St. Mary Coptic Orthodox Church Ottawa, Canada

Visitation of H.H. Pope Tawadros to the Greater Ottawa Area September 25-28, 2014

The Coptic Churches in Ottawa were honoured and blessed by the pastoral visit of His Holiness Pope Tawadros II to the greater Ottawa area, on September 25-28, 2014. This came at the conclusion of His Holiness' four-week visit to the Coptic churches across Canada. His Holiness described the visit to the Ottawa area as the "dessert" of his trip.

This visit coincided with the celebration of the golden jubilee for the first Coptic Church in Canada, and the silver jubilee of the consecration of the altar of St. Mary's church in Ottawa. The joy of His Holiness' visit culminated with laying the cornerstone of St. Anthony's monastery in Perth, and the ordination of two priests. Fr. Anthony Mourad was ordained into priesthood at the Church of St. George and St. Anthony on September 27, to serve alongside Fr. Mikhail Fam and Fr. George Mikhail. Fr. Marcos Abdel-Messih Morcos was ordained into priesthood at St. Mary's Church on September 28, to serve with Fr. Shenouda Boutros.

The following pictures and Youtube videos show highlights of this visit:
       + H.H. Pope Tawadros II Arrival at St. Anthony's Monastery Video - Photos
       + H.H. Pope Tawadros II Lays Cornerstone of St. Anthony's Monastery Photos
       + Meeting with Church Youth and Servants Video - Audio
       + Delivering the Donald Mathers Memorial Lecture at Queen's University Audio
       + Divine Liturgy including ordination of Fr. Anthony Mourad Video - Audio
       + Divine Liturgy including ordination of Fr. Marcos Abdel-Messih Morcos Video - Audio

The 25th anniversary celebration

25th Anniversary St Mary Church - booklet

Papal Message for EASTER 2014

I congratulate you my beloved with the Glorious Resurrection Feast that is the crown of our feasts and joy. Christ's Resurrection is the main foundation in our Christianity, our Church, our evangelism and our daily life. Christ's Resurrection is considered everything to us. The Cross of our Lord Jesus Christ is considered our new life that we can live in.

Papal message (English)
Papal message (Arabic)

Khristos Anesti - Christ is risen
by Rev. Father Shenouda Doss

"He is not here, for He is risen.. " (Matthew 28:6)
The sun was setting, and the Sabbath was approaching; they had secured Christ's tomb, and sealed it with a great stone. The Marys' mourning voices faded, and silence replaced the sounds of groaning and wailing..

Events of Good Friday

THE TRIALS:
  Religions:
      1st: Before Annas - Preliminary examination
      2nd: Before Caiphas - Peter's denial
      3rd: Before the Sanhedrin (The Jewish Synagogue)

Thine is the power, the glory,..

"Learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart" (Mat 11:29)

Teach me how to be meek like You. Teach me my Lord..
How come when you were awaiting getting cheated, humiliated, and tortured..
How come You remain serving people and doing miracles and smiling to everyone.. as if everything is quite OK!!?

Holy Week Treasure Map

Palm Sunday: The entrance of Christ the King; God prepares the sacrifice.
Monday: Jesus purifies the temple and curses the fig tree; God prepares those who will accept the sacrifice.
Tuesday: Jesus teaches in the temple for the last time; God's invitation for the enjoyment of the sacrifice.

Passion Week His Holiness Pope Shenouda III

During this week, we follow Christ step-by-step.
As we follow Him throughout His Passion and all the attending events, we laud Him continually, saying, "Thine is the power, the glory, the blessing, and the majesty, forever, Amen." We augment this hymn by other phrases, in accordance with the events' progression during the week.

Palm Sunday His Holiness Pope Shenouda III

The Arabic notation for "Palm Sunday" is "Ahad El-Sha'aneen" the word "sha'aneen," in turn, originates from the Hebrew "ho shee'a nan," which means "O Lord deliver." This is also the Hebrew term from which the Greek word "Hosanna" is derived - used by the evangelists in the gospels, and by the multitudes as they hailed Christ's procession..

Our Mother the Holy Virgin
His Holiness Pope Shenouda III

The holy virgin Mary is unique, when it comes to biblical mention and prophecies..... these include numerous symbolisms referring to her in the Old Testament, as well as her lifestory, lauds and miracles given in the New Testament.

Many indeed are our fathers' glorifications and meditations concerning St. Mary; also, inspired by the spirit of the Holy Bible, the Church attributes to her numerous sublime titles.

Papal Message for EASTER 2013

I congratulate you on the occasion of the Glorious Feast of the Resurrection, which is the Feast of all Feasts, the Joy of all Joys and the Delight of our lives. The Feast of the Resurrection comes after a long period of fasting; 55 days to be exact. This fast culminates in the Holy Week of Pascha, which is a period filled with prayer, fasting, and supplication.

Papal message (English)
Papal message (Arabic)

Meditations by His Grace Anba Moussa insights offered by Rev. Father Shenouda Doss

Dear Lord Jesus.. Help me repent - along with Jonah and the Ninevites..
Help me fast this short, yet satiating, fast..
Help me reflect, from a personal perspective, on the beautiful Book of Jonah - since Jonah is me, and we are Nineveh.

Papal message for the Nativity Feast 2013

I congratulate you my dear beloved children on this blessed Christmas, wishing you the blessings of joy, richness and peace in your life, work, and families from the Holy Born Baby in the manger - blessings. May all Christmas celebrations find you filled with peace in spirit and good health...

Papal message (English)
Papal message (Arabic)

Hymns of the Nativity by Rev. Father Shenouda Doss

"And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth." (John 1:14)
I thank You, O Father, for You have concealed this from the wise and prudent, and revealed it to the unknowing and the babes! The mystery of godliness which You have prepared since the beginning of time, is that You do something wondrous in our eyes - which the angels yearn to see! that God should manifest Himself in the flesh!

Behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy.. (Luke 2:10) by Rev. Fr. Barsoum Kamel

This is the angel's annunciation to us on the Feast of the Nativity - an annunciation imparting to us great joy. This glorious, unutterable, jubilation, absorbs, eliminates and obliterates the grief that overshadowed humanity for many years, as it awaited the dawning of this day - the day in which God entered the world of sorrowful man, as he languished in the shadow of death. What a wondrous entrance it was, "Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, He also Himself took part of the same,.." (Hebrews 2:14)