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X-WR-CALDESC:Events for ST. MARY AND ST. MENA
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20220908T080000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20220908T170000
DTSTAMP:20260611T161719
CREATED:20220504T072442Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20220504T072442Z
UID:11560-1662624000-1662656400@stsmaryandmenari.org
SUMMARY:-DEPARTURE OF ST. YOANNIS XIV\, THE 96TH POPE OF ALEXANDRIA
DESCRIPTION:September 8\, 2022 – Nasie 3\, 1738 \n\nOn this day also\, of the year 1302 A.M. (September 6\, 1586 A.D.)\, and during the reign of the Ottoman Sultan Mourad III\, Pope Yoannis XIV\, 96th Pope of Alexandria\, departed. He was from Manfalout\, and he was known by Yoannis El-Manfalouty. He became a monk at El-Baramous monastery\, in Wadi El-Natroun. He was ordained Patriarch during the reign of the Ottoman Sultan Selim II\, on the 22nd day of Baramoudah\, 1287 A.M. (April 17th\, 1571 A.D.). During his Papacy the Christians were forced to wear black turbans (head cover). He received a letter from the Pope of Rome and he answered him back. Sultan Selim asked him to collect head taxes from the Christians\, and every one complied. He went to Alexandria\, and on his way back\, he felt weak and ill at the city of El-Nahrawiah. He departed there and was buried at the Church of St. George in Birma. His body was relocated later on to El-Sourian monastery. He was on the Chair for fifteen years\, four months\, and nineteen days. May his prayers be with us and Glory be to our God forever. Amen.
URL:https://stsmaryandmenari.org/event/departure-of-st-yoannis-xiv-the-96th-pope-of-alexandria-2/
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20220908T080000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20220908T170000
DTSTAMP:20260611T161719
CREATED:20220504T072218Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20220504T072218Z
UID:11555-1662624000-1662656400@stsmaryandmenari.org
SUMMARY:-MARTYRDOM OF ST. ANDRIANUS
DESCRIPTION:September 8\, 2022 – Nasie 3\, 1738 \nOn this day also\, St. Andrianus\, one of the commanders of the army of the emperor\, was martyred. This saint\, whenever he saw a martyr he would ask him\, Why do you do that to yourself? They answered him\, In the hope of the eternal life\, and the everlasting kingdom. He went to the emperor and confessed the Lord Christ. The Emperor tortured him much then imprisoned him with many martyrs. Anatolia\, the wife of this saint\, cut off her hair\, and dressed in a man’s apparel. She came to the prison and ministered to the martyrs. She strengthened her husband\, comforted and consoled him. When other women heard about what she did\, they did the same. Later on the emperor ordered the legs of the prisoners broken until they die. This saint came and encouraged her husband until he delivered his soul to the hand of the Lord. After all the martyrs had delivered up their souls\, the emperor ordered their bodies burned\, but God brought down dew which put out the fire. Some believers carried the bodies to Pisidia. A prince asked to marry St. Anatolia\, but she refused. When she finished her strife\, she departed in peace. May their prayers be with us. Amen.
URL:https://stsmaryandmenari.org/event/martyrdom-of-st-andrianus-2/
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20220908T080000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20220908T170000
DTSTAMP:20260611T161719
CREATED:20220504T072013Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20220504T072119Z
UID:11546-1662624000-1662656400@stsmaryandmenari.org
SUMMARY:-COMMEMORATION OF THE ANGEL RAPHAEL\, THE ARCHANGEL
DESCRIPTION:September 8\, 2022 – Nasie 3\, 1738 \n\nOn this day\, the church celebrates the commemoration of the honorable Angel Raphael\, the third of the Archangels\, and the dedication of his church outside the city of Alexandria. During the time of Pope Theophilus\, the twenty-third Patriarch\, a faithful woman came from Rome\, with her children and had with her a picture of the honorable Archangel Raphael. She had inherited much money from her husband. She revealed to the Pope her desire to build many churches. He showed her a large heap\, which was in front of the patriarchate\, which she removed and built a church in its place. Then she built another church in the name of the Angel Raphael\, which was consecrated on this day. May The intercession of this honorable angel be with us. Amen.
URL:https://stsmaryandmenari.org/event/commemoration-of-the-angel-raphael-the-archangel-2/
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20220907T080000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20220907T170000
DTSTAMP:20260611T161719
CREATED:20220504T070905Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20220504T070905Z
UID:11522-1662537600-1662570000@stsmaryandmenari.org
SUMMARY:-DEPARTURE OF ST. TITUS\, THE APOSTLE
DESCRIPTION:September 7\, 2022 – Nasie 2\, 1738 \nOn this day\, St. Titus\, the Apostle\, was martyred. He was born in Crete\, and he was the nephew of the governor of the island. He learned the Greek language\, its literature and wisdom\, and he excelled in it. He was meek and merciful. When the news of our Lord Jesus Christ spread in all the land of Palestine and Syria\, the governor of Crete\, the uncle of this saint\, wanted to confirm what he had heard about the magnificent signs\, and eminent teachings of Christ. He sent Titus to verify that and to bring him accurate information. When Titus arrived in the land of Judah\, he saw the signs and heard the Divine words of the Lord Christ. He compared the words and miracles of our Lord to the words and deeds of the Greeks\, and he found a great and clear difference between them. So he believed in the Lord Christ\, and sent to his uncle telling him all that he had seen and heard. When the Lord chose the seventy apostles\, Titus was one of them. After the ascension of our Lord Christ\, Titus received the grace of the Holy Spirit along with the disciples. He accompanied the apostle Paul to many countries. When St. Paul went to Rome\, St. Titus returned to Crete. He built a church there\, and ordained for it priests and deacons. Having finished his apostolic strife\, St. Titus departed in peace. May his prayers be with us and Glory be to our God forever. Amen.
URL:https://stsmaryandmenari.org/event/departure-of-st-titus-the-apostle-2/
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20220906T080000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20220906T170000
DTSTAMP:20260611T161719
CREATED:20220504T070813Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20220504T070813Z
UID:11516-1662451200-1662483600@stsmaryandmenari.org
SUMMARY:-MARTYRDOM OF ST.PISHAY (ABSHAI)\, THE ANTIOCHIAN
DESCRIPTION:September 6\, 2022 – Nasie 1\, 1738 \nOn this day also\, St. Pishay (Abshai)\, the brother of St. Bahor (Abba Hor – St. Hour)\, was martyred. He was from the city of Antioch\, and because of his piety and knowledge\, he was ordained a priest. When his brother\, Abba Hour\, and his mother went to Alexandria\, they were martyred on the twenty-ninth of the month of Baounah. This saint gave all his possessions to the poor and the needy\, and came to Alexandria to be blessed by their bodies. When he saw the two bodies\, he wept much\, then went to the governor and confessed the Lord Christ before him. The governor tortured him much until he delivered up his pure soul. The governor ordered his body burned along with the bodies of his brother and his mother\, and the bodies of other martyrs\, eighty-eight in number. Certain believers came and took the bodies of Sts. Pishay\, Abba Hour\, their mother\, and the bodies of Sts. Tabamoun (Damon)\, of the city of Danbak (Debkeya)\, Abimachus (Bimakos)\, from the city of El-Baramon\, and Barashenoufah (Wursunufa)\, of the city of Teliah (Tuluya)\, and carried them to the city of Ansabashy (Ablasi)\, where the believers received them with great reverence. May their prayers be with us and Glory be to our God forever. Amen.
URL:https://stsmaryandmenari.org/event/martyrdom-of-st-pishay-abshai-the-antiochian-2/
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20220906T080000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20220906T170000
DTSTAMP:20260611T161719
CREATED:20220504T070713Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20220504T071838Z
UID:11511-1662451200-1662483600@stsmaryandmenari.org
SUMMARY:-DEPARTURE OF ST.EUTYCHUS
DESCRIPTION:September 6\, 2022 – Nasie 1\, 1738 \nDeparture of St.Eutychus\nOn this day\, St. Eutychus\, the disciple of St. John the Evangelist\, departed. After he spent some time with the apostle\, Eutychus asked for his permission to go to St. Paul\, the Apostle\, and St. John allowed him. He went to St. Paul and preached the Name of Christ with him\, and returned many of the Jews and the pagans to the Lord Christ and baptized them. He converted temples of idols to churches\, and he endured tribulations\, imprisonment\, and beatings for many days. He was cast in the fire\, but he was not harmed\, and was cast to the lions\, which did not harm him but rather became friendly towards him. He went to Sebastia and preached there\, and the angel of the Lord was with him and strengthened him. It was said\, that this saint was the young man who sat in a window and was sinking into a deep sleep. He was overcome by sleep; and as Paul continued speaking\, he fell down from the third story and was taken up dead\, and St. Paul raised him with his prayers. (Acts 20:9)\nMay his blessings be with us. Amen.
