Do not be mislead of FALSE ECUMENISM :P

And i am serious about this one to be exact, here is a reaction of a Eastern Rite Orthodox Christian on his wall regarding this Post on the Demise of the Coptic Christian head Shenouda III, here is what he have to say on the recent posts extending not just Condolences and even calling "Memory Eternal" to the late Hierarch:

"With the recent death of the charismatic leader of the Coptic Church of Egypt, Pope Shenouda, a few Eastern Orthodox religious leaders have declared their sympathy and condolence to the Coptic faithful as they pray "Memory Eternal" to the Coptic Pope.
It should be remembered and understood that in the Eastern Orthodox tradition the prayer "Eternal Memory" refers to REMEMBRANCE BY GOD, rather than by the living, and is "another way of praying that the soul HAS ENTERED HEAVEN and ENJOYS ETERNAL LIFE."
An Orthodox Christian prays to God for the "Eternal Memory" of the beloved departed who has fallen asleep in the Lord so that he or she shall be "eternally alive in the eternal memory of God." If follows that this "Eternal Memory" prayer is applicable only to the departed faithful and not to those who have died outside the true Faith, and outside the Holy Church.
It is a common knowledge that the Coptic Church of Egypt is not in communion with the Holy Orthodox Church since it rejects the Declaration of Faith at the Ecumenical Council of Chalcedon (451 AD). The Monophysite heresy was condemned and its followers were anathematized by the Ecumenical Council of Chalcedon. Their excommunication from the Church still remains to this day and will only be lifted once they accept the Declaration of Faith.
Therefore, how can anyone who denies the True Faith be eternally alive in the eternal memory of God? Monophysitism and Orthodoxy has nothing in common and is totally incompatible.
As an ordinary faithful of the Orthodox Church, it is against my conscience to pray "Eternal Memory" to someone who willfully deny the True Faith and died outside the Church. I pray for the Lord's mercy that his heresy may be forgiven. I also pray that the Copts return back to the bosom of the true church, the Holy Orthodox Church. I also pray for my Orthodox brethren who unknowingly fell victim to the deception of false ecumenism. Lord have mercy on me."

With all due respect, i have to make things straight on having a Clarification, though we are still extending our Condolences, we cannot say anymore Glorifying words but instead offer Prayers of Mercy on this Patriarch, who still until now Upholds the Schism they have committed in 451 A.D in the Ecumenical Council of Chalcedon on which the Coptic Pope of that time Dioscorus who is a proponent of the Heretical view of Monophysitism have even Excommunicated the defender of Orthodoxy which is Pope St. Leo the Great, who by his Tomes has declared not just the Copts but the Churches in Communion with Anathematized, as it was stated by the Holy Ecumenical Council of Ephesus. Making the Clarifications so that i am not going to be mislead and be swayed by False Ecumenism. Below is the Chalcedonian Definition of Faith:

"ECUMENICAL COUNCIL OF CHALCEDON: DEFINITION OF THE FAITH (451 A.D.)

"So, following the saintly fathers, we all with one voice teach the confession of one and the same Son, our Lord Jesus Christ: the same perfect in divinity and perfect in humanity, the same truly God and truly man, of a rational soul and a body; 

Consubstantial with the Father as regards his divinity, and the same consubstantial with us as regards his humanity; 

Like us in all respects except for sin; begotten before the ages from the Father as regards his divinity, and in the last days the same for us and for our salvation from Mary, the virgin God-bearer as regards his humanity;

One and the same Christ, Son, Lord, only-begotten, acknowledged IN TWO NATURES which undergo NO CONFUSION, NO CHANGE, NO DIVISION, NO SEPARATION;

At no point was the difference between the natures taken away through the union, but rather THE PROPERTY OF BOTH NATURES IS PRESERVED and comes together into a single person and a single subsistent being;

He is not parted or divided into two persons, but is one and the same only-begotten Son, God, Word, Lord Jesus Christ, just as the prophets taught from the beginning about him, and as the Lord Jesus Christ himself instructed us, and as the creed of the fathers handed it down to us.

Since we have formulated these things with all possible accuracy and attention, the sacred and UNIVERSAL SYNOD DECREED that NO ONE IS PERMITTED to produce, or even to write down or compose, any other creed or to THINK or TEACH OTHERWISE.

As for those who dare either to compose another creed or even to promulgate or teach or hand down another creed for those who wish to convert to a recognition of the truth from Hellenism or from Judaism, or from any kind of heresy at all: if they be bishops or clerics, the bishops are to be DEPOSED from the episcopacy and the clerics from the clergy; if they be monks or layfolk, they are to be ANATHEMATISED.

