21 And in His name Gentiles will trust. 22 Then one was brought to Him who was demon-possessed, blind and mute; and He healed him, so that the blind and mute man both spoke and saw. 23 And all the multitudes were amazed and said, Could this be the Son of David? Matthew 12:9-23
Martyrdom of St. Colluthus of Antinoe (Known as Abu Colta).
Departure of the most honored Layman Ibrahim El-Gohari.

The Gospel reading for the 26th of the Coptic month of Bashans, June 3: John 20:24-31
Martyrdom Of St. Thomas, the Apostle.

[Mark Sadek]

"Jesus tells us that His holy Disciples will be more courageous and more understanding when they would be, as the Scripture says, Endowed with power from on high (Luke 24:49), and that when their minds would be illuminated by the torch of the Spirit they would be able to see into all things, even though no longer able to question Him bodily present among them. The Saviour does not say that they would no longer as before need the light of His guidance, but that when they received His Spirit, when He was dwelling in their hearts, they would not be wanting in any good thing, and their minds would be filled with most perfect knowledge."

St. Cyril of Alexandria.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

"But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you."  John 14:26

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

The Gospel reading for the 26th of the Coptic month of Bashans, June 3:

24 Now Thomas, called the Twin, one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. 25 The other disciples therefore said to him, We have seen the Lord. So he said to them, Unless I see in His hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe. 26 And after eight days His disciples were again inside, and Thomas with them. Jesus came, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, Peace to you! 27 Then He said to Thomas, Reach your finger here, and look at My hands; and reach your hand here, and put it into My side. Do not be unbelieving, but believing. 28 And Thomas answered and said to Him, My Lord and my God! 29 Jesus said to him, Thomas, because you have seen Me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed. 30 And truly Jesus did many other signs in the presence of His disciples, which are not written in this book; 31 but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name. John 20:24-31

Martyrdom Of St. Thomas, the Apostle.

The Gospel reading for the 27th of the Coptic month of Bashans, June 4: John 16:20-33
Departure of Pope Youannis the Second, the 30th. Patriarch of the See of St. Mark.
Departure of Lazarus the beloved of the Lord.
Departure of beloved Saint Thomas the Anchorite (Anba Tomas).

[Mark Sadek]

"If from one burning lamp someone lights another, then another from that one, and so on in succession, he has light continuously. In the same way, through the Apostles ordaining their successors, and these successors ordaining others, and so on, the grace of the Holy Spirit is handed down through all generations and enlightens all who obey their shepherds and teachers."

St. Gregory Palamas, On how the Holy Spirit was manifested and shared out at Pentecost.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

"This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief."  1 Timothy 1:15

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

The Gospel reading for the 27th of the Coptic month of Bashans, June 4:

20 Most assuredly, I say to you that you will weep and lament, but the world will rejoice; and you will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will be turned into joy. 21 A woman, when she is in labor, has sorrow because her hour has come; but as soon as she has given birth to the child, she no longer remembers the anguish, for joy that a human being has been born into the world. 22 Therefore you now have sorrow; but I will see you again and your heart will rejoice, and your joy no one will take from you. 23 And in that day you will ask Me nothing. Most assuredly, I say to you, whatever you ask the Father in My name He will give you. 24 Until now you have asked nothing in My name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full. 25 These things I have spoken to you in figurative language; but the time is coming when I will no longer speak to you in figurative language, but I will tell you plainly about the Father. 26 In that day you will ask in My name, and I do not say to you that I shall pray the Father for you; 27 for the Father Himself loves you, because you have loved Me, and have believed that I came forth from God. 28 I came forth from the Father and have come into the world. Again, I leave the world and go to the Father. 29 His disciples said to Him, See, now You are speaking plainly, and using no figure of speech! 30 Now we are sure that You know all things, and have no need that anyone should question You. By this we believe that You came forth from God. 31 Jesus answered them, Do you now believe? 32 Indeed the hour is coming, yes, has now come, that you will be scattered, each to his own, and will leave Me alone. And yet I am not alone, because the Father is with Me. 33 These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world. John 16:20-33

Departure of Pope Youannis the Second, the 30th. Patriarch of the See of St. Mark.
Departure of Lazarus the beloved of the Lord.
Departure of beloved Saint Thomas the Anchorite (Anba Tomas).

The Gospel reading for the 28th of the Coptic month of Bashans, June 5: John 10:1-16
Commemoration of the Relocation of the Body of St. Epiphanius.

