“By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us. And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.” (1 John 3:16)
Coptic Orthodox Patriarchate – The Church of Alexandria

St. Mary & St. Athanasius Coptic Orthodox Church
Reaching out to Somerset and Hunterdon Counties in NJ

Resources on Great Fast

6th Week of Great Fast

The 6th Sunday of the Holy LentHealing the Man Born Blind Today we start the sixth week of the Holy fast. Next Sunday, with the Lord entering Jerusalem, we will start the Holy Pascha Week journey. This is the week where we immerse ourselves in the last days of Christ’s public ministry on earth, leading…

5th Week of Great Fast

The 5th Sunday of the Holy LentHealing at the Pool of Bethesda On the fifth Sunday of the Great Fast, the Church reads John 5:1-18, which describes the miracle of healing the paralytic man by the pool of Bethesda. This miracle is unique to the Gospel of John and was not mentioned in the other…

4th Week of Great Fast

The Samaritan Woman On the fourth Sunday of the Great Fast, the Church reads John 4:1-42. This passage narrates the interaction between our Lord Jesus Christ and a Samaritan Woman at Jacob’s well.  The woman came to fill her jar from the well when the Lord asked her for a drink. This was the start…

3rd Week of Great Fast

The Prodigal Son On this Sunday of the third week of the Great Fast, the Church reads Luke 15:11-32. This passage narrates the “Parable of the Prodigal Son,” one of the most familiar and beloved of all Christ’s Parables. This week’s theme is Repentance, and this Parable is probably the most appropriate to conclude the…

2nd Sunday of Great Fast

The Temptation of Jesus On this Sunday, the second Sunday of the Great Fast, the Church reads Matthew 4:1-11. Events of this passage come after the Lord was baptized in the previous Chapter, and the Holy Spirit declared Him the Son of God (Matt 3:16-17). In this passage, Satan tempted Jesus with bodily needs “command…

1st Sunday of Great Fast

The 1st Sunday of the Holy LentThe Lent’s Journey On this Sunday, the first Sunday of the Holy Lent, we read Matthew 6:19-33. In this passage, the Lord warns us about working for earthly profit that may decay. Rather we should seek the heavenly treasures, that will last forever (Matt 6:19-20).  He continued to remind…

Great Fast Instructions

What is Fasting, in reference to food? Fasting is abstaining from all food and drink till a specified time/hour.Fasting is vegan food only.Fasting is minimizing portions. Yet, periods of “fasting” as set by the Church, are not just times in which our diet changes… Fasting, prayer, and almsgiving are a triune act: an offering to God. Our goals during the Great Fast…