Coptic Orthodox Diocese of the Southern United States

The Great Feast: A Renewed Spirit

We may have prayed this Psalm many times without realizing that it has the power of resurrection hidden within it. For when David prayed it, there was much that had died in his life: his purity, his spiritual strength, and his child. He found himself on his knees; he wept in agony all that night over the devastation wrought in his life by one moment's sin. Psalm 50 was a heart-felt petition for God to lift him out of his pit and grant him renewed life.

Moral Relativism

Introduction

In this age, we have lost the confidence that statements of fact can ever be anything more than just opinions. The word "truth" now means true for me.

Whether we realize it or not, this concept - Moral relativism - is the air we breathe, the background noise in our culture today. In this sort of cultural climate the only heresy is telling someone else that they are wrong. Tolerance has become the ultimate virtue, not "truth".

According to the Barna Research Group, 81% of young Americans have adopted a view that "all truth is relative to the individual and his/her circumstances".¹

Do Not Weep

The scene of Mary Magdalene, weeping before the Lord's tomb that had been sealed by the order of Pontius Pilate, reminds us of the scene of St. John the theologian weeping before the scroll that had been sealed with seven seals (Revelation 5:4); and no one was found worthy to open and read the scroll or to look at it. All the seven seals had to be loosened before all the kingdoms could become the Lord's kingdom (Revelation 11:15).

The Great Fast and the Great Struggle - Part IV: Preparation and Sacrifice

Holy Week is a momentous and significant part of our lives. All of life's troubles, all of life's questions, all the fears and confusion we grapple with year-round can be overcome by the spirit of Pascha – but we must drink of it plenteously. If we go in with an open heart and open ears, we will hear the voice of Christ – how softly He speaks – offering to take up our troubles and make them His own.

The Great Fast and the Great Struggle - Part III: Our Blindness and God's Vision

The Gospel of the man born blind has a significance beyond human words. For like every Gospel of the Great Fast, it is the story of ourselves. Who of us has not experienced the bitter feeling that we have made a mess of our lives, and have been reduced to the status of a beggar. We often remember, with remorse, our imperfect past; and sense with a fatal intuition that our mistakes have led us to our present distress.

The Great Fast and the Great Struggle - Part II: Thirsting and Seeking

The Sunday of the Samaritan Woman marks the midpoint of the Great Fast, as the "center" of the Gospel readings, and fittingly so – because its message hits right at the heart of our lives. Here is a woman who has been searching in all the wrong places for fulfillment in life.

Phoebe the Helper of Many

There are only two verses in the Holy Bible which address Phoebe. Her name appears only once in the Holy Bible. Phoebe's name is held in esteem in both verses by St. Paul himself, and in both verses she is described as a helper. Phoebe's name is held to be honorable in that it precedes the greetings to the people of the Rome with many of the people mentioned found in the traditional list of the seventy-two apostles.

Anger Conquered With Righteousness

The question frequently asked, "is anger a sin?" finds its answer in St. Paul's words to the Ephesians "Be angry, and do not sin, do not let the sun go down on your wrath" (Ephesians 4:26). Anger is a complex energy initiated by various attitudes such as impatience, unmet expectations, stress, and the like. It is an inevitable natural reaction to an undesirable situation. St. Paul did not say not to get angry. Rather, he urged us not to sin.

The Great Fast and the Great Struggle - Part 1: Form of the Fight

Life, every thoughtful person will gradually notice, is one long struggle from beginning to end. This is a fact attested to by every church father, saint, and apostle you will read. And it is especially shown by the fact that we have a 55-day fast devoted to "repentance". The very existence of this fast is evidence that there is occurring a great spiritual war on the earth, and we are all in it together. Everyone fasts—everyone has a personal struggle, a rough battle, to deal with. It is part of God's training for us in our journey to the Kingdom. And most would admit that of all fights we must endure in the spiritual life, the most forceful, the most tiring, the most daily and hourly fight we have to reckon with is the struggle against the flesh.

