2008 November

Nov 29

George Mansour and his family thought they were going to sit to a traditional American thanksgiving dinner. Their idyllic plans were suddenly shattered by a simple innocent phone call that had dire repercussions for the family. Mr. Mansour states he was sitting at home watching television as his wife and children were setting the table and preparing dinner when he received a call from his parish priest wishing him and his family a happy thanksgiving, “He would not take up much of my time since I am probably eagerly awaiting to eat the turkey. I agreed with him and told how excited I was also to eat creme caramel since my wife rarely makes it.” Within a minute of hanging up the phone with the priest Mr. Mansour and family found themselves the object of a clerical raid. “I hung up the phone and the next thing I know, the world went black. I was surrounded by black and beards.” he stated gravely. The family was then forced to perform metonias while the taskforce emptied the house of non fasting foods and then left as suddenly as they appeared. Even the apparent humor in seeing his mother-in-law, who is as wide as she is tall, attempt to do a metonia could not bring levity to the situation in Mr. Mansour’s mind. “It was like a Coptic Inquisition. Nobody expects the Coptic Inquisition”
A spokesperson for the Council of Coptic Bishops Serving in the United States released a statement saying,”While we find such extreme measure unfortunate but necessary as a majority of the congregation refuse to fast the start of the Advent fast for the sake of eating turkey. A bird has gained greater importance in the minds of these people that the Incarnation of our Lord and Savior. It is better that people learn a difficult lesson now than come judgment day and the Lord asking where is your turkey now?”

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Nov 28

Happy Thanksgiving All.
Hope you all enjoyed your meal with turkey and all the trimmings?

(If you answered yes to above question you all will burn in Hades for your love of devouring a bird so stupid it will drown in the rain is greater than your desire to fast in to properly prepare yourself for the coming of your Savior in the flesh, humbling himself from the heights of glory to be incarnate and born in a manger)

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Nov 14

Your Grace,
If I become a vampire, could I live just by drinking blood of Christ during communion.

Sayedna
Is there a hotline to call if I suspect my abouna is actually a terrorist. I see pictures of them on the news and they look very much like some of our priests. Seriously if they were dressed in black I couldn’t tell the difference. Is there some sort of code word that real priests have, so I don’t accidentally get abouna sent to Gitmo, even though he might enjoy the vacation away from our congregation. It might not go so well with me in confession with him if I did.

Your Grace,
Is wrong if your father of confession starts pimping you out? For example makes an appointment for you to confess you show up and find a girl waiting for you in his office.

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2008 May

May 26

In the old days, they would take disobedient children to the the city gates and stone them to death (Deut 21:18-21). I look and see many of you today should get stoned.”

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May 23

Based on the website below, apparenly there is a new glorification hymn to St. Athanasius

http://www.avarewase.org/en/map/athanas.htm

You might in error think its Bette Mider’s “Wind Beneath My Wings” but actually an ancient hymn whose lyrics were found on a papyri found whille excavating cells in Scete. Translation of the lyrics below.

New Glorification For St. Athanasius
Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh.
Arius plunged the world into shadow.
You enlightened us with the true Glory,
and for this you are called the Apostolic.
He died on the toilet in shame.

With red beard*, a fire in the soul for Truth,
Short* yet a giant at Nicea.
You, with your theologically strong pimp hand,
Bitch slapped the heretical Arius.

You are the super heretic smasher,
and defender of Orthodoxy.
Through your prayers justice was served and
Arius crapped out his bowels.

Athanasius you taught the true faith,
and I’ve got it all here in my heart.
I want all to know I know the truth, of course you know it.
Christ is true God from true God.

You are the super heretic smasher,
and defender of Orthodoxy.
Through your prayers justice was served and
Arius crapped out his bowels.

You are the super heretic smasher,
and defender, defender of Orthodoxy.
Through your prayers, your prayers justice was served and,
Arius crapped out his bowels,
Arius crapped out his bowels.

Oh, the heretic smasher. . .
(the final portion of the papyrus was obscured with a stamp stating anything stolen from the monastery could not be considered a blessing, thus could not be translated. Perhaps after some restoration work)


* documented historically that St. Athanasius was a red head and of slight stature.

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May 22

As servants we oft joke about our sunday school class being possessed but because we joke about it does not mean its not true.

