{"id":35907,"date":"2016-03-27T11:22:26","date_gmt":"2016-03-27T09:22:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/copticocc.org\/site\/?p=35907"},"modified":"2016-10-02T09:43:45","modified_gmt":"2016-10-02T07:43:45","slug":"%d9%85%d9%82%d8%a7%d9%84-%d8%a7%d9%84%d8%a3%d9%86%d8%a8%d8%a7-%d8%a5%d8%b1%d9%85%d9%8a%d8%a7-%d9%85%d8%b5%d8%b1-%d8%a7%d9%84%d8%ad%d9%84%d9%88%d8%a9-149-%d8%b4%d9%85%d8%b9","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/copticocc.org\/en\/%d9%85%d9%82%d8%a7%d9%84-%d8%a7%d9%84%d8%a3%d9%86%d8%a8%d8%a7-%d8%a5%d8%b1%d9%85%d9%8a%d8%a7-%d9%85%d8%b5%d8%b1-%d8%a7%d9%84%d8%ad%d9%84%d9%88%d8%a9-149-%d8%b4%d9%85%d8%b9\/","title":{"rendered":"Anba Ermia\u2019s Article \u2013 Beautiful Egypt 149 \u2013 \u00abThe Burning Candle\u00bb March 27, 2016"},"content":{"rendered":"

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<\/h2>\n

\u00a0 \u00a0Despite the multitudinous attributes that language imparts upon a mother, such as \u201cthe maker of nations\u201d, \u201cthe holy candle\u201d, \u201cthe angle\u201d, \u201cthe maker of men\u201d, it falls short of describing her. Renowned Napoleon Bonaparte said that a mother shakes a cradle with her right hand, and shakes the world with her left hand. Mothers implant values and virtues within their children\u2019s hearts that they might grow to be good citizens.<\/span><\/h2>\n

Honoring One\u2019s Parents<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n

\u00a0 \u00a0Parents have a special position in religions. In the Pentateuch, we find that the commandment of honoring one\u2019s parents is the first one that sets relations amongst humans. We read, \u201cHonor your father and your mother, that your days may be prolonged in the land which the Lord gives you.\u201d [20:12] Likewise, we read in Deuteronomy, \u201cHonor your father and your mother, as the Lord your God has commanded you, that your days may be prolonged and that it may go well with you on the land which the Lord your God gives you.\u201d [5:16] Thus, honoring one\u2019s parents is the source of the blessings that fill man\u2019s life.<\/span><\/h2>\n

\u00a0 \u00a0On the other hand, death is the punishment of dishonoring them. In Exodus, we read, \u201cAnd he that smites his father, or his mother, shall be surely put to death.\u201d [21:15, 17]. We also read in Proverbs, \u201cThe eye that mocks a father and scorns a mother, The ravens of the valley will pick it out, And the young eagles will eat it.\u201d [30:17]. The New Testament also emphasizes the honoring of one\u2019s parents, for we read in St. Paul\u2019s Epistle to the Ephesians, \u201cChildren, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right\u2026 (which is the first commandment with a promise)\u2026\u201d [6:1-2]The Qoran also teaches people to honor their parents.\u00a0 In the verse (surah) of Luqman, we read, \u201cWe command man to honor his parents. His mother bears him with increasing pain, and nurses him for two years. Be, thus, grateful to Me and your parents, for you shall return to Me. Should your parents entice you to worship other gods, disobey them. Yet, be kind to them as long as they are alive, following the path of the faithful. In the end, all of you will return to Me, and I will judge you according to your deeds.\u201d In al-Aqhaf surah, we read, \u201cWe command man to honor his parents. His mother bears him with pain,\u00a0 gives birth to him with pain and nurses him for thirty months.\u201d In al-Israa surah, we read, \u201cGod has commanded that you worship Him only and be good to your parents. Should one, or both of them, become of age, do not be impatient with them, or scold them. Address them respectfully.\u201d<\/span><\/h2>\n

\u00a0 \u00a0Thus, parents occupy a lofty position, though the mother is uniquely capable of taking care of her children, as God grants her an abundance of kindness and patience. Abul \u02bfAla Al-Ma\u02bfarri writes:<\/span><\/h2>\n

Life is short, so honor your parents,<\/span><\/h2>\n

Though your mother deserves more honor and kindness<\/span><\/h2>\n

It is enough she bears and nurses.<\/span><\/h2>\n

All humanity owes her such acts of benevolence.<\/span><\/h2>\n

Mothers educate their children:<\/span> they teach them good manners first and foremost. Hence, Hafiz Ibrahim chants:<\/span><\/h2>\n

A mother is the first school ever.<\/span><\/h2>\n

Rear her to be a good mentor.<\/span><\/h2>\n

She will then rear a people so upright.<\/span><\/h2>\n

A mother is an orchard full of delight:<\/span><\/h2>\n

Nurture her, she will bud and sprout<\/span><\/h2>\n

Your mother is your first professor<\/span><\/h2>\n

Her lessons do horizons cover.<\/span><\/h2>\n

The world acknowledges mothers\u2019 significant role as life makers.<\/span><\/h2>\n

