Study Material Grade 7

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OUR BELOVED HIS HOLINESS

POPE SHENOUDA III 117 TH Patriarch of the see of St.Mark

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Table of Contents

Bible Study...... 4

Church Dogma...... 5

Lives of the ...... 10

Coptic Language ...... 14

Hymns ...... 15

Memorization...... 16

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Bible Study

Part I: Introduction to the Gospel

The Church relates each account of the Gospel to one of four living creatures:

1. The first living creature is like a lion, and it symbolizes the Gospel according to Mark. The Gospel starts with “the voice of one crying in the wilderness” (Mark 1:3). This refers to Christ, the Lion of the tribe of Judah (Revelations 5:5), to His effective ministry, and to His kingly might and authority. The first living creature can also symbolize the lion that Saint Mark was able to tame in the name of the Lord.

2. The second living creature is like a calf or an ox and symbolizes the Gospel according to Saint Luke. Church tradition portrays Saint Luke with an ox standing beside him.

3. The third living creature has a face like a man and symbolizes the Gospel according to Saint Matthew. It begins with the genealogy of the Lord Christ, and talks about the Son of Man as a descendent of the Prophet .

4. The fourth living creature is like a flying eagle and symbolizes the Gospel according to Saint John. The Gospel according to St. John opens by establishing the Lord Christ’s Divinity.

Living Its Shape Gospel it Opening of Gospel Christ in Gospel Creature Refers to Number 1 Lion Mark Voice crying in the Mighty, overcoming evil wilderness and sin 2 Ox Luke Sacrifices Priest, sacrificial Lamb, servant 3 Man Matthew Genealogy of Christ King 4 Eagle John In the beginning was the Divine Word

Part II: The Gospel according to St. Mark

PLEASE READ THE ENTIRE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO SAINT MARK! (All 16 Chapters) 4

Grade 7 Church dogma

THE SEVEN HOLY SACRAMENTS

INTRODUCTION TO CHURCH SACRAMENTS

“Wisdom has built her house, She has hewn out her seven pillars” (Proverbs 9:1) I. DEFINITION

A church sacrament is a holy ordinance through which the believer receives an invisible grace under the form of an outward sign, visible or audible.

It was first instituted by Christ Himself . Most Protestants say that the sacraments are mere symbols and "signs of the new covenant," and that they are mere outward rituals. But our Church believes that there is a real power in the sacraments themselves, and that they truly bring invisible graces to the believers. For instance,

Baptism brings salvation. “when once the Divine longsuffering waited in the days of , while the ark was being prepared, in which a few, that is, eight souls, were saved through water. There is also an antitype which now saves us--baptism” (1 Pet. 3:20, 21).

And the Holy Communion brings true life in this world and brings eternal life: “Then said to them, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in you. "Whoever eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day.” (John 6:53, 54)

III. PERFORMANCE OF SACRAMENTS

Certain prayers are set for each sacrament to ask for the blessing of the .

A may perform any church sacrament, but there must be at least three for the consecration of a bishop in the sacrament of Holy Orders; a priest cannot confer Holy Orders, but he can perform the other six sacraments; a deacon can only help the bishop or the priest in celebrating the seven sacraments.

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SACRAMENT 3

THE SACRAMENT OF CONFESSION

I. DEFINITION

Although believers are reborn through the sacrament of baptism, and receive the Holy Spirit through the sacrament of chrismation, yet this does not mean that they have immunity against sin. The Bible teaches us that even the saints are liable to sin. , , , , David, etc. in the , Peter & John, etc. in the --all these committed sin, even when they were on the pinnacle (summit) of holiness. For this reason this sacrament of repentance was instituted in order that through it the sinner can return to God after confessing his sins to the priest. According to the power given by Christ to His ministers to absolve all sinners who truly repent and believe in Him, the repentant receives, through the mediation of the priest, forgiveness of sins when he comes to him repenting and confessing them.

