The Coptic Orthodox Diocese Of
The Southern United States

St. Mark Coptic Orthodox Church New Orleans Louisiana
April 1997 Church News Letter & Activities Calendar

The Importance of Passion Week
"So you must be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect" ....Matthew 5:48
.
The Passion Week or the Holy Pascha (Passover) is the most important period in the year and the richest in spirituality. It is a week full of Holy memories of the most crucial stage of salvation and the outstanding chapter in the story of sacrifice
The church chose for this week certain readings from both the Old and the New Testaments, which reflect the most passionate feelings that explain God's relation with man. The church also chose some deep hymns and spiritual contemplation to suit the occasion.
In the early church, our fathers the Saints used to receive this week with respect and reverence, and act in great humility. While fasting, they abstained from eating any sweet food like honey or jam, as it is not appropriate to eat sweets while commemorating God's suffering for our sake. Some never cooked during this week, as a matter of devotion, as cooking would distract them from worshipping. The majority of Christians never ate anything except bread and salt. Those who were physically capable abstained from Friday night until Easter Sunday
As a sign of devotion during this week, women did not wear make-up or jewelry. People devoted all their time for worshipping; they gathered in churches for prayer and contemplation.
The Great Emperor Theodosius was one of the Christian Kings and Rulers who ordered all government houses and businesses to cease work in order to enable people to concentrate on worshipping. Prisoners were also allowed to go to church and join in the ceremonies of this great week, hoping that it will help them to reform. Christian masters also used to relieve their slaves from work all the Pascha Week to enable them to worship the Lord like their masters, without any discrimination. So both masters and slaves were able to worship God and appreciate the effectiveness and depth of this week.
H. H. Pope Shenouda III 
Important Events Took Place This Month
 
Commemoration Of St. Mary Apparition 
at Zeitoun
"For behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed"...... (Luke 1:48)

Annunciation Of 
St. Mary
"The Holy Spirit shall come upon thee, and the power oh the Highest shall overshadow thee, therefor also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called Son of God "
(Luke 1:35) 
Raising Of Lazarus
"He cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth"...... (John 11:43)

Entering Jerusalem 
"Hosanna, Blessed is the King of Israel that cometh in the name of the Lord"...... (John 12:13)

The Passion Week
This is my body, 
this is my blood 
for the remission of sins
 
Father, if thou 
be willing, remove 
this cup form me
 
But He held 
His peace and
answered nothing
 
Crucify him, 
crucify Him, 
His blood be on 
us and our children
 
And He bearing 
His cross went 
forth into a place 
called Golgotha
 
Daughters of Jerusalem, 
weep not for me,
but weep for yourselves
and your children
 
A man of Cyrene, 
Simon by name: 
him they compelled 
to bear his cross
 
From the sixth hour, there was darkness over all the land unto the ninth hour
Woman, behold thy son. Behold thy mother
I thirst
Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do
Verily I say unto thee, today shalt thou be with me in my paradise
Eli, Eli lama sabachthani?
It is finished
Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit
 
Descending into Hades
 
He is not here, but is risen

Sunday  Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday
30 31 March 1 April
Divine Liturgy 
New Orleans
9:00 -12:00 AM Appearance of St. Mary at Zeitoun
Divine Liturgy
New Orleans
4:00 -7:00PM
Abouna's Visit To Nashville, TN.
Abouna's Visit To Nashville, TN.
---------------------
Vespers, Bible Study&Midnight
New Orleans 7:00PM-9:00PM
Divine Liturgy
"English"
New Orleans 
8:30AM-12:30PM
Aghapi
Divine Liturgy 
New Orleans
5:00 -7:00 AM Annunciation of St. Mary 
Divine Liturgy
New Orleans
9:30 - 12:00 AM
10 
Divine Liturgy
New Orleans
4:00-7:00PM
11 
Abouna's Visit To Dallas, TX.
12 
Abouna's Visit To Dallas, TX. ---------------------
Vespers, Bible Study&Midnight
New Orleans 7:00PM-9:00PM
13 
Divine Liturgy
New Orleans 
8:30AM-12:30PM
Aghapi
14 
Divine Liturgy
New Orleans
12:00 -3:00 PM 
15 
Divine Liturgy
New Orleans
9:00 -12:00 AM 
16 
Divine Liturgy
New Orleans
9:00 -12:00 AM
17 
Divine Liturgy
New Orleans
4:00 -7:00PM
18 
Divine Liturgy
New Orleans
Last Friday Of The Lent & Anointing Of The Sick
10:00AM-2:00PM 
19 
Divine Liturgy
New Orleans 
Lazarus Saturday
Palm Sunday Vespers
5:00PM-9:0PM
20 
Divine Liturgy
New Orleans 
Palm Sunday
Pascha
8:30AM-5:00PM
21  
Pascha
(See Schedule)
22  
Pascha
(See Schedule)
23  
Pascha
(See Schedule)
24  
Pascha
(See Schedule)
25  
Pascha
(See Schedule)
26  
Resurrection Eve Liturgy
(See Schedule)
27  
Resurrection Day 
(See Schedule)
28 29 
30 
1 May  
Vespers & Bible Study 
Mobile, AL. 7:00PM-9:00PM
 
Divine Liturgy
Mobile, AL. 
9:00AM-12:30PM
Aghapi
-------------
Vespers, Bible Study&Midnight
New Orleans 7:00PM-9:00PM
Church News:
If you have any comments or suggestion, Please send me an E-mail me at 

Click To Go Back

Copyright (C)1997 by St. Mark Coptic Orthodox Church, New Orleans Louisiana - USA

Created 4/5/1997