  • Has tried to kill/sacrifice other kids in the class during the lesson.
  • When asked favorite Apostle, replies Judas.
  • Shows up to class in corpsepaint
  • When get sprayed by water at the end of liturgy, scream out in pain “It burns”
  • When the child’s name is mentioned, people immediately cross themselves
  • Is the child of fellow servants (strange how they seem to be the worse behaved often)
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    May 21
  • Indoor/outdoor industrial carpeting is not metonia friendly (neither is a floor length tonia)
  • Pascha is not just another name for Holy Week but also a strip club in Germany.
  • Having women exposing themselves to breastfeed does not add to spirituality of the rites.
  • When performing metonias proper spacing and synchronization with the person in front and behind you are key in avoiding having body parts end up where they have no business being.
  • Processional crosses and ceiling fans do not mix.
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    2008 July

    Jul 21

    Through many years of observation we here have found many coptic males are inept in social interactions with women. So as a public service here is the:
    The Not So Guide to What Not to Say

  • Do not ask her what kind of car she drives, unless you are a mechanic and have a professional interest.
  • Women, oddly enough, do not find it romantic, when you tell them you’d kill for them.
  • Inquiring about her citizenship status is not sexy.
  • Know her name, women tend to get offended when you call them by other peoples names.
  • Its okay to ask her what she does for a living not how much she makes, unless you are her accountant.
  • Complement her on clothes or looks but do not take excessive interest in her clothes, it will creep her out and have her think you are gay.
  • Quoting from Song of Songs has potential just be careful of what you choose. “How much better than wine is your love,” or “You have ravished my heart With one look of your eyes,” are decent choices. “Your nose is like the tower of Lebanon” or “Your hair is like a flock of goats” are not good options.
  • She will not become weak in the knees upon finding out you are a doctor.
  • Do not mention anything having pets unless they are of the very cute warm fuzzy variety (any thing with more or less than 4 limbs does not qualify as either cute or fuzzy)
  • Befriending her brother in hopes of getting closer to her is a losing proposition. Her brother probably has all the friends he wants and may react badly to your attempts.
  • While she may have great hips for child-bearing, it not something to be brought up in conversation with her, ever!
  • Disclaimer: No I did not learn any of this through first hand experience. Okay maybe the pet thing.

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    Jul 09

    Real World: Wadi El Natroun: See what happens when you take seven hermits and stick them in the same cell
    Church: An abrasive priest goes around solving the spiritual ills of the congregation.
    Relics: A team of scientists determine a saints lifestory based on their bones.
    Battlestar Galactica: What, not everything has to be a Coptic parody and I really like the show, which would never air on Aghapi
    Welcome Back, Kyrillos: A former sunday school troublemaker comes back as sunday school teacher for a class of trouble makers (wait this might actually make a good show)
    Beauty and the Deac: Deacons are paired with fashion models as they compete for a prize and learn about each others worlds.
    Survivor: Deir Abu Makar: ’nuff said
    Iron Chef Coptic: Cooking competition where the secret ingredient is always fava beans (because God knows Egyptians have come up with a thousand ways of cooking them)

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    Jul 07
  • Jesus was born in Cairo
  • Deuteronomy was written by St. Paul, who only wrote two epistles
  • Jesus could beat up Superman
  • The story of St. George appears in the bible
  • We look to the east when we pray so we can see the sun rise.
  • (Sad thing is I’m not making these up and they come mostly from high school age kids)

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    Jul 02

    There is a thin line when being a Sunday School Teacher of when to be proud of your kids, especially when the is not much to be proud of. Here is a little guide:

    Proud: None of your sunday school kids have been arrested or put in jail…
    Not Proud: It is because they are smart enough to avoid the police and leave no evidence..

    Proud: They show great zeal for the faith…
    Not Proud: Because of their zeal burn down a local mosque…

    Proud: Your kids perform acts of community serivce…
    Not Proud: Because it was legally mandated.

    Proud: Your sunday school kid entered the monastery…
    Not Proud:  It is to evade the law…

    Proud: Your kids won a spiritual/bible competition.
    Not Proud: The did so by intimidating the judges and other teams,

    Proud: They donate quite a bit to charity…
    Not Proud: it is to launder money obtained by running a protection racket on other classes.

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    2008 September

    Sep 16

    “See with what large letters I have written to you with my own hand!”
    Gal. 6:11

    Commentary: Apparently the Galatians as a people suffered from poor vision (or used it as an excuse to ignore him), forcing St. Paul to write in such big letters and to state that they are such large letters that can not be ignored.  In essence St. Paul can be credited from creating the first easy reader text for the vision impaired.

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    Sep 15

    Forget about smoking sheesha, apparently everybody should be smoking shoria.
    http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/05/080520110415.htm

    (Though you’d think with the number of liturgies priests pray they wouldn’t be so stressed.)

