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Papal Encyclical for the Glorious Feast of the Resurrection 2013
Saturday, 04 May 2013 10:42
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Last Updated on Saturday, 04 May 2013 11:19
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Papal Encyclical for the Glorious Feast of the Resurrection 2013
Khristos Anesti; Alithos Anesti!
Pi-Ekhrestos Aftonf; Khen O Methmi Aftonf!
Christ is Risen; Truly He is Risen!
(From: http://www.copticworld.org Latest News)
I congratulate you on the occasion of the Glorious Feast of the Resurrection, which is the
Feast of all Feasts, the Joy of all Joys and the Delight of our lives. The Feast of the Resurrection comes after a long period of fasting; 55 days to be exact. This fast culminates in the Holy Week of Pascha, which is a period filled with prayer, fasting, and supplication. Subsequently, Great Friday arrives, during which we declare ‘I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who lives, but Christ who lives in me’ (Galatians 2:20). Finally, Sunday, the Day of Light arrives... the Day of the Sun of Righteousness and the Resurrection of the Lord Christ from the dead.
I would like to talk to you about three stages or three scenes from the Resurrection:
The First Scene: (Exiting the Tomb)
The scene of the Lord exiting the Tomb: Of course, each of the scenes is true historically, but it also has symbolic, spiritual, and contemplative meanings. Christ rose through the power of His Divinity, exited the tomb, and death had no dominion over Him. Christ offered His Resurrection to all; This Resurrection therefore, is the First Breath. Through this First Resurrection, He granted to every person who believes in the Cross, life, and enjoy his share in the Salvation and Redemption of the Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ. The expression ‘Exiting the Tomb’ symbolizes leaving of the tomb of lust... the tomb of sin. For sin is like a tomb. When we read in the message of the apostle Paul to the Ephesians, chapter 5 verse 14, “Awake, you who sleep, Arise from the dead, And Christ will give you light.” ‘Arise from the dead’ signifies rising from the tomb of lust, from the tomb of sin. The sins mankind has faced throughout time, always appears pleasant. This appearance is deceptive; an outwardly appealing facade. While, simultaneously, it is brutal and destructive for man. Man can now say with the power of the Resurrection: ‘O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?’ (1 Corinthians 15:55) The First Scene therefore, is ‘Exiting the Tomb’, the tomb of lust.
The Feast of St Mark the Apostle
Monday, 07 May 2012 20:20
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Last Updated on Monday, 13 May 2013 08:41
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Written by Administrator
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Hits: 549
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On the 8th of May, the Church celebrates the Feast of its founder and Father, St. Mark
the Apostle. John Mark was a native of the North African country of Libya. He was one of the 70 Apostles (Luke 1:10) and travelled with St. Paul and his cousin St. Barnabas to Antioch. He then returned to Jerusalem and later accompanied his cousin to Cyprus.
We are immensely indebted to the great Apostle and Evangelist St. Mark for the following reasons:
1.St. Mark… Author of the Gospel
The first and shortest Gospel was written by St. Mark between 55-60AD. The message of St. Mark’s Gospel is captured in a single verse, “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many” (Mark 10:45). Chapter by chapter the Gospel unfolds the dual focus of Christ’s life: service and sacrifice.
St. Mark portrays Christ as a Servant on the move, preaching, teaching and healing; moving towards the goal of offering Himself a sacrifice for all mankind. Directed towards the Romans, the Gospel of St. Mark omits the Aramaic words and uses Latin terms in their place (Mark 4:21; 6:27 and 15:15).
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