Journey Back to Eden.pdf - St Mark Coptic Orthodox Church Chicago

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A TIME OF CONSECRATION 153it can be clearly seen that the cowl has been made from twopieces of cloth.When I asked about the meaning of this stitch work, I was toldthat it signifies that the monk, like the hood, is rent in two. He isseparated from the world, the world in which he had deep attachments,and he is separated from his own appetites, his own desiresand his own will. The monk is always being divided. Jesus said, “Ihave come to make division” (Luke 12:51). The monks say that theyare the ones in whom the division is the most graphic because theyhave been separated out of the world by their consecration and bytheir solitary prayer. “Kadosh” in Hebrew and “Kodes” in Arabicboth convey a sense that holiness is a process of separation fromworldly absorption.Of English Bibles and Coptic RitualsPope Shenouda was particularly joyous today. He invited me intothe sanctuary and asked to borrow my English Bible so that hecould read one or two of the passages from it on behalf of the English-speakingprelates who are present as guests. He told me oncethat he likes to use English in the Coptic ritual, since there is nothingin particular about the Arabic language that is essential to Copticritual. He said that if it is not being read in Coptic, the languageof the ancient Pharaohs, it may just as well be read in English. Iwonder whether he is content to use a language other than the languageof the Koran because, of course, the Koran has so completelyformed the Arabic language. He did not say this, nor wouldhe be likely to say so if asked. Nevertheless, Arabic is essential toIslam and only peripheral to Coptic Christianity.Impressions of AmericaSomehow in the midst of all of this commotion, His Holiness tookme aside for another walk around the edge of the monastery. Hespoke to me about his journey to America, from which he had justreturned, and his impressions of Christianity in America. He toldme how grateful he is that the Catholic Church in the States hasbeen so solicitous for the welfare of the Coptic Orthodox diaspora
154 APRILwho are distributed everywhere in our country. Catholic priests and,indeed, many Christian clergy are allowing the Copts to use theirchurches and other facilities, many times almost free of charge.Coptic VesselsAPRIL 3, FRIDAYFor most of the day, the Sacred Myron was simply settling, sothere was not too much ritual activity. I met with several of thebishops of the Coptic Orthodox Church. By now I know moreCoptic Orthodox bishops than Catholic prelates. One in particularasked to see what kinds of vessels I am using to celebrate theCatholic Mass. When I showed him my Mass kit, such as it is, hegraciously offered to lend me another one with vessels of Copticvintage. From one of his attendants he produced a wooden boxcontaining various icons, an altar cloth, and sacred vessels for thecelebration of the Mass. He said that when I was finished with mywork in Egypt I could mail the box back to him. A very graciousgift which I assured him I would use. With a little bit of adaptation,it’s perfectly assimilable to the Catholic Mass, especially as I pray ithere.The Process ContinuesAPRIL 4, SATURDAYAt 9:00 this morning, new ingredients were added to theMyron and it was reheated amid much stirring. Various prelates,priests and monks were invited to participate in the stirring. It is anarduous task, as it must be done continuously all day today. At thesame time, it is regarded as an honor to be invited. A variety ofScripture texts were read as part of the process. The wisdom ofGod’s Word is somehow regarded as being mixed in with the oil sothat those to be anointed with it will likewise be anointed with theWord of God.My great thrill today was the invitation of Pope Shenouda toread one of the Scripture texts while the oil was being stirred. Iread from the First Book of Kings, chapter 19, verses 9 to 18. In
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Copyright © 2002 by Mark Gruber, O
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JOURNEY BACK TO EDENMy Life and Tim
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In gratitude to Abuna Elia,the sain
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CONTENTSPreface ...................
