This morning, H.H Pope Tawadros II prayed the Divine Liturgy of the final day of the Fast of Virgin Mary, the Mother of God, at the Church of Virgin Mary and Saint Marina in Al-Alamein. He was joined by Their Graces Bishop Pavly (General Bishop of the Montazah District Churches in Alexandria), and Bishop Karas (Bishop of Matrouh and the Five Western Cities).

Also participating in the prayers were Hegumen Abram Emil (General Deputy of the Patriarchate in Alexandria), the priests of the church, along with several priests from Alexandria and Matrouh, the church’s deacons’ choir, and a large number of the congregation.

In his sermon, Pope Tawadros reflected on the Gospel of the Liturgy, which recounted the parable of the wise and foolish virgins, in which we celebrate the virginal souls. Since today also marks the commemoration of the departure of St. Marina the Nun, His Holiness emphasized that the path of holiness is open to all according to the commandment: “Be holy, for I am holy” (1 Peter 1:16).

His Holiness explained that the difference between the wise and foolish virgins lies in valuing time: “Redeeming the time, because the days are evil” (Ephesians 5:16). He pointed to three principles for the life and path of holiness:

The saint receives Christ daily– through many sources such as the Holy Bible, the sacraments, the prayers (the Psalmody and the Agpeya), and the lives of the saints in the Synaxarium.

The saint strives to cast away sin – preserving purity in garment, thought, heart, and tongue. As the Bible says: “Turn me back, and I shall be restored” (Jeremiah 31:18); “Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow” (Psalm 51:7).

The saint longs for eternity – and this longing makes him vigilant. We name our churches after the saints because they are examples for us.

His Holiness concluded his sermon by recounting many of the virtues of the saints, among them joy, endurance, and humility.

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