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    Sep 11
  • Show up to church dressed as Diocletian.
  • Show up to church dressed as Diocletian and martyr a few members of the congregation (though if you pick the right ones you may be lauded as a hero)
  • Pop the cork off of bottles of champagne in church (aiming at people  is optional)
  • Running around Times Square asking “Wheres our ball?”
  • Calling Jews and mocking them that your New Years comes before theirs.
  • Wear giant novelty glasses in the shape of 1725 not necessarily inappropriate but stupid and tacky)
  • Have the church choir sing Prince’s 1999 just replacing 1999 with 1725
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    Sep 09

    Traditionally during the Fast of St. Mary’s many churches hold revival services. During which many spiritual songs regarding St. Mary are. During the singing  of one, whose refrain translates roughly as “Hurry up and appear, hurry with all your light shining forth.”, Ms. Nahed Yousri, 16, had a panic attack screaming out “Shut up all of you, what if she does appear. Shut up”.  She began running up and down the church trying to convince people to stop singing. Even to the point of running up and yanking the microphone from the deacon leading the song.  Only when she continued the the tantrum, was she restrained and her nerves calmed with a shot of sacramental wine.

    One witness, a Tant Um Mahrous, through an interpreter, stated, “I did not know why the girl was screaming. When I saw her rip away the microphone from the deacon I thought I understood, because God forgive me but he has a voice that would cause St.Mary to blaspheme. But she kept screaming afterwards so I did not understand why, maybe it is drugs. You know all those kids take the drugs they get it from all those foreign kids in school.” After Ms. Yousri had calmed down and sobered up she explained her actions. “We keep singing asking her to appear but noone thinks of what we would do if she did show up. I would pee myself, personally. For some reason I thought she might actually appear this time so I had to keep it from happening. I didn’t want to pee myself.”

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    2008 October

    Oct 31

    GBU – God Bless You
    KE – Lord Have Mercy (Kyrie Eleyson)
    IKYRHIG – I kiss you right hand in greeting. (Would be useful in communicating with clergy)
    IBDKRHIG – I bow down and kiss your right hand in greeting. (Good for bishops)
    PP – probably Protestant
    IAH – I anathemize you, heretic.
    IBM – Insh’allah, bokra, malish (loosely translated: no chance in hell)
    CTMR – Can’t talk Mulsims in the room.
    OTL – Off to Liturgy
    22 – My God why have You forsaken me?

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    Oct 30

    In New Mexico, over eleven thousand people have visited a tortilla chip that appeared to have the face of Jesus Christ burned into it.

    In 1996, the owner of Bongo Java in Nashville, Tenn., said he discovered a cinnamon bun bearing the likeness of Mother Teresa in profile.

    (Surprised we haven’t had such “miracles” in the Coptic church)

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    Oct 29

    Kissing Booth: Have a booth with casts of the hands of H.H. and other bishops and priests for people to kiss.

    Gypsy Children: Have the 1st or 2nd grade kids (the cuter the better) wander about selling candy or other small items. Crying when the person refuses. Guilts most into buying.

    Older Gypsy Children: While people are pre-occupied with the little ones. These pick the pockets of the people

    Make a Miracle: A booth where you photoshop composite pictures taken of customers with H.H. or other prominent clergy members or even saints. (Sad but you’d be suprised at the income this generates.)

    Relic Raffle: Raffle off such “relics” as a cup the pope drank from, a bishop’s handkerchief, et c.

    For those who dislike either political candidate for president. Here is a Coptic alternative (the entire site is worth a look):(thanx m.g.)
    http://blessingforamerica.com/index.html

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    Oct 09

    Do you feel inadequate in church?
    Want to be capable of doing metonias all night long?
    Afraid your significant other will leave you for some one who performs better in prayer?

    Then try AGPEIA (horologion) ecclesiastically prove to improve ones spiritual life. Just 20 minutes 7 times a day and find yourself the prayer warrior you always knew you were.

    Act know and get PSALMODIA (psalmody) free. Great for that late night boost.

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    Oct 08

    If in a position to do so or have some influence, with a newly ordained priest, have all the deacons serving in the altar be young and inexperienced. Then give them instructions like, during incense rounds the deacon needs to race Abouna around the altar or they need to scream out the responses in as loud a voice as they can. The inexperience of all involved will provide amusement.

    Disclaimer: If things are traced back to you, chances are good you will suffer some sort of ecclesiastical punishment.