URL:https://stsmaryandmenari.org/event/departure-of-st-eutychus-2/
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20220905T080000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20220905T170000
DTSTAMP:20260611T161719
CREATED:20220504T070553Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20220504T070553Z
UID:11504-1662364800-1662397200@stsmaryandmenari.org
SUMMARY:-DEPARTURE OF ST. MALACHI\, THE PROPHET
DESCRIPTION:September 5\, 2022 – Mesra 30\, 1738 \nOn this day\, the great prophet\, Malachi\, one of the twelve minor prophets\, departed. He prophesied about the return of the people from captivity in Babylon to Jerusalem. He rebuked the children of Israel because of their transgression against God and His Law. He also admonished them because of their vile offerings\, and prophesied about the acceptance of the Gentiles when he said\, For from the rising of the sun\, even to its going down\, my name shall be great among the Gentiles; In every place incense shall be offered to My name\, and a pure offering; For My name shall be great among the nations. (Malachi 1:11) He pointed out to them that they did not give the tithes nor their first fruits\, by saying\, ‘Bring all the tithes into the storehouse\, that there may be food in My house\, and prove Me now in this\,’ says the LORD of hosts\, ‘If I will not open for you the windows of heaven And pour out for you such blessing That there will not be room enough to receive it. And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes\, so that he will not destroy the fruit of your ground\, nor shall the vine fail to bear fruit for you in the field\,’ says the LORD of hosts. (Malachi 3:10-11) \nHe prophesied about the coming of St. John the baptizer before the Lord\, the Savior of the World\, by saying\, ‘Behold\, I send My messenger\, and he will prepare the way before Me. And the Lord\, whom you seek\, will suddenly come to His temple\, even the Messenger of the covenant\, in whom you delight. Behold\, He is coming\,’ says the LORD of hosts. (Malachi 3:1) He also prophesied about the coming of Elijah before the Lord at His second coming\, saying\, Behold\, I will send you Elijah the Prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD. And he will turn the hearts of the fathers to the children\, and the hearts of the children to their fathers\, lest I come and strike the earth with a curse. (Malachi 4:5-6) Having pleased God by his strife\, and having completed his days in peace\, he departed to God Whom he loved. May his prayers be with us and Glory be to our God forever. Amen.
URL:https://stsmaryandmenari.org/event/departure-of-st-malachi-the-prophet-2/
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20220904T080000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20220904T170000
DTSTAMP:20260611T161719
CREATED:20220504T070448Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20220504T070448Z
UID:11499-1662278400-1662310800@stsmaryandmenari.org
SUMMARY:-ARRIVAL OF THE HOLY RELIC OF ST. JOHN\, THE SHORT\, TO THE WILDERNESS OF SCETIS
DESCRIPTION:September 4\, 2022 – Mesra 29\, 1738 \nOn this day also\, in the year 515 A.D.\, the body of the great saint Anba John\, the Short\, was relocated from Al-Qulzum (Red Sea) to the wilderness of Scetis. When Pope John (Youhanna)\, 48th Pope of Alexandria\, was in the wilderness of Scetis\, some of the monks expressed their wish to relocate the relics of St. John\, the Short\, to his monastery. The Grace of God moved the Pope\, and he wrote a letter by the hand of the Hegumen Kosman and Hegumen Boctor\, from the elders\, and sent them to Al-Qulzum. They were not able to take the body because it was in the hands of the followers of the Council of Chalcedon. So they returned empty handed. Shortly after\, a prince from the Arabs took charge of Al-Qulzum\, and he was a friend of Anba Michael\, bishop of Epla’os. Once again the Patriarch wrote another letter to the bishop expressing his wish to take the body of St. John and to send it with the monks carrying his letter. The bishop rejoiced with the letter\, and informed the prince about the wish of the Patriarch. The prince asked\, How could they reach the place? His scribe answered him\, Let the monks put Arab garments over their own apparel\, and let them come with us to the place. The monks came in\, along with the Arabs\, to the place where the body was. The monks carried the body and walked all night until they came to Misr\, and then went to the wilderness. The monks of the monastery of St. Macarius went out carrying crosses and censers and met them with songs and hymns. They brought the body of St. John to where the body of St. Macarius was. They poured many perfumes and fragrant oil over him\, then carried him to his monastery while they were chanting. The monks of his monastery received him with joy and happiness. When Pope Mark (Marcus)\, 49th Patriarch\, was ordained\, and went to the wilderness with the bishops of Lower Egypt and some priests\, he visited the monastery of this saint. He uncovered the holy relic of the saint\, and he was blessed by it. He covered him with the sackcloth that was covering him\, then wrapped him in fine linens. The monks praised and thanked God\, and sang many hymns and songs for this holy father. May his prayers be with us and Glory be to our God forever. Amen.
URL:https://stsmaryandmenari.org/event/arrival-of-the-holy-relic-of-st-john-the-short-to-the-wilderness-of-scetis-2/
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20220904T080000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20220904T170000
DTSTAMP:20260611T161719
CREATED:20220504T070345Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20220504T071710Z
UID:11495-1662278400-1662310800@stsmaryandmenari.org
SUMMARY:-MARTYRDOM OF SAINTS ATHANASIUS\, THE BISHOP\, GERASIMUS (JARASIMUS)\, AND THEODOTUS
DESCRIPTION:September 4\, 2022 – Mesra 29\, 1738 \n\nOn this day\, Sts. Athanasius\, the Bishop\, Gerasimus (Jarasimus)\, and Theodotus\, his two servants\, were martyred. Certain men laid an accusation against the bishop before Arianus\, the governor\, that he had baptized the daughter of Antonios\, the chancellor. Arianus brought St. Athanasius and asked him to worship the idols. The bishop refused and declared his faith in the Lord Christ. The governor tortured him with severely painful tortures\, and when he saw him getting firmer in his faith\, he ordered to cut off his neck and the necks of the two servants with him. Some believers took their bodies\, shrouded them\, and laid them in coffins. God honored them by manifesting many signs and wonders from their bodies. May their prayers be with us. Amen.