Mother\u2019s Day Celebrations<\/span>\u00a0\u00a0 <\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n

\u00a0 \u00a0The whole world honors mothers and celebrates them on a special day. This day, however, differs from one country to another.\u00a0 France and Sweden celebrate Family Day on the last Sunday of May. Norway celebrates it on the second Sunday of February. Georgia holds it on March 3. Ireland, England, and Nigeria conduct it on the fourth Sunday of Great Lent. In Spain, celebrating Mother\u2019s Day is linked with honoring St. Mary. This takes place on December 8. North America and Japan celebrate it on the second Sunday of May. The Arab World honors mothers on March 21.<\/span><\/h2>\n

Historical Background<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n

\u00a0 \u00a0Some researchers ascribe celebrating Mother\u2019s Day to the Greeks who used to venerate Rhea, whereas Romans venerated mother Cybele. The idea of celebrating Mother\u2019s Day, however, goes to the United States of America when Anna Jarvis (1864-1948) called for making Mother\u2019s Day a national holiday. This took place two years after her mother\u2019s death. She wanted children to appreciate what their mothers do for them during their lifetime. The Church honored Miss Anna Jarvis on May 10, 1908. This was the start of celebrating Mother\u2019s Day in the United States. Mother\u2019s Day was officially celebrated in West Virginia: at Oklahoma State in 1910. The rest of the states followed suit in 1911. On May 10, 1913, the Congress officially declared the celebration of Mother\u2019s Day to be on the second Sunday of May.<\/span><\/h2>\n

Mother\u2019s Day in Egypt<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n

\u00a0 \u00a0The idea of celebrating Mother\u2019s Day was initiated by the twin brothers and journalists Mustafa and Ali Amin, founders of Akhbar al-Youm. It came to pass that Ali Amin received a letter from a miserable mother who felt devastated by her children\u2019s cruelty to her. Likewise, one mother came to Mustafa to complain to him from her children\u2019s rare visits to her after getting married, especially that she had sacrificed a lot for their sake after the father\u2019s death when they were very young. Thus, like Jarvis, Mustafa and Ali called for dedicating a day to celebrate Mother\u2019s Day in which children appreciate their mothers\u2019 special role in their lives. They suggested this in their famous column \u201cFikra\u201d (Idea). Reader\u2019s suggestions made them choose March 21, the first day of Spring, to celebrate Mother\u2019s Day. The first Mother\u2019s Day in Egypt was celebrated on March 21, 1956.<\/span><\/h2>\n

\u00a0 \u00a0In view of the mother\u2019s great role which has always been recognized by religions, called for by thinkers and men of letters, and declared by renowned personae despite difference in fields, we hereby show our deep respect to:<\/span><\/h2>\n

\u00a0 \u00a0Every mother who endured pain, offered a lot, expecting nothing in return so much that she became like a burning candle that lights her children\u2019s path.<\/span><\/h2>\n

\u00a0 \u00a0Every mother who offered our country honest men who toil for prosperity and achievement.<\/span><\/h2>\n

\u00a0 \u00a0Every mother whose son was martyred for the love of our fatherland, fearless of death.<\/span><\/h2>\n

The hearts of all mothers that know nothing but love, giving, and sacrifice.<\/span><\/h2>\n

\u00a0 \u00a0Many happy returns to the mothers in Egypt and the four corners of earth. Mothers\u2019 stories are lovely. Stories never end in Beautiful Egypt.<\/span><\/h2>\n

General Bishop<\/span><\/h2>\n

Head of the Coptic Orthodox Cultural Center<\/span><\/h2>\n

<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

\u00a0 \u00a0Despite the multitudinous attributes that language imparts upon a mother, such as \u201cthe maker of nations\u201d, \u201cthe holy candle\u201d, \u201cthe angle\u201d, \u201cthe maker of men\u201d, it falls short of describing her. Renowned Napoleon Bonaparte said that a mother shakes a cradle with her right hand, and shakes the world with her left hand. Mothers […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":19638,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[51],"tags":[6388,6391,6382,6389,6420,240,14114,4531,682,642],"class_list":["post-35907","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-articles","tag-abba-jeremiah","tag-almasry-alyoum","tag-article","tag-beautiful-egypt","tag-the-burning-candle","tag---2","tag-14114","tag-4531","tag-682","tag-642"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/copticocc.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/35907"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/copticocc.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/copticocc.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/copticocc.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/6"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/copticocc.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=35907"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/copticocc.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/35907\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":39536,"href":"https:\/\/copticocc.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/35907\/revisions\/39536"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/copticocc.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/19638"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/copticocc.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=35907"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/copticocc.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=35907"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/copticocc.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=35907"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}