Because it is very necessary that every one should examine himself before accepting the Holy Communion, this sacrament of penance (repentance) is therefore administered generally before accepting the Holy Communion. “But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of the bread and drink of the cup. For he who eats and drinks in an unworthy manner eats and drinks judgment to himself, not discerning the Lord's body.” (1 Cor. 11: 28, 29).

II. INSTITUTION OF THE SACRAMENTS

It was instituted by the threefold promise of the Lord:

a) When Christ said to Peter after declaring that He was the Son of the living God: “And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.” (Matt. 16: 19).

b) When He promised all disciples saying: “Assuredly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.” (Matt. 18: 18).

c) When, after resurrection, He showed them their great commission to the world. “So Jesus said to them again, "Peace to you! As the Father has sent Me, I also send you. And when He had said this, He breathed on them, and said to them, "Receive the Holy Spirit. "If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.” (John 20: 21-23). 6

III. THE VISIBLE SIGNS

There are two audible signs in this sacrament:

1. The confession of the penitent (repentant) to the priest. True confession stands in: a. Repentance and sorrow for the sins committed. “Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out.” (Acts 3: 19).

b. Resolution not to return to those sins. When the prodigal son returned to his father he was at once pardoned and accepted because the father was sure that he would not return to that far country.

c. Faith in the mercy and forgiveness of God. Everyone that came to the Lord while on earth asking for mercy used to hear this cheerful message: “Your sins are forgiven you” because of his faith in Him, or at least, the faith of those who brought him to the Lord.

d. Confessing sins to the priest, especially those sins which have the mastery over the sinner. The reasons for confessing sins to the priest are: i. In order to get through him absolution from all sins. ii. In order that the penitent can get his spiritual advice as to the way to conquer his temptations and lead the holy life.

2. The words of absolution spoken by the priest over the penitent. The sacrament of confession is called a spiritual medicine. And the priest is considered a spiritual physician to treat all the diseases of penitents. Therefore he should treat every case as carefully as possible.

It should be well known that the “seal of confession” is the obligation of secrecy imposed upon the priest with regard to everything made known to him in confession. The obligation is absolute, and admits no exception. It binds by natural, divine, and ecclesiastical law, and is not abrogated even by the penitent's death. The reason for this stringency is quite clear.

IV. THE INVISIBLE GRACE

The invisible graces which are granted through this sacrament are:

1. Remission of sins.

2. Reconciliation with God.

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V. WHO HAS THE RIGHT TO ADMINISTER THIS SACRAMENT?

This right was primarily given to the Apostles as shown above. Afterwards it was transferred to their successors, the bishops; then to the priests who are in direct contact with the people.

VI. OTHER ASPECTS

A. The kind of sin that can be forgiven

1. The Bible teaches us that every sin can be forgiven however grave it may be, provided that the sinner should return to God in repentance.

a. “Wherefore I say unto you: All manner of Sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men.” (Mat. 12: 31). b. “Though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool." (Isa. 1: 18).

2. It also teaches that God is ready to pardon and accept everyone. “the one who comes to Me I will by no means cast out.” (John 6:37). “God will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.” (1 Tim. 2: 4).

David who committed two grave sins, was pardoned. Peter, who denied the Lord three times, and in a very shameful way, was pardoned. The woman who was taken in adultery was pardoned. (John 8: 11). Christ asked for pardon even to those who committed the greatest crime of crucifying Him.

3. In (Matt. 12: 31) we find that “the blasphemy against the Holy Spirit shall not be forgiven unto men.” This means that those who reject and oppose the work of the Holy Spirit and refuse to accept God's salvation will not be pardoned. In other words, if it happened that a person even blasphemed against the Holy Spirit, and then turned to realize he was wrong, and thus repented, he would be forgiven. “No sin that could not be forgiven, except that without repentance.”