Jesus is the Door, the Way, the Truth and the Life

The Lord said, "Most assuredly I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door, but climbs up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber" (Jn 10:1), "I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out, and find pasture" (Jn 10:9). "I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me" (Jn 14:6). "I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing" (Jn 15:5).

A Spiritual Study of the "Song of Songs" During the Holy Great Fast

Now we have begun to fast the Holy Great Fast; earmarked as a time of solitude with the Lord Jesus Christ. It is a time of spiritual retreat in which we spend our time or most of our time with the Lord.

Esther: A Daughter's Respect for Her "Father"

Esther was a Jewish girl born in Susa the capital of Elam. She was orphaned at an early age and raised by a close older Jewish relative named Mordecai. Mordecai's family had been taken captive from Judah (many years prior to Esther taking residence in his home) after the fall of Jerusalem, to Nebuchadnezzar some speculate about 586 B.C. Mordecai continued his care of Esther all her days until her marriage and he became as a father to her.

Getting to Know the Fathers of the Church
An Interview with St. Anthony

Interviewer: Well! A meeting which I have been trying to secure for several years now! We finally meet the man known for his most original and inspiring thoughts, yet who never had a degree; known for his vast influence over Christian piety in both East and West, yet was never ordained above a layman; known to be revered by patriarchs and emperors, yet never had any care for politics or power; known to have captured the hearts of myriads of devout believers in all ages, yet purposely fled the public life to live alone with God! Let me say, though I am just a newspaper journalist, and not very religious myself, this is truly an honor for me, father.

A Fish Swallowing a Man Whole?

It was good for Jonah to be swallowed by the fish. Rarely will a person reach out for God as earnestly as when he is afflicted. There is something about the "comfortable" life that will lull us to sleep.

Christ Among "The Royal House of David" through St. Joseph's Descendants

The righteous St. Joseph was the Lord Jesus Christ's father in the flesh. St. Joseph had been betrothed to the virgin St. Mary before the Lord's glorious Nativity. The Holy Bible refers to engaged couples such as St. Joseph and St. Mary as husband and wife. Through St. Joseph's lineage, legal paternity to the Lord Jesus Christ has been confirmed, although He is born unto the ever-virgin St. Mary.

The Glorious Birth: Justification of Honor and Truth

The Glorious Nativity is the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ; the Word becoming human with a physical body and rational soul to dwell among us. Through this incarnated birth Pure Honor was manifested: an honor of loving kindness, an honor of humbleness, and an honor of courageousness in communion with God was given unto us "For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; and the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end, upon the throne of David and over His kingdom, to order it and establish it with judgment and justice from that time forward, even forever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this" (Isaiah 9:6,7); an honor not sought out, nor claimed through birthright, but one born out of purity.

Be Anxious For Nothing

Each one of us has a concern, need or request; something to worry about regarding career, finance, health, children, marriage, or even one's spiritual life. History records incidents of important people who had similar needs and requests. Some examples from the Old Testament are Hanna, Samuel's mother and Jacob, son of Isaac. Elizabeth, John the Baptist's Mother from the New Testament, and Ephomea, St. Mina's Mother who was barren and wanted desperately to have a child. What did those people do with regard to their problems? Those people knew exactly what to do. They turned their eyes to heaven where the Almighty resides and put forth their requests before Him. As Christians, what should we do in similar situations?

What is the Meaning of the Incarnation For Youth in 21st Century America?

It is difficult to explain to the modern mind the idea of a religious mystery. Our notions of the word have been completely swallowed up by terms like "murder mystery" or "mystery of science". When it comes to our faith, however, mystery refers to another dimension of life. Modern American education accustoms a person to thinking of the world in terms of rigid rules and formulae; calculus and Newtonian laws and are the ultimate descriptors of the universe. But for the Orthodox faith this will not do.