We have deemed it right that the canons hitherto issued by the saintly fathers at each and every synod should REMAIN IN FORCE."

His Holiness Blessed Pope John Paul III with the Coptic Pope and Patriarch Shenouda III

We still pray for Christian Unity though, and also it the Decrees of the Council of Chalcedon is still enforce upon the Miaphysite Churches, namely the Coptic Christians. A merely joint Statement from the Pope and the Ecumenical Patriarch has no weight compare to the Decrees of a Ecumenical Council, we also include in our Intercession the Lifting of Excommunication from the 451 Chalcedon Council, just like the Lifting of the 1054 Excommunication of both His Holiness Pope Paul VI and His Beatitude Patriarch Athenagoras in 1965

For more here is a Video Link of the brief History of the Ecumenical Council of Chalcedon

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Kyrie Eleison, His Beatitude Shenouda (1923-2012), Patriarch of Alexandria and Pope of the Coptic Orthodox Church

Together with our Brethren from the other Eastern Rite Christian Churches, namely of the Coptic Orthodox Church in Egypt in grief and we extend our Condolence upon the Death of His Holiness Shenouda III, the 117th Pope of Alexandria and the Patriarch of All Africa on the Holy Apostolic See of Saint Mark the Evangelist of the Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria. He is known for the efforts he made in Commitment of having Christian Unity. He is the first Coptic Orthodox Patriarch to meet with the Pope after 1500 Years meeting with His Holiness Pope Paul VI and later on with His Holiness Blessed Pope John Paul II. Here is the Statement from the Vatican on the demise of the Coptic Pope.

"The Catholic Church shares in the grief and prayers of Coptic Christians in mourning the loss of their spiritual leader, His Holiness Pope Shenouda III of Alexandria. Pope Benedict XVI was informed of the news and he is united spiritually with prayers of suffrage. We will never forget the meeting of Pope Shenouda in Cairo with Pope John Paul II during his pilgrimage to Mount Sinai during the Great Jubilee. The occasion marked a high moment in dialogue and fellowship witnessing to our common faith in Christ. May the Lord welcome this great shepherd and give him the reward he deserves for his service.


Fr. Federico Lombardi, Director of the Holy See Press Office"

Here below are the Links regarding this News of the Passing over in this Life of the Coptic Patriarch:

Pope Shenouda III, head of Egypt's Coptic Christian church, dies at 88

Pope Shenouda III of Egypt dies

We in the Eastern Rite Catholic Filipinos also extend the Condolence on our Brethren in the Coptic Orthodox Church joining and always be in our Prayer

"O God of spirits and of all

bodies, who trampled down

death and overcame the devil,

and bestowed life on your

world, yourself O Lord set to

rest the soul of your servant

Shenouda who has fallen asleep, in

a place of light, in a place of

green pastures, in a place of

rest whence all pain, sorrow

and sighing have been driven

away. Forgive him (her) every

transgression committed in

word, in deed, or in thought,

for you are a good God, the

Lover of mankind; yet there is

no man born who does not

transgress, and you alone are

without sin, your

righteousness is everlasting,

and your word is true."

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Hierarchial Divine Liturgy of St. Mark, Christian Egyptian Coptic Church

This compilation of Video footage are the Full coverage of the Hierarchial Divine Liturgy celebrated during Christmas by His Most Blessed Beatitude Shenouda III, Pope of Alexandria and and the Patriarch of All Africa on the Holy Apostolic See of Saint Mark the Evangelist of the Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria. He is the head of The Holy Synod of the Coptic Orthodox Patriarchate of Alexandria. It is noticeable that even though the Liturgical Language is Coptic, Greek and Arabic was used widely during this Service, another note to be taken is the presence of His Beatitude Gregory III Laham, Patriarch of the Melkite Greek Catholic Church near to the Coptic Pope. Nonetheless, the Divine Liturgy is indeed a manifestation of how beautiful Eastern Rite Liturgy is. Also the Coptic Catholic Church also celebrated a similar Church ceremony, though we cannot acquired a Clip. We also start making coverage from other Eastern Rite Churches, so as to go back from the common heritage of Eastern Catholics and the same roots they along with the Orthodox have come from.

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Reflections on His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI General prayer intention on this Month of November

""That the Eastern Catholic Churches and their venerable traditions may be known and esteemed as a spiritual treasure for the whole Church." - HIS HOLINESS BENEDICT XVI, HOLY UNIVERSAL PONTIFF AND POPE OF ROME


Let us contemplate at this few reflection been given on this Video clip, at the same time it can be disseminated Information on our Latin Rite Roman Catholics regarding their other brethren on the Eastern side of the Catholic Church. As Blessed Pope John Paul II always stresses: "That all maybe ONE (Ut UNUM Sint).