B. Ecclesiastical discipline

In some cases the priest finds it necessary to inflict some kind of discipline on the sinner when he commits a great sin, e.g. he can rebuke him, ask him to fast for some days, pass a longer time in daily prayer, tell him to give some money to the poor, prevent him from receiving the Holy Communion for some time, or impose some other kind of discipline.

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1) This right was given to the ministers by Christ Himself, He gave them the right not only to loose, but also to bind (Matt. 16: 19); not only to remit the sins, but also to retain them. (John 20: 23).

2) The Apostles themselves used it. “Deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus." (1 Cor. 5: 5). See also (2 Cor. 2: 6, 7 and 1 Tim. 5:20).

3) This discipline is imposed:

a. In order that the sinner can recognize how grave his sin is. b. in order that it may serve as a cure for his soul. When the sinner of Corinth was punished, he repented, and St. Paul wrote to the Church to accept him. “This punishment which was inflicted by the majority is sufficient for such a man, so that, on the contrary, you ought rather to forgive and comfort him, lest perhaps such a one be swallowed up with too much sorrow.” (2 Cor. 2: 6, 7).

c. In order that Them that sin rebuke before all, that others also may fear. (1 Tim. 5:20).

d. The minister should be very careful in using this right. He should recognize that, as a physician, he must be very careful in applying the various kinds of medicine. A slight disease is not in need of the same drug which is needed in serious cases. “Do not pass one sentence upon all kinds of sins; but examine every sin in order to give the suitable judgment. There are some persons who just deserve your prayer for them, others you should ask to pay alms to the poor, others you should ask to fast, others you should drive out of the church for a certain period appropriate to their sins.” (Didaskalia Ch. 8). [note: Didaskalia == The laws of the Apostles]

e. But the Church of Rome thinks that these punishments are meant to pacify the justice of God. This is utterly wrong because nothing can pacify His justice except the blood of Christ which was shed for our redemption. (Rom. 3: 25; Col. 1: 20; 1 Pet. 2: 24 etc.).

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St. Marina, of .

Saint Marina is one of the martyr saints that the Coptic Orthodox Church commemorates. She was one of the daughters of the nobles of Antioch. Her parents were pagan. When her mother died, her father sent her to a nanny to raise her, who was a Christian. She taught Marina the Faith of Christ. When Marina reached the age of fifteen years, her father died. One day she heard her nurse talking about the biography of the martyrs and what glory they receive in the Kingdom of Heaven. She longed to become a martyr in the Name of the Lord Christ. One day St. Marina went out of her house with her maiden servants, and on her way she passed by Lopharius Ebrotus, the governor, who admired her much when he saw her. He ordered her brought to him. When the soldiers came to her, she told them that she was Christian. In turn, when they told the governor this, he was distressed for he liked her, and he had her brought to him by force. He offered her the worship of the idols and asked her to forsake God, but she refused. Then he asked her, "What is your name? and from where are you?" She told him, "I am Christian. I believe in the Lord Christ, and my name is Marina." He tried to persuade her by many promises and promised to marry her, but she did not heed him. When she cursed and insulted him, he ordered her body scraped with iron combs, then rubbed with vinegar, salt and lime, which they did. Nevertheless, she endured with patience. They cast her in prison, thinking that she was about to die. Immediately the of the Lord came, and healed all her wounds. While she was standing up praying, and her hands were extended in the form of a cross, a huge and terrifying serpent came forth. When she saw it she was frightened and her whole body trembled. The serpent swallowed her up, and her soul almost departed from her. She made the sign of the cross and prayed while she was in the belly of the serpent. It split open and fell on the ground dead. St. Marina went out unharmed.