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    Oct 07
  • Offer free lib (the good stuff, the lib from Egypt that comes wrapped in brown paper, no inferior sunflowerseeds.)
  • Claim you are showing an uncensored movie about the life of St. Mary of Egypt (would work well with the male demographic)
  • Involve free food.
  • To attract the older demographic, say it is a youth only meeting. You will find the room filled with 60+ yr olds.
  • Start vague rumors that the pope will be there.
  • Hold the meeting at the place the kids go to avoid the meeting.
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    Oct 06
  • How can a family have the last name of El Raheb (the monk)? (unless ascetic shenanigans occurred)
  • How do smurfs reproduce since Smurfette, the only female smurf, was not a real smurf but created by Gargamel, to trick them so he can capture them and turn them into gold. Hey there is a biblical parallel to the fall of man also caused by the female.
  • Who would win a Synod battle royale? (my money is on His Grace Bishop Suriel)
  • If I start singing Amen, alleluia zoxa za patri… (i.e. the conclusion hymn) would others follow along forcing the speaker to stop.
  • Did the apostles occasional have sermons that fell flat?
  • I crush your head (a la Kids in the Hall)
  • My God, my God why have you forsaken me?
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    2008 April

    Apr 16

    Videos by the Westboro Baptist Church (Apparently as Christian I haven’t been hating enough) Might not be the best thing to watch at work.
    http://www.signmovies.net/videos/music/index.html

    God Hates the World is a must watch.

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    Apr 16

    “I feel most ministers who claim they’ve heard God’s voice are eating too much pizza before they go to bed at night, and it’s really an intestinal disorder, not a revelation. ”

    ~Rev. Jerry Falwell

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    Apr 15

    Compulsive Recorder: This person will have a tape recorder or two with him and record every liturgy or service from the beginning to the very end, during which he is writing the label with extreme detail. There is a sub group who will use video cameras. It is unknown why they do this (possibly to have an alibi when suspected of terrorist acts) there is no way possible to listen to said recordings more than once…and honestly some liturgies are painful enough the first time and not keepers. They are harmless unless mention of the recordings is made to them then they become defensive.

    Pseudo-Theologian: This person believes themselves following in proud tradition of Sts. Athanasius, Cyril and Severus, but they are more like Arius, Nestorius and Eutyches. They mistake being vehement for being correct. They try to work the 3 or 4 Bible verses they know into any argument relevant or not. Also they have been know to quote from the Koran thinking they spouting out Bible verses. They have been know to initiate theological discussions to show off. It is suggested all discussion with them is avoided because extended conversation with them have been known to cause one to lose their religion (mainly because they don’t want to be members of a faith that have the aforementioned belong to).

    Clergy Cultist: These people follow clergy with a fanatical loyalty, believing that the sun rises and sets at the priest’s whim. That every word that they speak is Gospel, actually to the point of ignoring scripture in favor of the words of the clergy. These people may become suicide bombers. The extreme opposite psychosis also exists where they believe the clergy are utterly corrupt and lazy, it is unclear why the even bother coming to church.

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    Apr 14

    Want that photo of the family picnic to spread like wild fire throughout the Coptic community? Do you wish to have the Holy Synod to issue a statement about the picture of your latest sunday school event? Then leave it to us at Miraculous Moments, a subsidiary of NotSo Industries, where for a modest fee we turn the mudane into the miraculous. We perform all sorts of miracles, from a subtle apparitions to full out assault by the heavenly choirs.

    Satisfaction guaranteed.

    Disclaimer: We are not responsible for any loss of salvation, lightening strikes from above, angry visitation by saints or any other divine calamity that may result from use of our services.

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    Apr 11

    Hey There Nestorius
    by the Plain White Tonias

    Hey there Nestorius
    Whats it like in Byzantium?
    I write from Alexandria
    And I give a last chance to recant
    Your heresy
    Because your teaching of Christotokos is
    Anathema

    Hey there Nestorius
    Don’t dare think your friends can save you
    I’ll excommunicate them too.
    So give this warning another read
    and confess.
    Saying she is the Christokos
    Is only lies

    Oh She’s the theotokos
    Oh She’s the theotokos
    Oh She’s the theotokos
    Oh She’s the theotokos
    The theotokos

    Hey there Nestorius
    I know times are getting hard
    But just believe me, Sir
    His humanity and divinity
    Ne’er divided
    St. Mary gave birth to our God
    The word in truth

    Hey there Nestorius
    I’ve got so much left to say
    If She just gave birth to humanity
    When did He became God
    E’er united
    Humanity and Divinity
    One hypostasis

    Oh She’s the theotokos
    Oh She’s the theotokos
    Oh She’s the theotokos
    Oh She’s the theotokos

    A thousand miles seems pretty far
    But I will be there in Ephesus
    I’d walk to there if I had no other way
    To explain to you, your folly
    One prosopon, two prosopa. Nonsense.
    You’re not as clever as you think.
    Nestorius I can promise you
    That by the time we get through
    The world will never ever be the same
    And you’re to blame

    Hey there Nestorius
    You’re a patriarch yet you teach
    You can’t worship God as a baby
    And I’ll be making history like I do
    You’ll be anathema forever
    Because you refuse to see the truth
    Hey there Nestorius, She’ll get you
    Mother of God

    Oh She’s the theotokos
    Oh She’s the theotokos
    Oh She’s the theotokos
    Oh She’s the theotokos
    The theotokos

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    Apr 09

    The Egyptian arabic curse words meaning “to copulate” and “female genitalia” (if you don’t know them I’m sure you parents would be glad to tell you them) are actually Coptic in origin.

