Introduction
Which verse is the theme of the mahragan 2026?
2 Timothy 3:14
“Continue in the things which you have learned and been assured of, knowing from whom you have learned them”
Who is Malachi and What does his name mean?
Malachi the prophet is the author of the last book of the Old Testament. It is believed
that he wrote his book after the people of God returned from exile. The name
“Malachi” means “My angel” or “My messenger.”
What is the Heresy of Arius?
Arius wrongly claimed (false teaching):
1- That the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son is of less divinity than God the Father, which makes Him not One in essence with the Father.
2-That the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son is not equal with God the Father and only fulfilled what the Father commanded.
• He used this verse to support his claim:
- “I do not seek My own will but the will of the Father who sent Me.” (John 5:30)
3-That the Lord Jesus Christ received His authority from the Father.
• He used this verse to support his claim:
- “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.” (Matthew 28:18)
What is the importance of the Spiritual Canon?
1-It facilitates our spiritual journey and struggle and brings joy to our spiritual life.
Spiritual rules are not merely a set of practices like fasting and prayers—they arealso rules that regulate our thoughts, goals, principles, and behaviors
What are the redemptive (essential) sacraments?
Necessary for salvation
1. Baptism,
2. Confirmation,
3. Repentance & Confession,
4. Eucharist
St. Paul encouraged St. Timothy to preserve the faith with.............
Strength, meekness, and love
What is the summary of Malachi prophecy?
To awaken the people of Judah and warn them of the coming judgment
Calling people to repent. However, the people doubted the love of God and did not keep His commandments.
Malachi repeatedly urges the people to respect and honor the Lord with sincere reverence, for He is their Father and Creator. But the people continued to dishonor God.
To prepare the way for the Lord, God promised to send His messenger before Him. St. John the Baptist fulfilled this by calling the people to repentance in preparation for the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Our Lord Jesus Christ came to the temple and cleansed it, but purification and judgement will be fulfilled at His Second Coming, when He will purify His people and judge the wicked.
Malachi is the last book of the Old Testament, in which prophecy ends. The message of prophecy in the Old Testament ends by urging us to await the coming of the Sun of Righteousness.
How to defend the faith against Arius false teaching?
St. Athanasius defended the true Orthodox faith and proved Arius wrong by using verses from the Holy Bible:
- “I and My Father are one." (John 10:30)
- “He who has seen Me has seen the Father.” (John 14:9)
- “All things that the Father has are Mine.” (John 16:15)
St. Athanasius explained that our Lord Jesus Christ spoke as the incarnate God; sometimes He
spoke from the perspective of His humanity (being a man on earth).
- “Father, if it is Your will, take this cup away from Me; nevertheless not My will, but Yours, be done.” (Luke 22:42)
- “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?” (Matthew 27:46)
At other times, the Lord Jesus Christ spoke about being equal to the Father and being of the same essence as the Father.
- “I am in the Father, and the Father in Me” (John 14:10)
“For as the Father raises the dead and gives life to them, even so the Son gives life to whom He will.” (John 5:21)
Whata are the goals of Spiritual Canon?
1-A Spiritual canon is like nourishment—it satisfies and quenches the soul. Its primary goal is to delight in the love of God and to enjoy constant fellowship in His presence. It is meant to help us spend more time with God, deepen our relationship with Him, and grow in His love.
2- It makes it easier to return to God in times of spiritual laziness.
3-It reveals the right path and helps me discern.
4- It serves as a measure of one’s spiritual life and a tool for self-examination to evaluate one'sspiritual journey.
5- It supports me on my spiritual journey, brings me joy, and gives me a foretaste of eternal life.
6-It is a strong fortress against the attacks of the devil. It is a powerful weapon against the enemy and a remedy for spiritual ailments. Neglecting my spiritual canon exposes me to danger.
What is the visible rite in the Eucharist?
the visible rite is the Divine Liturgy with the bread and wine, by which we eat the Holy Body and the Precious Blood of the Lord Jesus Christ, abiding in Him and He in us.
