His Holiness Pope Tawadros II prayed the prayers of Lakkan and Liturgy of the Theophany at St. Mark’s Church in Alexandria on Tuesday evening.
His Holiness prayed the feast, which is known in the church, on the occasion of the Divine Reappearance, with the participation of H.G. Bishop Ermia, the general bishop, along with the bishops of the general supervising the pastoral sectors in Alexandria, H.G. Bishop Pavly (Montazah Sector), H.G. Bishop Elarion (West Sector), and H.G. Bishop Hermina (East Sector), And the representative of the Patriarchate in Alexandria, Fr. Abraam Emil, and the priests of the church.
His Holiness delivered the sermon of the Liturgy, in which he said that on this feast we remember our baptism, which is the first sacrament we receive and receive the new birth, then we are ordained with the Chrism, and after that, we partake of the Eucharist to have eternal life and start our life in the church. His Holiness added that we meet on Epiphany with Saint John The Baptist, and contemplates 5 titles of the saint, namely:
1- “The son of faith and prayer”, as his parents continued to adhere to prayer and faith that they would have offspring until they were given John in his time. Likewise, we must trust God’s response to prayer with faith and He responds in His time and way.
2- “Previous”, because his birth preceded the birth of Christ by six months, and his job was to precede Christ in Christmas to prepare the way and move people’s souls towards Christ. their children.
3- “The dyer or the baptist.” The word “baptism” in its Greek origin means “dye,” as the garment is dyed by immersion completely in the color. Although John testified about Christ that he was the Lamb of God before he met him and knew its value, he obeyed and baptized Christ when He asked him to baptize him, for in our tradition we baptize children with the tincture of the new nature to begin their way to eternal life.
4- “Martyr”, his life ended when he was martyred for uttering the word of truth before King Herod that his marriage to his brother’s wife, while he was still alive, was not permissible. All circumstances and environments.
5- “The Greatest Born of women.” The Lord delayed Zacharias and Elizabeth in responding, then gave them this unique personality, the greatest of women born, and presented a model in all respects. We must also learn from St. John the Baptist, the greatest born of women, his important phrase, “It must increase, and I must decrease.” (John 3:30) that can solve many problems.
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