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    Apr 08

    Smells Like Deacon Spirit
    by Salvation

    Open the books
    Bring your friends
    Its fun to praise
    And to pretend
    Shes a deacon
    Myself assured
    I chant I chant
    A paschal psalm

    Ougai* (x 16)

    Light the candles its fire hazard
    Here we are now
    Play the deff for us
    I feel off-key and sacreligious
    Here we are now
    Play the deff for us
    A mu’allem
    An agnostos
    A hegomen
    My trianto
    Yea

    I’m worse at what I do best
    And for this gift I feel blessed
    Our little choir has always been
    And always will until the end

    Ougai (x 16)

    Light the candles its fire hazard
    Here we are now
    Play the deff for us
    I feel off-key and sacreligious
    Here we are now
    Play the deff for us
    A mu’allem
    An agnostos
    A hegomen
    My trianto
    Yea

    And I forget
    The hymns real tune
    And yet I guess and sing it out loud
    I found it hard
    Its hard to find
    Oh well, whatever, nevermind

    Ougai (x 16)

    Light the candles its fire hazard
    Here we are now
    Play the deff for us
    I feel off-key and sacreligious
    Here we are now
    Play the deff for us
    A mu’allem
    An agnostos
    A hegomen
    My trianto
    Yea

    * Ougai: Coptic Greeting (means salvation)

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    Apr 07
  • Growing fava beans in ground meat hoping they end up tasting like beef.
  • Tell your FOC you are suffering greatly from the sin of spiritual pride and then bring up the following saying of St. Isidore “If you fast regularly, do not be inflated with pride, but if you think highly of yourself because of it, then you had better eat meat. It is better for a man to eat meat than to be inflated with pride and to glorify himself.”
  • Painting cows green and taping leaves to them trying to convince priests its a plant.
  • Just claim its made of soy (may work with some items, but suspicious clergy will then ask for a taste, results usually not good then)
  • Find a doctor will to write you a note claiming you must eat meat daily.
  • Get pregnant (Not recommend for unmarried females. Unfortunate this leaves men out)
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    2008 April

    Apr 16

    Videos by the Westboro Baptist Church (Apparently as Christian I haven’t been hating enough) Might not be the best thing to watch at work.
    http://www.signmovies.net/videos/music/index.html

    God Hates the World is a must watch.

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    Apr 16

    “I feel most ministers who claim they’ve heard God’s voice are eating too much pizza before they go to bed at night, and it’s really an intestinal disorder, not a revelation. ”

    ~Rev. Jerry Falwell

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    Apr 15

    Compulsive Recorder: This person will have a tape recorder or two with him and record every liturgy or service from the beginning to the very end, during which he is writing the label with extreme detail. There is a sub group who will use video cameras. It is unknown why they do this (possibly to have an alibi when suspected of terrorist acts) there is no way possible to listen to said recordings more than once…and honestly some liturgies are painful enough the first time and not keepers. They are harmless unless mention of the recordings is made to them then they become defensive.

    Pseudo-Theologian: This person believes themselves following in proud tradition of Sts. Athanasius, Cyril and Severus, but they are more like Arius, Nestorius and Eutyches. They mistake being vehement for being correct. They try to work the 3 or 4 Bible verses they know into any argument relevant or not. Also they have been know to quote from the Koran thinking they spouting out Bible verses. They have been know to initiate theological discussions to show off. It is suggested all discussion with them is avoided because extended conversation with them have been known to cause one to lose their religion (mainly because they don’t want to be members of a faith that have the aforementioned belong to).

    Clergy Cultist: These people follow clergy with a fanatical loyalty, believing that the sun rises and sets at the priest’s whim. That every word that they speak is Gospel, actually to the point of ignoring scripture in favor of the words of the clergy. These people may become suicide bombers. The extreme opposite psychosis also exists where they believe the clergy are utterly corrupt and lazy, it is unclear why the even bother coming to church.

