Saint Mark's Coptic Orthodox College - Newsletter

Welcome to Term 3, the Theotokos Term 

Just as we completed Term 2 thinking that things would return to 'normal' for the commencement of Term 3, we have all seen that 'normal' is going to be quite some time to come.  Thank you to all our amazing students and staff for their understanding, cooperation and support as we move into this term with caution and uncertainty.

Thank you also to you, the parents and carers of our students for your continued support and cooperation and to those who took time to voice their care and thanks to the staff and school for implementing and maintaining the precautions during this time.  We all want this situation to come to a close soon, but when this will occur is unknown, so please continue to observe all the requirements asked from you and also your consideration to all other parents and our surrounding community as we progress with our now, daily routines.

During this time of Fasting, let's all say a few extra prayers for all those in far worse situations than we currently have to bear, that they heal quickly and that the Theotokos intercedes on all our behalf to the One Loving God for the welfare of all.

Traffic Concerns

The following two concerns have been raised with the school recently by Liverpool Council's Road & Safety Officers and Department of Transport Supervisors respectively:

1.  ROUND-A-BOUT Congestion:

Both community members and SMC parents have raised concerns to the various Authorities about the clogging of the Round-a-Bout during morning and afternoon drop off and collection times with drivers not stopping BEFORE the round-a-bout to allow movement around it as required by law. 

When waiting in the que drivers unable to proceed are required to wait before the lanes around the round-a-bout, so that the 'circle' is always  free-flowing.  Unfortunately this is not being practiced by some and so contributes further to the congestion for all waiting to move in the direction of their respective destinations. 

We have been advised that this matter is certainly not unique to SMC and especially during the required 'kiss and drop' procedure required by the authorities due to Covid-19 restrictions for parents entering the school grounds whilst we carry out this valet service. 

The numerous Staff and senior students you see on the footpath are there as helpers and VOLUNTEERS and have not been asked to undertake these daily routines but wish to do so to assist all in getting the traffic through as quickly as possible.  Please be considerate of their efforts and refrain from hurtful comments they are sometimes confronted with.  Everyone is trying to do their best.

2.  Pedestrian Crossing Requirements

The Department of Transport Manager for our area has requested parents to remind their children that when using the Pedestrian Crossing, students and adults MUST wait until the Crossing Supervisor has indicated it is safe to proceed. 

Unfortunately a number of students ignore these directions and cross regardless of instructions.  As the Crossing Supervisor has been authorised and assigned by the Dpt of Transport, their instructions must be adhered to and failure to do so may see unfortunate consequences.  Your cooperation in this safety matter is required at all times when using the Criossing during the supervised times in the morning and afternoon periods. 

The Fast of the Assumption of the Virgin Saint Mary (Dormition of the Theotokos)

The fast of the Virgin Saint Mary, which is 15 days long, begins on the first day of the Coptic month of Mesori. It ends on the sixteenth day of the month, when the Coptic Church celebrates the assumption of the body of the Virgin that was carried by the angels. This fast is one of the most beloved fasts by the lay people, to the extent that one can claim that the lay people enforced the fast on the church, being that it never recognized as an official fast prior to the thirteenth century, during which we find the first official written evidence of the fast in the book of the Sheikh Al-Mo’taman Abu Al-Makarem Sa’ad Allah bin Girgis bin Mas’ood. It is known that Abu Al-Makarem died in 1209 A.D., which means that the fast took its official position in the church around the thirteenth century, and the church recognized it as belonging to the fourth-level fasts, after the theological fasts. However, the lay-people’s love of this fast caused them to treat it as one of the first-level fasts, as a result of the people’s love for the Mother of God Saint Mary.

As for the feasts of the Virgin, they are: The Feast of the Annunciation of her Birth on 7 Mesori; the Feast of the Birth of the Mother of Light on 1 Pashons; the Feast of the Virgin’s Entry into the Temple on 3 Kiahk; the Feast of her Departure on 21 Tobe; the Feast of her Revealed Assumption on 16 Mesori; the Feast of Consecrating the First Church under her Name in Philipi on 21 Paona; and the Feast of the Transfiguration of the Virgin on her Church in Zeitoun on 24 Paramhotep. In addition, the Coptic Church celebrates and commemorates the Virgin on the twenty-first day of every Coptic month. The rite is the same throughout all the feasts and on the twenty-first day of every Coptic month.

May the blessings of these days be with us all. Amen.

Mikhail, Deacon Albair Gamal, The Essentials in the Deacon’s Service, (Shobra, Egypt: Shikolani, 2002), p. 817. Translated from Arabic by Bishoy K. R. Dawood, edited by Michael Guirguis.

https://www.copticheritage.org/rites/25_fast_and_feasts_of_the_virgin_mary