“Thanks be to God for bringing you and your loved ones to the Glorious Feast of the Resurrection in peace and health.
ውድ ምዕመናን እንኳን ለጌታችን ኢየሱስ ክርስቶርስ የትንሳኤ በሰላም እና በጤና አደረሳችሁ። የበዓሉ ቅዳሴ የሚጀምረው ከምሽቱ 1:00 ስለሆነ እንድትገኙ በትህትና እንጠይቃለን።የእናንተ መገኘት ለእኛ በረከት ነው።
With a heart weighed down in sorrow and a spirit clothed in mourning, we announce the passing into eternal rest of our beloved Archdeacon Lutfi Bilbao.
Truly, a great light has been extinguished among us this day, and a shadow of grief has fallen upon all of Ethiopia. For we have not merely lost a servant of the Church, but an uncle to many, a father to the faithful, and a steadfast pillar whose hands upheld the house of God for more than fifty-six years. His life was poured out in quiet sacrifice, in generosity without measure, and in unwavering devotion to the holy calling entrusted unto him.
From the days of Emperor Haile Selassie until the year 2017 E.C., he stood firm—like a tree planted by the water, nourishing and sustaining the Church through seasons of trial and of grace. By his labor and his faithfulness, the Church was strengthened, and by his example, many were guided in the path of righteousness.
In honor of his enduring service, our Mother Church bestowed upon him the highest elevation within the diaconate, crowning his years of humility and dedication with the sacred rank of Archdeacon. Yet even in honor, he remained humble; even in greatness, he walked as a servant.
Now he has been called from among us, and his place stands empty. Our hearts are heavy, yet we take solace in the promise that the righteous are gathered unto eternal peace.
May the Lord remember him in His kingdom, and may his soul find rest in the bosom of the faithful.
I extend my deepest condolences to all who knew and loved him. Let us, with one accord, lift his name in our prayers, that mercy may be granted unto him, and that light perpetual may shine upon his soul.
by George Gereis
👏Good morning, love and blessings 💠
🌿✝ The nature of the soul is to desire what is above its nature. If it desires what is lower than it, then it is outside its nature. 💐💖✝
🌿✝ Desire cannot fight you if your will does not permit it. 🌿💖🍇
🍃✍Mar Philoxenus✝🍃
🌟🌹♥🌷🌴✝🤍🌿🙏🏻👍🏻🌺🌟
💠 በፍቅር እና በበርከት የተሞላ ጠዋት ይሁንላችሁ!
🌿✝ የነፍስ ተፈጥሮ ከተፈጥሮዋ በላይ ያለውን መመኘት ነው። ከሱ ዝቅ ያለውን ከፈለገ ከተፈጥሮው ውጪ ነው። 💐💖✝
🌿✝ ፈቃድህ ካልፈቀደ ምኞትህ ሊዋጋህ አይችልም። 🌿💖🍇
🍃✍ማር ፊሎክስነስ✝🍃*
The seven sacraments of the Church, as eloquently put by His Grace Bishop Mettaous of El-Syrian Monastery, are “the channels by which we receive the graces and blessings of the Holy Spirit,” and were instituted by Jesus Christ. The sacraments, also known as “spiritual medicines,” include Baptism, Chrismation, Eucharist, Repentance and Confession, Priesthood, Matrimony, and Unction of the Sick. Of these sacraments, the first four are “redemptive,” and necessary for eternal salvation, while the last three are non-redemptive, and unnecessary for eternal salvation. Each sacrament is “an invisible grace we receive by practicing a visible rite” as well as “a visible sign or substance performed by a priest.” For this reason, the sacraments are also referred to as “mysteries.”
We invite all Sunday School students, teachers, and their families to our annual end-of-year celebration! There will be games, awards, and a picnic lunch. More details on the exact park location will be announced soon. God Bless You All