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    Apr 14

    Want that photo of the family picnic to spread like wild fire throughout the Coptic community? Do you wish to have the Holy Synod to issue a statement about the picture of your latest sunday school event? Then leave it to us at Miraculous Moments, a subsidiary of NotSo Industries, where for a modest fee we turn the mudane into the miraculous. We perform all sorts of miracles, from a subtle apparitions to full out assault by the heavenly choirs.

    Satisfaction guaranteed.

    Disclaimer: We are not responsible for any loss of salvation, lightening strikes from above, angry visitation by saints or any other divine calamity that may result from use of our services.

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    Apr 11

    Hey There Nestorius
    by the Plain White Tonias

    Hey there Nestorius
    Whats it like in Byzantium?
    I write from Alexandria
    And I give a last chance to recant
    Your heresy
    Because your teaching of Christotokos is
    Anathema

    Hey there Nestorius
    Don’t dare think your friends can save you
    I’ll excommunicate them too.
    So give this warning another read
    and confess.
    Saying she is the Christokos
    Is only lies

    Oh She’s the theotokos
    Oh She’s the theotokos
    Oh She’s the theotokos
    Oh She’s the theotokos
    The theotokos

    Hey there Nestorius
    I know times are getting hard
    But just believe me, Sir
    His humanity and divinity
    Ne’er divided
    St. Mary gave birth to our God
    The word in truth

    Hey there Nestorius
    I’ve got so much left to say
    If She just gave birth to humanity
    When did He became God
    E’er united
    Humanity and Divinity
    One hypostasis

    Oh She’s the theotokos
    Oh She’s the theotokos
    Oh She’s the theotokos
    Oh She’s the theotokos

    A thousand miles seems pretty far
    But I will be there in Ephesus
    I’d walk to there if I had no other way
    To explain to you, your folly
    One prosopon, two prosopa. Nonsense.
    You’re not as clever as you think.
    Nestorius I can promise you
    That by the time we get through
    The world will never ever be the same
    And you’re to blame

    Hey there Nestorius
    You’re a patriarch yet you teach
    You can’t worship God as a baby
    And I’ll be making history like I do
    You’ll be anathema forever
    Because you refuse to see the truth
    Hey there Nestorius, She’ll get you
    Mother of God

    Oh She’s the theotokos
    Oh She’s the theotokos
    Oh She’s the theotokos
    Oh She’s the theotokos
    The theotokos

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    Apr 09

    The Egyptian arabic curse words meaning “to copulate” and “female genitalia” (if you don’t know them I’m sure you parents would be glad to tell you them) are actually Coptic in origin.

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    Apr 08

    Smells Like Deacon Spirit
    by Salvation

    Open the books
    Bring your friends
    Its fun to praise
    And to pretend
    Shes a deacon
    Myself assured
    I chant I chant
    A paschal psalm

    Ougai* (x 16)

    Light the candles its fire hazard
    Here we are now
    Play the deff for us
    I feel off-key and sacreligious
    Here we are now
    Play the deff for us
    A mu’allem
    An agnostos
    A hegomen
    My trianto
    Yea

    I’m worse at what I do best
    And for this gift I feel blessed
    Our little choir has always been
    And always will until the end

    Ougai (x 16)

    Light the candles its fire hazard
    Here we are now
    Play the deff for us
    I feel off-key and sacreligious
    Here we are now
    Play the deff for us
    A mu’allem
    An agnostos
    A hegomen
    My trianto
    Yea

    And I forget
    The hymns real tune
    And yet I guess and sing it out loud
    I found it hard
    Its hard to find
    Oh well, whatever, nevermind

    Ougai (x 16)

    Light the candles its fire hazard
    Here we are now
    Play the deff for us
    I feel off-key and sacreligious
    Here we are now
    Play the deff for us
    A mu’allem
    An agnostos
    A hegomen
    My trianto
    Yea

    * Ougai: Coptic Greeting (means salvation)

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    Apr 07
  • Growing fava beans in ground meat hoping they end up tasting like beef.
  • Tell your FOC you are suffering greatly from the sin of spiritual pride and then bring up the following saying of St. Isidore “If you fast regularly, do not be inflated with pride, but if you think highly of yourself because of it, then you had better eat meat. It is better for a man to eat meat than to be inflated with pride and to glorify himself.”
  • Painting cows green and taping leaves to them trying to convince priests its a plant.
  • Just claim its made of soy (may work with some items, but suspicious clergy will then ask for a taste, results usually not good then)
  • Find a doctor will to write you a note claiming you must eat meat daily.
  • Get pregnant (Not recommend for unmarried females. Unfortunate this leaves men out)
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    2008 February

