His Holiness Pope Shenouda speaks about the sanctity of the church and the necessity of respecting it, explaining that the church is the house of God, the house of prayer, and a place where angels and people meet together in one prayer and one teaching.

The holiness of the place and its functions

He explains that the church is consecrated with myrrh and the holy anointing, and that entering the house of God should be with reverence and humility, because the sanctuary is the place of the assembly of believers, the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, and the celebration of the holy mysteries (baptism and the Eucharist).

Teaching and ecclesiastical authority

He clarifies that the church is the source of correct teaching and that the holy scriptures are read in it, and that it is one, holy, catholic, and apostolic because the Lord’s apostles established its systems, councils, and laws.

Liturgy and symbols

He mentions the role of icons as a “carrier of icons” that teaches about angels and saints, the role of lights that remind us of the stars and angels, and that the church represents God’s work in salvation and that regular attendance teaches love for the church.

History of churches and their organization

He addresses the origin of churches from meetings in houses and then their transformation into formal buildings and their spread by the grace of the Holy Spirit, and he notes that the church is protected by the statement “the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.”

Divisions and contemporary heresies

He warns about the beginnings of division after the councils and that there are new paths of heresy spreading, and he cautions against the influence of programmed sectarian methods inside the church and the danger of introducing sectarian practices.

Etiquette and respect for the church

He stresses order within the church during communion, baptism, and prayers: the necessity of discipline, avoiding crowding, reverence, waiting for the blessing before leaving, and letting the priest be the one who controls times for vesting and actions during the service.

Service organization and supporting roles

He touches on the importance of the work of organizers and photographers and that the role of organizers is to organize people not to forbid them, and he suggests practical solutions such as glass rooms for children to avoid disturbance while preserving parents’ participation.

Reverence and humility

He emphasizes teaching reverence in behavior, standing, kneeling, and prostration, and that reverence comes from the heart’s preparation to enter the house of the Lord, noting that humility and adherence to church rules greatly help believers’ commitment.

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