The Role of the Church and Servants in Ministry

God bestows His gifts on the church for a certain purpose which is for the sake of equipping the saints and preparing them for the work of ministry with the main goal that they may be able to edify the body of Christ. He gives some to be apostles, preachers, evangelists to do what needs to be done in order to bring God's people back to Him in repentance. Ministry is mainly service; and in order for it to be carried out successfully, preparing and equipping servants is the main concern of the Church. Preparatory classes for servants are therefore not an invention of the church; but are biblically mandated having been practiced by Christ himself. However, completing a three or four year program in Ritual Theology and other subjects comprises only a small percentage of the equipping process. For full equipment more than that is required.

Parental Advice: Children's Social Lives versus Their Spiritual Lives

The church is our Mother. The church is also the mother of your children. Raising your child within the church is the best thing parents can do. No one can doubt that avid participation by children in church services and activities are extremely important, but we have to understand that as parents, you are implementing the standards for actions and behaviors that your children will exhibit in the future. For example, many children are today are involved in sports and social organizations. These activities and clubs demand time and effort out of your child. Occasionally we hear from the young children after the Divine Liturgy a request that they need to leave quickly to make sure they are not late for practice or for an important game they have. While, children’s involvement in sports is very important for their physical health, church is certainly important for their spiritual health and there is a priority for all things.

Frequently Asked Questions on Tithing to the Church

1) Does God really want 10%? ...It sounds like a lot. 2) Does God need 10%? 3) Will God really bless me if I tithe? ...Can I put Almighty God to the test? 4) Does my giving make a difference? What if I do not give very much? 5) Can I give to charities? They do good work. 6) What if I can't afford to tithe? What if I just wait until I'm doing better? 7) But what if I really can't afford to tithe right now? 8) Can I not just love the Lord without tithing? 9) Okay Okay, I get it! How do I get started with all this?

The Need for the Incarnation

The birth of our Lord Jesus Christ has become a turning point in the history of mankind; making it feasible to classify incidents into pre and post Nativity. It has also marked the birth of humanity; for in the Nativity was the Incarnation, and in the Incarnation was Salvation and through Salvation we received adoption becoming heirs to the Kingdom.

Deborah the Judge: Godliness Produced Strength of Character and Modesty

The era of the judges were marked by sin and more sin. The Israelites reverted to the ways of the ungodly in their midst and to idol worship. The pagan peoples they allowed to remain in Canaan after the conquest proved to cause turmoil in their life by their living amongst and association with them. It is apparent that God allowed the Israelites through their ungodly actions and deeds to become so oppressed by the pagans they assimilated with, to experience so much overwhelming distress, that they were forced to turn back to Him and pray for relief. An age old lesson for us all is that we knowingly and unknowingly take on traits of those we associate ourselves with.

The Gospel and First Epistle of St. John

There is something interesting and special in the fact that God intended the most contemplative of the Apostles to live the longest life on earth. There are two points generally agreed upon concerning St. John which will be the basis for this essay: that he wrote his Gospel and Epistle toward the end of his long life; and that his writings are the fullest and most sublime expression of Christianity.

Sarah the First Matriarch: A Strong Personality Accepted before God, Nurtured in a Marriage of Mutual Love

The Holy Bible has quite a number of female figures who have contributed to the making of human history, and played a role in the plan of God's salvation for mankind. However, none of them was up to the title of "matriarch". Like her husband, the patriarch of patriarchs, Sara, though no explicit mention of her name, was the first woman in the genealogy of our Lord Jesus Christ (Mathew 1:1). Sara, a woman of good looks; and character manifest in her faith, faithfulness, determinedness, problem solving, reliance on God and many other attributes, is the subject of this article.

Baptized in a River!

When the Lord Jesus Christ began teaching others the Word of God many thought he was a prophet. They did not understand that He was the Son of God. It had been three or four hundred years since the people had been sent a prophet by God. Now the people wrongly thought they had two, the first St. John the Baptist and the second one, the Lord Jesus Christ.