URL:https://stsmaryandmenari.org/event/martyrdom-of-saints-athanasius-the-bishop-gerasimus-jarasimus-and-theodotus-2/
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20220903T080000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20220903T170000
DTSTAMP:20260611T161719
CREATED:20220504T070259Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20220504T070259Z
UID:11491-1662192000-1662224400@stsmaryandmenari.org
SUMMARY:-COMMEMORATION OF THE PATRIARCHS: ABRAHAM\, ISAAC\, AND JACOB
DESCRIPTION:September 3\, 2022 – Mesra 28\, 1738 \n\nOn this day\, the church celebrates the holy Patriarchs: Abraham\, Isaac\, and Jacob. \n\n1. Our father Abraham:\nWho can describe the virtues of he who became father to many nations? He believed in God\, obeyed Him\, and did not doubt His promises. The Lord appeared to him in a vision at night and told him\, ‘Get out of your country\, away from your family and from your father’s house\, to a land that I will show you. I will make you a great nation; I will bless you and make your name great; and you shall be a blessing.’ (Genesis 12:1-2) Then the Lord appeared to Abraham in the form of three men. He welcomed them\, for they were strangers\, and God promised him the birth of Isaac. Abraham was then one hundred years old; Sarah\, his wife\, was advanced in age\, and they believed the promise of God. \nWhen Isaac was born\, Abraham\, his father\, circumcised him on the eighth day of his birth. Although he was sure that through his procreation all the nations of the earth would be blessed\, God told him\, ‘Take now your son\, your only son Isaac\, whom you love\, and offer him there as a burnt offering.’ He did not doubt the promise of God. He began to offer his son as a sacrifice\, confident that God would raise him\, and raise offspring through him. When he fulfilled the sacrifice of Isaac by intention\, God revealed his virtues to the generations to come by saying\, ‘By Myself I have sworn\, says the LORD\, because you have done this thing\, and have not withheld your son\, your only son\, in blessing I will bless you\, and in multiplying I will multiply your descendants as the stars of the heaven.’ (Genesis 22:1-18) That was fulfilled and he was called the father of Christ in flesh. (Luke 3:34) He departed in peace when he was one hundred seventy-five years old. May his prayers be with us. Amen. \n\n2. Our father Isaac\nHe was born by a divine promise\, and he was perfect in piety and obedience to God and to his father. He was willing to be sacrificed by his father as an offering to God\, although he was the son of the promise\, and his father begot him when he was one hundred years old. Isaac was not a child then\, for the Bible said\, ‘So Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering and laid it on Isaac his son\, and went to the place which was afar off.’ Some historians say that Isaac’s age then was about thirty-seven years old. He obeyed his father\, and laid down his neck for slaying\, but the angel of the Lord ordered his father not to lay his hand on the lad. As it was considered that Abraham had fulfilled the sacrifice of his son by intention\, it was also considered that Isaac was sacrificed by intention. \nHe suffered many tribulations and sorrows. God gave him two sons\, Esau and Jacob. Isaac loved Esau for his bravery. When Isaac was old and his eyes were so dim that he could not see\, he called Esau\, his older son\, and said to him\, ‘My son … behold now\, I am old. I do not know the day of my death. Now therefore\, please … go out to the field and hunt game for me. And make me savory food … that I may eat\, that my soul may bless you before I die.’ Rebekah was listening when Isaac spoke to Esau his son. She spoke to Jacob her son\, saying\, ‘… Go now to the flock and bring me from there two choice kids of the goats\, and I will make savory food from them for your father\, such as he loves … that he may bless you before his death.’ Jacob said to Rebekah his mother\, ‘Look\, Esau my brother is a hairy man\, and I am a smooth-skinned man. Perhaps my father will feel me\, and I shall seem to be a deceiver to him; and I shall bring a curse on myself and not a blessing.’ But his mother said to him\, ‘Let your curse be on me\, my son.’ (Genesis 27:1-29) She did that by a divine inspiration. Jacob did as his mother ordered him\, and his father ate and blessed him. Isaac departed in peace when he was one hundred eighty years old. ay his prayers be with us. Amen. \n\n3. The father of the Tribes Jacob\nEsau\, his brother\, hated him for he took the blessing of their father from him. Jacob feared Esau\, and fled to Laban\, his uncle. He shepherded Laban’s sheep for seven years and Laban gave Jacob his daughter\, Leah\, in marriage. Then Jacob served another seven years\, and Laban gave him his second daughter\, Rachel\, in marriage. (Genesis 29:15-30) Then Laban\, his uncle\, told him\, ‘The sheep that are streaked shall be your wages\, then all the flocks bore streaked.’ (Genesis 31:4-8) \nGod made him exceedingly wealthy. He returned with his two wives\, Leah and Rachel\, and God blessed him with twelve sons. He saw God face to face and wrestled with him until the breaking of day\, and God called him Israel. \nHe suffered many sorrows and tribulations\, such as the selling of Joseph his son as a servant to the Egyptians\, the loss of his sight\, the severe famine\, and others as mentioned in the Holy Bible. His son Joseph then rose to power and became the second man in Egypt after the Pharaoh\, and he tried until he was able to bring his father Jacob to Egypt\, where he stayed for seventeen years. When his departure drew near he called his twelve sons and blessed them. When he blessed Judah\, he said\, ‘The scepter shall not depart from Judah\, nor a lawgiver from between his feet\, until Shiloh comes; and to Him shall be the obedience of the people.’ That was a prophesy about the coming of the Lord Christ from his seed. When he was one hundred forty-seven years\, he departed in peace\, after commanding that he be buried in the tomb of his fathers. Joseph carried him in the chariot of Pharaoh\, brought him to the land of Canaan\, where he was buried with his fathers. May his prayers be with us and Glory be to our God forever. Amen.
URL:https://stsmaryandmenari.org/event/commemoration-of-the-patriarchs-abraham-isaac-and-jacob-2/
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20220902T080000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20220902T170000
DTSTAMP:20260611T161719
CREATED:20220504T070209Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20220504T070209Z
UID:11487-1662105600-1662138000@stsmaryandmenari.org
SUMMARY:-MARTYRDOM OF ST. MARY\, THE ARMENIAN
DESCRIPTION:September 2\, 2022 – Mesra 27\, 1738 \nOn this day also\, St. Mary the Armenian\, was martyred. She was captured by the Moslems\, who asked her to deny her faith in the Lord Christ. She refused\, so they tortured her severely\, but she remained steadfast in her faith. They threatened to burn her alive in a blazing pit\, by the gate of Zoweila in Cairo. Many gathered there\, and the crowd tried to frighten her from the suffering and to persuade her to change her counsel\, but she answered saying\, It is good that I deliver up my soul in the hands of my Master\, Lord\, and Savior Jesus Christ. Then she quickly threw herself in the fiery pit. Thus she received the crown of martyrdom. May her prayers be with us\, and Glory be to God forever. Amen.
URL:https://stsmaryandmenari.org/event/martyrdom-of-st-mary-the-armenian-2/
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20220902T080000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20220902T170000
DTSTAMP:20260611T161719
CREATED:20220504T070119Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20220504T070119Z
UID:11483-1662105600-1662138000@stsmaryandmenari.org
SUMMARY:-MARTYRDOM OF SAINTS BENJAMIN AND HIS SISTER EUDEXIA
DESCRIPTION:September 2\, 2022 – Mesra 27\, 1738 \nOn this day\, St. Benjamin and his sister St. Eudexia\, were martyred. Their parents were pious Christians who loved sojourners. They brought them up in a Christian manner. When Benjamin grew up\, he longed to be martyred for the sake of the Name of Christ. He went to Shatanouf and confessed the Lord Christ before the governor. The governor tortured him much then cast him in prison. When his parents and sister knew about this\, they came to him weeping\, but he comforted them\, and told them about the vanity of the world and the life of the coming age which has no end. When his sister heard that\, she told him\, God lives\, I shall not separate from you until we die together. The governor cast them in a dark place for twenty days. Then he took them out and hung heavy stones on their necks and threw them in the river. The Angel of the Lord came and loosened the stones. They swam until they arrived at the town of Petra. A virgin found them and rescued them. They then returned to the governor and again they confessed The Lord Christ before him. The governor ordered to cut off their heads and they received the crown of martyrdom. The faithful built a church in their names in their town Shanshour. May their prayers be with us. Amen.
URL:https://stsmaryandmenari.org/event/martyrdom-of-saints-benjamin-and-his-sister-eudexia-2/
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20220901T080000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20220901T170000
DTSTAMP:20260611T161719
CREATED:20220504T070029Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20220504T070029Z
UID:11479-1662019200-1662051600@stsmaryandmenari.org
SUMMARY:-MARTYRDOM OF ST. AGABIUS\, THE SOLDIER\, AND HIS SISTER THECLA
DESCRIPTION:September 1\, 2022 – Mesra 26\, 1738 \n\nOn this day also\, St. Agabius\, the Soldier\, and his pious sister Thecla\, were martyred. They lived during the time of Julian the Infidel\, and they confessed the Lord Christ before him. He cast them to the lions\, and they received the crowns of martyrdom. May their prayers be with us and Glory be to God forever. Amen.
URL:https://stsmaryandmenari.org/event/martyrdom-of-st-agabius-the-soldier-and-his-sister-thecla-2/
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20220901T080000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20220901T170000
DTSTAMP:20260611T161719
CREATED:20220504T065941Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20220504T065941Z
UID:11471-1662019200-1662051600@stsmaryandmenari.org
SUMMARY:-MARTYRDOM OF ST. MOSES (MOISEES) AND HIS SISTER SARAH
DESCRIPTION:September 1\, 2022 – Mesra 26\, 1738 \n\nOn this day\, St. Moses (Moisees) and his righteous sister Sarah\, were martyred. They were born to rich\, Christian parents. When their parents departed\, St.Moisees wanted to give his sister in marriage\, and to hand over to her all their possessions\, and to go and become a monk. She answered him and said\, If you would get married first\, then I also can get married. He said\, I have committed many sins\, and I want to become a monk to blot out my sins. I can not attend to the marriage and the salvation of my soul at the same time. She answered him saying\, O my brother\, how can you cast me to the snares of this transitory world\, while you seek to save your own soul? He said\, Whatever you wish\, I will do. She said\, What you do for your self\, I likewise will do for myself. When he saw her strong determination\, he dispersed all their money to the poor and the needy. He took his sister to a convent for virgins\, which was outside Alexandria. He also entered one of the monasteries for men. They did not see each other for ten years. When Emperor Decius incited persecution against the Christians\, during the papacy of Pope Demetrius\, the twelfth Patriarch of Alexandria\, many were martyred. St. Moses (Moisees) sent to his sister Sarah to bid her farewell and to inform her that he wished to shed his blood in the Name of the Lord Christ. She rose up immediately and asked the abbess to release her. After she took the blessings of her sisters the nuns\, she joined her brother on his way to Alexandria. They confessed the Lord Christ before the governor. After they had been tortured severely\, their heads were cut off\, and they received the crowns of martyrdom. May their prayers be with us. Amen.
