Saints Athanasios and Cyril Paramoun of Holy Epiphany (Coptic)

Saints Athanasios and Cyril

On this day we celebrate the memory of Athanasios and Cyril, archbishops of Alexandria.

St. Athanasios lived during the reign of Constantine the great in 318 and was present in the first ecumenical council which was held in Nicaea in 325 as a deacon representing Alexander, the bishop of Alexandria. There with his words of wisdom and proofs from the holys Scriptures he put to shame Arius the impious one. Athanasios became bishop of Alexandria and, because Constantius the son of Constantine believed the Arian doctrine, Athanasios was banished. St. Athanasios was of average height and age in appearance. He was large and bent with a graceful face, a bald head and a crooked nose like a falcon's. His face was not long. He had wide jaws, and average beard and his mouth was small. His hair was not very white but it shone with a slightly blond colour.

St. Cyril lived during the reign of Theodosios the junior in 415. He was the nephew of Theophilos, who was Archbishop of Alexandria, and succeeded Theophilos to the Archbisthop's throne. Cyril was the exarch and protector of the third holy and ecumenical council which was held in Ephesos and condemned the impious Nestorios. St. Cyril's had big, round, bushy and well-shaped eyebrows, a long nose and cheeks and thick lips. He was bald with a small forehead, and his beard was bushy and small. His hair was curly, he was of a fair complexion and he had mixed hair (i.e. black and white).

Paramoun of Holy Epiphany (Coptic)

On this day, it has been the tradition of the Church, following the teachings of the saintly fathers to fast until dusk, eating only the fasting food of the Advent.

The holy Apostle commanded that if the day of Christmas or the Epiphany happens to be on a Wednesday or a Friday, the believers may eat the food that one is permitted to eat during the pentecostal days (the post-resurrection fifty days), as they are feasts to the Lord. The Paramouni days are fasted to compensate for the feast days, so that we may have the blessings of the fast and of the feast.

If the Paramoun day falls on a Saturday or a Sunday, it is the tradition to fast on the Friday that precedes them also.

The people pray over water before midnight and then wash and bless everyone who wants to be blessed. The reason for completing this before midnight is to allow the little children not to break their fast by drinking from the water.

We ask the Lord Jesus to purify us, cleanse us, forgive our sins, and make us worthy to receive the revelation of the glory of His divine nature in our hearts and in our deeds, as He revealed His glory in the River Jordan.

To Him be glory with His Father and the Holy Spirit forever. Amen.