The Transfiguration: The Manifestation of the Divinity of the Lord of Glory

The Glorious Feast of the Transfiguration, considered a Major Feast commemoration, in the Coptic Orthodox Church is celebrated on the thirteenth day of the blessed month of Mesore.

The Lord Jesus Christ took with Him St. Peter, St. James, and St. John his brother up a high mountain, a common location for teaching and revelation. Origen, St Cyril, Arnobius the Younger and others identify the Mount of Transfiguration as Mount Tabor.

Lost and...Found in the Temple!

The Lord Jesus was growing up fast! He was now twelve years old and this was old enough for His earthly parents to decide to take Him to the "Feast of the Passover" celebration. We can be sure that as a growing young man, He looked forward to the adventure of a trip and the celebration!

The Features of the Church: From Doctrine to Unity

Whenever a new church is built, it behooves us to correctly pose the question as to "Who is the church?" and not "What is a church?". According to the latter, a church could be referred to as a building ranging from just a simple to a huge one. Nowadays there are many beautiful churches from the recent and past centuries that are exquisite pieces of architecture but void of worshippers. In some countries some of those gorgeous churches have been either sold to some other religious organizations, or turned into museums and conference halls. In order to understand the church from St. Paul’s teachings, we need to genuinely ask ourselves: Who is the church? By definition, the church is the assembly of believers without whom there exists no church. Such a church is meant to exist forever because it is not a building made by hands but an organic one that has been constructed on the teachings of our Lord Jesus Christ and the faith of our holy fathers the Apostles. "Now therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone" (Ephesians 2:19-20).

Purity of Thoughts

A chaste and pure person should be pure in body and soul, in his thoughts, senses, feelings, and even in his dreams and imaginations. A man should give careful attention to the purity of his thoughts as his thoughts also belong to God. As we take care of the purity of our hearts in order that God may dwell in them, so we must take care of our minds too. In the Holy Bible the Divine Inspiration says, "...Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and all your strength..." (Luke 10:27).

Addiction

Our addictions are gods who have no empathy for us or those we love. It's time for us to hear the loving, pleading voice of God, who says in His Word:

"Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life" (Gal 6:7-8).
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A Return to the First Church

As we are about to celebrate the Holy Apostles Fast, also known as the Church’s Fast, dare we call upon the life, the first church had lived? Dare we do so, now that we have received and put on Power from above just as our forefathers the apostles had been given; allowing the fiery Spirit to mould and shape them all over again?

Committed Service Instills Fulfilling Happiness

The tie that binds both happiness and spiritual service is a fundamentally simple one, "It is more blessed to give than to receive" (Acts 20:35). The Lord Jesus Christ not only taught giving; but His very life demonstrated emphatically that serving others is an essential component of spiritual happiness. A person may have unprecedented gifts and talents; but if they choose not to share them with others, those gifts and talents will not bring about the expected fulfillment.

"Purposeful Tribulation"

In the Lord Jesus Christ's and the Holy Family's humility and obedience, they depart from His birthplace of Bethlehem to escape the dangerous, vindictive King Herod the Great reigning over the city of Bethlehem. King Herod has learned of the existence of the prophesied Newborn Messiah and is immensely threatened that a newborn king may usurp his authority and kingship and seeks out His whereabouts to destroy the Messiah.

The Da Vinci Code and Old Issues of No Concern

Since the beginning, Christianity has fought against philosophies and other religions. The Church Fathers have chosen the difficult path of responding to ideas with ideas. Although it is possible to boycott antagonistic ideas, our fathers spent their lives defending the church and its beliefs and confronted ideas with ideas and opinions with arguments. When all heresies have ceased to exist, the apologetics of the Church Fathers lasted preserving for us the truth about our faith over the years.