URL:https://stsmaryandmenari.org/event/martyrdom-of-st-moses-moisees-and-his-sister-sarah-2/
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20220831T080000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20220831T170000
DTSTAMP:20260611T161719
CREATED:20220504T073613Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20220504T073613Z
UID:11591-1661932800-1661965200@stsmaryandmenari.org
SUMMARY:-DEPARTURE OF ST. MACARIUS III\, THE 114TH POPE OF ALEXANDRIA
DESCRIPTION:August 31\, 2022 – Mesra 25\, 1738 \nOn this day also\, of the year 1661 A.M. (August 31st\, 1945 A.D.)\, Pope Macarius III\, 114th Patriarch of Alexandria\, departed. He was born in the city of El-Mahalla El-Koubra\, on February 18th\, 1872 A.D.\, to an old\, respectable family. His family was know by El-Kasees family (The family of the priest)\, which was virtuous and godly. He grew up from a young age in a religious and pious atmosphere. He received his primary and secondary education in El-Mahalla El-Koubra and Tanta. Even as a young man\, he was ascetic\, longed for solitary life\, and enthusiastic about memorizing the church hymns. When he was sixteen years old\, he deserted the world and went to the monastery of Anba Bishoy in Wadi El-Natroun\, in the year 1888 A.D.\, to fulfill his desire for asceticism and worship. His name was Monk Abdel-Mesieh. He devoted himself to worship and to the study of the Holy Bible\, ecclesiastical books\, and Coptic rituals. In a short time his virtues and righteousness were evident\, and his pure life became known to the monks. He was distinguished for transcribing books\, and his Coptic and Arabic penmanship was exquisite. He perfected the religious Coptic artistic decorations. After he was ordained a priest he spent about six years in the pure ascetic life. \nIn the year 1895 A.D.\, Macarius went to the Baramous monastery\, where he was ordained Archpriest (hegumen) by Pope Kyrillos V\, and became his private secretary. The Pope delegated him to teach the Coptic and French languages in the theological school for monks. He intended to ordain him a bishop for Misr (Cairo)\, but two years after the arrival of Fr. Abdel-Meseih to Cairo\, Anba Michael\, bishop of Assiut\, departed. A delegation from Assiut came to Cairo\, they chose this honorable hegumen and nominated him to be a metropolitan for Assiut. In the beginning\, the Pope did not accept their petition\, for he kept Macarius in order to ordain him a bishop for Cairo and as an assistant to His Holiness\, in managing the affairs of the See of St. Mark. But when the delegation persisted in their demand\, the Pope accepted their petition\, and ordained Macarius a metropolitan for Assiut on July 11th\, 1897 A.D. (Abib 5th\, 1613 A.M.). He called him Macarius\, and he was twenty-four years old. He went to his parish as a young man\, with no armors but his piety\, asceticism\, and knowledge. He embarked\, with the wisdom of the elders inspite of his young age\, with his strong will\, and with the help of the Lord\, on bringing together the factions of his congregation\, and establishing the Faith. So\, he maintained the unity of his people\, and the position and reverence of the church\, and he was quite successful in it. He was not content with the program that he placed for the church reform\, but he also held an immense Coptic conference in the city of Assiut in year 1910 A.D.\, inspite of all the objections that rose against it. He also submitted along with Anba Theophilus\, then bishop of Manfalot and Abnoup\, in early 1920 A.D.\, a petition to Pope Kyrillos V. This petition contained the required administrative and financial reforms\, which indicated his great competence. \nWhen Pope Kyrillos V\, departed in 1928 A.D.\, the people nominated Abba Macarius for the Patriarchal chair to achieve the required reforms\, but the circumstances then prevented that. When Pope Yoannis IXX\, departed\, the Divine grace permitted that Anba Macarius be enthroned on the throne of St. Mark. He was ordained Patriarch for the See of St. Mark on Sunday\, February 19th\, 1944 A.D. After his enthronement to the Patriarchal chair\, Anba Macarius issued on February 22nd\, 1944 A.D.\, a historical document. Its main objective was to reform the monasteries\, and promote their monks spiritually\, and scientifically. He also ordered that the heads and the administrators of the monasteries be accountable. This lead to a major contention between the Holy Synod and the General Coptic Community Council (Maglis El-Milli). On June 7th\, 1944 A.D.\, the Holy Synod submitted a memorandum to the Pope and to the minister of Justice. They objected to the draft of the Marital and Personal Law for the non-Muslim denominations\, for it subverted a canon of the Coptic Orthodox Church\, as it affected two of the Holy Sacraments of the church which are the sacrament of Priesthood and Matrimony. These sacraments are cornerstone of the Christian religion and worship. The dispute between the Synod and the Council continued\, and all the attempts of reconciliation failed. The efforts of the Pope to eliminate the misunderstanding failed also. The council insisted on interfering in what was not its jurisdiction\, and in what was the core jurisdiction of the Holy Synod. As a result\, the Pope was compelled to leave the Capital\, and the Papal residence\, for seclusion in Helwan\, then went to the Eastern monasteries accompanied by the metropolitans. He remained for a while in St.Antony’s monastery then went to the monastery of Anba Paul. All these painful events had strong impact in all the circles and distressed every devout in the church. \nWhen the Prime Minister knew about the departure of the Pope to the monastery\, he worked on the return of the Pope in honor to his Chair\, and his efforts were successful. Meanwhile\, the Coptic Community Council (Maglis El-Milli) sent a letter to the Pope asking for his return\, to be able to manage the affairs of the church\, and promised the cooperation in the needed reforms. Later\, the Pope returned from the monastery\, and the people received him with joy and reverence. \nThe Holy Synod convened\, with Anba Macarius presiding\, on January 1st\, 1945\, and issued many resolutions\, which follow:\n+ The representation of The Ethiopian church in the Alexandrian Synod.\n+ The exchange of delegations between Egypt and Ethiopia\, and the establishment of a seminary in Ethiopia.\n+ Restriction of divorce on the grounds of adultery only.\n+ Legislation of the Family and Marital Law.\n+ Rules for nominating and electing the Patriarch that coincide with the canons of the church and its tradition\n+ Establishment of a Theological seminary for the monks.\n+ Formation of a permanent committee to revue all the ecclesiastical books.\n+ The safeguarding of the endowment funds\, and improvement of the office procedures at the administrative offices of the patriarchate.\n+ Strict enforcement of the Monastic Law that was issued on June 3rd\, 1937 A.D.\, and the return of all the monks that were living outside their monasteries.\n+ Establishment of a record in each church to register the members of each Coptic family\, and another to register the baptized\, the departed\, and the deacons. \nOn June 6th\, 1945 A.D.\, the Russian Patriarch visited Cairo. Pope Macarius sent a delegation of metropolitans and bishops to be in his reception. Then they exchanged the cordial visits. Once again a dispute between H.H. the Pope and the General Coptic Community Council (Maglis El-Milli) took place. This time the dispute was not resolved before the Pope took the initiative to defend the position and dignity of his nation\, the canons of the churches\, and the Family Marital Law for non-Muslims in particular. On May 30th\, 1945 A.D. all the leaders of the non-Muslim denominations in Egypt\, headed by the Patriarch of the Coptic Orthodox Church\, presented a memorandum to the minister of Justice objecting to the special law that regulated the denominational family affairs courts. Also copies were sent to the senate and the house of representatives. The memorandum focused on the objections\, to better suit the Christian rites and traditions. The Pope suffered from a severe weakness two weeks before his departure that forced him to rest in his residence. On Thursday evening\, the 24th of Misra\, 1661 A.M. (August 30th\, 1945 A.D.)\, he felt fatigued and he suffered from heart failure. The doctors rushed to his bedside trying to save him till dawn. At 9:15 Friday morning\, 31st of August\, 1945 A.D.\, his pure soul departed to its creator. On Sunday\, the second of September\, his pure body was taken to its final resting place in the church with the signs of grief and sorrow. His coffin was placed beside the bodies of the patriarchs\, his predecessors. He remained on the Patriarchal throne for one year\, six months\, and nineteen days. May God accept him in the habitations of the righteous. Coincidentally\, an earthquake was felt in Cairo at 2:45pm at the time of his burial. Everyone felt it\, and the believers were touched\, for nature shared their sorrow for the departure of this pure saint. May his prayers be with us and Glory be to God forever. Amen.