What afre teh characteristics of an Orthodox believer?
a) Filled with Christ
b) Filled with the Holy Bible
c) Integrated and Not Isolated from the community
d) Filled with the Church Fathers
e) Filled with the Holy Orthodox Church: Tradition & role models, sacraments, one doctrine, rites
What is the meaning of
"God's Love for His People and His Rejection of Esau (Malachi 1:1–5)"
God reminds them of His covenant with them on the Mount of Sinai after freeing them from slavery in Egypt. God chose them to be His people and rejected Esau. Both nations were exiled, but only the children of Israel returned to their lands and regained their strength.
This distinction shows that being part of God’s chosen people is not due to their deeds but to God’s grace and will. God declares His love to His people.
Edom was called the Territory of Wickedness. Everyone who witnessed what happened to Edom would acknowledge their wickedness. While in Israel, they received God’s blessings and mercy.
Mention one verse to prouve that Jesus is God
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” (John
1:1)
• Our Lord Jesus Christ Himself declared His divinity when He was asked by the chief priests and scribes:
- “Then they all said, “Are You then the Son of God?’ So He said to them, ‘You rightly say that I am.’” (Luke 22:70)
What are the Consequences of Not Adhering to a Spiritual Law?
The one who does not abide by the spiritual canon is a slave to desires and lusts.
The harm that results from not following the spiritual canon is not a punishment or vengeance from God for not listening to Him. Rather, it is a natural consequence of not adhering to what is beneficial to me. It is like a student who does not study—the natural result is that he fails the exam.
Why we call the Eucharist
“Mystery of Mysteries” or the “Crown of the
Sacraments” ?
it carries the greatest importance among the Seven Mysteries. One must receive the Eucharist immediately after receiving Baptism, Confirmation, Confession, Priesthood, and even Matrimony (according to the original order of the Church). Also, after the General Unction of the Sick on the last Friday of the Great Fast.
What are the resources of the Coptic Orthodox Teaching?
A. The Holy BIble
B. Church Tradition
C. Liturgy
D. Biography and Teachings of Church Fathers
E. Canons of the Ecumenical Councils
Malachi rebuked the priests for dishonouring God How?
careless worship and disobedience.
Instead of leading the people to God, led the people to disobey God.
They offered defective sacrifices, which was against the law of God: “You offer defiled food on My altar”- bringing animals that were lame, blind, or sick.
The Lord asked them to close the doors of the temple for He would not accept their vain offering
Who is Saint Athanasius?
Pope Athanasius defended the true faith. He is known as “the Defender of the Faith”.
• He was born around the year 296 AD to pagan parents.
• As a child, He befriended and played with Christian children his age.
• One day, Pope Alexandros, his predecessor, watched the children play and St. Athanasius acting as the bishop baptizing the others.
• Pope Alexandros took him as a youth, baptized him, and ordained him a deacon.
• He later became Pope Alexandros’s secretary who sent St. Athanasius to the School of Alexandria, where he learned theology, philosophy, and the Holy Bible. He became a great theologian in our Church.
• He wrote many works explaining the Orthodox faith like ‘On the Incarnation of the Word’.
• He spent his life teaching the Orthodox Christian faith and refuting the Arian heresy.
• He spent 3 years in the desert with St. Anthony the Great, who taught him spirituality, asceticism, and living the faith.
St. Athanasius, as a deacon, accompanied Pope Alexandros.
• He contended earnestly for the apostolic doctrines against the arguments of Arius.
• He had a prominent role in the formulation of the Creed,
Mention the Three Examples of Spiritual Struggle presented by St. Paul?
1. The Good Soldier (2 Timothy 2:3–4)
2. The Athlete in Competition (2 Timothy 2:5):
3. The Hardworking Farmer (2 Timothy 2:6):
What is the origin of Eucharist word?
what is the other name for Eucharist?
The word Eucharist comes from the Greek word εὐχαριστία (ev-kharistia), meaning “thanksgiving.”
The Lord gave thanks at the institution of the Eucharist during the Last Supper. “He took bread, gave thanks, and broke it…” (Luke 22:19)
Holy communion (fellowship or sharing)
“The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ? For we, though many, are one bread and one body; for we all partake of that one bread.” (1 Corinthians 10:16-17).
How the Church Handles Heresies?
