Grade 5 - Coptic Orthodox Diocese of the Southern United States

Sunday School Curriculum Grade 5
Objective:
Week 1- St. Mark’s First Entry to Egypt
St Mark is the founder of our Church. He spread the Word in Egypt.
Memory verse:
“There will be an altar to the Lord in the midst of the land of Egypt” (Isaiah 19:19)
References:
―St. Mark‖ H.H. Pope Shenouda III
The Book of Saints; Vol. 1
―The History of Early Christianity‖ Aziz Attia
Introduction:
St. Mark is considered the founder of the Coptic Orthodox Church. He is the first of the
unbroken chain of 117 patriarchs. St. Mark was of Jewish parents. He was born in a city
called Pentapolis on the Northern African coast, west of Egypt. His family moved to
Jerusalem where he met our Lord Jesus Christ.
His family was very religious. He was chosen as one of the seventy disciples that Jesus
sent to preach His Gospel. It was in his house in the upper room that our Lord Jesus
Christ had the Last Supper.
Lesson Outlines:
After Jesus‘ ascension, St. Mark started preaching the Gospel with St. Peter in Jerusalem and
Judea, and with St. Paul in Antioch, Cyprus, Asia Minor, Colossi and Rome.
After he left Rome St. Mark went to Egypt in 61 AD. St. Mark entered the city of Alexandria,
from the east from the five-western cities. St. Mark began wandering in the streets and roads of
Alexandria; he kept walking all day until the straps of his sandals were torn. He went to a
cobbler (shoemaker) called Ananias to mend them for him. After greeting him, he gave him his
shoes and the shoemaker worked on them while St. Mark waited. Suddenly the awl pricked the
shoemaker‘s hand and he screamed in pain calling the ―One God‖. At this moment, inspired by
the Holy Spirit, St. Mark felt that the divine providence had caused this incident to happen, in
order to pave his way in the land of the Pharaohs. He spat on the ground and made a piece of
mud and rubbed Ananias‘ hand with it saying ―In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ this hand
would return whole‖. At once the wound healed as if nothing happened.
Ananias was surprised at what did and St. Mark interrupted his surprise and asked him: ―What
do you know about the One God Whom you mentioned?‖ Ananias replied, ―I only hear about
Him, but I don‘t know Him.‖ St. Mark began to talk to him about the Lord Jesus, His birth of
Virgin Mary in Bethlehem about thirty years ago, His life, service, teachings, and miracles. As
Ananias finished mending the sandals and St. Mark was ready to go. Ananias invited him to visit
SEPTEMBER 141