The Women in the Genealogy of Christ
Let us examine a unique aspect of the genealogy of our Lord Jesus Christ in the Gospel according to St. Matthew: the inclusion of several women. The historical reality is that, in Biblical genealogies, women are not typically included. A person’s lineage was defined primarily by his or her male ancestors. But in Christ’s genealogy, we have several interesting women listed: Tamar is mentioned in v. 3, as are Rahab and Ruth in v. 5, …
Beginning the Nativity Fast: More than a Diet
For those of us following the Old (Julian) calendar, as we do in the Coptic Orthodox Church, we have just begun the Nativity Fast, which culminates in the Feast of our Lord’s Nativity in the flesh on January 7, 2017. Throughout this Fast, we commemorate the events that preceded the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ and ultimately transformed human history. We are called to be attentive and faithful, awaiting the Feast of our Lord’s …
God Dwells with Us Forever
As we prepare to celebrate the Feast of the Nativity of our Lord Jesus Christ, it is good to meditate on some of the types and symbols of His Birth in the Old Testament. One of the most beautiful foreshadowings of the birth of Christ can be found in 3 Kingdoms 8:26-30 (LXX). [1. Also known as 1 Kings 8:26-30 in the Protestant Bible] In this passage, the Holy Prophet-King Solomon, the son of the …
He Became Man for You
Believe that the Son of God, the Word before the ages, begotten from the Father apart from time and without body, has in the last days also become for you Son of a human being, coming forth from the Virgin Mary ineffably and in an undefiled manner… He is a whole human being, and is also God… that salvation may be granted to the whole of you, destroying the whole condemnation of sin. He is …
Homily on the Nativity of St. John the Baptist
Among the Church’s feasts, there are three in honor of God’s saint which in their significance stand out from the others devoted to the saints and are numbered among the great feasts of the Church of Christ. These feasts glorify the economy of God for our salvation. These three feasts are the Nativity of St. John the Forerunner, his Beheading, and the feast of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul. The apparition of the holy …
On the Nativity of St. John the Baptist
Today we are celebrating the Nativity of St. John, dearest brethren, something which we read has never been granted to any of the other saints. Only the Nativity of our Lord and that of Blessed John [the Baptist] are celebrated and honored throughout the world. [1.The cycle of John the Baptist is an early Palestinian rite that serves as the model for the Mariological cycle. It includes the feasts of conception, nativity, and martyrdom. In the Coptic …
The Canticle (Praise) of the Holy Zacharias
In the Gospel reading of the Fourth Sunday of the Holy Month of Koiak from Luke 1:56-80, we hear the words of the beautiful canticle (praise) uttered by the Holy Zacharias, the father of the Holy Forerunner, John the Baptist.We come across three amazing canticles at the beginning of the Gospel according to the Holy Evangelist Luke. All three speak of the blessedness of God and His great compassion in looking down upon us as …