• Warning: “warn those who are unruly.” (1 Thessalonians 5:14)
• Avoidance: “Note those who cause divisions... and avoid them.” (Romans 16:17)
“From such withdraw yourself.” (1 Timothy 6:5)
• Rebuke: “Rebuke them sharply.” (Titus 1:13-14)
• Separation: “Put away from yourselves the evil person.” (1 Corinthians 5:13)
What are the 2 two great rituals established by God and mentioned in Malachi chaptre 2?
1. Priesthood: It is necessary for the Church to continue. However, the priests of the Old Testament corrupted it and caused people to stumble.
2. Marriage: It was defiled through divorce and marriage to foreign women.
Why the council of Nicea was called? when? and what was the main decision taken there?
In 325 A.D., The Church held the Council of Nicea to address the heresy of Arius.
• 318 bishops attended, along with Emperor Constantine.
• St. Athanasius, as a deacon, accompanied Pope Alexandros.
• He contended earnestly for the apostolic doctrines against the arguments of Arius.
• He had a prominent role in the formulation of the Creed, which was approved by the Council and is known as the Nicene Creed.
During the Council of Nicea, The Creed was formulated until: “...whose kingdom shall have no end”. Arius and his followers were excommunicated.
what are the obstacles to complete your spiritual Canon?
1. Postponing the canon
2. Obstruction of the canon
3. Deviance of the goal of the canon
The Institution of the Eucharist by the Lord Jesus Christ is recorded in which books of Bible?
• Matthew 26
• Mark 14
• Luke 22
• 1 Corinthians 11
Additionally, in John 6 the Lord Jesus Christ reveals the meaning of the Eucharistic Mystery, proclaiming Himself “the Bread of Life.”
How the justice of God will be fulfilled?
He is coming soon. He is coming to correct all situations to same the humans, and His coming will be preceded by St. John the Baptist. (Chap3)
His second coming (chap4)
what is the Creed?
The Nicene Creed was finalized at the first Ecumenical Council in Nicea (325) and at the second Ecumenical Council in Constantinople (381). It was the definitions of these councils that were ultimately accepted by the Orthodox Church as the correct Symbol of Faith.
To be an Orthodox Christian is to affirm the Orthodox Christian faith presented in the dogmatic treasure that is explained in the Creed and all that have been expressly developed from it in the Orthodox Churchover the centuries down to the present day.
Faith is the foundation of the Christian life, as is evident in our liturgical prayers. In the Divine Liturgy, we begin the Liturgy of Faithful by declaring our faith through the recitation of the Creed.
What are the challenges we may face in our commitment to the spiritual law?
1- Lukewarmness or baredom
2- wasting time
3- Pride
4- Wandering Thoughts and Distractions
5- Physical exhaustion
6- loosing or changing the Goal
7- Hiding your spiritual law
After eating the Jewish Passover with His disciples, Why the Lord Jesus Christ washed their feet before He instituted the Eucharist with His disciples.?
The washing of the feet was a sign of repentance and was their preparation for the Eucharist they were about to receive.
Mwntion an important comandment in Malachi 3?
Giving God the tithes
“Bring all the tithes, That there may be food in My house And try Me now in this”
Malachi 3:10
What are the Three Basic Beliefs of the Orthodox Faith in the Creed?
1- The Holy Trinity
2- Salvation
3- The Church (one, Holy, Catholic, Apostolic
Whata re the elements of spiritual Canon?
1. Prayer
2. The Holy Bible
3. Repentance and Confession
4. Attending the Liturgy and Receiving the Eucharist
5. Spiritual Meetings
6. Personal Retreat (Quiet Time)
7. Reading Spiritual Books
8. Almsgiving and Service
9. Fasting
Symbols of Eucharist in the Old Testament?
1. The Tree of life
2. The Passover
3. The manna in the desert
How to prepare for the Eucharist?
1. Have true Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ
• Having proclaimed the sound doctrine and belief in the Orthodox Creed
• Having faith in what is said during the Confession – this is the Body and Blood of Christ.
2. Reconciliation with Others
• “Therefore if you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.” (Matthew 5:23-24)
• The Reconciliation Prayer and the Greeting with the Holy Kiss at the beginning of the Liturgy demonstrate the love of the believers in preparation for receiving the Mysteries.
3. Repentance & Confession
4. Physical & Spiritual Preparation