Tamav Irene
The Coptic title 'Tamav' means what in English, reflecting her role in the lives of thousands of believers?
"Mother." Tamav Irene was called Mother by thousands of spiritual children across Egypt and the diaspora.
In Against Heresies Book III, Chapter 11, St. Irenaeus became the first writer in Church history to formally argue that there must be exactly this many Gospels — no more, no fewer — giving a theological defense of the four-Gospel canon still used today.
Four Gospels — Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. Irenaeus argued there can only be four, writing: "It is not possible that the Gospels can be either more or fewer in number than they are. For since there are four zones of the world… and four principal winds… it is fitting that she should have four pillars." He tied the four Gospels to the four living creatures of Ezekiel and Revelation (the man, the lion, the ox, and the eagle
We identified FOUR purposes of our creation. Name all four.
1) To love God through worship (Mark 12:30). 2) Fellowship/relationship with others (Eph. 2:19). 3) To become like Christ (Eph. 4:15). 4) To serve God, being available and grateful like a soldier (Mark 10:45).
Jesus gave this apostle the name 'Cephas' meaning 'Rock.' What is his Greek name?
Peter (Petros). His birth name was Simon, son of Jonah. "You are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church." (Matt. 16:18)
This 6th-century Ethiopian saint, inspired by three birds sent from Paradise, composed the entire sacred system of Ethiopian church music and liturgical chant known as Zema.
Saint Yared. He received the three chant modes — Ge'ez, Ezl, and Araray, and composed the Deggwa, the liturgical chant book still used today.
Tamav Irene was renowned for praying the full seven canonical hours daily using this Coptic prayer book, its name comes from the Greek word for "hour."
The Agpeya (from Greek hora, "hour"). The Agpeya is the Coptic Book of Hours containing the seven canonical prayer hours. Her faithful, complete daily practice of it was widely attested by her spiritual children
St. Irenaeus received the faith from this bishop of Smyrna, who was himself a direct disciple of the Apostle John.
St. Polycarp of Smyrna. Irenaeus wrote that he clearly remembered Polycarp's preaching and manner of life as a boy, making him a 2nd-generation apostolic disciple.
The #1 purpose of our creation is to love God — and the way we SHOW that love is through what?
Worship. "You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength." (Mark 12:30)
Before answering Christ's call, this Apostle, also known as Levi, practiced a profession despised by first-century Jews. Name him and the profession.
Matthew (Levi) was a Tax Collector (publican). Tax collectors were despised as Roman collaborators.
The Ethiopian Orthodox Church traces the very beginning of its Christianity to this specific event recorded in Acts 8:26–40, when an Apostle baptized a high official returning from Jerusalem to Ethiopia.
The baptism of the Ethiopian Eunuch — the treasurer of Queen Candace of Ethiopia — by the Apostle Philip. This is considered the founding moment of Christianity in Ethiopia, predating St. Frumentius by over three centuries.
In Coptic monastic tradition, Tamav Irene held this specific formal title, the leadership rank of a female monastic superior over a convent of nuns.
Hegumena. She was the Hegumena (Mother Superior) of the convent of nuns attached to the Monastery of St. Mercurius (Abu Sefein) in Old Cairo.
This is the title of St. Irenaeus's landmark work, the earliest major Church refutation of Gnosticism, written around 180 AD.
"Against Heresies" (Adversus Haereses). Full title: "On the Detection and Overthrow of the So-Called Gnosis."
We were taught that worship requires us to give God four specific things from Mark 12:30. Name all four.
Our Mind (attention/focus on God), our Heart (affection/love), our Soul (affection/love toward God), and our Strength (our ability and action). — Mark 12:30
Mark 12:30 (NKJV): "You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength."
This Apostle declared 'Unless I see the nail marks in His hands… I will not believe' and is traditionally credited with bringing Christianity to India.
Thomas (Didymus, meaning 'Twin'). After Christ appeared to him (John 20:27), Thomas declared 'My Lord and my God!' the strongest declaration of Christ's divinity in the Gospels.
The Ge'ez word 'Tewahedo', at the heart of the Church's full name, means what in English? What term reaffirms the oriental church's position on this matter?
"Made One" or "United." It refers to the Miaphysite belief that Christ's divine and human natures are perfectly united in One Nature.
Tamav Irene dedicated her life of service to this Coptic monastery in Old Cairo, named after a Roman soldier-martyr.
The Monastery of St. Mercurius (Abu Sefein) in Old Cairo.
St. Irenaeus developed the theological concept of 'Recapitulation.' Explain what it means.
Christ, as the Second Adam, undoes and restores everything lost through the First Adam. He 'sums up' all of humanity in Himself — reversing Adam's sin and restoring the image of God in man. (Against Heresies, Book III)
We used a striking numerical argument to prove why the Church is essential: Jesus taught for 3 years (1,095 days) but the Gospels only record how many of those days?
18 days. The lesson argues that the Church has preserved and passed on all of Christ's teachings beyond what was written — making the Church indispensable as the guardian of the full living Tradition.
Jesus gave these apostles the nickname Boanerges this Aramaic nickname in Mark 3:17, meaning "Sons of Thunder."
James and John, sons of Zebedee. It reflects their fiery temperament — seen when they asked Jesus to call down fire on a Samaritan village (Luke 9:54).
The Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Biblical canon contains this many books, the largest of any Christian communion in the world. Name some from the Old Testament.
81 books. This includes 1 Enoch (Henok), Jubilees, and Meqabyan (Ethiopian 'Maccabees')(1,2 and 3 exclusive to our Bible), books not found in Western canons.
Tamav Irene reposed in this year. This Pope of the Coptic Church called her one of the greatest spiritual pillars of the modern Coptic Church.
She reposed in 2006. Pope Shenouda III called her a pillar of the Coptic Church and attended her funeral.
St. Irenaeus served as Bishop of what city in modern-day France?
Lyon (Lugdunum). He became its second bishop around 177/178 AD, succeeding the martyr St. Pothinus.
In the lesson we identified three levels of existence. Name all three in order, from lowest to highest.
Survival → Success → Significance. The highest level , Significance, is what gives life true meaning in God's eyes, beyond fame or wealth.
This Apostle was the FIRST to bring someone to Jesus. Name him, who he brought, and what he said.
Andrew found his own brother Simon Peter and said, 'We have found the Messiah.' (John 1:41). Andrew had been a disciple of John the Baptist before following Christ.
The Orthodox Church recognizes seven Ecumenical Councils as authoritative. Name the first, the year it was held, and the heresy it condemned.
The First Council of Nicaea, 325 AD, condemned Arianism, the teaching of Arius that the Son of God was a created being and not co-eternal with the Father. It produced the Nicene Creed, which affirmed that the Son is "of one essence" (homoousios) with the Father.