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The Prayer Rule of St. Pachomius the Great

Through the prayers of our holy Fathers, O Lord Jesus Christ our God, have mercy on us. 

Amen.  Glory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee.

O Heavenly King, Comforter, Spirit of Truth, Who art everywhere present and fillest all things, Treasury of good things and Giver of life: Come and dwell in us, and cleanse us of all impurity, and save our souls, O Good One.

Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal, have mercy on us. (Thrice)

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, both now and ever, and unto the unto the ages of ages. Amen.

O Most Holy Trinity, have mercy on us. O Lord, blot out our sins. O Master, pardon our iniquities. O Holy One, visit and heal our infirmities for Thy name's sake.

Lord have mercy. (Thrice)

Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.

Our Father, Who art in the Heavens, hallowed be Thy Name. Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done, on earth as it is in Heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.

O Lord, Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on us. Amen.  

Lord, Have mercy. (Twelve times)

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, both now and ever, and unto the unto the ages of ages. Amen.

O come, let us worship God our King.

O come, let us worship and fall down before Christ our King and God.

O come, let us worship and fall down before Christ Himself, our King and God. 

Psalm 50

Have mercy on me, O God, according to Thy great mercy; and according to the multitude of Thy compassions blot out my transgression. Wash me thoroughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. For I know mine iniquity, and my sin is ever before me. Against Thee only have I sinned and done this evil before Thee, that Thou mightest be justified in Thy words, and prevail when Thou art judged. For behold, I was conceived in iniquities, and in sins did my mother bear me. For behold, Thou hast loved truth; the hidden and secret things of Thy wisdom hast Thou made manifest unto me. Thou shalt sprinkle me with hyssop, and I shall be made clean; Thou shalt wash me, and I shall be made whiter than snow. Thou shalt make me to hear joy and gladness; the bones that be humbled, they shall rejoice. Turn Thy face away from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities. Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from Thy presence, and take not Thy Holy Spirit from me. Restore unto me the joy of Thy salvation, and with Thy governing Spirit establish me. I shall teach transgressors Thy ways, and the ungodly shall turn back unto Thee. Deliver me from blood-guiltiness, O God, Thou God of my salvation; my tongue shall rejoice in Thy righteousness. O Lord, Thou shalt open my lips, and my mouth shall declare Thy praise. For if Thou hadst desired sacrifice, I had given it; with whole-burnt offerings Thou shalt not be pleased. A sacrifice unto God is a broken spirit; a heart that is broken and humbled God will not despise. Do good, O Lord, in Thy good pleasure unto Zion, and let the walls of Jerusalem be builded. Then shalt Thou be pleased with a sacrifice of righteousness, with oblation and whole-burnt offerings. Then shall they offer bullocks upon Thine altar.

The Creed

I believe in one God, the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth and of all things visible and invisible. And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the Only-begotten, begotten of the Father before all ages; Light of Light, true God of true God; begotten, not made; of one essence with the Father, by Whom all things were made; Who for us men and for our salvation came down from the heavens, and was incarnate of the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary, and became man; And was crucified for us under Pontius Pilate, and suffered and was buried; And arose again on the third day according to the Scriptures; And ascended into the heavens, and sitteth at the right hand of the Father; And shall come again, with glory, to judge both the living and the dead; Whose kingdom shall have no end. And in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the Giver of life; Who proceedeth from the Father; Who with the Father and the Son together is worshipped and glorified; Who spake by the prophets. In One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church. I confess one baptism for the remission of sins. I look for the resurrection of the dead, And the life of the age to come. Amen.

The Jesus Prayer:

          O Lord, Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner.  (100 Times)

The Dismissal

It is truly meet to bless thee, the Theotokos, ever blessed and most blameless, and Mother of our God. More honorable than the Cherubim, and beyond compare more glorious than the Seraphim, who without corruption gavest birth to God the Word, the very Theotokos, thee do we magnify.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages.  Amen.

         

Lord, have mercy.  (Thrice)      

         

O Lord, Bless.

O Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, for the sake of the prayers of Thy most pure Mother, of our holy and God-bearing fathers, and all the saints, have mercy on us and save us, for Thou art good and the Lover of mankind.  Amen.

St. Pachomius is the founder of Cenobitic Monasticism in Egypt, and he is among the early Christian Ascetic and among the Desert fathers, and the first who attribute the Jesus Prayer and the use of the Prayer Rope. For more about his Hagiography, click here from the Orthowiki Site and this other link about him.

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