URL:https://stsmaryandmenari.org/event/departure-of-st-macarius-iii-the-114th-pope-of-alexandria-2/
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DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20220831T080000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20220831T170000
DTSTAMP:20260611T161719
CREATED:20220504T073516Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20220504T073516Z
UID:11589-1661932800-1661965200@stsmaryandmenari.org
SUMMARY:-DEPARTURE OF ST. BESSARION\, THE GREAT
DESCRIPTION:August 31\, 2022 – Mesra 25\, 1738 \nOn this day\, the great ascetic father\, St. Bessarion\, departed. He was born in Misr (Egypt) to Christian parents. When he grew up\, he longed for the monastic life\, so he went to Anba Anthony (Antonius)\, under whose direction he remained for a while. Then he went to Anba Macarius\, and stayed under his guidance for a while. Later on\, he wandered about in the desert\, never lodging in a place with a roof. He possessed absolutely nothing of this world\, and he had only one coarse hairy sack-cloth. He used to carry the Gospel\, and went round the cells of the monks crying. If they asked him the reason for his weeping\, he would reply\, My riches have all been stolen\, and I have escaped from death. My family have fallen from honor into disgrace. His words referred to the great loss that befell the human race by the fall of the first father Adam by breaking the first commandment. Those who did not understand what his words meant would console him saying\, God shall restore what has been stolen from you. \nThe fathers had recorded for him many signs:\n+ Once he was walking with his two disciples\, John and Dulas\, by the shore of the Red Sea (salty water). When they became thirsty\, St. Bessarion took some of its water and prayed over it. The water became sweet and they all drank of it.\n+ Another time\, they brought to the wilderness of Scetis a mad man\, who was possessed by demons\, for the elders to pray over. Because the elders knew that St.Bessarion despised the glory of men\, they did not want to ask him to pray over the sick man\, but rather they put the man in the church where the saint usually stood. When St. Bessarion came into the church and found the man there asleep\, he woke him up\, and the man rose up healed and with a sound mind. God wrought many signs on his hands. He pleased God and then departed in peace. May his prayers be with us. Amen.
URL:https://stsmaryandmenari.org/event/departure-of-st-bessarion-the-great-2/
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DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20220830T080000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20220830T170000
DTSTAMP:20260611T161719
CREATED:20220504T073433Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20220504T073433Z
UID:11587-1661846400-1661878800@stsmaryandmenari.org
SUMMARY:-DEPARTURE OF ST. THOMAS\, BISHOP OF MAR
DESCRIPTION:August 30\, 2022 – Mesra 24\, 1738 \nOn this day also\, the fighter father\, St. Thomas\, Bishop of Mar’ash\, departed. He was an ascetic worshipper\, who fasted and prayed continually\, with many merciful deeds. Therefore\, they ordained him a bishop for the city of Mar’ash. He shepherded the flock of Christ with the best of care. When the infidel Emperor Diocletian reigned\, he sent one of his representatives to the city of Mar’ash to torture the Christians. He started with this saint. He ordered the saint to worship the idols. The saint not only disobeyed him but also rebuked him on his idolatry. He tortured the saint severely by flogging\, and dismemberment\, then he cast him in an abandoned prison. From time to time\, he ordered to dismember one of his organs. First they cut his ears\, then nose\, lips\, his legs\, then they smashed his teeth. He was left in this prison for twenty-two years. His congregation thought that he had died\, and they celebrated an annual commemoration for him. A faithful woman came to him by night\, and threw to him provisions through a small opening. \nThe saint remained in this condition until the righteous Emperor Constantine reigned and declared the glory of the Christian faith\, and ordered the release of the faithful from prisons. The woman informed some priests of the whereabouts of this saint. The priests came to the saint\, carried him to the church with songs and hymns. The people came forward for his blessing and kissed the places where he was dismembered. When the Emperor assembled the council of Nicea\, this saint was one of those attended. As the Emperor came to the council\, he knelt before the fathers and kissed their hands. When he knew what had happened to this father\, he asked for his blessings. As the council adjourned\, he and the other bishops returned to their dioceses. He gathered his priests and congregation\, read to them the creed that was instituted by the council\, and also explained to them what was difficult to understand. Afterwards the saint lived for a short period then departed in peace\, when his episcopate was about forty years. May his prayers be with us and Glory be to God forever. Amen.
URL:https://stsmaryandmenari.org/event/departure-of-st-thomas-bishop-of-mar-2/
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DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20220830T080000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20220830T170000
DTSTAMP:20260611T161719
CREATED:20220504T073244Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20220504T073244Z
UID:11584-1661846400-1661878800@stsmaryandmenari.org
SUMMARY:-DEPARTURE OF ST. TAKLA HAYMANOT\, THE ETHIOPIAN
DESCRIPTION:August 30\, 2022 – Mesra 24\, 1738 \nOn this day\, the great hermit and the blessed St. Takla Haymanot\, the Ethiopian\, departed. He was born in a village nearby Jerusalem which was the share of Zadok and Abia-thar the priests during the reign of King Soliman\, son of King David. Zadok begot Azariah\, Azariah begot Zadok\, who was named after his grandfather\, and Zadok begot Levi\, and so forth till the father of this saint was born. His name was Tsega Ze-Ab (which means the Grace of the Father) and he married a woman whose name was Sarah. They were righteous\, God fearing and very rich. They always celebrated the commemoration of the honorable Archangel Michael on the twelfth day of each Coptic month\, and gave alms to the poor and the needy. Sarah\, the mother of this saint\, was very beautiful\, meek and adorned with many virtues\, hence they called her Egezi-Hareya (i.e. God has chosen her). However\, She and her husband were bitter and sad because they did not have any children. She went daily to the church imploring God to give her a child that would delight her heart. Her husband also went to the church at the time of the offering of the incense and taught the congregation the fundamentals of faith. Every time he went to the church he took from his own money an offering to the house of God. They both agreed to disperse their money to the poor\, the needy\, the monasteries and the churches. \nMeanwhile the king died\, and another king reigned who worshipped the idols. The new king demolished the churches and built pagan temples. He was unjust and he plundered and captured women\, among them Egezi-Hareya\, the mother of St. Takla. Later she returned safely to her husband and both glorified God and praised His Holy Name. Afterwards\, the angel of the Lord appeared to them in a vision at night\, and announced to them the birth of this saint. When the saint was about one and half years old\, a famine befell Ethiopia. When the twelfth day of the blessed month of Baramhat\, the commemoration of the honorable head of the Heavenly hosts\, drew near\, Sarah\, the mother of the child\, was crying because she was not able to celebrate this occasion. The child wiped away her tears with his little hands and yet he was still unable to talk. He pointed to her to carry him to where there was a plate with a little flour in it. She took him to the plate where he dipped his hand in the flour. The flour increased until it was pouring onto the floor. She brought baskets and every time she emptied the plate\, it became full again\, until she had filled twelve baskets. His mother then knew that God was with the child. Then she brought to him the empty container of oil. He placed his hand over it and it was filled with the power of God. In the same fashion\, other containers in the house were filled. When Tsega Ze-Ab\, the father of the child\, returned from the church and knew what happened\, he glorified God. They celebrated the commemoration of the archangel Michael\, fed the poor and all the neighbors. God honored this saint with many miracles that he performed during his life and also after his departure. When St. Takla Haymanot completed his good strife\, he departed in peace. May his prayers be with us. Amen.
URL:https://stsmaryandmenari.org/event/departure-of-st-takla-haymanot-the-ethiopian-2/
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20220829T080000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20220829T170000
DTSTAMP:20260611T161719
CREATED:20220504T073144Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20220504T073144Z
UID:11582-1661760000-1661792400@stsmaryandmenari.org
SUMMARY:-MARTYRDOM OF ST. DAMIAN IN ANTIOCH
DESCRIPTION:August 29\, 2022 – Mesra 23\, 1738 \nOn this day also\, St. Damian was martyred in the city of Antioch. He suffered many tortures and endured severe afflictions until he delivered up his soul in the hand of the Lord. May his prayers be with us and Glory be to God forever. Amen.
