"At your right hand stands the queen." (Psalm 45:9)

IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER AND THE SON AND THE HOLY SPIRIT, ONE GOD. AMEN.

Today we celebrate the feast of the commemoration of the Ascension of the pure body of Our Lady Mary, the God-bearer, into heaven. This feast is celebrated at the end of a two week long fast, the tsome filseta, as per the order of Our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ, and His holy apostles

This fast lasts from Nehassie (August) 1 to 16. Our Lady departed on 21 of Ter (January) in 50 A.D. while the Apostles were taking her body for burial at Gethsemani, the Jewish priests dispersed them.

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, One God Amen.

The basic necessities of life are, as Joshua Ben Sirach in his book says “water, and bread, and clothing, and an house to cover shame.” Sirach 29:2. Those who can’t afford these necessities are termed as “poor”. Of course, those who need help are not only the poor but also the terminally ill, disabled, the orphaned and elders who do not have care takers.

Saint Paul was a Jew, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee; and his kinsfolk called his name “Saul,” the well-known interpretation of which is, “given.”  He was a young man of handsome appearance, upright in stature, and ruddy, like the rind of a pomegranate.  His face was open, his nose was large, above his eyes was kohl, his cheeks were [like] an open rose, and his beard was full.  He was learned in the Law of the Torah, and he was jealous for the same.