[Mark Sadek]

"The holy mystery of the day of the Holy Spirit, Pentecost, is to be understood in the following manner: the spirit of man must be completed and perfected by the Holy Spirit, that is, it must be sanctified, illuminated, and divinized by the Holy Spirit. This holy mystery is realized continually in the Church of Christ and because of this the Church is really a continuous Pentecost.... From Holy Pentecost, the day of the Holy Spirit, every God-like soul in the Church of Christ is an incombustible bush which continuously burns and is inflamed with God and has a fiery tongue within it."

St. Justin Popovich, Orthodox Faith and Life in Christ.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

"The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, And His ears are open to their cry."  Psalm 34:15

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

The Gospel reading for the 28th of the Coptic month of Bashans, June 5:

1 Most assuredly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door, but climbs up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber. 2 But he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. 3 To him the doorkeeper opens, and the sheep hear his voice; and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 4 And when he brings out his own sheep, he goes before them; and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice. 5 Yet they will by no means follow a stranger, but will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers. 6 Jesus used this illustration, but they did not understand the things which He spoke to them. 7 Then Jesus said to them again, Most assuredly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. 8 All who ever came before Me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not hear them. 9 I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture. 10 The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly. 11 I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep. 12 But a hireling, he who is not the shepherd, one who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees; and the wolf catches the sheep and scatters them. 13 The hireling flees because he is a hireling and does not care about the sheep. 14 I am the good shepherd; and I know My sheep, and am known by My own. 15 As the Father knows Me, even so I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep. 16 And other sheep I have which are not of this fold; them also I must bring, and they will hear My voice; and there will be one flock and one shepherd. John 10:1-16

Commemoration of the Relocation of the Body of St. Epiphanius.

The Gospel reading for the 29th of the Coptic month of Bashans, June 6: Luke 14:25-35
Departure Of St. Simon the Stylite.

The Gospel reading for the 30th of the Coptic month of Bashans, June 7: Luke 9:12-17
Departure of Pope Mikhail the First, the 68th. Patriarch of Alexandria.
Departure of St. Fournous, one of the seventy disciples.

[Mark Sadek]

"Was it upon the twelve that it [the Holy Spirit] came? Not so; but upon the hundred and twenty. For Peter would not have quoted to no purpose the testimony of the prophet, saying, 'And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith the Lord God, I will pour out of My Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams' (Joel 2:28). 'And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit.' For, that the effect may not be to frighten only, therefore it is both 'with the Holy Spirit, and with fire. And began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance' (Mt. 3:11)."

St. John Chrysostom, Homilies on the Acts of the Apostles.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

"He who glories, let him glory in the Lord."  1 Corinthians 1:31

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

The Gospel reading for the 1st of the Coptic month of Baunah, June 8:
1 After these things the Lord appointed seventy others also, and sent them two by two before His face into every city and place where He Himself was about to go. 2 Then He said to them, The harvest truly is great, but the laborers are few; therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest. 3 Go your way; behold, I send you out as lambs among wolves. 4 Carry neither money bag, knapsack, nor sandals; and greet no one along the road. 5 But whatever house you enter, first say, `Peace to this house.' 6 And if a son of peace is there, your peace will rest on it; if not, it will return to you. 7 And remain in the same house, eating and drinking such things as they give, for the laborer is worthy of his wages. Do not go from house to house. 8 Whatever city you enter, and they receive you, eat such things as are set before you. 9 And heal the sick there, and say to them, `The kingdom of God has come near to you.' 10 But whatever city you enter, and they do not receive you, go out into its streets and say, 11 `The very dust of your city which clings to us we wipe off against you. Nevertheless know this, that the kingdom of God has come near you.' 12 But I say to you that it will be more tolerable in that Day for Sodom than for that city. 13 Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the mighty works which were done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago, sitting in sackcloth and ashes. 14 But it will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at the judgment than for you. 15 And you, Capernaum, who are exalted to heaven, will be brought down to Hades. 16 He who hears you hears Me, he who rejects you rejects Me, and he who rejects Me rejects Him who sent Me. 17 Then the seventy returned with joy, saying, Lord, even the demons are subject to us in Your name. 18 And He said to them, I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. 19 Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you. 20 Nevertheless do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rather rejoice because your names are written in heaven. Luke 10:1-20
Consecration of the church of St. Leontius of Tripoli.
Martyrdom of St. Qozman El-Tahawy and his companions.
The Consecration of the church of St. Abe-Fam (Epipham) the soldier.

The Gospel reading for the 2nd of the Coptic month of Baunah, June 9: Matthew 11:2-10
Commemoration of the Appearance of the Bodies of St. John the Baptist and Elisha the Prophet.
Departure of Pope Yoannis the Eighteenth, the 107th. Pope of Alexandria.

