Habeebai

The Syriac word “Habeebai” means “My beloved ones”. This word is used in the introduction and conclusion to the reading of General Epistle or Acts of Apostles in Holy Qurbana. The deacon standing on one step below the sanctuary on the North side, reads from James, I and II Peter, I, II, and III John, and Jude.

We hear, the reader, announcing – The lesson from The Acts of The Holy Apostles or the General Epistle of St. (N) Habibhai. Barekmor. (Habibai – My beloved / Barekmor – Bless Me, O Lord). The people respond saying – Glory be to the Lord of the Apostle (s), and His mercy be upon us, for ever.

Here we remember the historical fact of the spreading of the good news by the Apostles who dispersed to convey to the world. They went to the corners of the world and informed the people. They proclaimed that they would get fortune and Kingdom of Heaven by receiving His words – “Blessed are those believe this gospel.” This reminds us of the mission to the Jews.

The reason that Habeebai is used for General Epistle is because authors of the Catholic (Universal) epistles repeatedly used the expression “My beloved” in his letters (1 Peter 2:11, 4:12; 2 Peter 3:1, 3:8, 3:14, 3:15, 3:17; 1 John 2:7, 3:2, 3:21, 4:1, 4:7, 4:11; 3 John 1:1, 1:2, 1:5, 1:11; Jude 1:3, 1:17, 1:20).

1 Peter 4:12 – ¹² Dear friends, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that has come on you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you.

2 Peter 3: 1 – ³ Dear friends, this is now my second letter to you. I have written both of them as reminders to stimulate you to wholesome thinking.

2 Peter 3: 8 – ⁸ But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day.

2 Peter 3: 14 – ¹⁴ So then, dear friends, since you are looking forward to this, make every effort to be found spotless, blameless and at peace with him.

2 Peter 3: 15 – ¹⁵ Bear in mind that our Lord’s patience means salvation, just as our dear brother Paul also wrote you with the wisdom that God gave him.

2 Peter 3: 17 – ¹⁷ Therefore, dear friends, since you have been forewarned, be on your guard so that you may not be carried away by the error of the lawless and fall from your secure position.

1 John 2: 7 – ⁷ Dear friends, I am not writing you a new command but an old one, which you have had since the beginning. This old command is the message you have heard.

1 John 3: 2 – ² Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when Christ appears,^[a] we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is.

1 John 3: 21 – ²¹ Dear friends, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have confidence before God

1 John 4: 1 – ⁴ Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.

1 John 4: 7 – ⁷ Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God.

1 John 4: 11 – ¹¹ Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.

3 John :1 – ¹ The elder, To my dear friend Gaius, whom I love in the truth.

3 John :2 – ² Dear friend, I pray that you may enjoy good health and that all may go well with you, even as your soul is getting along well.

3 John :5 – ⁵ Dear friend, you are faithful in what you are doing for the brothers and sisters,^[a] even though they are strangers to you.

3 John :11 – ¹¹ Dear friend, do not imitate what is evil but what is good. Anyone who does what is good is from God. Anyone who does what is evil has not seen God.

Jude :3 – ³ Dear friends, although I was very eager to write to you about the salvation we share, I felt compelled to write and urge you to contend for the faith that was once for all entrusted to God’s holy people.

Jude :17 – ¹⁷ But, dear friends, remember what the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ foretold.

Jude :20 – ²⁰ But you, dear friends, by building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit,

(The Greek word for brothers and sisters (adelphoi) refers here to believers, both men and women, as part of God’s family). Believers are called “beloved” because they loved by Christ and one another. Habeebai is used to introduce the reading that contains message for the beloved of Christ

Ahai

The word “Ahai” is a Syriac word that means “My Brethren” / “My Brothers”. This word is used in the introduction and conclusion of Pauline Epistle reading in Holy Qurbana. For example, we might hear, “A reading from the epistle of St Paul to the Philippians, Ahai Barekmor.” The reason that Ahai is used for the Pauline epistle is because St Paul repeatedly used the expression “Brothers” in his letters (Gal 1:2; 1 Cor 5:11; Phil. 1:14, 4:1; Romans 1:13 and several others).

Galatians 1: 2 – ² and all the brothers and sisters with me, To the churches in Galatia: The Greek word for brothers and sisters (adelphoi) refers here to believers, both men and women, as part of God’s family; also in verse 11; and in 3:15; 4:12, 28, 31; 5:11, 13; 6:1, 18.

1 Corinthians 5: 11 – ¹¹ But now I am writing to you that you must not associate with anyone who claims to be a brother or sister but is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or slanderer, a drunkard or swindler. Do not even eat with such people.

Galatians 1: 11 – ¹¹ I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that the gospel I preached is not of human origin.

Galatians 3: 15 – ¹⁵ Brothers and sisters, let me take an example from everyday life. Just as no one can set aside or add to a human covenant that has been duly established, so it is in this case.

Galatians 4: 12 – ¹² I plead with you, brothers and sisters, become like me, for I became like you. You did me no wrong.

Galatians 4: 28 – ²⁸ Now you, brothers and sisters, like Isaac, are children of promise.

Galatians 4: 31 – ³¹ Therefore, brothers and sisters, we are not children of the slave woman, but of the free woman.

Galatians 5: 11 – ¹¹ Brothers and sisters, if I am still preaching circumcision, why am I still being persecuted? In that case the offense of the cross has been abolished.

Galatians 5: 13 – ¹³ You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love.

Galatians 6: 1 – ¹ Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently. But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted.

Galatians 6: 18 – ¹⁸ The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brothers and sisters. Amen.

Philippians 1: 14 – ¹⁴ And because of my chains, most of the brothers and sisters have become confident in the Lord and dare all the more to proclaim the gospel without fear.

Philippians 4: 1 – ⁴ Therefore, my brothers and sisters, you whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm in the Lord in this way, dear friends!

Romans 1: 13 – ¹³ I do not want you to be unaware, brothers and sisters, that I planned many times to come to you (but have been prevented from doing so until now) in order that I might have a harvest among you, just as I have had among the other Gentiles.

Brother is a term used to identify a fellow believer. Since a believer has become born again as a child of God, they are now brothers and sisters in Christ who belong to a single family. Ahai is used to introduce the reading that teaches us how to live the new life as brothers and sisters in Christ.

Q: Why the epistles are read standing, one step below the sanctuary?

The epistles are the words written by human beings. But the Gospel is the real Word of God. So, we Proclaim the Word of God from inside the sanctuary and the epistles one step below the holies.

Q: Is it right to Proclaim the Gospel, the real Word of God, after the epistles?

We read the epistles first because the epistles were written before the Gospels were written.  Gospel (Good news) are the words of Christ.  

Q: Why we read Acts of the Apostles 1^st (North) & Epistle of Paul, 2^nd (South). 

Seniority is given to the 12 Apostles who lived with Jesus & who preached the gospel first to the Jews. Paul, the 13th disciple, called by Jesus as Apostle of Gentiles, is given only a second place after the 12 disciples. In the Church, generally the seniority is given to the Right Side (our left side) (North – Bishops and priests stand from RHS of Madbhaha left side according to the seniority. The right side Thronos is always dedicated to the Mother of God. (Ps. 45: 9). King Solomon had a throne brought for the king’s mother, and she sat down at his right hand. (1 Kings 2: 19). For the same reason, the bride always stands on the Right side of the bridegroom.