Sunday School Corner

Blessed is God!
In our time as well martyrs have come forth, and we have been made worthy to see people sacrificed for the Lord Christ, people who shed their holy blood to irrigate the entire Church. We have been made worthy to see people, advocates of piety, who are victorious; who are crowned......and we now have these crowned ones among us."
St John Chrysostom
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The first day of the blessed month of Tute marks the beginning of the Coptic New Year and is the day set aside to celebrate the Feast of El-Nayrouz. On this feast day we honor those who stood and confessed their faith in the Word of God with firmness and commitment and with the totality of their lives.

The risen Lord sent His chosen disciples throughout the world with this message, "You shall be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth. (Acts 1:8)" The disciples were the Lord's WITNESSES. "MARTYRS" is the Greek word for "WITNESSES." The early church thought of death as the complete and final act of witnessing. Thus the term "martyr" has come to be defined as one who witnesses for the Lord Jesus Christ by dying for His name.

During the first four centuries, the Coptic Orthodox Church produced an overwhelming number of martyrs whose steadfastness and perseverance was an inspiration to all Christian believers. Martyrdom was a fact of life for those who confessed their faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Egypt, known as "the land of the martyrs," counted more martyrs in its midst than any other country in the world. Our early saints became legendary examples on how to be a faithful member of the Church. As early as May 8, 68 AD, St. Mark was slain on Monday following the glorious feast of Resurrection after being dragged from his feet by Roman soldiers all over Alexandria's streets and passageways.

The Copts have been persecuted by almost every ruler of Egypt. Being abused, tortured and martyred under the Romans, Byzantines, and the Moslems has only instilled dedication and courage to believers to remain faithful to the Lord Jesus Christ.
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“James, a bondservant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes in the dispersion: greeting.” (v. 1)
St. James did not mention that he was related to the Lord Jesus in flesh, but calls himself “a servant.” We know that a slave or a servant did not have any right or authority over his body, his will, wife or children, but his master has the right to manage all his affairs, according to the master’s wishes. Hence, St. James loves the Lord Jesus to the extent of considering himself a slave to Him. He rejoices to let the Beloved do whatever He likes with him, this is slavery but not against his will instead; in love and submission. These are the feelings of those who love the Holy Trinity. Seeing the Father opening His bosom for His children, the Son accepting them as His own bride, and the Holy Spirit becoming His temple. They sing in the bosom of the Holy Trinity in complete submission as servants. So everyone says with St. James, “a bondservant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ.” This saying reveals the greatness of St. James’ love for the Lord and worshiping Him in true humility. (Fr. Tadros Malaty)
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(Synopsis from: “The story of the Copts, by Iris Habib El-Masry)
In the year of Grace l99, the tide of Coptic history was taking a turn: the peace that had been enjoyed by the Church up till then was about to be broken. Abba Demetrius, heretofore a simple vinedresser, was chosen to sit on the Chair of St. Mark. The choice came about when his predecessor, Abba Yulianus, had seen a vision, wherein he was told by an Angel that his departure from this world was imminent, and that he was to choose as his successor the man who came to him on the following day with a bunch of grapes. On the morrow Demetrius, the vinedresser, appeared carrying a bunch of grapes, the first fruit of the season, as a gift to his Pope. Abba Yulianus immediately retained him and related his vision to those around him. On that very same day he died and was gathered unto his forebears. The people, true to the counsel of Yulianus, declared Demetrius as his successor. Thus he became the 12th successor of St. Mark the Apostle.
Demetrius had been a man of little learning. When he was chosen Pope, the first goal he set for himself was to seek learning assiduously and diligently, and to make himself worthy of serving his people. It is said of him that he used to sit at the feet of his teachers saying, “Let men seek knowledge with true humility and an ardent desire to learn, forgetful of rank or position”. As time went on, Demetrius became one of the most learned of prelates-a bright and shining star in the firmament of the Coptic Church which was destined to be ill with shining stars. One of the many significant original achievements of Abba Demetrius was the method he devised for calculating the date of Easter so that it would always follow the Jewish Passover, according to the historical biblical events. This method is known as the "Epact," and to this day it is followed by all Eastern Orthodox Churches in determining their Easter date many years in advance. The first few years after Abba Demetrius had taken the helm of the Church were peaceful years. Then the severe persecutions of Emperor Severus broke out, and many a staunch believer was martyred. Among them was St. Leonidas, father of one of the most famous figures of the early Christian Church, Origen. Abba Demetrius, seized and sent into exile, where he remained until the persecutions ceased.
(to be continued)
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Many folks want to serve God, but only as advisers.
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