"Awake, O My Harp, Your Chords, 
In Praise of the Virgin Mary! 
Lift Up Your Voice and Sing
The Wonderful History of this Virgin, 
The Daughter of David, 
Who Gave Birth to the Life of the World!"
-- St. Ephram the Syrian

As Biblical history has recorded, St. Mary is the central figure in the two Gospel accounts of the birth of the Lord Jesus Christ. The "Mother of God" is seldom mentioned in the New Testament outside of the birth narratives in the opening chapters of St. Matthew and St. Luke. The name of St. Mary is mentioned only once in the Holy Gospel of St. Mark and the Holy Book of Acts. The Blessed Virgin is never explicitly named in the New Testament Letters. The name of St. Mary is only "referred to" in two episodes written by St. John in his Holy Gospel.

During the month of August, the Coptic Church celebrates the Feast of the Transfiguration of our Lord Jesus Christ on Mount Tabor. The Feast of the Transfiguration is considered one of the seven Minor Feasts of the Lord. The Transfiguration is mentioned in Matthew 17:1-13, Mark 9:2-13, and Luke 9:28-36.

It is stated in both St. Matthew's and St. Mark's Holy Gospels those six days after the Lord's conversation with His disciples regarding the Cross-, He took St. Peter, St. James and St. John on a high mountain and was transfigured before them. St. Luke alludes to the same story but the length after the Lord's conversation was eight days. Is there a contraindication in Holy Scripture? No, it is thought that St. Luke counted the day of His conversation about the Cross-and the day of the Transfiguration; and that St. Matthew and St. Mark did not count those two days. This explains why St. Luke used the phrase, "about eight days after," while St. Matthew and St. Mark mentioned that it "was after six days."

St. Mina the Wonder WorkerThe Lord Jesus Christ promises us, "He who believes in Me, the works that I do he will also do, and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father." (John 14:12)

The ministry of the Lord Jesus Christ was one of numerous occurrences of healings of "all kinds of sickness and all kinds of diseases." (Matthew 4:23) The Lord Jesus Christ healed not only sickness and disease but also darkened hearts and minds as He released people from demonic oppression.

Like their Master before them, the early Apostles participated in God's work of healing, giving all thanks to their miracles to the risen and ascended Lord Jesus Christ. In the Holy Book of Acts 9:34, St. Peter told a newly restored man who had been bedridden for eight years, "Jesus the Christ heals you."

"If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God." (Colossians 3:1)

My Beloved Brethren, Christ is Risen. He is Risen indeed.

On this glorious day, as we commemorate the blessed Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ, I would like to extend my hearty wishes to all of you praying to the Risen Lord to grant us His Resurrection and make it real in our life.