The next morning, the governor ordered her brought to him. When he saw that she was well, he marvelled much, and told her, "Marina, your sorcery has become evident today, so listen to me. Worship the gods and much good would be for you, and I will give you all that I have promised you." She looked to him and to the dumb idols with contempt and said, "I worship the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of the Living God, the God of heavens and earth, and whatever you wish to do with me, do, for I will not heed you." The governor ordered her hanged on the wheel, the squeezing wheel, and squeezed very tightly. They did so, then cast her in prison. The angel of the Lord came to her, and healed her. Then the Devil appeared to her and said, "O Marina, if you obey the governor that would be for your good for he is merciless, and he wishes to erase your 10

name from the face of the earth." She realized that he was the Devil. Straightway she caught the hair of his head, and she took an iron rod and started to beat him, saying, "Stop it O Satan." Then she bound him with the sign of the cross, not to depart from before her until he told her all about what he does to the human race. When she pressed him, he told her, "I am the one who makes adultery, stealing, blasphemy, and earthly desires, good and desirable to the human. And if I do not overcome him, I steer sleep and laziness against him, so he will not pray and ask for the forgiveness of his sins." The Saint straightway expelled him.

When the governor saw her he marvelled much, then he ordered to uncover her body, and to fill a large cauldron with melted lead, and to immerse her in it. When they did so, she asked the Lord to make this a baptism for her. The Lord sent his angel in the form of a dove. She immersed while saying, "In the Name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit, one God Amen." A voice from heaven called her and said, "O Marina you have been baptized in the baptismal water." She rejoiced exceedingly, and those who were present heard what had happened to the saint. Many of them believed, and the governor ordered to cut off their necks, and afterwards ordered to cut off St. Marina's holy head. The executioner took her and went outside the city, then told her, "My lady Marina, I see the angel of the Lord and with him a crown of bright light." She said, "I ask you to tarry on me until I have prayed." She extended her arms and prayed fervently, then told the executioner, "Do what you have been ordered to do." She bowed her neck to the executioner who told her, "I could not do so." The saint told him, "If you do not do so, you would not have a share in the Kingdom of God." When he heard what she said, he took the sword and cut her neck off then he cut his neck also while he was saying, "I believe in the God of St. Marina." He fell down beside her and he received the crown of martyrdom in the Kingdom of Heaven. The Lord had manifested from her body many signs and healing miracles. Her body is presently located in the church of the Lady the Virgin Mary in Haret El-Roum.

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

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St. The Beloved of Our Good Savior

"Pishoy" is a Coptic word, which means "lofty". Saint Pishoy is one of the monastic Fathers of the fourth century A.D. He was the only one to be called "the perfect man".

Saint Pishoy was born in 320 A.D. of a pious family in a small village called Shensha in , and he had six brothers. His mother saw an angel in a vision saying to her: "The Lord says to you, give Me one of your children to serve Me." She answered saying: "Lord, take whoever you want." The angel took the hand of Pishoy, who was thin and frail. His mother told the angel, "My lord, take one who is strong to serve the Lord." "This is whom the Lord has chosen," answered the Angel.

In 340 A.D. Pishoy joined the monastery in the scetis when he was 20, in Wadi-El-Natroun and there he became a friend of Saint John the Short (famous for the “tree of obedience"); both were disciples of Saint .

When Saint Pambo died, Saint Pishoy and Saint John prayed for God's guidance, and an angel appeared to Saint Pishoy, directing him to the site of a cave (still exists to date in the famous Saint Mary's monastery in El-Surian), on which he was to live the life of a . There, Saint Pishoy became the spiritual father to many who gathered around him. He grew famous for his love, simplicity and kindness, as well as for his extremely ascetic life.

He was also very pleasant, humble, emotionally sensitive, and sensitive to others' feelings, but also he used to respect everyone's humanity and his loving heart always listened to the poor and needy. For that he was called "the Perfect, Righteous Man."

He was serious, wise and a great recluse, loving seclusion and quietness. Emperor Constantine and the prophet appeared to him in visions, and Saint visited him.

It is said that because of his love for God and his desire to be with Him always, he used to tie his hair with a rope to the ceiling of his cell in order to resist sleeping during his long night prayers.

