Spring Semester Class #1 January 14, 2014

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’).

The Development of the Church  1. Paradise: God used to meet with man without the need of a sanctuary, altar, offering or incense.  2. Altar: Abraham offering Isaac in Genesis 22 (picture of the cross)  3. Bethel: Genesis 28: Then Jacob awoke from his sleep and said, “Surely the Lord is in this place, and I did not know it.” 17 And he was afraid and said, “How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven!”

The Development of the Church  4. Tabernacle: “who serve the copy and shadow of the heavenly things, as Moses was divinely instructed when he was about to make the tabernacle. For He said, “See that you make all things according to the pattern shown you on the mountain.” Hebrews 8:5  5. Temple Extension of the tabernacle and according to the plan that was revealed to King David.  6. New Testament Church

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 Advent (Preparation) 2. Incarnation (Advent & Incarnational Feasts) 3. Great Lent & Holy Week (Crucifixion) 4. Resurrection (40 Days) 5. Ascension to Pentecost (10 days) 6. Apostles’ Fast (Season of Holy Spirit) 7. St. Mary’s Fast (Partnership with Heavenly) and 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. Wedding of Cana of Galilee 3. Entry into Temple 4. Covenant Thursday 5. Entry into Egypt 6. Thomas Sunday 7. Transfiguration

The Coptic Months  Tout  Babah  Hator  Kiahk  Toba  Amshir  Baramhat  Barmouda  Bashans  Baona  Abib  Mesra  Nasi (the Little Month)

Other feasts  Weekly feast: Sunday  Monthly feasts: 12 th of every month: Archangel Michael 21 st of every month: St. Mary 29 th of every month: Annunciation, Nativity & Resurrection  Saints feasts all throughout the year.

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

Church Readings  Weekdays are based on the Synexarium except for Great Lent and Holy 50  Sundays have their own special readings

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! Prepare Sacraments Fast/pray Sing Read/Meditate  Learn Ask Observe 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