His Holiness Pope Tawadros II delivered his weekly homily at the meeting on Wednesday evening, from St. Mark’s Cathedral in Alexandria, in the presence of a number of bishops and priests, and large numbers of church children who filled the cathedral. The homily was broadcast on Christian satellite channels and the C.O.C channel of the Church’s media centre on the Internet.

Before the homily, His Holiness listened to a speech from Father Antonios Fahmy, who is responsible for the service of those who are about to get married in Alexandria, about the work of the service during the last period since February 2012 with a presentation of the most important methods and statistics that reached the graduation of about 13,000 husbands and wives, and the fruitful results of the service and coordination with the sub-clerical council To discuss the amendment of the curricula in a way that agrees with and addresses the marital problems presented to the Council.
He also met with two of the first families graduating from the course those who are about to get married and had a dialogue with them about the importance of service and the results of the course on their married life.

Then His Holiness completed the new educational series “The Concept of Marriage Union” and How to Build a Holy Christian Family, where he dealt with the fifth chapter of the Epistle of Saint Paul the Apostle to the Ephesians, which is read in the wreath prayers (the Sacred Sacrament of Marriage), and referred to the fourth concept of the marital union, which is social union. (psychological), through several basics:
1- Each person has an independent personality capable of development, and the formation of the personality varies according to several factors, including the environment of upbringing, education, heredity, culture, and the living conditions of each family in which the two parties grew up, education, the degree of satisfaction of needs, the past, the future and their dreams.
2- The position of the fiancé or fiancée in his family and among his brothers is of great importance.
3- That both of them view marriage as sacred view.
4- We believe in the law of one wife and one husband.
5- Awareness that there is a sin that destroys marriage.
6- Chastity in the senses and thoughts.
7- Permanent attachment to the church, “Two is better than one” (Ecclesiastes 4:9).
8- Consumerism, “See then how carefully you walk” (Ephesians 5:15)
9- Physical exhaustion at work.
10 – The two preachers should warn about what the media presents without a sound goal.
11- That the two preachers warn the concepts of magic, “When I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil because you are with me” (Psalm 23:4).
12- That the two preachers warn of addiction, “A full soul tramples on honey, and for a hungry soul every bitterness is sweet.” (Proverbs 27:7)

His Holiness highlighted the list that must be taken into account in social aspects:
Save important dates with the other party.
Money: spending moderately and prudently, and beware of miserliness.
Clothes are appropriate for the community and appropriate for the other party.
Work: Work conversations have a part of the time.
Service: participate in service out of selfishness.
Calls: They consist of words of dignity and contain words of approval for the other and respect for his time.
Pictures: Take care in posting pictures.
Compliments: Participate in each compliment together.
Borders: healthy and respectful boundaries for both parties.
Visits: They both do what pleases the other.
Friendship: It is the pinnacle of informal human relations, and it is devoid of any gender.

This educational series comes in line with the launch of the “My Family is Holy” year, which came as a recommendation from the Holy Synod of the Coptic Orthodox Church in its plenary session held on June 9, and in the consolidation of the principles and values ​​of a normal Christian family, as His Holiness mentioned at the beginning of the sermon on Wednesday, June 15.

Today, Wednesday, His Holiness Pope Tawadros II congratulated our Egyptian Muslim brothers on the occasion of the blessed Eid al-Adha. He also congratulated the church’s children on the Apostles Fathers Day, which falls next Tuesday.
This came at the beginning of His Holiness’s sermon for today’s weekly Wednesday meeting, held in the St. Mark’s Church in Alexandria.

His Holiness said in congratulating the Muslim brothers:
“I extend my congratulations to all our Muslim brothers on the occasion of the blessed Eid al-Adha, the feast that has strong spiritual meanings for redemption. I congratulate all our brothers here in Egypt, and I congratulate all officials, in the forefront, His Excellency President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, and I congratulate all our loved ones in all Arab and Islamic countries and those who celebrate this holiday blessed”.

And about the Feast of the Apostles, His Holiness said:
I also congratulate you on the Apostles Day next Tuesday, after the Apostles fast, and the Apostles Feast that we celebrate is the commemoration of the martyrdom of the two apostles Peter and Paul, Peter one of the first disciples, and Paul one of the last disciples, who were martyred on one day in Rome, and this feast is considered inclusive of all the fathers of the apostles.

His Holiness the Pope welcomes the visit of the Patriarch of Eritrea to Egypt.
His Holiness Pope Tawadros II welcomed the Patriarch of the Eritrean Orthodox Church (Father Kyrillos), who arrived in Cairo today, on a first visit to the Coptic Orthodox Church.
This came during a sermon for today’s weekly Wednesday meeting, held in the St. Mark’s Church in Alexandria. His Holiness the Pope said:
“Today, His Holiness the Patriarch of Eritrea, Father Kyrillos, visits us in Cairo. Our father Kyrillos is visiting us in Egypt for the first time, and by the grace of Christ, we will meet next Saturday for a private interview in Egypt and in the Coptic Orthodox Church.

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