BLESSED IS EGYPT MY PEOPLE Isaiah 19:25 Egyptian civilisation began more than three thousand years before Jesus Christ was born God blessed Egypt

Transcription

1 Flight into Egypt

2 BLESSED IS EGYPT MY PEOPLE Isaiah 19:25 Egyptian civilisation began more than three thousand years before Jesus Christ was born God blessed Egypt from early times by saying, Blessed is Egypt My people. Isaiah 19:25 Christianity entered Egypt in the first century AD. The Christ child, His mother and St. Joseph visited Egypt and blessed many places which have become holy sites including El- Muharraq Monastery, in Upper Egypt Isaiah 19:19 In that day there will be an altar to the Lord in the midst of the land of Egypt, and a pillar to the Lord at its border.

3 Entry of Christ into Egypt Isaiah 19:1 The burden against Egypt. Behold, the Lord rides on a swift cloud, and will come into Egypt; the idols of Egypt will totter at His presence, and the heart of Egypt will melt in its midst.

4 Copt Copt means Egyptian derived from Aighyptos also derived from Hak-kep- Ptah, the house/throne of the Egyptian god Ptah

5 St. Mark, the Evangelist and Apostle

6 St. Mark, the Evangelist and Apostle founder of the Church in Egypt (the Coptic Orthodox Church), in mid-first century AD wrote the first version of the gospel wrote liturgy established Catechetical School of Alexandria, first of its kind, and largest in the ancient days was martyred in Alexandria in 68 AD

7 St. Mark, the Evangelist and Apostle St. Mark was the first martyr of Egypt Feast of El-Nayruz at least 800, 000 martyrs in Egypt under Diocletian, between AD Ss. Theodora and Didymus St. Mena the Miracle- Performer Ss. Refka and her five children

8 St. Demiana and the Forty Virgins

9 Saints of Egypt St. Demiana and the Forty Virgins St. Catherine St. Anianus St. Mauritius (Maurice) and the Theban Legion St. Abanoub etc.

10 The Catechetical School of Alexandria Catechetical School according to St. Jerome, it was founded by St. Mark the Evangelist oldest centre for sacred science in Christendom extremely influential in the life of the church its deans: Athenagoras, Pantaenus, St. Clement, Origen, St. Pope Heraclas, Alexander, St. Dionysius, St. Peter the Seal of Martyrs and St. Didymus the Blind (4th century)

11 St. Athanasius the Apostolic

12 The Coptic Church and Heresies Defenders of the faith: Ss. Peter, Alexander, Athanasius, Cyril and Dioscorus heresies: Gnosticism, Arianism, Nestorianism, etc. the Alexandrian Church was wrongly accused of monophysitism. St. Cyril explains our Christology as: the one (united, miaphysis) incarnate nature of God the Logos (MIAPHYSITES)

13 Monasticism...

14 Monasticism, cont. St. Paula the First Hermit St. Anthony, the Founder of Monasticism and the Father of all monks in the world Founder of the Hermetic (eremitical) order/system St. Pachom (Pachomius), the founder of the Coenobitic system St. Shenouda the Archimandrite Ss. Macarius and Amoun, the founder of Communal life in Scetis (Wadi El-Natrun)

15 The Burning Bush Written, not painted... lines and colors combine to form images, gestures and symbols that convey theological concepts and spiritual meaning in the making of an icon. it is traditional to say that an icon is "written", not painted. the purpose of an icon is to lead the observer to deeper understanding of the Church s teaching. An icon is a window into heaven

16 General rules for writing icons saints always face the worshipper the halo represents light radiating from within the saint, by the grace of God to emphasize that the saint is an active participant in his sanctification, rather than a passive receptacle western haloes often appear as flying discs descending from heaven the iconographer starts by putting down the dark colors first and then continues putting more and more light into the icon. In this manner, he follows the same order of "enlightenment" which proceeds upon our fallen nature, which is in darkness until the light of Christ shines upon it and saves it. So the words of Christ be true when He said of His Saints "You are the light of the world" (Mt. 5:14).

17 General rules for writing icons, cont. the saint must be shown as victorious and joyful, never as weak or full of pain, as he has completed his struggle Because the saint is now in the state of glorification, the background behind him must be gilded (covered with gold). Gold symbolizes heavenly glory. Icons depict saints in their glorified state for a two-fold reason: to honor the saint who is portrayed as well as to encourage us, who are struggling to emulate their lives. When we see the Divine comfort given to the children of God, we are thereby heartened to persevere in our own struggles for the Lord. The Divine Majesty

18 Who may write icons? Because the icon is an ecclesiastical medium, the icon-writer like other ecclesiastical writers, must be: an active member of the Church; live a spiritual life; and be theologically knowledgeable. Elijah the Prophet

19 Christ, the Ruler of all, is in solemn glory not pictured with a crown or scepter as other kings because His power is not of this world. His right hand extends in blessing, the left supports the Bible. His inner white robe (for purity) symbolizes His Divine nature while the red outer tunic (symbolizing blood) reveals His humanity. His feet lie upon the cosmos, for everything in heaven and on earth is subject to His authority ( Heaven is My throne, and earth is My footstool. Acts 7:49). Christ the Pantocrator Pantocrator placed on the Bishop s throne to signify and remind us that our Lord Christ is the True Master, Teacher and Bishop of our lives.

20 St. Anthony the Great Though thin, he is not excessively so We are taught in Orthodoxy that the purpose of asceticism is not to destroy or harm the body, but only to control the passions and redirect them And when they beheld him, they were amazed to see that his body had maintained its former condition, neither fat from lack of exercise nor emaciated from fasting and combat with demons. Saint Athanasius, The Life of Antony, p. 14

21 El-Muharraq Monastery

22 H.H. Pope SHENOUDA III Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of the See of St. Mark H.H. Pope SHENOUDA III

23 His Grace Bishop SURIEL Bishop of Melbourne and Affiliated Regions

24 St. Mary s Coptic Orthodox Church, El-Zeitun, Cairo St. Mary s Apparitions

25 Monday June 10, 1968, 2:35 am

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27 Saturday April 13, 1968, 3:40 am (first ever night of photos) Monday May 6, 1968, 2:45 am Thursday May 9, 1968, 2:45 am