Today, Saturday, His Holiness Pope Tawadros II consecrated the Church of the Virgin Mary in the Rawd al-Farag neighborhood, Shobra, affiliated with the Southern Shobra Churches Sector, after the completion of the renovations carried out in it, and coinciding with its diamond jubilee (the 75th anniversary of its founding).
The church bells rang with tones of joy upon the arrival of His Holiness. H.H. was received by H.G. Bishop Makari, the General Bishop of the churches of the southern Shobra sector. Members of the scout team lined up to receive His Holiness, and two children presented a bouquet of flowers to welcome His Holiness the Pope.
His Holiness unveiled the memorial plaque chronicling the consecration of the church, and memorial photos were taken of H.H. in front of the plaque, and next to him H.G. Bishop Makari, the bishops participating in the prayers, and the priests of the Church.
The procession of His Holiness the Pope then headed into the church, led by the deacons, singing the melody for welcoming Patriarch Father “Evlogimenos,” amid ululations and words of welcome from the church congregation to their father.
His Holiness and the six bishops participating in the prayers prayed the third incense prayer for the consecration, where the main altar in the church was consecrated on the name of the Virgin Mary, another altar on the name of the martyrs Maurice and Verena and the Theban Legion, and another altar on the name of St. Thekla Haymanot.
The icon of the Pantocrator was also consecrated in the eastern part of the altar, as well as the icons on the iconostasis and throughout the church.
In his speech after the consecration, His Holiness thanked H.E. Metropolitan Makari and the bishops participating in the consecration .
H.H. also thanked the church’s priests, council, deacons, and signed the church’s consecration document, describing it as “an ancient church with a history.” H.H. pointed out that the church was blessed by the visit of Saint Pope Kyrillos VI, and the visit of His Holiness Pope Shenouda III four times, during one of which he consecrated the church located in the basement.

In the sermon of the Liturgy, His Holiness addressed the theme of his Gospel, which is “One flock and one shepherd,” where he spoke about “the servant who serves in the righteousness of God and the one Church,” and referred to the most famous expression about the Church and its service, which is: “The Church is my home.” She is my mother. It is the secret of the joy of my life.” H.H. linked the three meanings to the seven sacraments of the Church through:
1- It is a “house”. The house is distinguished by two important factors, which are:

1-The presence of the father. The church is a home because it contains the sacrament of fatherhood, which is represented by the “sacrament of the priesthood” that establishes all the secrets, and the title “our father” has great importance in our lives.

Having a place of rest, the church is a place of comfort and healing through “the sacrament of the anointing of the sick,” which is the sacrament of relief from pain and physical, psychological, and spiritual illnesses.

2- She is “Mother”: The word “Mother” has appreciation and pride for everyone, and it includes three meanings, which are:

The Church is “Mother” because my family was born within her through the “Sacrament of Marriage”, so the Church is called “Mother”.

The Church is also a “mother” because I was born in it, and this is the “Sacrament of Baptism,” and it is sometimes called for explanation “the womb of the Church,” because we are born from the font of baptism with water and the Spirit.
The Church is also a “mother” because it contains the sacrament of confirmation, which is the “sacrament of chrismation,” with which we are anointed after baptism in 36 places on the body, and when a child is anointed with it, he becomes a holy person, and therefore we respect the body.

3- It is “joy”: The Church is the secret of the joy of my life, and we say “secret” because it is an inner joy in the human heart.
“I was glad when they said to me, “Let us go into the house of the Lord.””
‭‭(Psalms‬ ‭122‬:‭1), and we find joy through:

“The Sacrament of Repentance and Confession”: When a person repents, he receives joy, because he gets rid of the weight of sin, which makes the heart dark and even the mind as well, and only the pure in heart will see God.
“Blessed are the pure in heart, For they shall see God.”
‭‭(Matthew‬ ‭5‬:‭8)
Therefore, when a person comes to church, he asks God for help to purify his heart, and when he leaves his sins, he receives joy and rejoicing.
“The Mystery of the Eucharist”: It is the sacrament that gives a person an inner life, so his life becomes derived from the life of Christ within him.
“He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood abides in Me, and I in him.”
‭‭(John‬ ‭6‬:‭56)
‬ ‭ This gives a person joy, as the priest says at the end of every Liturgy: “Then our mouth was filled with laughter, And our tongue with singing.”
(Psalms‬ ‭126‬:‭2)
His Holiness pointed out that the three meanings of the Church enshrined in the seven Holy Sacraments are spiritual meanings in which man lives and enjoys through prayer from generation to generation.
“Your kingdom come. Your will be done On earth as it is in heaven.”
‭‭(Matthew‬ ‭6‬:‭10)

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