My
beloved Youth,
May
the One Spirit of all the inspired believers present on the Day of
Pentecost be with you.
"When
the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord
in one place. And suddenly there came from Heaven, as of a rushing
mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting.
Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, one sat upon
each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began
to speak with other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance."
(Acts 2:1-4)
This
is how the life of the first church was created. The first church
was born with a church life that began steadfastly in the Apostles
doctrine and in fellowship. This was done through the breaking of
bread (the Eucharist), with prayers (Divine Liturgy), and with continuing
daily with one accord (Apostolic Teachings).
The
earliest days of the Christian Church were filled with love, joy and
unity in which Christians were of one accord and shared all things
in common. But this unity was later to be challenged and to be defended
by many of our Coptic Saints.
Therefore,
in honor of the Day of Pentecost and the Apostolic Teachings that
were to follow, this issue of the Mighty Arrows features articles
about the Apostolic Fathers and selected saints among the Commemoration
of the Saints in the Divine Liturgy.
It
is with endearing love and respect that we recite the names of the
saints who were not only empowered to preach and teach, but many continued
in the healing ministry of the Lord Jesus Christ. Salvation, if it
meant their lives, was in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ alone.
"As
this O Lord, is the command of Your only-begotten Son, that we share
in the commemoration of Your saints, graciously accord, O Lord to
remember all the saints who have pleased You since the beginning:
our
holy fathers the patriarchs, the prophets, the apostles, the preachers,
the evangelists, the martyrs, the confessors, and all the spirits
of the righteous perfected in the faith. Most of all, the pure full
of glory, ever virgin holy Theotokos, St Mary who truly gave birth
to God the Logos.
And
St John the forerunner, Baptist, and martyr; St Stephen the archdeacon
and protomartyr; the beholder of God, St Mark the Evangelist, the
apostle and martyr; the patriarch St Severus; our teacher St Dioscorus;
St Athanasius the Apostolic; St Peter the holy martyr and high priest;
St
John Chrysostom; St Theodosius; St Theophilus; St Demetrius; St Cyril;
St Basil; St Gregory the Theologian; St Gregory the Wonderworker;
St Gregory the Armenian; the 318 assembled at Nicea; the 150 at Constantinople;
and 200 at Ephesus; our righteous father, the great Abba Anthony;
the righteous Abba Paul; the 3 saints Macarii and all their children,
the cross bearers;
Our
father Abba John the hegumen; our righteous father Abba Pishoy, the
perfect man, the beloved of our good Savior.
Our
father Abba Paul of Tammoh and Ezekiel his disciple; my lords, the
Roman fathers Sts Maximus and Dometius; the 49 martyrs; the elders
of Shiheet; the strong St Abba Moses; John Kame the priest; our father
Abba Daniel the hegumen; our father Abba Isidore the priest; our father
Abba Pachom of the Koinonia, and Theodore his disciple; our father
Abba Shenoute the archmandrite, and Abba Wesa his disciple; and all
the choir of your saints, through whose prayers and supplications
have mercy on us all and save us, for the sake of Your holy name,
which is called upon us"
(Divine Liturgy of St Basil)
May
the Lord repose their souls and forgive us all our sins,
His
Grace Bishop Youssef
Bishop, Coptic Orthodox Diocese of the Southern United States