The Coptic Church's tradition tells us that Saint Pishoy met our Lord Jesus Christ on several occasions. On one such occasion, he carried our Lord, Who met him as an old man on his way. Our tradition also tells us that it is for this reason that the body of 12

Saint Pishoy remains uncorrupted to this day. Also, because of his humbleness he used to wash the feet of strangers and visitors without knowing who they are or even lookng at their face. For that reason, Jesus appeared to him posing as a stranger (the same way he appeared to Abraham in the Old Testament) and Saint Pishoy washed His holy feet and he did not know Him until he saw the scars of the crucifixion on His feet.

During his days, an ascetic old man appeared in the mountain of Ansena, who was reputed for his righteousness and to whom many people gathered. But he deviated from the true faith and the devil lead him astray. He taught that there is no Holy Spirit, and many were deceived by his sayings. Saint Pishoy went to him and had with him a weaved basket with three ears. When he visited the old man and his followers, they asked him about the reason for making three ears for the basket. He answered: "I have a Trinity, and everything I do is like the Trinity." They said to him, "Then, Is there a thing called the Holy Spirit?" Saint Pishoy started to explain to them from the Holy Scriptures, from the Old and New Testaments. He indicated to them that the Holy Spirit is One of the three Hypostases of the Trinity. He convinced them, and they returned to the true faith. Then Saint Pishoy returned to his monastery in the wilderness of Scetes. When the barbarians invaded the wilderness, he left it and dwelt on Mount Ansena, where he departed. After the time of persecution had ended, they brought his body with that of Saint Paul of Tamouh to his monastery in the wilderness of Scetes.

In the year 407 A.D., the first invasion of Scetis occured, in which Berbers attacked the monasteries. During this time Saint Pishoy, accompanied by some of his disciples, went to Antinoopolis, near the present-day town of Mallawi (currently known as "Deir-El-Barsha"). There he met Saint Paul of Tammah and their love for each other was such that God promised them that they would never be parted. Until this day, the uncorrupted body of Saint Pishoy and the relics of Saint Paul still lie together in the main church of the monastery of Saint Pishoy in Wadi-El-Natroun.

Saint Pishoy died on July 15, 417 A.D. (8th of ), and was known for his love, meekness, simplicity, and his worship.

May the prayers of Saint Pishoy be with us. Amen.

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Hymns

Note: You are expected to chant 2 of the following 3 hymns in Coptic ONLY . You are not required to memorize them. TiShori

ourh 8nnoub te The golden censer is Tee-shory ennob te ti- Parthenos, pes-aro- +arcenos pes8arwmata the Virgin, her aroma is our Savior. She mata pe pen-Soteer, pe pen's'w'r asmisi 8mmof gave birth to Him; He asmisi emmof, afsoti afsw+ 8mmon ouox afa saved us and forgave emmon, owoh afka nen-novi nan e-vol. nennobi nan 8ebol. us our sins. Shere ne Maria

ere ne aria + rompi Hail to you O Mary, the Shere ne Maria, beautiful dove, who ecnesws ch8etasmisi nan tieche-rompi gave birth to, God the ethnesos, thee- 8m + pi!ogos. Word. etas-misi nan, emefnoti pi-Loghos.

8#8smarwout 8alhcws nem Blessed are You indeed, Eksmaro-ot alethos, with Your good Father ekiwt 8n8agacos nem nem Pekiot enagha- and the Holy Spirit, for thos, nem pi- pi8neuma 'e'c'u je (8ak8i) You have (come) and epnevma ethowab, aksw+ 8mmon. (ai nan. saved us. Have mercy je (akee) aksoti on us. emmon. Nai nan.

