David Bebawy's Weblog

Our beloved Pope Shenouda III, the 117th Pope and Patriarch of the See of St. Mark, has departed to the Paradise of Joy. His Holiness reigned over the See of St. Mark from November 14, 1971 to March 17, 2012. We pray for the soul of our blessed and honored father Pope Shenouda III that the Lord God may repose it in the bosom of our holy fathers Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the Paradise of Joy. We also ask and pray that God may comfort us all and strengthen His Coptic Church. We beseech our Lord to accept the prayer’s of His Holiness on our behalf.

The Burial of H.H. Pope Shenouda III in his resting place in St. Bishoy Monastery in Wadi El Natroun

Tens of Thousands trying to take the Blessing of the Holy Body while the Funeral Caravan Arrives at St. Bishoy Monastery

Awaiting the arrival of the holy body of H.H. Pope Shenouda III for his Burial

The Funeral Caravan Departs from the Cathedral Grounds En Route to St. Bishoy Monastery

A Message left from His Holiness Pope Shenouda III for his Congregation following his Departure.

This is an exposition read during the funeral service of the father patriarch.  It is written in the first person of the reposed patriarch.  The words are words from His Holiness Pope Shenouda talking to his children. These are words of comfort and condolences to you all.

I am your father and teacher, all of you my children,listen to my commandments, for I ask you my beloved children, preserve and look after the faith of the Holy Trinity.

I ask my beloved children, love one another with a true love.

I ask you my beloved, do good with all humanity.

I ask my beloved children, do not let the world deceive you.

I ask you my beloved children, do not fall short or “be not eager” in the service of the Lord.

I ask you my beloved children, to pray without ceasing and tirelessly.

I ask you o my beloved children, preserve your tongues from causing any division.

I ask of you my beloved children, to preserve the Holy Baptism that was granted to you.

I ask of you my beloved children, preserve your body pure for the Lord.

I ask of you my beloved children, do not ever lamp weaken without light.

I ask of you my beloved children, preserve the commandments that God gave to you.

I ask of you my beloved children, that the fear of God be within you.

God is witness, my beloved children, that I did not keep any of God’s words from away you…that I never ever slept my children, and be blamed by any one of you…that if you preserve and keep what I have told you, you will crush the head of the serpent and dragon. So hence, if you preserve and keep what I have said to you, you will eat of the goodness of the earth. So hence, if you preserve and keep what I have said to you, the shinning Cherubim will guard you. So hence, if you preserve and keep what I have said to you, you will never lack of the Heavenly gifts.

I ask of you my beloved children, to ask of Christ for my soul, that it may have comfort in front of Him, and do not count my short falls, unknowingly and unwillingly. (Then he directs his talks to the Bishops, clergy and priests)

I ask for your love and I plead to your reverence, to absolve me from everyone. And now, I am far from you and left you, and I cannot see your faces. And now I ask of you all, that you exhaust yourselves in prayers for me, remembrance in the Holy Liturgies, that my Master may accept me to Him, and forgive me.

And I ask Christ, the Great Shepherds of Shepherds, that he may elect for you a righteous shepherd according to His Will and heart, that he may shepherd you and your matters and watch for the salvation of your souls.

The Funeral Service for H.H. Pope Shenouda III prayed in St. Mark Cathedral in El Abassiya, Cairo Egypt

The Funeral Liturgy for the repose of H.H. Pope Shenouda III celebrated by H.E. Metropolitan Pachomious

The Liturgy of the Feast of the Cross with the reposed H.H. Pope Shenouda III enthroned celebrated by H.E. Metropolitan Wissa

On December 7, 2011, the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission heard testimony concerning the plight of Egypt’s Copts.  The witnesses included Kathy Fitzpatrick (Deputy Assistant Secretary, Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor, U.S. Department of State); Nina Shea (Director, Center for Religious Freedom, Hudson Institute); Dina Guirguis (Member, Egyptian American Rule of Law Association); Adel Guindy (President, Coptic Solidarity International); Cynthia Farahat (Co-Founder, Liberal Egyptian Party); and Raymond Ibrahim (Middle East specialist and Associate fellow, Middle East Forum).

Below is a partial transcript of Farahat’s moving, and disturbing testimony before Congress.  Check out the video that follows for the full testimony.

