St Michael and St Bishoy Church

Day 22 of the Nativity Fast

Daily Readings – Monday, 16 December 2024 – 7 Kiahk 1741
Liturgy Gospel
Pauline Epistle	Hebrews 13: 7 – 25
Catholic Epistle	1 Peter 5: 1 – 14
Acts of the Apostles	Acts 15: 12 – 21
Synaxarium	Departure of St. Matthew the Poor
Divine Psalms	Psalms 132: 9,10,1,2
Divine Gospel	Mark 9: 33 – 41

“If anyone wants to be first, he will be the last of all and a servant of all” ( 35 )
Get dressed Humility all the time, and it makes you God’s abode (St. John Saba )
+ (Please select the correct answers from the options given. After reading the Gospel chapter and hearing the voice of the Lord to you on this day and transforming
How did the disciples respond when Jesus asked about their argument on the way?
a) They told Him immediately

b) They kept silent

c) They shifted the topic

d) They blamed one another

e) They laughed it off

Day 21 of the Nativity Fast

Today’s Readings: Sunday, 15th December 2024 – 6 Kiahk 1741
Liturgy Gospel
Pauline Epistle	Romans 1: 1 – 17
Catholic Epistle	James 1: 1 – 18
Acts of the Apostles	Acts 1: 1 – 14
Synaxarium	Martyrdom of St. Anatolius
	Departure of St. Abraam, the Sixty-Second Pope of Alexandria
Divine Psalms	Psalms 102: 13,16
Divine Gospel	Luke 1: 1 – 25

“And it shall be You have joy and joy, and many will rejoice at his birth,” (14 )
John will call for repentance, and the way of repentance is the way of joy, the heavenly people rejoice. The penitents and the penitents rejoice in God, and God rejoices in them. (Luke 15:7)

+ (Please select the correct answers from the options given. After reading the Gospel chapter and hearing the voice of the Lord to you on this day and transforming
What was the chief reason Zacharias and his wife were both righteous before God?
a) They walked in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless.

b) They offered sacrifices daily .

c) They lived in Jerusalem and were holy before the Lord God of Israel.

d) They visited the temple every day.

Day 20 of the Nativity Fast

Today’s Readings: Saturday, 14th December 2024 – 5 Kiahk 1741
Liturgy Gospel
Pauline Epistle	Hebrews 11: 17 – 27
Catholic Epistle	2 Peter 1: 19 – 2: 8
Acts 15: 21 – 29
Synaxarium	Departure of the Holy Prophet Nahum
	Martyrdom of St.Victor (Boctor)
	Martyrdom of St. Isidore
Divine Psalms	Psalms 99: 6 – 7
Divine Gospel	Matthew 23: 13 – 36

“Because you shall close the kingdom of heaven before men, no You shall enter, and shall not let those who enter .” ( 13 )
“Saint Jerome says: [In any case, the teacher whose disciples stumble upon his works. The bad ones close the kingdom of heaven before them”
“However woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites,

+ (Please select the correct answers from the options given. After reading the Gospel chapter and hearing the voice of the Lord to you on this day and transforming
What did Jesus say would come upon the generation of scribes and Pharisees?
a) The blessings of all the prophets

b) All the righteous blood shed upon the earth

c) A time of great prosperity

d) The praises of all the saints

e) A new covenant

Day 19 of the Nativity Fast

Reading for Today: Friday, December 13, 2024 – 4 Kiahk 1741

Mass Readings:

Reading	Reference
Pauline Epistle	Romans 10:4-18
Catholic Epistle	2 Peter 1:12-21
Acts	Acts 3:1-16
Synaxarion	Martyrdom of Saint Andrew, one of the Twelve Apostles Commemoration of the Consecration of the Church of St. John the Heracleian Commemoration of the Transfer of the Bodies of Saints Anba Bishoy and Anba Paul of Tamouh to the Monastery of Anba Bishoy in Wadi El-Natroun
Psalm	Psalm 19:1, 4
Gospel	Matthew 10:1-15

Our Lord Jesus Christ chose the twelve apostles to be His disciples, to live with Him, hear Him, and accompany Him, so they may understand His teachings and pass them on to future generations. This is what we call the Apostolic Tradition, the teaching handed down by the apostles to the Church.

Day 18 of the Nativity Fast

Today’s Readings :Thursday, 12th December 2024 — 3 Kiahk 1741
Liturgy Gospel

Reading	Reference
Pauline Epistle	Hebrews 9:1-12
Catholic Epistle	2 John 1:1-13
Acts of the Apostles	Acts 1:1-14
Synaxarium	Entrance of Saint Mary into the Temple in Jerusalem
Divine Psalms	Psalms 45:12-13
Divine Gospel	Luke 1:39-56

“where she entered Zechariah’s home and greeted Elizabeth” ( 40 )
St. Mary carries within her the Holy Christ and goes to do a service to Elizabeth, I wish we could carry our Christ within us and go to offer it to every human being, and this is what will make us and those who rejoice We visit them.

+ (Please select the correct answers from the options given. After reading the Gospel chapter and hearing the voice of the Lord to you on this day and transforming

Why did Mary say, “For he hath regarded the low estate of his handmaiden”?
a) She was from a poor family.

b) She felt unworthy of God’s favor.

c) She was humble.

d) She was a servant.

