Hello and Welcome!
This is the main site for the Orthodox Fellowship @ Abu Sefein Coptic Orthodox Church in Rhodes, Sydney. The Fellowship is a collection of English meetings and ministries aimed at the edification of all those involved. Our aim is to strive for Orthodox fellowship and unity. Orthodoxy is not merely a religion, but who we are, what we think and our very mode of existence. Primarily, this site is to help communicate and promote the Orthodox way of life with the English speakers of our Parish.
So if you want to come along and share in our fellowship visit us at Saint Mary and Saint Merkorious (Abu Sefein) Coptic Orthodox Church, Rhodes. We meet every Friday night at 8:00pm and Tuesday nights at 7:00pm. Join us for prayer, hymns and a discussion.
If you would like to add anything to this site or any suggestions, please notify us.
Whats going on...?
Weekly Saying from the Fathers
At the Birth of the Son the king was enrolling all men for the tribute-money, that they might be debtors to Him: the King came forth to us Who blotted out our bills, and wrote another bill in His own Name that He might be our debtor. The sun gave longer light, and foreshadowed the mystery by the degrees which it had gone up. It was twelve days since it had gone up, and to-day is the thirteenth day: a type exact of the Son's birth and of His Twelve...
The darkness was overcome, that it might proclaim that Satan was overcome; and the sun gave longer light, that it might triumph, because the First-born was victorious. Along with the darkness the dark one was overcome, and with the greater light our Light conquered!
- Hymns on the Nativity, Ephrem the Syrian
Our Great Cloud of Witnesses
From our SoundCloud
From Our Parish Bookshop
From Father Alex's Blog
Today, we stand at the banks of the Jordan in awe of the Creator of all, who took upon Himself Flesh and identified Himself as one with His Creation!
Today, we gaze in wonder, as the one who Created all Mankind, accepted to be baptised by His Creation!
Today, we contemplate in sublime amazement as the One through Whom all things came to be, entered and was submerged into the raging waters of the Jordan!
Glory be to the Creator of all!
The fullness of time is at hand!
The Light has come to those who were sitting in Darkness.
The Dayspring form on High has illuminated all, shining forth from within the darkness of a cave.
Glory to you O young Child of the Manger!
Glory to you O Ancient of Days - O eternal!
O Word of God, pre-existent, who by the utterance of the Father brought all things into being,
O You who was impressed on us as an Image, bestowing upon us Your divine knowledge of Your Father - Glory be to You!
O Word who brought me into existence!O footsteps which tread in the Garden! O voice which called out amidst the trees. Seeking me.
O Word who has filled death! O footsteps which tread over the gates of Hades. O voice which rang out throughout the depths of Death. Seeking me.
O Life-giving Word of God, in whose image I was created and was called to live in your image and likeness. May the sound of your voice ring out in the depths of the dead caverns of my heart and fill it with the sweet light of Your life O Illuminating Saviour, fill the dark abyss of my soul with Your radiant light!
Today, the bulwarks of Hades have been shaken, the gates of Death have crumbled.
O the absurdity of Your majesty,O the sublimity of your beauty.
O You the one who enters a city and enlivens it with Your glory. Quicken me, O You who with Your voice wrenched the soul of Lazarus from the clutches of Hades, from it's very bowels.
Enter into my depths, my mind, my heart and my reins - just as You filled the depths of darkness with Light, fill my depths with Life!
Remember me O my Lord,
Remember me O my God,
Remember me O my King,
When you come into Your Kingdom!
(Response of the Praxis for the Weekends of Lent - Coptic Tradition)
Brothers and sisters, the Blessed Forty Days are upon us!The epitome of spiritual vigour is at hand! Brothers and sisters the goal and the aim has been set before us! Let us open our eyes to the beauty and subtly of the message of the Church. Let us possess the mind of the Church, which is the mind of Christ!
Saint Athanasius the Great