♱
It was a great pleasure working with the skillful @ghobriaa! 😁 
Beautiful cover photo by the talented iconographer George Makary (@ Copticicons): https://www.copticicon.com/
Original translation from the songbird @OliviaBassily (slightly modified*)

(Chorus)
In the shade of your protection
We take refuge O Mary
Don’t turn our prayer away
Whenever we call you

(Verse 1)
O the pride of the human race
The best of people are you
O you river of gifts
That flows into the world

(Verse 2)
O you gate of heaven 
Mother of our Redeemer
O you are our hope
And the sweetest name we call

(Verse 3)
Intercede for your people
Pray at all times
We are asking your Son
Pleading as children*

(Verse 4) – (*Personal addition from the 11th part of the Sunday Theotokia's ☺️)
You are brighter than the sun
And more sparkling
Than the cherubim
And the seraphim

In the Shade of your Protection (فى ظل حمايتك) - ft. André Ghobrial on Oud

I walk to salvation in Jesus’ way 
Despite what the people will say
With Jesus I hold my head high 
My crown is sparkling in my eyes

**Come now in this hour to me
Distract me from all the pain I see 
If the world attacks me, this is true
Jesus is mine and I am his too

This vain world only saddens me
But my Lord Jesus gladdens me
And on the cross forgave me
My crown is shining eternally

**

This vain world only pains me
But my Lord Jesus comforts me
And on the clouds He meets me
My crown will shine ever brightly 

**

Besides Him to whom shall I go
This world is cruel, dark, and cold
Jesus is the warm light I see
My crown is shining eternally

**

Come now that would suffice for me
Spend the rest of days beside me
You are my hope and my helper
My crown is shining forever

**

Jesus' Way (Tareeq Yasou3)

All the psalms from the book of hours (Agpeya) combined into one continuous track.

Book of Hours (Agpeya) Psalms

A stranger I lived in the world
A foreigner like my forefathers
A pilgrim in my attitude
In my thoughts and my desires

A stranger, I have no one to
Unload on him, my thoughts so true

The people do not like my roots
Nor do they understand my end
In craze arise the multitude
In maddening noise without an end
And I remain in solitude
Serenity in my heart felt

A stranger, I can find no home
Nor a corner to rest alone

I cast away the world’s pleasures
Ignoring her callings to me
I went, I dragged away my things
Away from their merry-makings
My heart silent, indifferent
To all they think is important

My listening will never yield
To loud and worldly conversing

I wander off all on my own
So happy to be in the vast
With my timbrel and my cymbal
And melodies of praise I sing
And now comes the holy moment
In which I retreat with my King

I roam about as a spirit
Invisible to on-lookers
The world alien I am to it
A foreigner like my forefathers

My existence is a triumph
No wealth, power to disturb me
No house is here to delay me
Nor any friend or family
And with me are sweet verses
And great proverbs to console me

The Bible here my only lamp
And nothing else to concern me

I do not know of any fear
Nor any bonds that hinder me
No longer does the world rule me
Against me and at times for me

I say to every enemy
Who only wants to seduce me
The world alien I am to it
A foreigner as were my fathers

A Stranger — St Mark DC (Convent 2024)

Coptic Smörgåsbord by Paul Mankarious, Adam Rizkalla, and John Andrews

One day You passed by me
You saw chains on my hands
I saw with my own eyes
Tears for me in Your eyes

One day I passed by You
I saw my chains on Your hands
I’m free because of You
Then tears filled my eyes

(“How much, Lord, did You pay
To set me free?” I asked
“My son, it is a lot,
But not too much for you.”) x2

One day by me You’ll pass
About my freedom You’ll ask
Feeling my slavery
Although in You I’m free

My sins have bounded me
Loving the world around me
I seek my place in it
That I am Yours I forget

(Free yet I am Your slave
Yours for all of my days
Your slave and free I’ll live
To You myself I give.) x2

Self Reflection & Growing Ahead - Abouna Suriel

melissa marzouk