Grief's Unmerited Grace

The Lord Jesus Christ loved many while upon this earth. He Himself experienced seeing those He loved painfully dying, overtaken by earthly death and the Lord bore witness to the despair of their loved ones left behind on earth. There are many dramatic instances of the Lord's unmerited grace found within the Holy Bible. Perhaps the Lord Jesus Christ expressing His undying love toward penitent sinners is the very heart beat of the Holy Gospels. For this we today can be eternally grateful.

Modesty

Modesty is the first virtue in spiritual life. It is the vanguard that protects virtues and talents. Every virtue that is not accompanied by modesty is likely to be snatched by the devil of vain glory and destroyed by conceit, boastfulness and self-admiration.

The Transfiguration: Redemption Foretold & Resurrection
Foreshadowed

The incident of the Transfiguration is one of the major incidents in the Holy Bible which bears a lot of significance to the Person of our Lord Jesus Christ: who He is, the nature of His mission, and His relation to God the Father. This incident was related by three of the four evangelists: Mathew 17:1-13, Mark 9:2-13, and Luke 9:28-36. The Coptic Orthodox Church values this incident and counts it as one of the seven minor feasts of our Lord. The Feast of Transfiguration is celebrated in August of every year. The Gospel on the Transfiguration is read on the first Saturday after the Feast of Resurrection. The fact that two dates were used (six days and the eighth day) by the evangelists is not an indication of discrepancy or lack of credibility. The matter of fact is that each of the two had looked at the incident date and thus calculated it differently in relation to including or excluding the Transfiguration day and the first day. Spiritually, number six symbolizes the Crucifixion; whereas eight symbolizes the Resurrection.

The Transfiguration: Redemption Foretold & Resurrection
Foreshadowed

St. Thomas…

In the first post Glorious Resurrection appearance, when Mary Magdalene excitedly sought out the grieving and mourning disciples to tell them of the Lord Jesus Christ's appearance to her, they did not believe her at all. It is written, "And when they heard that He was alive and had been seen by her, they did not believe" (Mark 16:11).

Overcoming the Finality of Human Death

Our humanity is manifest in our sinful nature. We are born mortal and therefore inevitably naturally prone and inclined to sin. One of the privileges of being a Christian is the availability, at our disposal, of forgiveness once we repent and ask for it. However, being a Christian means so much more than just having our sins forgiven. It is striving for goodness through good works;journeying toward Heaven, the ultimate destination, where we attain immortality and eternal glory. Being a Christian is essentially centered around "being alive".

The 'Spirit' that Gave Us Life

On Covenant Thursday prior to the day of Great Friday of the Holy Pascha the Coptic Orthodox Church commemorates the day on which the Lord Jesus Christ made the New Testament covenant with His disciples and celebrated with them this Passover meal which was to become the first Eucharist, the heart and life of our Christian worship.

Part III: The Conversion of Saul

"I persecuted the Church of God."ⁱ It was a fact that never left the mind of the great Apostle till the day of his martyrdom. It recurs over and over in his letters to the churches: "I was formerly a blasphemer, a persecutor, and an insolent man."ⁱⁱ He "made havoc of the church", entering into the sanctuaries of domestic life, "entering into every house";ⁱⁱⁱ and those he thus tore from their homes he "committed to prison".

Part II: Saul of Tarsus and the Martyrdom of St. Stephen

The martyrdom of St. Stephen, proto-martyr of the Church, and the involvement of Saul of Tarsus in the act is one of the most interesting and ironically tragic events recorded in the early history of the Church. St. Stephen, a young and zealous representative of the period when the Christian faith was all afire, because he was the earliest proponent of the freedom and universality of the Gospel, and because of the great trials and death he underwent for his preaching, is often recognized to be a type or forerunner of the great Apostle to the Gentiles.

Part I: Preparation for the Ministry

St. Paul dates the beginning of his preparation for the ministry as far back as the day of his birth. He says himself that he was set apart for the Gospel of God from his mother’s womb (Rom 1:1, Gal 1:15). All of the circumstances of his upbringing and subsequent life—his social position, his intellectual training, his religious creed—combined to be a most eminent schooling for the mission he was destined to accomplish later in life—to declare the universality of the Gospel and to gather the Gentiles into the fold of Christ.

