Philotheus

Trying to become Philotheus: He who loves God ▫️ Alt for @MarcDesCoptesII ▫️ Orthodox

[Philotheus @TryinPhilotheus]

There's nothing I love more than needlessly complicated systems of organisation
So I'm gonna pin this tweet & make it a "thread of threads" by putting links to my other threads in the replies

We love Fr Tadros Malaty in this household, so this is a good signpost for this account

[Philotheus @TryinPhilotheus]

And some of them you will scourge in your synagogues and persecute from city to city,
That on you may come all the righteous blood shed on the earth,
From the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah, son of Berechiah, whom you murdered between the temple and the altar"

[Philotheus @TryinPhilotheus]

Kinda hardcore that this is the reading for the feast days of prophets (from Matthew 23)

"Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites!
Because you build the tombs of the prophets and adorn the monuments of the righteous, and say, ‘If we had lived in the days of our fathers—

[Philotheus @TryinPhilotheus]

We would not have been partakers with them in the blood of the prophets.’
Therefore you are witnesses against yourselves that you are sons of those who murdered the prophets [..]
Therefore, indeed, I send you prophets, wise men, and scribes: some of them you will kill and crucify

[Philotheus @TryinPhilotheus]

@QuinnEFischer No, not really tbh. Imo any translation will do text-wise, but a copy with explanatory notes is always nice (since they sometimes use idiosyncratic terms that aren't common now, like "food of grace" and such)

[Philotheus @TryinPhilotheus]

Here's a thread with links to many different sources for the Sayings of the Desert Fathers 🧵

[Philotheus @TryinPhilotheus]

Here is the link to the hymn for her in Arabic, for those curious

https://t.co/xN5EtFXFrC

[Philotheus @TryinPhilotheus]

Today is the feast day of a saint I find special: St Mary the Armenian (13th century)🧵

An Armenian lady enslaved by a soldier in Baybar's army (probably in his seige of Cilicia or Antioch), and later, when they arrived in Egypt, burnt alive because she refused to deny her faith

[Philotheus @TryinPhilotheus]

Or in other words, to quote a line from a hymn to her:

"In the twenty-seventh of Mesra, we faithfully commemorate she who in weakness is strong, Mary the Armenian" (cf. 2 Corinthians 12:10)

Also the fact that her relics are here in Cairo in Haret Zuweila adds a point of fondess

[Saint Mark @alqdys13839]

On the Eucharistic Bread and Its Symbols

By the philosopher and scholar Mar Severios Musa ibn Kifa, Metropolitan of Mosul and Barmān, 903+

Based on the written canons, the Apostles decided that the Eucharistic bread should be baked on the day it is offered on the altar, and it is not permissible to offer it after a day has passed.

Some may ask about the reason why the Eucharistic bread must be baked day by day. We say: in imitation of the manna, which was eaten each day on that day, and whatever remained of it was subject to corruption. This bread is therefore taken fresh as a reminder to us that we should be renewed in our conduct, so that we may put an end to the old sin.

And if one asks about the reason why the Eucharistic offering is presented on the altar only once a day, we say: because the altar symbolizes the tomb, and Christ was buried once in the flesh, and not several times. Therefore, on this basis, it is necessary that it be offered once a day.

And concerning the reason why we fast before Communion, we say: because through greediness in eating we were deprived of the Tree of Life. Through fasting, we overcome greediness, and then we partake of the Body of Christ from the Table of Life.

Before the Divine Liturgy, the bread and wine are placed on the altar and covered with a cloth (Shoushif), after the likeness of the Child who was wrapped in swaddling cloths and placed in the manger.

[Philotheus @TryinPhilotheus]

Blessed feast day of St Augustine! A saint truly for all of us, who everyone can relate to in many ways, and grow to adore. Read his Confessions!

Not much else to say other than that, truly, "You have made us for Yourself, and our hearts are restless until they rest in You"

[Philotheus @TryinPhilotheus]

Job:
"He has set me up for His target,
His archers surround me.
He pierces my heart and does not pity"

Song of Solomon:
"For love is as strong as death,
Jealousy as cruel as the grave;
Its flames are flames of fire,
A most vehement flame."

[Philotheus @TryinPhilotheus]

@he_negash In Arabic, it's صعود, which is Ascension
In Coptic, it's ⲁⲛⲁⲗⲩⲙⲯⲓⲥ, which is also the word for Ascension

[Philotheus @TryinPhilotheus]

Blessed Feast of the Assumption!

[Philotheus @TryinPhilotheus]

On the 22nd of August, the Coptic Orthodox Church celebrates the Assumption of St Mary

St Jacob of Serug, in his poem on the Dormition, paints a beautiful picture of all the figures of the OT meeting her in paradise, following the harrowing of Hades; here are my fav snippets🧵

[Philotheus @TryinPhilotheus]

.

[Philotheus @TryinPhilotheus]

Happy feast!

Here's a snippet from Saint Theodosius of Alexandria's Homily on St Mary's Dormition and Assumption

"Take heart! He is with you at all times! He will not leave you orphans. He said so!"

[Philotheus @TryinPhilotheus]

Icon from the Syrian Monastery in Scetis in Egypt

[Philotheus @TryinPhilotheus]

From the Sedro for the Transfiguration:

"When the time of Your life-giving passion in the flesh for our sake drew near, You were pleased to disclose to Your holy apostles the things concerning the renewal of the world to come, and the glory which is kept for those who do good."

[Philotheus @TryinPhilotheus]

#SaintFact #6

Today is the feast day of Saint Matra (also called Metras), who was the first martyr under Decius, as Pope Dionysius (+264) says in his letter to Patriarch Fabian

Later, the Monastery of St Matra became the seat of the patriarchate under Pope Benjamin I (+662)

[Philotheus @TryinPhilotheus]

Reminds me of this thought I had before

[Philotheus @TryinPhilotheus]

From the Shehimo, for Saturday Morning: "Without pen and without ink, Gabriel brought a letter full of peace and came to Mary"

and so must we receive the Incarnation, the Crucifixion, and the Resurrection, not as words written in ink, but as a reality within our very own flesh

[Philotheus @TryinPhilotheus]

Saint Philoxenus, Discourse 13:

《"Dead unto that wherein we were holden, henceforth let us serve in newness of spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter" (Romans 7:6).

Now, according to my opinion, these words of the Apostle are evident and clear unto him that—

[Philotheus @TryinPhilotheus]

First icon by @ mrimpainting on Instagram, next two by George Makary

Link to the Discourses:

[Philotheus @TryinPhilotheus]

🏵 Sources:

English:

Thirteen Discourses on the Spiritual Life, his magnum opus, and three letters:
https://t.co/IvLszIMM7i

The same, but as a pdf:
https://t.co/pRzijCBOGG

A short article on him with quotes by him:
https://t.co/Duwb8WLPbl