URL:https://stsmaryandmenari.org/event/martyrdom-of-st-damian-in-antioch-2/
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DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20220829T080000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20220829T170000
DTSTAMP:20260611T161719
CREATED:20220504T073057Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20220504T073057Z
UID:11580-1661760000-1661792400@stsmaryandmenari.org
SUMMARY:-MARTYRDOM OF THIRTY-THOUSAND CHRISTIANS IN ALEXANDRIA
DESCRIPTION:August 29\, 2022 – Mesra 23\, 1738 \nOn this day\, is the commemoration of the martyrdom of the thirty thousand Christians in the city of Alexandria. When Emperor Marcianus banished Pope Dioscorus to the island of Gagra\, he appointed Brotarius\, a Patriarch\, in his place. The bishops of Egypt refused to have a fellowship with him. They assembled a council against him\, the Council of Chalcedon\, and the tome of Leo. Brotarius became raged and with the aid of the government forces he attacked and plundered the monasteries and churches. Then he confiscated all their endowments for himself and he became wealthy. Thieves attacked him during the night\, killed him\, and plundered what he had. His friends sent to the Emperor saying\, The followers of Dioscorus were the ones that killed the Patriarch that was appointed by the Emperor. The Emperor became furious and sent a number of his soldiers\, who killed about thirty thousand Christians in the city of Alexandria. Shortly after\, Marcianus died and was succeeded by Leo the Great. The bishops of Egypt seized this opportunity and ordained Fr. Timothy a Patriarch for Alexandria. Immediately the new Pope assembled a council and excommunicated the Council of Chalcedon. The heretics informed the Emperor saying\, Those who killed Brotarius ordained for themselves a Patriarch without permission from the Emperor. The Emperor was enraged and he exiled Abba Timothy and his brother Anatolius to the island of Gagra. They remained there for seven years until Emperor Leo the Less released them. After the return of Pope Timothy\, he cooperated with Abba Peter of Antioch\, and assembled a council of five hundred bishops in the capital. This council judged to refuse the Council of Chalcedon\, and also Pope Cyril of Alexandria (Kyrillos I) said\, The union of the Divinity and the Humanity\, like the union of fire and iron\, the hammering of the iron affects only the iron\, but doesn’t affect the fire\, although it shares a unity with the iron. The union of the Divinity with the Humanity gave an infinitive value for the one Who suffered for the sake of the salvation of all the humanity. affirmed the teaching of the unity of the natures of the Lord Christ. They also presented their report to the Emperor who approved it. The Emperor issued an edict that dictated to abide by this council report only. As a result\, the Sees of Alexandria\, Constantinople\, Antioch and Jerusalem were united for a long time. May the prayers of these fathers be with us. Amen
URL:https://stsmaryandmenari.org/event/martyrdom-of-thirty-thousand-christians-in-alexandria-2/
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DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20220828T080000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20220828T170000
DTSTAMP:20260611T161719
CREATED:20220504T072844Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20220504T072844Z
UID:11577-1661673600-1661706000@stsmaryandmenari.org
SUMMARY:-MARTYRDOM OF ST. HADID
DESCRIPTION:August 28\, 2022 – Mesra 22\, 1738 \nOn this day also\, in the year 1103 A.M. (1387 A.D.)\, St. Hadid\, was martyred. He was from the Giza Governorate. May his prayers be with us and Glory be to God forever. Amen.
URL:https://stsmaryandmenari.org/event/martyrdom-of-st-hadid-2/
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DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20220828T080000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20220828T170000
DTSTAMP:20260611T161719
CREATED:20220504T072738Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20220504T072738Z
UID:11574-1661673600-1661706000@stsmaryandmenari.org
SUMMARY:-DEPARTURE OF MICAH\, THE PROPHET
DESCRIPTION:August 28\, 2022 – Mesra 22\, 1738 \nOn this day\, the great righteous prophet Micah\, departed. He prophesied about Samaria and Jerusalem during the time of Jotham\, Ahaz and Hezkiah\, kings of Judeah. He prophesied about the incarnation of the Lord\, to Whom is the Glory\, saying\, For behold\, the Lord is coming out of His high place. He will come down and tread on the high places of the earth. (Micah 1:3) He prophesied about His birth in Bethlehem\, saying\, But you Bethlehem Ephrathah\, though you are little among the thousands of Judah\, yet out of you shall come forth to Me. The one to be ruler in Israel. Whose goings forth have been from of old\, from everlasting. (Micah 5:2) He prophesied about the futility of the Jewish temple and the going forth of the Law of the Gospel from Zion\, saying\, … For out of Zion the Law shall go forth\, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem. (Micah 4:2) He also prophesied about the perdition of Ahab\, king of Israel. (Micah 5:15\,16) When this prophet finished his strife in peace\, he departed at a good old age. He preceded the Lord Christ by about eight hundred years. May his prayers be with us. Amen.
URL:https://stsmaryandmenari.org/event/departure-of-micah-the-prophet-2/
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DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20220827T080000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20220827T170000
DTSTAMP:20260611T161719
CREATED:20220504T072625Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20220504T072625Z
UID:11570-1661587200-1661619600@stsmaryandmenari.org
SUMMARY:-DEPARTURE OF ST. IRENE (EIRENE)
DESCRIPTION:August 27\, 2022 – Mesra 21\, 1738 \nOn this day also\, St. Irene (i.e. peace)\, departed. She was the daughter of a pagan king\, whose name was Lucianus. She was exceedingly beautiful. Her father loved her very much\, therefore he built a fortified mansion for her. He assigned thirteen maids to serve\, guard and protect her from what might defile the name and honor of her family. St. Irene was then six years old\, and her father left some statues for her to worship. Her father also assigned a wise old teacher to instruct her. Once St. Irene saw in a vision\, a dove with an olive leaf in her mouth\, and the dove came and laid it on a table before her. Then there came an eagle with a crown\, which he laid also on the table. Afterwards\, a raven came with a serpent\, which he laid on the table. St. Irene was frightened by this vision\, and she revealed this vision to her teacher. Her father was unaware that the teacher was Christian. The teacher explained the vision to her saying\, The dove is the teaching of the Law\, the olive leaf is baptism\, the eagle is the victory and the crown is the glory of the saints. The raven is the king and the serpent is the persecution. He concluded his talk by saying that she had to struggle for the sake of the Faith in the Lord Christ. \nOne day\, her father came to visit her\, and proposed that she marry one of the princes. She asked him for three days in which she might think it over. After her father had left\, she went to the statues\, and asked them to advise her on what was right for her\, but they did not answer her. The saint lifted up her eyes to heaven\, and said\, O God of the Christians\, guide me to whatever pleases you. The angel of the Lord appeared to her and said\, Tomorrow one of the disciples of St. Paul will come to you\, will teach you what you need to know\, and then will baptize you. The next day\, St. Timothy\, the Apostle\, came to her\, taught her the essentials of Christianity and baptized her. When her father knew that\, he summoned her. When he verified this news from her\, her profession in the Lord Christ\, he tied her to the tail of an untamed horse\, and then released it. Nevertheless\, God preserved her and she was not harmed. Instead\, the horse itself turned and grasped with his mouth the arm of her father\, hurled him on the ground\, and her father fell dead. With the prayers of his daughter\, St. Irene\, he was risen alive. The father\, his wife and three thousand persons became Christians\, and they all were baptized. God honored this saint with several inspired miracles which she wrought before governors and kings and many had believed because of her. When she fulfilled her strife\, she departed in peace. May her prayers be with us and Glory be to God forever. Amen.
URL:https://stsmaryandmenari.org/event/departure-of-st-irene-eirene-2/
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DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20220827T080000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20220827T170000
DTSTAMP:20260611T161719
CREATED:20220504T072528Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20220504T072528Z
UID:11567-1661587200-1661619600@stsmaryandmenari.org
SUMMARY:-COMMEMORATION OF THE VIRGIN\, THE MOTHER OF GOD
DESCRIPTION:August 27\, 2022 – Mesra 21\, 1738 \nOn this day\, the church celebrates the commemoration of the All pure St. Mary\, the Mother of God the Word\, who intercede for us before her beloved Son. May her prayers be with us. Amen.
URL:https://stsmaryandmenari.org/event/commemoration-of-the-virgin-the-mother-of-god-2/
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20220826T080000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20220826T170000
DTSTAMP:20260611T161719
CREATED:20220504T072438Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20220504T072438Z
UID:11562-1661500800-1661533200@stsmaryandmenari.org
SUMMARY:-MARTYRDOM OF THE SEVEN YOUNG MEN OF EPHESUS
DESCRIPTION:August 26\, 2022 – Mesra 20\, 1738 \nOn this day\, of the year 252 A.D.\, the seven holy young men of the city of Ephesus: Maximus\, Malchus\, Martinianus\, Dionysius\, John\, Serpion and Constantine\, were martyred. They were soldiers of Emperor Decius\, who appointed them to guard the royal treasury. When the emperor established the worship of idols\, certain men made accusation against them. They hid themselves in a cave\, lest they become weakened and deny the Lord Christ. When the emperor knew that\, he ordered the blocking of the cave’s entrance\, shutting them in. One of the soldiers was a believer in the Lord Christ. He engraved their life story on a tablet of brass and left it inside the cave. Thus the seven holy young men delivered up their pure souls. God wanted to honor them as His faithful servants\, so He inspired the bishop of Ephesus about the place of the cave. The Bishop went and opened the entrance to the cave\, and found their bodies uncorrupted. He knew from the brass tablet that they had been there for about two hundred years. That was during the reign of the Emperor Theodosius the Less. As they knew also from the coins\, which they found with them that they were during the time of emperor Decius\, because it had his picture on them. May their prayers be with us and Glory be to our God forever. Amen.