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PREFACEWhile in Egypt, I did not in
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PREFACExiElia, to whom this journal
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ABOUT THE COPTS AND THEIR DESERT MO
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2 INTRODUCTIONI will be traveling i
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4 INTRODUCTIONmy novitiate and had
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6 SEPTEMBERlarge high-rises. Appare
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8 SEPTEMBERprior to their trip so t
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10 SEPTEMBERyour hands—as much or
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12 SEPTEMBERA Beggar among BeggarsT
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14 SEPTEMBERlabored without rest or
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FATHER JOHN WATSONHis Holiness Pope
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18 SEPTEMBERHe drew a cross on top
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20 SEPTEMBERBlessed Lord,You brough
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22 SEPTEMBERtude, and silence, appr
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OCTOBERA TIME OF NEW BEGINNINGSThe
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26 OCTOBERcontradictions they fear
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28 OCTOBERdramatic effect of my hea
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30 OCTOBERWill my heart remain here
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NOVEMBERA TIME TO VISIT ABRAHAMGues
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34 NOVEMBERThe guest master, it tur
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Abuna Elia
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38 NOVEMBERBut in their case, he as
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40 NOVEMBERafter the death of Sarah
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42 NOVEMBERto take his son. All the
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44 NOVEMBERhe sojourned in Egypt in
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46 NOVEMBERthe monastic ideal to a
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48 NOVEMBERArabic LessonsNOVEMBER 2
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50 NOVEMBEROf course, it is not tru
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52 NOVEMBERthe Ark of Noah looked l
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54 NOVEMBERits life-giving water fr
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56 NOVEMBERCross more brightly: fal
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DECEMBERA TIME OF SIGNS: CAELUM ET
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60 DECEMBERfirst sold ourselves to
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62 DECEMBERis by fasting, most of a
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64 DECEMBERficient. If they can obt
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66 DECEMBERThe great apparitions of
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68 DECEMBERKing of the Jews, by the
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70 DECEMBEREveryone seeks the assis
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72 DECEMBERDECEMBER 15, MONDAYAlmos
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74 DECEMBERfor her. She is delighte
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76 DECEMBERtween Alexandria and Cai
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78 DECEMBERboth are real in the bod
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80 DECEMBERof faith which preserves
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82 DECEMBERI feel particularly sorr
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84 DECEMBERThe children—six, seve
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JANUARYA TIME OF CELEBRATIONJANUARY
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88 JANUARYEveryone, it seems, is mi
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90 JANUARYA Holiday VisitOn the eve
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92 JANUARYAlmost the whole orientat
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94 JANUARYI blessed water in their
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96 JANUARYI find myself in the unus
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98 JANUARYferent path, and every da
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100 JANUARYyour ageless love are cr
Page 117 and 118: 102 JANUARYless because they’re a
Page 119 and 120: FATHER JOHN WATSONA Coptic Orthodox
Page 121 and 122: 106 JANUARYheard a voice—perhaps
Page 123 and 124: 108 JANUARYI reflected afterwards a
Page 125 and 126: 110 JANUARYsolitude and in terms of
Page 127 and 128: 112 FEBRUARYjust visiting the deser
Page 129 and 130: 114 FEBRUARYJust then some of the p
Page 131 and 132: 116 FEBRUARYThe children of the Pha
Page 133 and 134: 118 FEBRUARYAbuna Elia said that th
Page 135 and 136: 120 FEBRUARYGod. For all Christians
Page 137 and 138: 122 FEBRUARYFEBRUARY 18, WEDNESDAYD
Page 139 and 140: 124 FEBRUARYsources. I had some of
Page 141 and 142: 126 FEBRUARYshall be a sign and a w
Page 143 and 144: 128 FEBRUARYFEBRUARY 28, SATURDAYTh
Page 145 and 146: 130 MARCHmerich, the German mystic
Page 147 and 148: 132 MARCHThe wildflower meadows her
Page 149 and 150: 134 MARCHbishop who resides near he
Page 151 and 152: 136 MARCHOf Building Bonds and Brea
Page 153 and 154: 138 MARCHSprings in the DesertMARCH
Page 155 and 156: 140 MARCHwomen in the West experien
Page 157 and 158: 142 MARCHlunch somewhere, or they h
Page 159 and 160: 144 MARCHbe willing to move from my
Page 161 and 162: 146 MARCHA Fly on the WallMARCH 31,
Page 163 and 164: APRILA TIME OF CONSECRATIONOf Sands
Page 165 and 166: Grass mats cover the floor of a mon
Page 167: 152 APRILmony. Even recently, some
Page 171 and 172: 156 APRILIn the papal compound I me
Page 173 and 174: 158 APRILin their own home parish.
Page 175 and 176: 160 APRILAfter greeting me he told
Page 177 and 178: 162 APRILI keep reminding myself th
Page 179 and 180: 164 APRILA Rare Spring HolidayAPRIL
Page 181 and 182: 166 APRILthat the very same innocen
Page 183 and 184: MAYA TIME TO PRESS ONWARDOases and
Page 185 and 186: 170 MAYthe commotion associated wit
Page 187 and 188: 172 MAYeven saw monks trying to get
Page 189 and 190: 174 MAYNevertheless, I ask you to a
Page 191 and 192: 176 MAYof grace that people can enf
Page 193 and 194: 178 MAYI’m staying at the house o
Page 195 and 196: 180 JUNEThe Cave of a SaintJUNE 5,
Page 197 and 198: 182 JUNEThe abbot of the monastery
Page 199 and 200: The gate of St. Anthony Monastery.
Page 201 and 202: 186 JUNEno place to lay his head”
Page 203 and 204: 188 JUNE“Fountains and Springs, B
Page 205 and 206: 190 JUNEmonks here, I decided to dr
Page 207 and 208: 192 JUNEof his family—and broke e
Page 209 and 210: JULYA TIME FOR FAREWELLSThe Crucibl
Page 211 and 212: 196 JULYare known in Egypt, and the
Page 213 and 214: 198 JULYthat, the heat is now reall
Page 215 and 216: 200 JULYbering the slap I received
Page 217 and 218: 202 JULYyou for our founder who cam
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204 JULYJULY 23, THURSDAYI returned
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206 JULYprize that Eve forfeited wh
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AFTERWORDFifteen years have passed
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