[Mark Sadek]

"The power to bear Mysteries, which the humble man has received, which makes him perfect in every virtue without toil, this is the very power which the blessed apostles received in the form of fire. For its sake the Saviour commanded them not to leave Jerusalem until they should receive power from on high, that is to say, the Paraclete, which, being interpreted, is the Spirit of consolation. And this is the Spirit of divine visions. Concerning this it is said in divine Scripture: 'Mysteries are revealed to the humble' [Ecclus 3:19]. The humble are accounted worthy of receiving in themselves this Spirit of revelations Who teaches mysteries."

St. Isaac the Syrian, Ascetical Homily 77.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

"So then neither he who plants is anything, nor he who waters, but God who gives the increase."  1 Corinthians 3:7

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

The Gospel reading for the 2nd of the Coptic month of Baunah, June 9:

2 And when John had heard in prison about the works of Christ, he sent two of his disciples 3 and said to Him, Are You the Coming One, or do we look for another? 4 Jesus answered and said to them, Go and tell John the things which you hear and see: 5 The blind see and the lame walk; the lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear; the dead are raised up and the poor have the gospel preached to them. 6 And blessed is he who is not offended because of Me. 7 As they departed, Jesus began to say to the multitudes concerning John: What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind? 8 But what did you go out to see? A man clothed in soft garments? Indeed, those who wear soft clothing are in kings' houses. 9 But what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I say to you, and more than a prophet. 10 For this is he of whom it is written: `Behold, I send My messenger before Your face, Who will prepare Your way before You.'. Matthew 11:2-10

Commemoration of the Appearance of the Bodies of St. John the Baptist and Elisha the Prophet.
Departure of Pope Yoannis the Eighteenth, the 107th. Pope of Alexandria.

The Gospel reading for the 3rd of the Coptic month of Baunah, June 10: John 16:20-33
The Construction of the first church of St. George in the cities of Birma and Beer Maa (Water Well) in the Oases.
Departure of St. Martha of Egypt.
Martyrdom of St. Alladius the Bishop.
Departure of Pope Cosmas, the 44th Patriarch.
Departure of St. Abraam, bishop of El-Fayoum, the Friend of the Poor.

[Mark Sadek]

"If from one burning lamp someone lights another, then another from that one, and so on in succession, he has light continuously. In the same way, through the Apostles ordaining their successors, and these successors ordaining others, and so on, the grace of the Holy Spirit is handed down through all generations and enlightens all who obey their shepherds and teachers.”

St. Gregory Palamas.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

"Let Your priests be clothed with righteousness, And let Your saints shout for joy. For Your servant David's sake."  Psalm 132:9-10

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

The Gospel reading for the 3rd of the Coptic month of Baunah, June 10:

20 Most assuredly, I say to you that you will weep and lament, but the world will rejoice; and you will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will be turned into joy. 21 A woman, when she is in labor, has sorrow because her hour has come; but as soon as she has given birth to the child, she no longer remembers the anguish, for joy that a human being has been born into the world. 22 Therefore you now have sorrow; but I will see you again and your heart will rejoice, and your joy no one will take from you. 23 And in that day you will ask Me nothing. Most assuredly, I say to you, whatever you ask the Father in My name He will give you. 24 Until now you have asked nothing in My name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full. 25 These things I have spoken to you in figurative language; but the time is coming when I will no longer speak to you in figurative language, but I will tell you plainly about the Father. 26 In that day you will ask in My name, and I do not say to you that I shall pray the Father for you; 27 for the Father Himself loves you, because you have loved Me, and have believed that I came forth from God. 28 I came forth from the Father and have come into the world. Again, I leave the world and go to the Father. 29 His disciples said to Him, See, now You are speaking plainly, and using no figure of speech! 30 Now we are sure that You know all things, and have no need that anyone should question You. By this we believe that You came forth from God. 31 Jesus answered them, Do you now believe? 32 Indeed the hour is coming, yes, has now come, that you will be scattered, each to his own, and will leave Me alone. And yet I am not alone, because the Father is with Me. 33 These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world. John 16:20-33

The Construction of the first church of St. George in the cities of Birma and Beer Maa (Water Well) in the Oases.
Departure of St. Martha of Egypt.
Martyrdom of St. Alladius the Bishop.
Departure of Pope Cosmas, the 44th Patriarch.

Departure of Fr. Yassa Mikhail.

Departure of St. Abraam, bishop of El-Fayoum, the Friend of the Poor.

The Gospel reading for the 4th of the Coptic month of Baunah, June 11: Luke 11:53-12:12
Martyrdom of St. Shenousi (Sanusi).
Martyrdom of Saint Anba Amoun and the Righteous Sophia.
Martyrdom of John of Herakleia.
Departure of St. Aba-Hour.
Departure of Pope Yoannis the Eighth (80th Patriarch).