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His Holiness Pope Shenouda III
Pope of Alexandria & Patriarch of the See of St. Mark
What is it about this fast for the Holy Theotokos that draws the Coptic Orthodox faithful with such fervor? This article provides an overview to the Fast for our Lady the Virgin. May her intercessions be with us all, Amen.
The Church celebrates the fast of our Lady the Virgin beginning with the first of Mesra (the 7th of August). It is a fast for which people care very much, and they practice it with forceful ascetism. Some add days to it, in regard to the great love that people have for the Holy Virgin.
 The fast of The Virgin is an occasion for spiritual renaissance in the majority of churches. They prepare a spiritual program for daily sermons, and some churches have daily liturgies as well, even the churches which are not in the name of The Virgin.
There is a great feast for our Lady the Virgin, which is celebrated in her ancient church in Mostorod. Feasts of other saints are also celebrated in these days: the feast of Saint George, at the monastery in Mit Damsis, is celebrated in the second half of August, and also the feast of saint Abba Macarius the Great, and the feast of Saint George in his monastery at Ruzeykat.
Around the same fast of The Virgin, we celebrate the feasts of reknowned saints: Saint Baïssa (2 Misra, 6 August), Saint Julita (6 Misra, 12 August), and Saint Marina (15 Misra, 21 August). During the fast of The Virgin, we also celebrate the feast of the glorious Transfiguration (13 Misra, 19 August). In the same month (7 Misra, 13 August), we celebrate the Feast of the Announcement by the angel Gabriel to Joachim regarding the birth of the Virgin Mary.
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Last Updated ( Friday, 28 December 2007 )
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His Holiness Pope Shenouda III
Pope of Alexandria & Patriarch of the See of St. Mark
The Feast of Pentecost has become one of the greatest feasts celebrated in the church. Therefore, we would like to discuss the Holy Spirit. Because of the importance of the Holy Spirit’s work with us, the Lord said to His disciples, the saints: “Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you” (Jn 16:7). And told them about Him, “that He may abide with you forever… and will be in you” (Jn 14:16, 17).
 The Glorified Lord Christ lived with them in His body until He rose to Heaven then promised them the Holy Spirit to stay with them forever, the Spirit of truth, the Comforter. So what should we know about the Holy Spirit?
The Holy Spirit is God’s Spirit, therefore it existed since ever. We read about it in the first verses of the Genesis Book. The divine response says: “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was without form, and void; and darkness was on the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters.” (Gn 1:1, 2).
And Isaiah talks about the Holy Spirit and gives Him names in his saying: “The Spirit of the LORD…The Spirit of wisdom and understanding, The Spirit of counsel and might, The Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD.” (Is 11:2).
And we add to that in the third Hour Prayer (Terce) of every day and say: “a spirit of prophecy and chastity, a spirit of holiness, justice and authority” and call Him by saying: “O Heavenly King, the Comforter, the Spirit of truth, who is present in all places and fills all, the treasury of good things and the Life-Giver”.
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Last Updated ( Friday, 28 December 2007 )
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His Holiness Pope Shenouda III
Pope of Alexandria & Patriarch of the See of St. Mark
My beloved children in the lands of immigration, clergy and congregation, Grace to you and peace from our Almighty and Holy God. Sincere greetings to you for the glorious Feast of the Resurrection. May God bring this occasion upon you every year while you are full of goodness and blessing. Christ, to whom is glory, rose despite the tight security over His tomb. He appeared to His holy disciples and strengthened their faith. He spoke to them about matters pertaining to the kingdom of God. He granted them the authority of the priesthood, and gave them the responsibility of pastoral care of His Church and His people. After forty days of visiting them, He arose to heaven and sat at the right hand of God (Mark 16:19). |
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Last Updated ( Tuesday, 29 May 2007 )
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