“Spiritual Union in the Concept of Marriage Union” in the Wednesday’s Sermon of His Holiness Pope Tawadros II
His Holiness Pope Tawadros II, Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of the See of St. Mark, delivered his weekly homily at the meeting on Wednesday 6 July 2022, from St. Mark’s Cathedral in Alexandria, in the presence of a number of bishops and priests, and large numbers of church children who filled the cathedral. The homily was broadcast on Christian satellite channels and the C.O.C channel of the Church’s media centre on the Internet.
Before the homily, His Holiness Pope Tawadros II listened to a speech from Father Antonios Fahmy, who is responsible for the service of those who are about to get married in Alexandria, about the work of the service during the last period since February 2012 with a presentation of the most important methods and statistics that reached the graduation of about 13,000 husbands and wives, and the fruitful results of the service and coordination with the sub-clerical council To discuss the amendment of the curricula in a way that agrees with and addresses the marital problems presented to the Council.
He also met with two of the first families graduating from the course those who are about to get married and had a dialogue with them about the importance of service and the results of the course on their married life.
Then His Holiness completed the new educational series “The Concept of Marriage Union” and How to Build a Holy Christian Family, where he dealt with the fifth chapter of the Epistle of Saint Paul the Apostle to the Ephesians, which is read in the wreath prayers (the Sacred Sacrament of Marriage), and referred to the fourth concept of the marital union, which is social union. (psychological), through several basics:
1- Each person has an independent personality capable of development, and the formation of the personality varies according to several factors, including the environment of upbringing, education, heredity, culture, and the living conditions of each family in which the two parties grew up, education, the degree of satisfaction of needs, the past, the future and their dreams.
2- The position of the fiancé or fiancée in his family and among his brothers is of great importance.
3- That both of them view marriage as sacred view.
4- We believe in the law of one wife and one husband.
5- Awareness that there is a sin that destroys marriage.
6- Chastity in the senses and thoughts.
7- Permanent attachment to the church, “Two is better than one” (Ecclesiastes 4:9).
8- Consumerism, “See then how carefully you walk” (Ephesians 5:15)
9- Physical exhaustion at work.
10 – The two preachers should warn about what the media presents without a sound goal.
11- That the two preachers warn the concepts of magic, “When I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil because you are with me” (Psalm 23:4).
12- That the two preachers warn of addiction, “A full soul tramples on honey, and for a hungry soul every bitterness is sweet.” (Proverbs 27:7)
His Holiness highlighted the list that must be taken into account in social aspects:
Save important dates with the other party.
Money: spending moderately and prudently, and beware of miserliness.
Clothes are appropriate for the community and appropriate for the other party.
Work: Work conversations have a part of the time.
Service: participate in service out of selfishness.
Calls: They consist of words of dignity and contain words of approval for the other and respect for his time.
Pictures: Take care in posting pictures.
Compliments: Participate in each compliment together.
Borders: healthy and respectful boundaries for both parties.
Visits: They both do what pleases the other.
Friendship: It is the pinnacle of informal human relations, and it is devoid of any gender.
This educational series comes in line with the launch of the “My Family is Holy” year, which came as a recommendation from the Holy Synod of the Coptic Orthodox Church in its plenary session held on June 9, 2022 and in the consolidation of the principles and values of a normal Christian family, as His Holiness mentioned at the beginning of the sermon on Wednesday, 15 June 2022…
This news was originally published on the Coptic Orthodox Church website. Please click here to read the full text.