Joy: A Domain of the Feeling Function

Joy is an integral part of a harmonious life lived out for the glory of God and our personal fulfillment and satisfaction. Nowadays, one of the most common problems is the lack of joy, especially among young people who are constantly bombarded with pressure from the surrounding; and the stresses that their concerns about life incur. If those serving in the Kingdom of God have their feeling function of joy undeveloped; it will be difficult for them to relay that joy to those whom they serve. To say we experience joy is to be able to live joyfully even during the most difficult situations; not only so, but to be able to communicate it biblically, psychologically, traditionally, and ritually to those whom we serve.

The Fear of The Lord

There are two kinds of fear; the first is due to God’s Awesome Divine Nature and the second is due to our frail and sinful nature. The topic of the fear of the Lord is essential not only because it is the beginning or the head of our spiritual life – "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom" (Prov 9:10) but because we live in a generation that lacks this feeling of reverence toward God. Imagine a house with a sign in front of it that says, ‘Beware of DOG’ and a 100 lbs Rottweiler barking in the backyard – now imagine another quiet house in the same neighborhood with a sign that says, ‘Beware of GOD’. Which of the two houses is more likely to be visited by a thief? The two signs had the same three letters but in different order yet a thief may avoid the house with the dog that he can see and hear and not be deterred by the second sign which should remind him of God who can see and hear him!

Troubles and Tribulations

No one is immune to pain or insulated from suffering while he lives his life on earth... Life is a series of problems. Every time we tend to solve one, another is waiting to take its place. Not all of them are big, yet not all are small. St. Peter assures us that problems are normal, saying, "Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you; but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ's sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy" (1 Peter 4:12,13).

Anna the Prophetess: A Wonderful Example to the Elderly

On the eighth day of the blessed month of Meshir, the Coptic Orthodox Church commemorates the presentation of our Lord Jesus Christ to the temple, a Jewish tradition of blessing, carried out forty days following a child’s birth; and also a tradition the Coptic Orthodox Church follows in offering baptism to forty day old male babies.

A Promise of Giving

Lord, isn’t it true dear Lord that everything we give You, has ultimately come from You; and all of it basically belongs to you "O LORD our God, all this abundance that we have prepared to build You a house for Your holy name is from Your hand, and is all Your own" (1 Chronicles 29:16). All the tithes, first-fruits, and vows are from your abundance. "If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him" (James 1:5). For it is obvious "For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out" (1 Timothy 6:7). We are nothing but stewards over your belongings.

Foreordination to...The Transformation of the Bread and Wine

On the thirteenth day of the blessed month of Tobe, the Coptic Orthodox Church celebrates the miracle that our Lord Jesus Christ performed at the Wedding in Cana of Galilee. Cana was a town in Galilee northeast of Nazareth, where the Lord Jesus Christ miraculously turned water into wine at a wedding feast. This miracle of turning the water into wine is known as the first miracle the Lord Jesus Christ performed following His Holy Baptism in the Jordan River by St. John the Baptist.

Baptism: Crowning Back into the Original Glory

On the tenth of Tobe, two weeks following the Nativity Feast, the Coptic Orthodox Church celebrates the glorious Feast of Epiphany; the occasion of the baptism of our Lord Jesus Christ in the waters of the Jordan River.

Circumcision: The First Major Dispute in the New Testament Church

"Was anyone called while circumcised? Let him not become uncircumcised. Was anyone called while uncircumcised? Let him not be circumcised. Circumcision is nothing and uncircumcision is nothing, but keeping the commandments of God is what matters" (I Corinthians 7:19).

God's Continuing Love Enfleshed

The Old Testament records that mankind had fallen, and been driven out of paradise; but God in His continuing love, desired to restore man to his original state. Ezekiel the prophet and priest prophesied this great, everlasting, restorative love of God for his people in spite of their rebellion for which they had deserved to be exiled and their temple to be destroyed.

