Today, the Coptic Orthodox Church marks the Martyrdom of Saint Mark the Evangelist and Apostle, her father and founder in the First Century, while celebrating his life, ministry, and continuing vibrant legacy.
Being in Venice, where his relics can be visited, with our bishops from across the Western Hemisphere, serving across his modern-day See, gives greater pertinence to the day.
Blessed is He who made you – healing springs flowing on earth
He made His pow`er – abide in your bones
Elect and holy martyrs – pray to your Lord for our sake
Lord have mercy; Lord have mercy, Lord have mercy
Today marks Contemporary Martyrs Day in the Coptic Orthodox Church, and the 10th Anniversary of #The21#LibyaMartyrs, a day of solemn remembrance while at the same time being a moment of recognition of their incredible strength, resilience, grace and witness, as well as their families’ remarkable ability to graciously forgive. All in all, and somewhat ironically and counterintuitively, an occasion for thanksgiving and celebration.
We give thanks for their powerful witness and the encouragement that they have given to the whole world…the world that they changed on that day, on the beach, in those distinctive orange suits. They have become icons in the most selfless and impactful way.
On this important day we pray repose for our Martyrs, continuing comfort for their families, loved ones and communities, forgiveness for those who contributed to the taking of their lives in every way, and God’s peace upon His world, that this inhumanity may never be repeated.
Remember their names. Remember their faces. Remember their story.
Proud and thankful to be consulted along the production journey of the wonderful @21MartyrsFilm, which I encourage you the watch here https://t.co/DKR4qiIBza.
“Overjoyed to receive this groundbreaking book of Fr. Baby Varghese—truly epoch-making in Oriental Orthodox Theological Studies! A seminal work, the most significant since Fr. V.C. Samuel. A must-read for all serious scholars of our tradition!”
Bishop Hovakim Manukyan on the ecumenical prayer service for the imprisoned Armenians in Baku, which will take place worldwide on 10 November 2024, the eve of the opening ceremony of #COP29#FreeArmenianHostages
Bishop Hovakim Manukyan on the ecumenical prayer service for the imprisoned Armenians in Baku, which will take place worldwide on 10 November 2024, the eve of the opening ceremony of #COP29#FreeArmenianHostages
Words are hardly enough to thank my elder brothers in Christ, Archbishop Angaelos, Bishop Hovakim and Bishop Christopher. I could only thank God for this fraternal love.
A joy for #AECAStThomas2024 pilgrims to attend Evensong @wabbey and by kind permission of @deanwestminster to attend
a reception in the Jerusalem Chamber for HH Baselios Marthoma Mathews III Malankara Orthodox Catholicos who welcomed us so graciously in Kottayam @Stephanos2022
Thank you Lord for the privilege of serving You and Your blessed people for the last ten years.
I am grateful to all well wishers for their prayers.
#SyriacOrthodoxChurch
A joy as always to receive and spend time with my dear brother of almost two decades, His Eminence Metropolitan @Stephanos2022 of the Indian Orthodox Church in the United Kingdom. We met at @TheSanctuaryCDL for a fraternal conversation on our shared ministry and continuing collaboration.
ഇടുക്കി മെത്രാസനത്തിലെ ഇടവകതല വിവരശേഖരണത്തിന്റെ ആദ്യഘട്ടം പൂർത്തീകരിച്ചു.
ഡിജിറ്റൽ ക്രോഡീകരണം സാധ്യമാക്കുന്നതിന് പരിശ്രമിച്ച വൈദിക സഹോദരങ്ങൾക്കും ഇടവക മാനേജിംഗ് കമ്മറ്റി അംഗങ്ങൾക്കും യുവജന പ്രസ്ഥാനം പ്രവർത്തകർക്കും നന്ദി..! 🏅❤️
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Project E-Idukki 🖥️
Meet Idukki 🤝
Let us greet each other at every moment with 'Christ is risen', irrespective of our man-made calendars. For Christ rises from the dead now and always." (From the greetings I've received from Fr. KM George, my teacher). The resurrection artwork is by the blessed artist Jyothi Sahi
"Yesterday I was crucified with Him, today I am glorified with Him; yesterday I died with Him; today I am alive with Him; yesterday I was buried with Him, today I rise with Him…[In recognition,] 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 recognise our dignity; let us honour our Archetype; let us know the power of the mystery, and for what Christ died [and rose]” #GregoryTheTheologian
Nothing could possibly be added to this.
A blessed Feast of the Glorious #Resurrection to you all!
#FeastOfTheResurrection
#OrthodoxEaster
#AECAStThomasPilgrimage2024 joining many hundreds at St George's Mylapra - the church where Metropolitan @Stephanos2022 was baptised - for Patronal celebrations including procession and raising of the flag of St George - with much rejoicing
Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous works among all the peoples. Psalm 96:3
Praise be to God Almighty for the new Congregation of St. Mary's in Paris.
'Listening is obedience'. A person doesn't listen is an expression used to refer to disobedience. Let us listen to the Holy Scripture. St. Jerome says, "ignorance of Scripture is ignorance of Christ". Grateful to His Eminence for the Lenten reflections.
#LentJourney2024 Day4
“Then [Jesus] said to them ‘Take heed what you hear’” Mk4:24
This is both advice and warning. In this, our Lord directs us to pay attention to every word He says, for in His word is life. He also warns us to protect a sacred pathway to our hearts and minds, for what we hear will impact how we think and what we feel, as well as our aspirations, desires, words and actions. As there is a strong guard on the gate of a palace as the place of the monarch, so to must our ears be protected as a pathway to our hearts, the throne and abode of our King.
I am truly grateful to Fr. Stanley and Bernice in taking me to these my brothers, a year ago. (As St. Clement of Rome asked
Who will be able to forget “the magnificence of their habitual hospitality?” Lord have mercy on our Coptic brothers.
Saddening and shocking news received of the murder of three monks in our Coptic Orthodox Monastery of St Mark and St Samuel the Confessor in Johannesburg, South Africa today.
Fr Takla El-Samouili, the diocesan Vicar, and Fr Youstos Ava-Markos and Fr Mina Ava-Markos were attacked and killed in the monastery. Further details are awaited.
In this holy Lenten period we pray repose for our departed brothers, and comfort for our Coptic Orthodoxy community in South Africa, their brother monks, and their families and loved ones.
#LordHaveMercy