    Feb 29

    The militant Copt feels a need to comment on a news scandal sweeping the Coptic community, about an exchange student starving nearly to death while starving with a Coptic family. First this would have never occurred if he had stayed with a Sa’idi family, the opposite news article would have occurred, where he would have ended up dying of morbid obesity. Second of all, who has ever lost that much weight during a fast, You have older gentleman in church with guts large enough to hide a small family of Cambodian refugees in, fasting does nothing to make it disappear. Also if that was the case we would not have overweight monks. Also he was only there during advent fast (and possibly St. Mary’s) what a wimp, any child can do that standing on his head. Daniel was able to eat beans and gain weight. Also he was staying Alexandria and couldn’t get fish? I think this was a case of anti-coptic snobbery where he felt he was too good to eat our humble fare of foul, the food of the pharaohs. That our leeks, garlic, onions and melons of which the children of Israel were willing to forsake God for, were not good enough for his fast food swilling palate. He was probably paid off by the Islamic Brotherhood to starve himself to bring worldwide negative attention to the Copts and our pious zeal in fasting. He should be forced to live on mish and moloha for a year to know the greatness of Egyptian cuisine.

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    Feb 28
  • Wear your undershirt inside out to protect you against the evil eye.
  • Never step over a person lying on the ground, if you do you have step back over them with the same foot. If you don’t they either go bald or stunt their growth.
  • Eating with you left hand and the devil eats with you.
  • A turned over shoe will cause arguments in the house.
  • If frightened or startled by something spit three times immediately.
  • If you leg is hurting you have the mother of twins step on your foot.
  • Never visit someone after a funeral in the same clothes you attended the funeral in.
  • Hearing an owl is bad luck.
  • If you see a cobra in your house follow where it goes into or comes out of the walls and you’ll find treasure there

  • *some maybe very regional

    (none of these are made up I’ve heard all of them growing up, which may explain alot about how I turned out.)

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    Feb 26
  • He starts confessions with “What the hell is it now?”
  • He is found taste testing the eparcha regularly.
  • He swings the censer with muderous intent.
  • He keeps trying to recruit you to become a priest regardless if your a man or not.
  • During sermons, he keeps insisting the congregation go report him to His Holiness.
  • You find him muttering first 2 verses of psalm 22 under his breath all the time.
  • Often found complaining about the lousy pension plans* priest have.
  • Tasoni is literally dragging him into church.
  • *For the unaware the only way a coptic priest retires is via death.

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    Feb 25

    Clergy or Terrorist: Take cropped photos, showing only their face, of either priest or terrorists and have them guess which it is. (Not as easy one would believe, especially with certain priests) Variation: Saint or Sinner: where you tell them a name of a heretic or a saint and have them figure out which is which.

    What Do You Know?: Ask your kids very basic questions about the church and our faith and see what answers you get, like “Where was Jesus born?” or “Was Jesus God or man?” et c. Depending on the age of the kids, the wrong answers can be cute and funny (kindergartners) or disturbing and depressing (high schoolers).

    Witchhunt: Convince the kids one of the other servants is teaching heresy (which might actually be true considering some of the sunday school teachers I’ve seen) and they have to find out who it is so it can be reported to abouna. (especially fun if there is servant you don’t care for and poin the kids in his/her direction)

    Paranoia: Teach the kids the devil is real and out to get them, reinforce this with footage of exorcisms and other frightening sounds and footage. See how long they go without sleep. Warning this game has to potential to permanently scar the kids which makes it funnier to me. (one needs a night light ever since, another can only go to the bathroom with the door open)

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    Feb 15

    “At length they saw a man coming (namely Paul), of a low stature, bald (or shaved) on the head, crooked thighs, handsome legs, hollow-eyed; had a crooked nose; full of grace; for sometimes he appeared as a man, sometimes he had the countenance of an angel. And Paul saw Onesiphorus, and was glad.”

    from the apocryphal “Acts of Paul and Thecla” 1:7

    Basically it sounds like St. Paul looked like George Costanza

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    Feb 14
  • Celebrate it like they did in Ancient times. Show up at the home of that special girl in your life dressed in the skins of a freshly sacrificed goat (to whom you sacrifice the goats is up to you) whipping her with bloody strips of the goat skins.
  • Steal for the relics of St. Valentines give them to that special someone. Whats more Valentine’s Day than the guy its named after.
  • Get martyred. Nothing says I love you more than dying for someone (besides its biblical).
  • Stalk that special someone hoping they panic and agree to marry you. (Ladies, Mr. Right could be standing outside your bedroom window right now)
  • Play cupid for your friends and leave “romantic” phone message or emails on their behalf
  • See if monasteries/convents have openings (why not, its cheaper than marriage and better for your soul)
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    Feb 13

    At the Political rallies of candidates you don’t like get the crowds to chant “”This is the voice of a god, not of a man.” God will strike them dead (unfortunately not so effective against evangelical candidates).