Day 17 of the Nativity Fast

Today’s Readings: Wednesday, 11th December 2024 – 2 Kiahk 1741

Liturgy	Reading
Pauline’s Epistle	Philippians 3:20 – 4:9
Catholic Epistle	James 5:9-20
Acts of the Apostles	Acts 11:19-26
Synaxarium	Departure of Saint Abba Hor, the Monk
Divine Psalms	Psalms 34:19; 68:3
Divine Gospel	Luke 12:32-44

Divine Gospel Reflection: “Let your loins be zoned” (Luke 12:35)

The Easterners wore long garments that, if not girded, would hinder their movement. Spiritually, this symbolizes the need to be ready for the Lord’s return, unburdened by worldly distractions.

Question:

After reading the Gospel chapter and hearing the voice of the Lord to you on this day and transforming, what should be the state of your loins and lights?

a. Loins girded and lights burning
b. Loins covered and lights off
c. Loins resting and lights flickering
d. Loins tightened and lights dimmed

H.G. Bishop Antony Welcomes President El-Sisi in Ireland

May be an image of 7 people and aircraft

As part of his European tour, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi visited Dublin, Ireland, where he met with key political leaders and members of the Egyptian diaspora. Among those welcoming the president was H.G. Bishop Antony, the Coptic Orthodox Bishop of Ireland, Scotland, and Northeast England. The meeting highlighted the strong connection between the Egyptian government and its expatriate communities, as well as the respect for the role of the Coptic Orthodox Church in representing Egyptian heritage abroad.

Bishop Antony, known for his dedicated service to the Coptic community in Ireland and the UK, met the president at the airport. This gesture underlined the church’s continued efforts to foster unity and strengthen ties between the homeland and Egyptian communities abroad.

Day 16 of the Nativity Fast

Today’s Readings: Tuesday, 10th December 2024 – 1 Kiahk 1741
Liturgy Gospel

Pauline’s Epistle	2 Timothy 3: 10 – 4: 22
Catholic Epistle	1 Peter 5: 1 – 14
Acts of the Apostles	Acts 20: 17 – 38
Synaxarium Kiahk 1	The departure of St.Peter Elrahawy, Bishop of Gaza Consecration of the Church of the Saint, Anba Shenouda
Divine Psalms	Psalms 73: 23,24,28
Divine Gospel	John 10: 1 – 16

Christ presented Himself as light, bread, and vine. Here, he introduces himself as a shepherd, Good.

+ (Please select the correct answers from the options given. After reading the Gospel chapter and hearing the voice of the Lord to you on this day and transforming

In John 10, to whom is Jesus referring when He speaks of those who do not enter the sheepfold by the door, but climb up some other way?
a. The shepherds

b. The sheep

c. Thieves and robbers

d. The Pharisees

Day 15 of the Nativity Fast

Reading for Today: Monday, December 9, 2024 – 30 Hatour 1741

Mass Readings:

Pauline’s Epistle	2 Corinthians 4:5 – 5:11
Catholic Epistle	1 Peter 2:18 – 3:7
Acts of the Apostles	Acts 7: 23- 34
Synaxarium Hatour 30	Martyrdom of St. Acacius, Patriarch of Constantinople Consecration of the Church of Saints Cosmas, Damian, their brothers, and their mother Martyrdom of St. John the Monk from Qalyub
Divine Psalms	Psalm 107:32, 41, 42
Divine Gospel	John 10:1-16

The Gospel of the Good Shepherd is read whenever the Church celebrates the commemoration of a saintly patriarch or bishop, or on the day of ordination or enthronement of the patriarch. This reflects Christ shepherding His Church through them. (This Gospel is read 38 times a year.)

Question: According to the parable of the Good Shepherd, why do the sheep follow the shepherd?
A. They follow him because he knows their names.
B. They follow him because he loves them.
C. They follow him because he has food to give them.
D. They follow him because they know his voice.

Day 14 of the Nativity Fast

Read for today: Sunday, 8 December 2024 – 29 Hatour 1741

Mass readings

Pauline’s Epistle	Romans : 3: 1- 31
Catholic Epistle	1 John 1: 1 -2:6
Acts of the Apostles	Acts 7: 23- 34
Synaxarium Hatour 29	The Commemoration of the Three Major Feasts of the Lord The martyrdom of Pope Peter, the Seal of the Martyrs, 17 The Martyrdom of Pope Clementus of Bromia The Martyrdom of Saint Catherine of Alexandria
Divine Psalms	Psalms 44: 13
Divine Gospel	Luke 1: 26-38

“Mary said to the angel, ‘How can this be?’ And I do not know a man?”
The question of the Virgin does not indicate doubt, but she does not know how this is done while she is a virgin and She vowed herself to serve the temple without marriage. This was the first and last time in History to conceive a virgin without planting humans.

+ (Please select the correct answers from the options given. After reading the Gospel chapter and hearing the voice of the Lord to you on this day and transforming
The angel appeared to the Virgin Mary to tell her:

A- That she would give birth to the child Jesus

B- That she had found favour with God

C- That Elizabeth was pregnant

D- All of the above is true