URL:https://stsmaryandmenari.org/event/martyrdom-of-the-seven-young-men-of-ephesus-2/
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20220825T080000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20220825T170000
DTSTAMP:20260611T161719
CREATED:20220504T072406Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20220504T072406Z
UID:11559-1661414400-1661446800@stsmaryandmenari.org
SUMMARY:-TRANSLOCATION OF THE BODY OF ST. MACARIUS TO HIS MONASTERY IN SCETIS
DESCRIPTION:August 25\, 2022 – Mesra 19\, 1738 \n\nOn this day\, the church celebrates the return of the body of St. Macarius to his monastery in the desert of Sheahat (Scetis). After the departure of St. Macarius\, some of the natives of the city of Shanshour (Shabsheer) came and stole his body. They built a large church for him\, and placed the body in it. Later on\, his body was moved to another town where he stayed for four hundred forty years\, till the time of Pope Michael V (Anba Mikhail V)\, the 71st Pope. When Pope Michael went to the wilderness to observe the holy fast in the monastery\, he sighed and said\, How much I yearn that God would help us so that the body of our father Anba Macarius be in our midst. Later on\, the abbot of the monastery\, the Archpriest (Hegumen) Michael\, went with some of the elders on certain business of the monastery\, and they thought of bringing back the body of the saint to their monastery. They came to where the body was\, but the people of the town and the governor assembled against them with swords and sticks and prevented them from taking the body. \nThe elders spent the night in great sorrow. The governor saw that night a vision of St. Macarius telling him\, Let my children take my body and do not prevent them. The governor was frightened and he called the elders and gave them the body. The elders took the body with great joy\, and many faithful people followed them to bid the body farewell. When the ship arrived in Mariot\, they spent the night. The next morning they celebrated the Divine Liturgy and received the Holy Mysteries. Then they loaded the body on a camel to the wilderness. Midway through the journey\, they needed to rest\, but the Abbot said\, As the Lord lives\, we do not rest until the Lord shows us the place where the angel of the Lord held our father’s hand. So they kept moving until the camel knelt down and did not get up. The camel started to turn his head around\, licking the body and bowing his head down to the ground. Then the elders knew that was the right place\, and they glorified God. As they reached the monastery\, all the monks came out holding candles and singing. Then they carried the body on their shoulders and went into the church in a great celebration\, and God performed many wonders on that day. May his prayers be with us and Glory be to our God forever. Amen.
URL:https://stsmaryandmenari.org/event/translocation-of-the-body-of-st-macarius-to-his-monastery-in-scetis-2/
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DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20220824T080000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20220824T170000
DTSTAMP:20260611T161719
CREATED:20220504T072148Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20220504T072148Z
UID:11554-1661328000-1661360400@stsmaryandmenari.org
SUMMARY:-MARTYRDOM OF ST. EUDAEMON\, OF ARMANT (EL-ARMANTI)
DESCRIPTION:August 24\, 2022 – Mesra 18\, 1738 \nOn this day also\, St. Eudaemon (Wadamon)\, of the city of Armant (El-Armanti)\, was martyred. One day\, he had visitors in his house\, who were heathen\, and they were saying to each other\, We have heard that a lady arrived to the city of Ashmonain carrying a young Child who resembled the children of Kings. Others asked\, Did this Child come to the land of Egypt? and everyone was talking about this Child. After the guests had left\, Eudaemon rose up\, rode his donkey and went to the city of Ashmonain. When he arrived\, he saw the Child Jesus with his mother Mariam (Mary)\, and he kneeled before Him. As the Child saw what Eudaemon had done\, the Child smiled and said\, Peace be with you Eudaemon\, you have labored and come here in person to assert what you have heard from your guests about Me. Thence I will stay in your home\, which will be a house for Me forever. St. Eudaemon marvelled and said\, O My Lord I wish that You will come and live in my house and I will be Your servant forever. The Child replied saying\, Your home will be a house for Me and My mother forever. When you return home and the heathen hear that you came to Me\, they will be sorry and hurt\, and they will shed your blood in your house. Don’t be afraid because I will receive you in My heavenly kingdom forever\, the place of perpetual joy\, which has no end. You will be the first martyr in Upper Egypt.
URL:https://stsmaryandmenari.org/event/martyrdom-of-st-eudaemon-of-armant-el-armanti-2/
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DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20220824T080000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20220824T170000
DTSTAMP:20260611T161719
CREATED:20220504T072106Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20220504T072106Z
UID:11549-1661328000-1661360400@stsmaryandmenari.org
SUMMARY:-DEPARTURE OF ST. ALEXANDER\, PATRIARCH OF CONSTANTINOPLE
DESCRIPTION:August 24\, 2022 – Mesra 18\, 1738 \nOn this day\, of the year 340 A.D. the saint Abba Alexander\, Patriarch of the city of Constantinople\, departed. He was an honorable saint who suffered many hardships from the followers of Arius. When St. Athanasius the Apostolic\, the twentieth Pope of Alexandria\, renewed the excommunication of Arius\, he went to Constantinople. Arius complained to Emperor Constantius\, Son of the righteous Emperor Constantine\, about St. Athanasius’ conduct against him. When the emperor refused his petition\, Arius asked the emperor to instruct Abba Alexander to accept him in the communion of the church. The emperor sent to this father saying\, Athanasius had defied us because he did not accept Arius\, and you know that we appointed you to this position\, so you must not transgress our command. Make my heart glad\, and reinstate Arius. St. Alexander replied saying\, The church does not accept him for he does not worship the Holy Trinity. The Emperor said\, Arius had confessed his faith in the Holy Trinity before me and that the Son is of one essence with the Father. Then the saint answered\, If Arius had confessed that\, let him write his confession by his own hand. The emperor brought Arius and he wrote down the faith with his own hand\, contrary to what he had in his heart. Then the emperor made him swear on the Holy Bible that was his faith\, but he swore falsely. \nThe emperor said to Abba Alexander\, What do you have against him now\, since he has written his faith with his own hand\, and taken an oath on the Holy Bible. Abba Alexander replied\, Pope Athanasius renewed the excommunication of Arius\, which was signed by your father\, Emperor Constantine along with the three hundred and eighteen fathers\, and expelled him and all his followers from Alexandria. Wait for one week\, and if nothing happens to him during this week\, then his profession of faith is sincere\, and his oath is righteous. Then I will receive him in the communion of the church. The emperor agreed to his request. When the patriarch went back to his church\, he commanded his congregation to fast\, along with him\, for seven days and pray to God that He might save His church from the sin of Arius. After the week ended\, and on the eve of Sunday\, the heretics took Arius and started strolling with him in the streets of the city rejoicing that their leader would be accepted in the church. In the morning\, Arius went to the church and sat down with the priests in front of the altar. Then Abba Alexander entered the church\, being sad\, and not knowing what to do. When he started the liturgy\, Arius felt a colic and had to run to the washroom\, where his bowels poured out of his body. When Arius delayed in returning\, his followers went to the washroom\, found him dead\, and they were ashamed. The faithful glorified the Lord Christ\, Who does not forsake His church. The emperor was amazed at that\, and realized that Arius was lying in his writing and in his oath. He also perceived the holiness of Abba Alexander\, the truthfulness of his faith\, and the erroneous belief of Arius. He glorified the Father\, the Son\, and the Holy Spirit\, and confessed publicly that the Trinity is one in essence. This Father having completed his life in a good course\, and arrived at a good old age\, departed in peace. May his prayers be with us. Amen.
