Christian marriage is a great covenant made by a committed couple before God and sealed by the Holy Spirit.

The Church, in its wisdom, placed the engagement as a significant period to explore, understand and grow to prepare for a blessed and prosperous future together.

The engagement period is the beginning of the journey of marriage and thereby the first step in committing yourself to oneness and completeness in Christ. “And may the Lord make you increase and abound in love to one another and to all, just as we do to you.” (1 Thessalonians 3:12).

These days most engaged couples are more concerned with planning where they will live than how they will live. If a builder attempts to build a house without a plan, chaos results. So it is with marriage. You must use a plan to build a marriage if you want to avoid chaos and frustration.

This simple booklet is designed to assist you and your fiancé with helpful material to strengthen and enrich your relationship as a prelude to a fulfilling, enriching and growing Christian marriage.

May the Holy Spirit crown your blessed engagement with heavenly blessings and spiritual gifts to grow and flourish in His grace.

Reverend Father Matthew Attia
Feast of the Assumption of St. Mary
22nd August 2004 AD
16th Misra 1720 AM

Preface

Throughout our lives Christ showers us with blessings upon blessings. The Church and the Sacraments bring forth special blessings in our daily lives. The intercessions of the Saints and their relics and shrine are a great blessing experienced by all. The enlightening words of the Holy Scriptures grant multiple spiritual and material blessings upon us daily from God the Father of Lights (James 1:17).

Some people are decent and pleasant, others are placid and friendly in various spheres of life. However, very few are blessed in character. Be a blessed person in all you do and wherever you go so that the fragrance of Christ is smelt. The blessed person has certain qualities:

i Faithfully keeps and lives by the power of the word of God.
ii Endures temptation quietly and sincerely.
iii Makes acceptable offerings to the Lord and His Church.
iv Is consistently vigilant about his salvation and eternity.
v Is pure in thought and deeds.
vi Leads a repentant life.
vii Has unshakable faith in the Lord.
viii Fears the Lord God his creator and redeemer.

May the Lord Jesus Christ, source of all blessings, bless our lives, our homes, our families, our careers, our works and our services for the glory of His Holy name and the edification of His Church.


MAGED ATTIA B.A. LLB
Feast of the Holy Cross
19th March 2003
10th Baramhat 1719

Preface

On the joyous occasion of the 30th anniversary of the Enthronement of His Holiness Pope Shenouda III to the Apostolic Throne of St. Mark, it is a blessing and pleasure to present to the Christian world this special publication.

Between 1971 and 2001 the life, services and activities of the Coptic Orthodox Church have advanced and flourished in a remarkable way. This is due directly to the ceaseless activities, invincible dedication and wise leadership of His Holiness.

This account of His Holiness’ life is far from exhaustive; rather, it is an attempt to provide the reader with a concise account of the illustrious life and ministries, sacrifices and accomplishments of the 117th Patriarch of Alexandria.

In the distinguished personality of Pope Shenouda, we discover a Biblical encyclopaedia, a school of spirituality, theological scholarship and outstanding Christian leadership, who teaches and preaches profoundly in word and in deed.

The first 3 decades of Pope Shenouda’s Pontificate have constituted a blessed and golden chapter in the vast Annals of the Coptic Orthodox Church.

These 30 years have been blessed with the glorious Apparition of Saint Mary at the church of Saint Demiyana in the Cairo suburb of Shoubra in March 1986.

May the Lord crown His Holiness’ life with heavenly blessings and grace so that he may shepherd his flock for many years to come.

Maged Attia, BA LLB
Sydney Australia, September 2001

Preface

The word Angel means Messenger. They are active Spirits who are intelligent and serve God completely. Angels are not figments of man’s imagination. From the beginning of Creation we are acquainted with Angels. God placed the Cherubim with a flaming sword to guard the entrance to Paradise (Genesis 3:24). Jacob saw Angels in his vision (Genesis 23:12) and later in (Genesis 32:1-2). The Prophet Isaiah saw the Seraphim surrounding the Throne of God (Isaiah 6:1-2) and the Prophet Ezekiel saw the Cherubim in his vision of the House of God (Ezekiel 1:26).

Angels appear too in the New Testament. Zacharias was told of John the Baptists’ birth by an Angel (Luke 1:11). The Mother of God was told of our Saviour’s Incarnation by Archangel Gabriel (Luke 1:26) and Joseph was warned in a dream by an Angel to take his family to Egypt (Matthew 2:13). Angels appeared at our Lord’s birth (Luke 2:9-10). They prevented the Magi from returning to Herod (Matthew 2:12), served our Lord Jesus whilst on the Mount of Temptation (Matthew 4:11) and comforted Him in Gethsemane (Luke 22:43). Angels proclaimed the Resurrection to the spice bearing women (Luke 24:5-6) and comforted the Apostles at the Lord’s Ascension to Heaven (Acts 1:10-11).

The Lord sends His holy Angels to protect us and deliver us from trials and tribulations “My God sent His angel and shut the lions' mouths, so that they have not hurt me, because I was found innocent before Him; and also, O king, I have done no wrong before you.” (Daniel 6:22).

For these reasons, we seek the prayers and intercessions of the Angels at the conclusion of our prayers saying: “Surround us with Your Holy Angels that we may be guided and guarded by them.”

May our Lord Jesus Christ, source of all love and blessings, bless us with every spiritual and heavenly blessings that we may have fellowship with Him and with all the Heavenly Hosts.

FATHER MATTHEW ATTIA
Feast of Archangel Michael
21st November 2005
12th Hatour 1722

THE COPTIC ORTHODOX
CHURCH OF AUSTRALIA




BY
REVEREND FATHER MATTHEW ATTIA

PREFACE

THE CROSS OF CHRIST

At the centre of our Christian life is the sacrifice of the Cross when God the Father offered his only Son for the salvation and redemption of mankind.

What is the Cross? Is it two pieces of wood that cross each other? Is it merely the sign which we use in prayer? Is it what we wear to decorate ourselves? Is it a sign that a church uses to place over its domes? The meaning of the Cross is deeper than all this. The Cross is love…sacrifice… life.

The Cross therefore plays a critical role in the life and mission of the Church along with lives of the believers. If we are to be true Christians and follow the crucified Christ we must, “take up the Cross daily and follow Him.” (Luke 9:23). Indeed, the characteristics of being a disciple of Christ is clear, “whoever does not bear his Cross and come after me cannot be my disciple.” (Luke 14:27).

According to Tertullian, the North African lawyer and theologian: “In all our undertakings when coming in and going out, before putting on our clothes, before bathing, when at a table, when lighting our lamps in the evening, before retiring at night, when sitting down to read, in all our ordinary occupations of our daily lives, we furrow our foreheads with the sign of the Cross”.

May the blessings of the Cross of our Saviour, nourish our souls, revive our spirits and grant us eternal life.

Maged Attia BA LLB
Sydney, Australia
January 2002 AD
Touba 1718 AM
Feast of St. Anthony the Great