The Commemoration of the First Church for The Virgin Mary in the City of Philippi
On the The Twenty First Day of the Blessed Month of Baounah, the church celebrates the commemoration of the first church to be built in the name of the Virgin Lady, the All pure St. Mary, the Theotokos (Mother of God), through whom the salvation of Adam and his posterity was fulfilled. When the two apostles Paul and Silas preached among the gentiles, many believed of them in the city of Philippi. They built a church there in the name of the Virgin, the Mother of God, and its consecration was on that day. It is meeting for us to celebrate for her a spiritual festival, for she has borne the Savior of the world.
May her intercession be with us. Amen.
The Virgin Mary's Church at El-Zeitoun
The church was built by the late Tawfeek Khalil Bey, under the supervision of the Italian architect Leomingelli in 1924, and was consecrated by Anba Athanasyous, Bishop of Beni Sweif in 1925.It is said that the Virgin Mary appeared to the late Khalil Pasha Ibrahim and requested him to build a church after Her name in this place. She gave Her word that She would make Her apparition fifty years hence--a promise that has been realized when She made Her first apparition on April 2nd, 1968.
It is also said that a Norwegian lady, after the proclamation of the Virgin's apparition, sent a letter stating that the Virgin appeared to her in her bedroom in Oslo and told her that She appeared in Her Church at Zeitoun in the place where She and the baby Christ rested
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Words Of Thanks
"Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves,
for the rights of all who are destitute.
Speak up and judge fairly;
defend the rights of the poor and needy."
Proverbs 31: 8-9
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
We wanted to thank all those who attended the lecture given by Fr. Mattias Nasr Mankarious. There was a great turn out. We also want to thank the following:
Fr. Isaac Tanios
St. Mary's Coptic Orthodox Church, Palatine
Fr. Yohanna Nassif
St. Mary's Coptic Orthodox Church, Palatine
Fr. Wilbur David Ellsworth
Holy Transfiguration Antiochian Orthodox Church
Pastor Rev. Raouf Boulos
The Moody Church
We especially want to thank Fr. Mattias for being our speaker. Fr. Mattias was eager to go back to Egypt and, as he said, to be next to his children
in their time of need. We want to thank him for being a beam of light for Christianity and standing up for the preservation of Christianity in Egypt.
The Bible teaches us in the Book of Matthew: " ...let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who
is in heaven." (Matt 5:16).
Thank you Fr. Mattias for being the light for us to all see and for being the father teaching your children the love, peace, and mercy of Christ. We know
how hard it is for you to see your children murdered, but we know that you are consoled to know that in dying in the name of Christ, they will be saved.
These things I have spoken unto you,
that in Me ye might have peace.
In the world ye shall have tribulation,
but be of good cheer:
I have overcome the world.
(John 16:32-33)
To download the power point presentation, click here.
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