Study Material Grade 7 1 OUR BELOVED PATRIARCH HIS HOLINESS POPE SHENOUDA III 117 TH Patriarch of the see of St.Mark 2 Table of Contents Bible Study......................................................................................4 Church Dogma................................................................................5 Lives of the Saints.........................................................................10 Coptic Language ...........................................................................14 Hymns ...........................................................................................15 Memorization................................................................................16 3 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 Saint 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 David. 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 Noah, 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 Jesus 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 Holy Spirit. A bishop may perform any church sacrament, but there must be at least three bishops 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. 5 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. Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, David, etc. in the Old Testament, Peter & John, etc. in the New Testament--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. 7 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.