St. Mark Festival: Living a Life of Joy

St. Mark Festival's Theme: "You Shall Surely Rejoice"

• This year's St. Mark Festival celebrates 20 years since its founding by HH Pope Shenouda III with the blessings of HH Pope Tawadrous II.

The Joy of Repentance

• Sin strips us of our joy, leading to guilt and loss of joy.
• The Holy Spirit rebukes us, encouraging us to repent and restore our joy.
• Orthodox understanding of repentance involves: • Regretting our wrongdoings • Feeling the need for repentance • Confessing and receiving absolution from our father the priest

Rejoice in the Lord Jesus My Savior and Redeemer

• Psalm 97:12 says, "Rejoice in the Lord, you righteous."
• Our Lord Jesus offered the greatest love ever, creating us in His image and likeness to enjoy His unlimited love and live with Him in paradise.
• He was incarnate, born in a manger, suffered, and died on the cross for our sake, then rose on the third day to raise us with Him.

Rejoice in the Holy Bible

• John 15:11 says, "These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full."
• The Holy Bible is our personal divine message, providing love, rebuke, commandments, promises, and teaching on the way to eternal life.
• Every Christian should study the Bible regularly, fulfilling the Lord's commandment to search the Scriptures.

Rejoice in the Church - The House of Joy

• Our Coptic Orthodox Church is unique, redeemed by the Lord's blood and receiving the sound faith from our fathers the apostles.
• The Church is the house of joy, giving us joy and providing a sense of identity and calling.

Joy in Being a Member of the Body of Christ

• We receive membership in the Body of Christ through the Holy Sacraments and keep it through spiritual struggle.
• We serve inside the Church and witness to the Lord outside in our society, bringing joy to our life.

Joy in Spiritual Fulfillment

• Psalm 63:5 says, "My soul shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness, and my mouth shall praise You with joyful lips."
• The true Orthodox believer has a life of joy and fulfillment through: • Praying the Psalms daily • The Arrow Prayers (Jesus Prayer) • Daily lectionary readings • Reading the Synaxarion daily • The Midnight Praises • Church Fasts • Church seasons • Church Feasts • The Eucharist • The Church Fathers' sayings

Joy in Asceticism

• Our moderate Coptic asceticism is under the direction of the father of confession, offering our asceticism to the Lord.
• We rejoice in our spiritual asceticism, not leading to sadness, but rather to joy.

Joy in Martyrdom

• Acts 5:41 says, "So they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for His name."
• We rejoice in the opportunity to suffer shame for the Lord's name.

Joy in the Eternal Life to Come

• Being confined within time and busy with our lives on earth threatens the health of our spiritual life.
• We can recognize the following glories in our joyful eternity with the Lord: • Joy in the glory of holiness • Eternal Joy • Joy of the Communion with the Lord • Joy in the Glory of Eternal Life

St. Mark Festival's Theme: "You Shall Surely Rejoice"

• This year's St. Mark Festival celebrates 20 years since its founding by HH Pope Shenouda III with the blessings of HH Pope Tawadrous II.

The Joy of Repentance

• Sin strips us of our joy, leading to guilt and loss of joy.
• The Holy Spirit rebukes us, encouraging us to repent and restore our joy.
• Orthodox understanding of repentance involves: • Regretting our wrongdoings • Feeling the need for repentance • Confessing and receiving absolution from our father the priest

Rejoice in the Lord Jesus My Savior and Redeemer

• Psalm 97:12 says, "Rejoice in the Lord, you righteous."
• Our Lord Jesus offered the greatest love ever, creating us in His image and likeness to enjoy His unlimited love and live with Him in paradise.
• He was incarnate, born in a manger, suffered, and died on the cross for our sake, then rose on the third day to raise us with Him.

Rejoice in the Holy Bible

• John 15:11 says, "These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full."
• The Holy Bible is our personal divine message, providing love, rebuke, commandments, promises, and teaching on the way to eternal life.
• Every Christian should study the Bible regularly, fulfilling the Lord's commandment to search the Scriptures.

Rejoice in the Church - The House of Joy

• Our Coptic Orthodox Church is unique, redeemed by the Lord's blood and receiving the sound faith from our fathers the apostles.
• The Church is the house of joy, giving us joy and providing a sense of identity and calling.

Joy in Being a Member of the Body of Christ

• We receive membership in the Body of Christ through the Holy Sacraments and keep it through spiritual struggle.
• We serve inside the Church and witness to the Lord outside in our society, bringing joy to our life.

Joy in Spiritual Fulfillment

• Psalm 63:5 says, "My soul shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness, and my mouth shall praise You with joyful lips."
• The true Orthodox believer has a life of joy and fulfillment through: • Praying the Psalms daily • The Arrow Prayers (Jesus Prayer) • Daily lectionary readings • Reading the Synaxarion daily • The Midnight Praises • Church Fasts • Church seasons • Church Feasts • The Eucharist • The Church Fathers' sayings

Joy in Asceticism

• Our moderate Coptic asceticism is under the direction of the father of confession, offering our asceticism to the Lord.
• We rejoice in our spiritual asceticism, not leading to sadness, but rather to joy.

Joy in Martyrdom

• Acts 5:41 says, "So they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for His name."
• We rejoice in the opportunity to suffer shame for the Lord's name.

Joy in the Eternal Life to Come

• Being confined within time and busy with our lives on earth threatens the health of our spiritual life.
• We can recognize the following glories in our joyful eternity with the Lord: • Joy in the glory of holiness • Eternal Joy • Joy of the Communion with the Lord • Joy in the Glory of Eternal Life

Explore the true meaning of joy and how to experience it in our daily lives, inspired by the theme of this year's St. Mark Festival.