URL:https://stsmaryandmenari.org/event/departure-of-st-alexander-patriarch-of-constantinople-2/
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DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20220823T080000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20220823T170000
DTSTAMP:20260611T161719
CREATED:20220504T071930Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20220504T071930Z
UID:11545-1661241600-1661274000@stsmaryandmenari.org
SUMMARY:-MARTYRDOM OF ST. JAMES\, THE SOLDIER
DESCRIPTION:August 23\, 2022 – Mesra 17\, 1738 \nOn this day\, St. James\, the soldier\, departed. He was born in Mengoug (Manug)\, district of Ebso (Psoi)\, to God fearing Christian parents. God gave them three daughters before they had this saint. They committed the daughters to a nunnery to be taught\, and brought up\, in the fear of God. They learned and read the Holy Bible and the church teachings. When their father asked them to return\, they refused for they preferred to stay in the nunnery and they dedicated themselves as brides of Christ. Their parents sorrowed\, but God consoled them by giving them this saint. They rejoiced in him\, and when he was six years old\, his father sent him to Ebso to learn reading and writing. After he finished his education his father put him in charge of his money and possessions. The father had an old man\, who shepherded his sheep. This old man was adorned with several virtues and James took him as a role model. When the devil provoked persecution against the Christians\, the old man handed over the sheep to the father of James and left to become a martyr. James asked his father if he could go to bid the shepherd farewell and then come back\, and his father allowed him to do so. When James went with the shepherd\, he found the governor in upper Egypt torturing St. Justus\, son of Emperor Nomarius. The old man told James\, Look O my son\, the person that you see being tortured is the son of an emperor\, who has forsaken the world and its vain glory\, and followed Christ\, so what the poor like us\, would do? Then be patient\, and do not be sorrowful because of your separation from your parents. They came before the governor and confessed the Lord Christ. \nThe governor tortured them severely\, then beheaded the old man. The governor tortured St. James severely by beating him with whips. Then he placed a piece of red-hot iron on his chest. The saint lifted up his eyes and appealed for help to the Lord Christ\, Who saved him and healed him from his afflictions. Then\, they put him in a sack\, and cast him in the sea\, but the angel of the Lord raised him up from the sea. Then the saint returned\, and stood before the governor who sent him to the city of El-Farma. There the governor tortured him\, by cutting his tongue\, tearing out his eyes\, torturing him on the wheel\, and combing his flesh. Sourial\, the angel of God\, came down and saved him. When the governor was tired of torturing him\, he commanded James’ head cut off\, along with two other martyrs\, whose names were Abraham and John\, who were from Samannoud. They all received the crown of martyrdom.May their prayers be with us and Glory be to our God forever. Amen.
URL:https://stsmaryandmenari.org/event/martyrdom-of-st-james-the-soldier-2/
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DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20220822T080000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20220822T170000
DTSTAMP:20260611T161719
CREATED:20220504T071536Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20220504T071536Z
UID:11542-1661155200-1661187600@stsmaryandmenari.org
SUMMARY:-DEPARTURE OF ST. MATTIAS IV (MATTHEOS)\, THE 102ND PATRIARCH OF ALEXANDRIA
DESCRIPTION:August 22\, 2022 – Mesra 16\, 1738 \nOn this day also\, of the year 1391 A.M. (August 15\, 1675 A.D.) Pope Mattias IV (Mattheos)\, 102nd Patriarch\, departed. He was known as Matta El-Meeri. This father was born to pious Christian parents\, who were righteous\, merciful and benevolent. They were of the rich people of the city of Meer\, Ashmonain district\, the diocese of Qousqam\, which is known as El-Mouharaq. They had vast farm land and live-stock. They had three boys\, one of them was this righteous Father. He was the closest to his parents\, and his name was Guirguis. They raised him with prudence\, and brought him up with good manners and decency. They never asked him\, as they did his brothers\, to work on the farm\, or attend to the live-stock. Instead he dedicated himself to reading and learning until he became more informed about the Holy books than his contemporaries. He was able to explain and interpret their meanings to those who had difficulties with them. When he grew up\, he renounced this vain world and went to the monastery of St. Mary known as El-Baramos in the wilderness of Sheahat (Scetis)\, where he stayed for six years. He saw in a dream that his parents were grieved over him for they thought that he was dead\, since they had not found him. Immediately he informed his brothers in the monastery who advised him to go to his home-town to see his parents. He went to Meer and greeted his parents who became exceedingly happy when they saw him alive. Afterwards\, they wished to wed him\, but when the Saint learned from a friend what his parents intended to do\, he escaped and returned again to the monastery. The monks welcomed him back with great joy. He lived with these holy men in love and faithful service\, so they nominated him to the monastic rank. \nThen he was ordained a priest for the monastery\, and after a short time\, he wore the Eskeem. He exhausted himself with vigilance\, prayers\, worships\, and kneeling more than was required from the other monks. He fasted from sunset to the sunset of the next day and in the winter he fasted two days at a time. He kept this manner all the days of his life until he realized the favor of God\, because of his good deeds\, acceptable worship\, and asceticism. When Pope Marcos VI\, 101St Patriarch\, departed\, the bishops\, priests\, and the lay leaders sought a new righteous shepherd to ordain in his place. They asked the monks of the wilderness and the monasteries to guide them to one fit for this position. The monks guided them to this father. When they asked him to come to Misr (Cairo)\, he refused to comply with their request. So they were forced to send a soldier from the government\, who seized him\, and brought him to Misr. Meanwhile the people of Misr (Cairo) seized another righteous priest called John\, and wanted to ordain him Patriarch\, and as a result of that a conflict developed. The governor apprehended the two candidates and imprisoned them for forty days. When the matter prolonged\, the bishops met and decided to cast an altar lot which was done before all the congregation. The soldiers also cast among them another lot in the government building. Each time they drew the lot it fell on Guirguis. One night the soldiers of the governor saw a burning candle hovering over Father Guirguis’ head while he was in prison. Finally they nominated this father after the considerable contention\, and all the congregation was pleased. He was ordained on Sunday\, 30th of Hatour\, 1377 A.M. (Dec. 6th\, 1660 A.D.) during the reign of the Ottoman Sultan\, Mohammed IV. The celebration of his ordination was a splendid and grand celebration which was attended by many of the other Christian denominations. When he was enthroned as the Patriarch in the Patriarchal cell at Haret-Zewailah\, he considered marital and family matters\, and church affairs in stern\, just and fair judgements. He was meek and humble\, disliked attention and exaltedness\, so he never sat on a chair in the church\, but stood beside it until the end of the service. He visited widows\, orphans\, and prisoners\, and cared for the monks in the monastery\, fulfilling their needs. He cherished the monasteries and the churches\, as he lived a simple life as those monks lived in the wilderness. During his papacy the church was in peace and tranquility and the church was enlightened with his grace. In the year 1387 A.M (1671 A.D.)\, a grievous plague befell Egypt\, which perished many. \nHe ordained two successive metropolitans for Ethiopia after the departure of its Metropolitan Youanis the Thirteenth. The first was Anba Khristozollo II\, who remained on the chair from 1665 to 1672 A.D.\, during the reign of King Wasilidis. The second was Anba Shenouda I\, who remained on the chair from 1672 to 1694 A.D. during the time of John I. Pope Mattias IV\, was the last to dwell in the patriarchal cell at Haret-Zewailah for he moved his residency to Haret-El-Roum in 1660 A.D. just after his ordination. \nDuring his papacy Pope Mattias endured some hardships.\n+ The devil entered the heart of a Christian man and motivated him to go to the tax collector to over tax the Christians\, which put a great burden on them. They complained to the Pope\, who sent for the tax collector. The Pope forbade him\, but he did not cease his wicked act. The Pope ex-communicated him\, and the man died a horrible death.\n+ Another time\, a woman came to the pope complaining that her husband had divorced her and married another woman. The Pope sent for him and asked him to come with his second wife. When this man came\, the Pope ordered them to be separated\, but the second wife refused saying\, How can that be while I am pregnant with his child? Then the Pope said\, The Lord Christ will judge between the two marriages. Just as the second woman left the Pope’s cell\, she aborted and the fetus came out of her womb. A great fear transpired because of this incident. The man separated from her and returned to his first wife. Pope Mattias became respected\, honored\, and revered by his people.\n+ Another time\, some infidels wanted to demolish St. Marcurius’ of the two swords\, Church at old Cairo. They went to the governmental office and appointed someone in charge of this matter. When the Pope heard about their intentions\, he grieved much and spent that night’s vigil beseeching God\, and interceding with St.Marcurius to annul their conspiracy and save the church from destruction. While the soldiers were asleep around the church\, a wall fell on them. They all died\, and the news spread around the city. The wicked conspiracy was annulled and everyone glorified God. \nDuring Pope Mattias’ days\, the enemy of good\, stirred up the unbelievers against the Christians. But Christ\, to Whom is the Glory\, always vanquished their council and perished them through the prayers of Pope Mattias\, for he shepherded the flock of Christ faithfully. When the time of his departure drew near\, he went to the tomb of the Patriarchs in Misr and said to it\, Open and receive me so I can dwell with my righteous brothers. After he returned to his residence\, he fell sick with the illness of death. He called the bishops and priests and commended them on the flock of Christ. He also called the Abbess of the convent and gave her all he had\, and asked her to hand them to his successor\, as they were the property of the church. Then he departed in peace at a good old age\, after he had remained on the chair of St. Mark for fourteen years\, eight months\, and nine days. He was seventy-five years old and was buried in the tomb of the Patriarchs in the church of St.Marcurius in Old Cairo. The chair remained vacant after him for seven months. May his prayers be with us and Glory be to our God forever. Amen.
URL:https://stsmaryandmenari.org/event/departure-of-st-mattias-iv-mattheos-the-102nd-patriarch-of-alexandria-2/
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