St. Mark Festival: Living a Life of Joy

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

• This year's theme is based on Deuteronomy 16:15, which encourages living a life of joy.

True Christian Joy vs. Worldly Happiness

• Worldly happiness is showy, exasperated, and temporary, affecting thoughts and emotions but not spirits.
• True Christian joy is given by the Lord Jesus and is a fruit of the Spirit.

Sources of Joy

• The Joy of Repentance:
  • Regretting our wrongdoings
  • Feeling the need for repentance
  • Going to our father the priest, confessing, and receiving absolution
• The Joy of Fellowship, Service, and Giving
• The Joy of Enduring Hardships:
  • Enduring for the sake of Christ's name
  • Example: Acts 5:41

With What Shall We Rejoice?

• Rejoice in the Lord Jesus My Savior and Redeemer:
  • Psalm 97:12
  • The Lord's love, creation, and redemption
• Rejoice in the Holy Bible:
  • John 15:11
  • The Bible is a personal divine message, providing love, rebuke, commandments, promises, and guidance
• Rejoice in the Church - The House of Joy:
  • The Coptic Orthodox Church is unique, redeemed by the Lord's blood, and received the sound faith from the apostles
• Rejoice in Being a Member of the Body of Christ:
  • Membership through the Holy Sacraments
  • Keeping membership through spiritual struggle
  • Serving in the Church and witnessing to the Lord in society

Other Sources of Joy

• Joy in Spiritual Fulfillment:
  • Praying the Psalms daily
  • The Arrow Prayers (Jesus Prayer)
  • Daily lectionary readings
  • Reading the Synaxarion daily
  • The Midnight Praises
  • Church Fasts, seasons, and feasts
  • The Eucharist
  • The Church Fathers' sayings
• Joy in Asceticism:
  • Moderate Coptic asceticism, as exemplified by St. Anthony and St. Paul
  • The importance of keeping the body healthy
  • Asceticism under the direction of the father of confession
• Joy in Martyrdom:
  • Acts 5:41
• Joy in the Eternal Life to Come:
  • Recognizing the glory of holiness in eternity
  • The eternal joy of meeting with the Lord, saints, and angels in heaven

Celebrate 20 years of St. Mark Festival and explore the theme of rejoicing, as inspired by Deuteronomy 16:15. Learn how to experience true joy despite life's ups and downs.