Saint Mena Coptic Orthodox Church

08/21/2026

The Blessed Feast of the Theotokos St. Mary

08/19/2026

The Feast of Transfiguration
Background
The Copts observe 7 Major Feasts and 7 Minor Feasts. This Minor Feast is celebrated by the Copts on August 19 (Mesore 13). This feast is also celebrated by the Eastern Orthodox and Western churches, but on August 6. The special significance of the Transfiguration lies in the fact that, with the appearance of Moses and Elijah next to Christ, it provided testimony of the Jewish law and prophets to the messianic nature of Christ, and gave further divine proclamation of His Sonship to God by these words: "This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased" (Mt. 17:5).

The vision of Jesus Christ's Transfiguration on Mount Tabor was witnessed by three disciples—Peter, James, and John—in fulfillment of Christ's promise, "Truly I say to you, there are some standing here who will not taste death before they see the Son of man coming in his kingdom" (Mt. 16:28; Mk. 9:1; Lk. 9:27). This, however, was not the first time that these three disciples were chosen by Christ for a particular grace to be bestowed upon them. We learn from Mark 5:37-40 that when the Lord Jesus Christ was on his way to raise the daughter of Jairus from the dead, "He allowed no one to follow Him except Peter, James, and John, the brother of James." He also singled them out to be with Him during His agony in the Garden of Gethsemane: "Remain here, and watch with me" (Mt. 26:37-39; Mk. 14:33-35).

As in regards to the number of the disciples who were present at the Transfiguration, it is in keeping with the established precept necessitating two or three for a lawful witness (Dt. 17:6; Mt. 18:16; 2 Cor. 13:1).

Why those three especially? If we were to suggest possible grounds to justify the special treatment, we might offer the following considerations. Peter was the eldest disciple, and the first of the twelve to proclaim the sonship of our Lord, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God" (Mt. 16:16). James was the first disciple to gain the crown of martyrdom. He was killed by Herod Agrippa I, grandson of Herod the Great (Acts 12:1-2). John, the brother of James, both of whom Jesus surnamed Boanerges (the sons of thunder) because of their notable zeal and fervor, was himself the very personification of purity and chastity, which earned him the special love of Christ..

08/10/2026

"And no man takes this honor to himself, but he who is called by God, just as Aaron was." (Hebrews 5.4)
Congratulations to our beloved Deacon Gorgeous
God bless your service everywhere

08/07/2026

Hail to You, O Virgin Mary
Have a Blessed Fast of the Assumption of St. Mary's body

08/01/2026

07/27/2026

Feast of Prince Theodore | 20th Abib 1737 AM

On this day, of the year 220 A.D., St. Theodore of Shotep was martyred. His father's name was John and he was from the city of Shotep in Upper Egypt. He went with his regiment to the city of Antioch, where he married the daughter of a pagan noble man, and begot by her this St. Theodore. When his mother wanted to present him to the house of idols to be educated there, his father refused. She became angry, drove him away, and the child remained with his mother. His father John prayed ceaselessly, and entreated God to guide his son Theodore to the path of salvation. The child grew up, and learned philosophy, wisdom, and literature. The Lord Christ illuminated his heart, and Theodore went to a righteous bishop who baptized him. When his mother heard of this she was sorrowed greatly, but the Saint did not mind her.

He joined the army and advanced in the ranks until he became one of the great generals during the reign of Emperor Lucianus. The people of the city of Eukhitos worshipped a great serpent, and offered to him a human sacrifice every year. While St. Theodore was passing through this district, he saw a woman crying bitterly. He asked her about the reason for her crying. She answered him saying, "I am a widow and they have taken my two sons to offer them as a sacrifice to the serpent, although I am Christian." He said to himself, "They have wronged this woman, but God shall avenge her." He came down from his horse, and turned his face towards the East and prayed, then drew near the serpent. The people of the city were watching him from the tops of the walls of the city. The serpent was fourteen cubits long, but God gave him power over it, and he speared it with his spear and killed it, and delivered the sons of the widow.

After this, Theodore came to Egypt to search for his father, and he stayed with him until he died, and then returned to Antioch. He found that the Emperor had apostatized the faith and started to persecute the Christians. He came before him and confessed the Lord Christ. The Emperor ordered him beaten with rods, burned, and cast into the fire. He delivered up his soul and received the crown of martyrdom. A Christian woman took his body - it was said that she was his mother - after she gave much money to the soldiers and hid his body until the end of the time of persecution. Churches were built in his name in many cities.

May his prayers be with us and Glory be to God forever. Amen.

07/03/2026

Pray for the church services 🙏

07/02/2026

God bless the church services