Virginity & Christology
The Virginal Birth which happened once, never to be repeated, is a proof of our faith in Jesus Christ, that He is not of this world, but from on high, the Son of GOD.
This is what the angel Gabriel proclaimed to St. Mary herself when she asked him: "How can this come about, since I do not know man?!" "The Holy spirit will come upon you", the angel answered, "and the power of the Most High will overshadow you, and so the Child will be called Son of GOD" (Luke1: 34, 35).
Subsequently, this Virginal Birth formed a principal element in all the creeds of the Early Church, not because it says something about St. Mary, but because it reveals the Person and Nature of Jesus Christ.
Virginity & Our Salvation
God come to us, born of a Virgin and conceived not of human seed. He unites Himself with us (humanity), not because of our human efforts or merits, but rather as a divine grace bestowed on us. It is the free gift of love which only comes from GOD.In other words, St. Mary's virginity is, therefore, a sign of man's poverty and his inability to work out his own salvation; to bring into being One who can save him.
St. Mary's virginity does not mean that we have to be passive in our spiritual life.
For God did not force Himself in St. Mary's womb, nor did she conceived Him unwillingly, but played an active role. God asked her to accept! The Divine Incarnation was realized by the free grace of God, but she herself humbly accepted obedience
Virginal Birth & Spiritual Birth
In the Coptic Church the Lord's Nativity (Christmas) is correlated with His Baptism (Epiphany), and the early centuries these two Lord's feasts were celebrated in one day. For at Christmas the Lord took on what was ours, I.e., our humanity, while at the Epiphany the Church hidden in Jesus Christ received what was His own, I.e. His relation to the Father. He became Son of Man and we became sons of God.This reality is declared in the following Church hymn:
"He took what was ours, and bestowed on us what was His own; may we praise Him and glorify Him."
This correlation between the Lord's Virginal Birth according to the flesh and our spiritual birth, is paralleled by the Divine Incarnation, in the Holy womb of the Virgin. For, there, the Lord took His body, which "Mystically" is the Church united with Him. There the bride (Church) is created to be united with her Divine Bridegroom.
St. Mary's Virginity & Spiritual Virginity
In the Old Testament a virgin, without hope of marriage and motherhood, was in the same position as the childless woman, a sad state and a sign of God's wrath.In the New Testment, the Virgin, for the first and last time, gave birth to the Messiah, i.e. her virginity is no longer a matter of shame since it has become fruitful by the operation of the Holy Spirit.
Virginity became a sign of the intimacy between God and man. For this reason St. Paul calls the Church "Christ Virgin".
And in the book of Revelation the unnumbered crowed of God's elect are represented by 144,000 virgins who "fllow the Lamb whithersoever He goes" (14: 4,5).
On this account, virginity is correlated with sanctity, but not in the way that every virgin is considered as a holy one, and every virgin is cosidered as a holy one, and every holy person must be a virgin, least we devalue the Christian marriage which is holy.
What we mean is that the Literal Virginity is a sign of the spiritual one. Virginity- in its essence- is the total consecration to God and permanant union with Him in Jesus Christ. It is a virginity of soul, heart, mind, senses and desires, which Christians can receive by the Holy Spirit who santifies our bodies, souls and spirits, preparing us for the eternal wedding feast.
Mission Statement
Chicago Copts is dedicated to connecting members of the Coptic Community in Chicago, strengthening bonds within the community, and to promoting and preserving Coptic culture. Chicago Copts motivates Coptic Americans to become active in Coptic issues by empowering the community through education and social networking events. Chicago Copts is committed to reaching out to our Coptic brothers and sisters in Chicagoland and abroad.
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Words Of Thanks
"Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves,
for the rights of all who are destitute.
Speak up and judge fairly;
defend the rights of the poor and needy."
Proverbs 31: 8-9
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
We wanted to thank all those who attended the lecture given by Fr. Mattias Nasr Mankarious. There was a great turn out. We also want to thank the following:
Fr. Isaac Tanios
St. Mary's Coptic Orthodox Church, Palatine
Fr. Yohanna Nassif
St. Mary's Coptic Orthodox Church, Palatine
Fr. Wilbur David Ellsworth
Holy Transfiguration Antiochian Orthodox Church
Pastor Rev. Raouf Boulos
The Moody Church
We especially want to thank Fr. Mattias for being our speaker. Fr. Mattias was eager to go back to Egypt and, as he said, to be next to his children
in their time of need. We want to thank him for being a beam of light for Christianity and standing up for the preservation of Christianity in Egypt.
The Bible teaches us in the Book of Matthew: " ...let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who
is in heaven." (Matt 5:16).
Thank you Fr. Mattias for being the light for us to all see and for being the father teaching your children the love, peace, and mercy of Christ. We know
how hard it is for you to see your children murdered, but we know that you are consoled to know that in dying in the name of Christ, they will be saved.
These things I have spoken unto you,
that in Me ye might have peace.
In the world ye shall have tribulation,
but be of good cheer:
I have overcome the world.
(John 16:32-33)
To download the power point presentation, click here.
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