Amen Ton Thanaton

)mhn 8amhn 8amhn ton Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Ton thanaton soo canaton sou #urie Your death, O Lord, Kyrie katangelomen: kataggelomen ke thn we proclaim; Your holy Resurrection and ke teen again soo 8agian sou 8anastasin ke Ascension into the anastasin: ke teen ana lee epsin soo thn 8analh2in sou 8nths heavens, we confess. ouranis se 8omologoumen entees oo ranis se o We praise You, we molo goomen. Se se 8enoumen se eulogoumen bless You, we thank enoomen se evlo si euaristoumen #urie ke You, O Lord, and we goomen si ev kharis de8omeca sou 8o ,eos 8 entreat You, O our toomen Kyrie: ke theo hmwn. God. metha soo o Theos eemoan.

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Memorization

This is the memorization for all Grade 7 students attending the 2009 C.O.O.L convention. The following psalms and prayers need to be memorized and recited sometime during the convention.

Prime Prayer

Psalm 1

Blessed is the man who has not walked in the counsel of the ungodly, and has not stood in the way of the sinners, and has not sat in the seat of the evil men. But his will is in the law of the Lord; and in His law he shall meditate day and night. He shall be like the tree which is planted by the streams of water, which shall yield its fruit in its due season, and its leaf shall not scatter, and in everything he does he prospers.

Not so are the ungodly, not so; but rather they are like the chaff which the wind scatters upon the face of the earth. Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in judgment, nor the sinners in the council of the righteous. For the Lord knows the way of the righteous; but the way of the ungodly shall perish. ALLELUIA.

A chapter from the Gospel according to St. John, may his blessings be with us. Amen. (John 1:1-17)

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made by Him; and without Him was not anything made that was made. In Him was life; and the life was the light of men. And the light shines in darkness; and the darkness did not comprehend it.

There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. This man came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe. He was not the Light, but was sent to bear witness to the Light. That was the true Light that gives light to every man coming into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made by Him, and the world did not know Him. He came unto His own, and His own did not receive Him. But as many as received Him, to them He gave power to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

And the Word became flesh, and dwelt in us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the Only- Begotten of His Father, full of grace and truth. John bore witness of Him, and cried out, saying, “This was He of whom I said, `He who comes after me is preferred before me: for He was before me.’ ” And of His fullness we have all received, and grace for grace. For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.

Glory be to God forever. Amen. 16

(We worship You O Christ with Your Good Father and the Holy Spirit, for You have come and saved us.)

1. O the true Light Who gives light to every man coming into the world, You came into the world through Your love for mankind, and all creation rejoiced in Your coming. You saved our father, Adam, from the seduction, and delivered our mother, Eve, from the pangs of death, and gave us the spirit of sonship. Let us, therefore, praise You and bless You saying:

Doxa Patri ke Eioa ke Agio Pnevmati

Glory to the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

2. As the daylight shines upon us, O Christ Our God, the true Light, let the luminous senses and the bright thoughts shine within us, and do not let the darkness of passions hover over us, that mindfully we may praise You with David saying, “My eyes have awaken before the morning watch, that I might meditate on Your sayings." Hear our voices according to your great mercy, and deliver us, O Lord our God, through Your compassion.

Ke nin ke a ee ke ees toos e onas toan e oa noan ameen.

Now and forever and unto the ages of all ages, Amen.

3. You are the honored Mother of the Light; from the risings of the sun to its settings praises are offered to you, O , the second heaven, as you are the bright and unchanging flower, and the ever virgin mother; for the Father chose you, and the Holy Spirit overshadowed you, and the Son condescended and took flesh from you. Wherefore, ask Him to give salvation to the world which He created, and to deliver it from all tribulations. Let us praise Him a new praise, and bless Him, now and forever and unto the ages of all ages. Amen.

SECOND ABSOLUTION

O God Who causes the light to burst forth, Who lets His sun shine upon the righteous and the wicked, Who created the light which illuminates the whole world, enlighten our minds, our hearts and our understandings, O Master of all, and grant us to please You this present day. Guard us from every bad thing, from every sin, and from every adversitive power; through Christ Jesus our Lord, with whom You are blessed, with the Holy Spirit, the Life-Giver and one essence with You, now and at all times and unto the ages of all ages. Amen.

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