Spring Semester Class #1 January 15, 2013

Christianity is not intended to be learned but to be lived! See Song of Songs 1:8

 The Church is not just a building but is the Assembly of God’s chosen people called to keep His word and to do His will and His work in the world and in the heavenly kingdom.

Origen the Scholar said: “I would not have you suppose that “the bride of Christ” (Rev 21:2) or the Church is spoken of only after the coming of the Savior in the flesh, but rather from the beginning of the human race, from the very foundation of the world; nay, I may follow St. Paul in tracing the origin of this mystery even further, before the foundation of the world. For St. Paul says, “He chose us in Christ before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy” (Eph 1:4). The Apostle also says that the Church is built on the foundation not only of apostles but also prophets (Eph 2:20).

Now Adam is numbered among the prophets, and he prophesied concerning the great mystery in respect of our Lord Jesus Christ and the Church when he said, “Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh” (Gen 2:24). For the Apostle is clearly speaking of these words when he says, “This (matrimony) is a great mystery, but I speak concerning Christ and the church” (Eph 5:32). Further, the Apostle also says, “Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave Himself for her, that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word” (Eph 5:25), and in this he shows that it is not the case that she did not exist before. For how could He love her if she did not exist? Without doubt she existed in all the saints who had been from the beginning of time. Thus, loving the Church, He came to her.

 “Anyone who leaves the Church of Christ behind cannot benefit from the rewards of Christ. Such people are strangers, outcasts, and enemies. You cannot have God as Father unless you have the Church as mother. If any had been able to escape outside Noah’s Ark, there might have been a way of escape for those who are outside the Church.” There is only one Church, and outside its bounds salvation is impossible: “Extra ecclesiam nulla salus – Outside the Church there is no salvation” (St. Cyprian: ‘On the Unity of the Catholic Church’).

See Ephesians 1:22-23

Basics of Spiritual Life  1) Enlightenment Matthew 4:16, Luke 1: John 3:19-21 Revelation 22:4-5  2) Purification 1 Thessalonians 4:7 Hebrews 12:14

How do I experience this?  Through my spiritual canon!

Basics of Spiritual Life  3) Abiding in God as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue, by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. 2 Peter 1:3-5

The Coptic Calendar  The Coptic Church year revolves around seasons and occasions which are primarily made up of fasts and feasts.  See Leviticus 23:1-2 and Zechariah 8:19

Seven Major Seasons 1. Nayrouz to Feast of the Cross 2. Advent (Nativity) 3. Epiphany 4. Great Lent 5. Holy Apostles’ Fast 7. St. Mary’s Fast **Conclusion: Final 2 weeks of the year

Seven Major Feasts 1. Annunciation 2. Nativity 3. Epiphany 4. Palm Sunday 5. Resurrection 6. Ascension 7. Pentecost

Seven Minor Feasts 1. Circumcision 2. Entry into Temple 3. Entry into Egypt 4. Wedding of Cana of Galilee 5. Covenant Thursday 6. Transfiguration 7. Thomas Sunday

What makes any feast or season different?  Hymns  Readings  Rites

Feast of the Nativity  We receive a gift from Christ.

Feast of Circumcision  In order to preserve our gift we must be set apart (cut off).

Feast of Epiphany  Epiphany means: “manifestation or striking appearance”  Theophany means: “revelation of God”  This feast gives us the gift of cleansing and washing.

Feast of Wedding of Cana We renew our bridal love.

Feast of Entry into the Temple ????

Practical Application  Participate in different services! Sacraments Fast/pray Sing Read/Meditate  Learn Ask Read on your own

“During the Divine Liturgy, stand humbly. Do not just listen to sweet voices. Remember you are standing before the Lord, and He expects you to ask Him for graces and blessings of which He will give you freely. He said, “Ask, and it shall be given to you, seek, and you shall find, knock, and it shall be opened to you.’ Be as an active merchant who knows his gains from his losses and, therefore, try to discern whether you received more grace today than yesterday and the day before that.” HH Pope Kyrillos VI