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Fr. Tadros Yacoub Malaty · Catechism · 497

Faith Q&A › Catechism › 3. The Church as a Heavenly Wedding Feast

What are the riches the heavenly bride wishes to acquire?

The answer

St. John Chrysostom presents us with an amazing image of the unique riches, given by God to the believer. For the heavenly Father, in His love for humanity, provides us with exalted works that make us worthy of the heavenly life. So, what riches did the Heavenly Bridegroom grant to His bride?

He made for us a body from dust, and by His Holy Spirit He grants us the grace to raise it up to heaven.

He created for us a beautiful body, and entrusted it to us that by His Holy Spirit, we can make for ourselves, a beautiful soul.

He allowed the existence of Satan, yet He granted us authority over him as if he is a helpless bird.

He lighted the lamps of heaven, and entrusted us to offer the light of His knowledge to our brethren.

He created the glorious heavenly hosts, and granted us the grace to be partakers in His nature – something that astonishes the heavenlies.

He granted us the grace to have communion in His Body and Blood, that we may be one with Him.

Fr. Tadros Yacoub Malaty

Fr. Tadros Yacoub Malaty, Catechism of the Coptic Orthodox Church, Volume 1, Books 1–3. First English Edition, 2023. Published by St. George Coptic Orthodox Church, Sporting, Alexandria, and Queen St. Mary & Prince Tadros Coptic Orthodox Church, South Brunswick, NJ. Copyright © 2023. Translation and Editing: Youth of the Coptic Orthodox Church in the USA, Canada, Europe, Australia, Arabian Gulf, and Egypt.