    Based on Acts 12:21-23

    thanks to d.h. for idea

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    Feb 06
  • What does his holiness wear under his faragaya (galabia)?
  • Why do older women  take 2 hours to confess?
  • What does a priest do if he has to go to the bathroom during liturgy?
  • Do priests actually listen to confessions or zone out?
  • How is the water sprayed at the end of liturgy always ice cold?
  • How many pockets do priests actually have?
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    Feb 02

    Don’t question God, for He may reply:  “If you’re so anxious for answers, come up here.”
    – unknown

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    2008 March

    Mar 21

    “The good news is that Jesus is coming back. The bad news is that he’s really pissed off.”
    – Bob Hope

    Sorry but I’m fascinated by crazy preachers, and they don’t get crazier than him (warning strong language)

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    Mar 20

    Women wish you had more power in the church but limited by your gender. Find yourself stumbled by your uterus when you desire to the tell the board of deacons what you really think. Though find the idea of a sex change a little extreme to get our voice heard. Do not despair, become a tasoni. Thats right be the power behind whom the buck stops. Unsure your special stud will turn out to be a spiritual dud. We here at TasoniList (formerly known as PriestMatch LLC*) take the guess work out of it, when you sign up up with us we will match you a compatible candidate for the priesthood who just needs to get married for his ordination.

    * Due to certain scandals in another church the name lead many to believe we provided a whole different sort of matching service.

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    Mar 19
  • AC/DC’s “Back in Black” to be sung during the “Rites of Reception of a New Priest” if he was originally a member of the congregation.
  • Deacon’s stole (aka patrashel) to come in a variety of colors to show which crew he rolls with.
  • Scented oils to be used for andeel prayers.
  • Allow the use of strobes, laser lights and smoke pots during the Resurrection play during Easter liturgy.
  • Open buffet set up for communion to speed things up for large congregations.
  • Time stamping the congregation as they enter to know if the arrived prior to the Gospel.
  • Priest and deacons to lipsync to previously recorded liturgies.
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    Mar 11

    The only book that is printed more than the Holy Bible is the Ikea catalogue.

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    Mar 05

    Why do Copts readily believe the most fantastical things, yet rational explanations are beyond belief?

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    Mar 04

    Wondering why the new Orthodox Study Bible costs so much, blame the next smoker you see. Apparently the thin papers used to print bible pages is used to produce cigarettes and high demand for cigarettes in China is cause a shortage of paper driving up costs involved in printing bibles.

    http://www.crosswalk.com/news/religiontoday/11539231/

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    Mar 03

    “If two men fight together, and the wife of one draws near to rescue her husband from the hand of the one attacking him, and puts out her hand and seizes him by the genitals, then you shall cut off her hand; your eye shall not pity her.”
    Deut. 25:11,12

    Apparently Jewish women fight dirty, if you are to get in to a quarrel with a jewish man make sure his wife is not around (useful fact if you are in NYC where there are more jews than Israel)). Question is do they cut off the hand to make her let go?

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    Mar 03

    “If a man have a stubborn and unruly son, who will not hear the commandments of his father or mother, and being corrected, slighteth obedience: They shall take him and bring him to the ancients of his city, and to the gate of judgment, and shall say to them: This our son is rebellious and stubborn, he slighteth hearing our admonitions, he giveth himself to revelling, and to debauchery and banquetings: The people of the city shall stone him: and he shall die, that you may take away the evil out of the midst of you, and all Israel hearing it may be afraid.”
    Deut. 21:18-21

    Commentary: Not only is it acceptable to grab the noisy child during liturgy or sunday school and thrash him but it is commanded of us. Also we should administer the beating in front of all as an example to the rest. Some scholars believe that if the child’s parents refuse to correct the child they too should be beaten. Since we are sons and daughters in Christ, better one suffer on earth than in the afterlife. So beat away ye stewards of Christ.

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    Mar 02
  • Your prayers consists of God either taking you or them before the next class.
  • You find yourself on a host of various medications (anti-hypertensives, anti-depressants, anti-psychotics et c.) as a direct result of your class.
  • You think Job had it easy and that if he had your class, he would have long cursed God.
  • On Sundays when you teach, you decide it would be best not to take communion.
  • You find yourself serious studying the church rite of exorcism.
  • You find yourself starting to calculate how much Benadryl would be needed to drug you class.
  • You start to believe there is no God, because no loving God would create such demonic spawn.
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