The Departure of Pope Theophilus of Alexandria (Paopi 18/October 28)
On this day of the year 44 A.D., the holy father Abba Theophilus, 23rd Pope of Alexandria, departed. He was a disciple of St. Athanasius the Apostolic. He was brought up by him and learned all the spiritual doctrine from him. When Pope Timothy I departed, this father was chosen to take his place. Abba Theophilus was knowledgeable, well read in the church books with full understanding of their interpretation. He wrote many discourses and – …
The Departure of St. Julius of Aqfahs, the Historian of the Martyrs (Thout 22/October 2)
On Thout 22, we commemorate the martyrdom of St. Julius of Aqfahs, the “Historian of the Martyrs.” The Lord Christ appointed him to care for the bodies of the holy martyrs, to shroud them and to send them to their hometown. The Lord brought blindness into the hearts of the governors, and no one objected to him. They also never forced him to worship idols. The Lord kept him to care for the martyrs. He used – …
The Feast of the Cross (Thout 17 / September 27)
Because of its power and holiness, the Coptic Orthodox Church celebrates two separate Feasts of the Cross in its liturgical year. The first, on Thout 17 (September 27 or 28), commemorates the discovery of the Holy Cross by the Empress Helen, mother of the first Christian Roman emperor, Constantine. Through her diligent search and efforts, the Holy Cross of our Lord Jesus Christ was recovered from under the rubble at Golgotha. The second Feast, on – …
The Coptic New Year 1727 A.M.
From September 11, 2010 (Thout 1) to September 27 (Thout 17), the Coptic Orthodox Church celebrates the Feast of Nayrouz, which is the feast of the new year in the Coptic calendar, 1727 A.M. The designation “A.M.” at the end of the Coptic year refers to “Anno Martyrii,” which is Latin for “Year of the Martyrs.” The reason years in the Coptic calendar are called “years of the martyrs” is the fact that the calendar – …
Departure of Abba Parsoum the Naked (September 10 / Nasie 5)
On September 10, the Church celebrates the departure of Abba Parsoum the “Naked” (El-Erian). He was born in Misre (Cairo). His father called El-Wageeh Moufdel, was the scribe of the Queen “Shagaret El-dor”, and his mother was from the family of El-Taban. When his parents departed, his uncle took possession of all that they had left. Parsoum did not quarrel with him but forsook the world and lived the life of the righteous hermits. He – …
Departure of St. Takla the Ethiopian
On August 30, we celebrate the departure of the blessed St. Takla the Ethiopian (Haymanout). He was born in a village nearby Jerusalem which was the share of Zadok and Abia-thar the priests during the reign of King Soliman, son of King David. Zadok begot Azariah, Azariah begot Zadok, who was named after his grandfather, and Zadok begot Levi, and so forth till the father of this saint was born. His name was Tsega Ze-Ab – …