David Bebawy's Weblog

The Departure of H.H. Pope Shenouda III

David Bebawy — Tue, 20 Mar 2012 20:14:36 +0000

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

Anesti Productions – They Presented Unto Him

David Bebawy — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 00:36:25 +0000

http://www.AnestiProductions.com

David Bebawy – They Presented Unto Him.mp3

Aspasmos Watos for The Glorious Feast of the Nativity

They presented unto Him gifts,
gold, frankincense, and myrrh,
praising with the rest,
worshipping Him.

Alleluia Alleluia Alleluia,
Jesus Christ the Son of God,
was born of the Virgin,
in Bethlehem of Judea
according to the prophetic sayings.

Holy, Holy, Holy,
Lord of Hosts.
Heaven and earth are full
of Your holy glory.

Anesti Productions – We Three Kings

David Bebawy — Sat, 31 Dec 2011 20:48:50 +0000

http://www.AnestiProductions.com

John Bibawy & Sarah Bibawy – We Three Kings.mp3

We three kings of Orient are
Bearing gifts we travel so far
Field and fountain, moor and mountain
Following yonder star

Born a King on Bethlehem’s plain
Gold I bring to crown Him again
King forever, ceasing never
Over us all to reign

Refrain:
O Star of wonder, star of night
Star with royal beauty bright
Westward leading, still proceeding
Guide us to thy Perfect Light

Frankincense to offer have I
Incense owns a Deity nigh
Prayer and praising, all men raising
Worship Him, God most high

Myrrh is mine, its bitter perfume
Breathes of life of gathering gloom
Sorrowing, sighing, bleeding, dying
Sealed in the stone-cold tomb

Refrain:
O Star of wonder, star of night
Star with royal beauty bright
Westward leading, still proceeding
Guide us to thy Perfect Light

Glorious now behold Him arise
King and God and Sacrifice
Alleluia, Alleluia
Sounds to the earth and skies

Refrain:
O Star of wonder, star of night
Star with royal beauty bright
Westward leading, still proceeding
Guide us to thy Perfect Light

Testimony before the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission in the House of Representatives

David Bebawy — Sat, 17 Dec 2011 13:00:54 +0000

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:

Jamie Grace – You Lead

David Bebawy — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 13:17:02 +0000

Download it on iTunes: http://bit.ly/jgviditunes

“You Lead”

I’ve got waves that are tossin’ me,
Crashin’ all over my beliefs,
And in all sincerity, Lord,
I wanna be yours,
So pull me out of this mess I’m in,
Cause I know I’m wanderin’
Lead my soul back home again,
I’ve always been yours,And this world may push, may pull,
But your love it never fails,

You lead, I’ll follow, Your hands hold my tomorrow,
Your grip, Your grace, You know the way,
You guide me tenderly,
When you lead, I’ll follow,
Just light the way and I’ll go,
Cause I know what you got for me is more then I can see,
So lead me on, on, on and on,
Just lead me on, on, on and on,

As a child I heard your voice,
But as a girl I made my choice,
There is no other way for me,
I’m devoted to you,
You’re my peace on the heavy days,
You’re the warmth of an autumn blaze,
Your love carries me away,
And it’s never to soon, no…

And this world may push, may pull,
But your mercy never fails,

You lead, I’ll follow, Your hands hold my tomorrow,
Your grip, Your grace, You know the way,
You guide me tenderly, yeah,
When you lead, I’ll follow,
Just light the way and I’ll go,
Cause I know what you got for me is more then I can see,
So lead me on, on, on and on,
Just lead me on, on, on and on,

Sometimes when I wake up, I don’t wanna rise up, Out of my bed, to many thoughts in my head,
Don’t wanna be who I used to be,
Gonna take the back seat and let you lead,
And I…
Need to stop, need to stop,
Cause I’m going to fast,
And I…
Know my God is still God, And you got my back,

And I…
Need to stop, need to stop,
Cause I’m going too fast,
And I…
Know my God is still God, And you got my back,
You got my back,
I know ya got me, I know ya got me,
I know ya got me, Lead me on…

Awesome God [E&A]

David Bebawy — Tue, 29 Nov 2011 20:20:16 +0000

Beautiful rendition of Awesome God with refrain in English and Arabic.

Source: http://soundcloud.com/eng-fadimichel/awesome-god-gr

CYC’s Next Top Leader

David Bebawy — Mon, 28 Nov 2011 13:00:22 +0000

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

Visions of the Future

David Bebawy — Wed, 23 Nov 2011 16:04:44 +0000

I saw these videos and thought they were phenomenally awesome. These are some videos that show companies’ vision of what the future could look like.

Corning’s ‘A Day Made of Glass…’

EXOdesk – a transparent touch-screen workspace

Microsoft Future Vision

Vision Of The Future From 3M

Roll-Out Laptop

Nokia HumanForm

Microsoft’s 3D HoloDesk

Sources:

Wedding Advice to Mary & John

David Bebawy — Mon, 07 Nov 2011 21:03:15 +0000

Congratulations to John & Mary on their blessed marriage. May God bless you both! Sharing some cute wedding advice from Mary’s nephews.

The Glory Of It All

David Bebawy — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 21:35:51 +0000