“… In 1971, President Sadat introduced shariah law to the constitution and now I think it’s, qualifies to say that Egypt is a constitutional theocracy and it’s not a modern state. The consequences were that Copts are no longer, according to shariah law, identified or defined as citizen. I have an Egyptian passport, but I’m not a citizen. The concept of citizenship is a Western concept that does not apply to us in Egypt. I‘m a woman and I’m a Copt. I’m a fourth-class citizen in Egypt. A first-class citizen in Egypt is the Sunni male, Muslim male. The second-class is the Sunni female. The third-class is the Coptic male. And fourth-class is the Coptic female.

And that’s why none of the people that committed crimes, none of the criminals that committed crimes against Copts were prosecuted in any way. Because it is against shariah law and that’s a fact. It’s not an opinion. To persecute someone for – a Muslim, for killing, raping, torturing, or vandalizing the property of a non-Muslim or a dhimmi. So this is our legal status. And this has been happening under the Mubarak’s so-called moderate regime, an ally of the West, and it’s now happening now. It was only inevitable that they take their radicalism a step further and start killing Copts in the street in front of TV cameras with live ammunition and running them over with armored military vehicles they probably got from the United States of America. …”

Warning, Farahat’s descriptions of the massacre are graphic:

Sources:

1. http://www.theblaze.com/stories/egyptian-coptic-christian-testifies-before-congress-i-am-a-woman-and-im-a-copt-im-a-fourth-class-citizen/
2. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sHQbXPBEw-s
3. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AC5MCamauos
4. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PoQWeJusZRI
5. http://www.centerforsecuritypolicy.org/p18878.xml
6. http://www.securefreedom.org

Introducing, with the blessings of His Grace Bishop David, the FIRST reality TV show in CYC’s history!!

Do you believe you have what it takes to be a leader?
Do you want the chance to put your talents on display for thousands of viewers to see?
Do you want the chance to win an internship with a National Leadership Honors Society, including an all expense paid trip for two days of training?

If your answer is yes, then you may be CYC’s Next Top Leader!!

CYC’s Next Top Leader will pit 10 Coptic college youth in the New York/New Jersey area in an “Apprentice” style reality competition, where they will vie for the title of “CYC’s Next Top Leader”. All contestants must 18 or older.

If you believe you have what it takes, then show us!!

Post a video to our wall of yourself explaining why you think you can be CYC’s next top leader…the only rule is to keep it clean, but be as creative as you like!! Our top 10 videos will be selected to begin filming in January 2012.

More information will be available in the coming days…but for now, invite your friends, and start brainstorming! Last day for submissions is December 15th!!!

Should you have any questions, contact us at cycnexttopleader@yahoo.com

LIKE OUR FACEBOOK PAGE!!! http://www.facebook.com/pages/CYCs-Next-Top-Leader/201923693215750

Boules Malak – The Rites & Hymns of The Great Lent – 03 – Meghalo & Apenchois

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Meghalo

The ever-greatest pure highpriest forever is the Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal, Who was crucified for us, have mercy upon us.

Apenchois

Our Lord Jesus Christ, fasted for us, forty days and forty nights, to save us from our sins.

And we too let us fast, with purity and righteousness, and let us also pray, proclaiming and saying.

“I have sinned I have sinned, my Lord Jesus forgive me, for there is no servant without sin, nor a master without forgiveness.”

Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be Your name, may Your kingdom come, for Yours is the glory forever.

The incense is Mary, the incense is in her womb, which she will borne, to forgive us our sins.

Let us praise with the angels, proclaiming and saying, “Worthy worthy, worthy O Mary the Virgin.”

St. Antony Monastery of Newberry Springs, California presents: The Holy Coptic Agpeya, prayed in the English language, including the First, Third, and Sixth hours. Fr. Anastasi Saint Antony prays some of the priest’s parts along with recordings from the blessed deacons.  The beautiful thing about this recording is that the psalms are sung and not only read.  Each album if being sold for only $3.00.  You can listen to previews of the CD at the websites below and is available for immediate download upon purchase.

The CD was recorded to fund raise for the completion of the Church of St. Moses the Strong.  Please take the blessing of participating in the building of this church.  Donate Now to St. Antony’s Monastery on their website.

Introduction to Every Hour, The First Hour, Conclusion

http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/saintantonymonastery

The Third Hour & The Sixth Hour

http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/saintantonymonastery2