The Nativity: How God was Born to Saint Mary

It happened that there lived a maiden named Mary in the city of Nazareth. (A maiden is a young woman who is not married). The angel of the Lord, named Gabriel, came to her one day and said: "Rejoice, highly favored one, the Lord is with you; blessed are you among women!" Mary did not know what the angel meant so he said, "Do not be afraid Mary, for you have found favor with God. And behold you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Highest." Mary was not sure how this was going to happen so the angel Gabriel said, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you and the power of the Highest will overshadow you; therefore also, that Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God."

Behold, All Things Have Become New (2 Corinthians 5:17)

On the 11th of September, the Coptic Orthodox Church celebrates the Coptic New Year of the Martyrs. In teaching her members how to end one year and receive another, the Church, directed by the Holy Spirit, has chosen for the Gospel Readings of the first two Sundays of the last Coptic Month (Mesore) of the Coptic Year, two key teachings of our Lord Jesus Christ present in the parable of the “Wicked Vinedressers” and the “New Garment”.

St. Barnabas: Son of Encouragement

One of the great men, not well known to many as some of the other names of the New Testament, is St. Barnabas whose first mention is in the Holy Book of Acts. Born as ‘Joseph’ or ‘Joses’, it was the disciples who gave him the name ‘Barnabas’ which means ‘Son of encouragement’ or ‘son of consolation’ (Acts 4:36). This name was indeed a very proper name for someone who lived to encourage those whom others feared or rejected.

Does God Exist?

"If there were no God, there would be no atheists"
--GK Chesterton, Where All Roads Lead

Why Must There Be One TRUE Religion? Why Is It Christianity?

• Why do I believe that God exists and Christianity to be the only true religion?
• Why do I not accept the popular idea that one religion or philosophical worldview is just as good as another?
• These are important questions that deserve rational answers.

Homosexuality

There is no agreement among either the scientific community, religious groups or homosexual people themselves as to the definition of homosexuality.

Lawrence J. Hatter, author of Changing Homosexuality in the Male, has given this definition: "One who is motivated, in adult life, by a definite preferential erotic attraction to members of the same sex and who usually, but not necessarily, engages in overt sexual relations with them." We've found this to be a good working definition, though a full explanation of the condition of homosexuality goes much deeper.

St. Anthony the Great: Wisdom Derived from Humility

Humility is to the virtues, it is often said, is like the root to the tree. The tree could not grow strong, bear fruits, or live a long life unless its roots are established deep in the ground. Humility's branches are modesty, unpretentiousness and respectfulness. Therefore humility, defined as being free from pride, is primary for all those seeking a strong enduring relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ.

St. Moses the Black: Meditation Strengthens Spiritual Life

Many believe spiritual meditation to be a vague, inconsequential, and unnecessary spiritual exercise. But in all actuality this could not be further from the truth. Spiritual meditation is directed contemplation, focused dwelling in thought, and conscious reflecting on those things which are good and holy abiding in the Lord Jesus Christ. It has been said by the wisest of desert fathers that there is always an honorable place for the man who thinks.

St. Mary: An Icon of Simplicity

To write about the virtue of Simplicity is to write about St. Mary. Although many virtues found residence with the Mother of God, yet when it comes to Simplicity, St. Mary immediately stands conspicuous and a sole source of inspiration and reference.

The Agpeya

We must begin by saying that probably the only persons who will benefit anything from this short message are those who are, like the present writer, weak in prayer. But it will benefit them only if, despite poorness in prayer, they nevertheless strive daily to meet God in prayer. If a person prays with the Agpeya on a regular basis, he might one day discover an important characteristic of this valuable little book: its wonderful function of sustaining our prayer life. We will refrain for the present from referring to it as a "prayer manual" or "spiritual guidebook;" for although it is all these things, we desire not to focus now on the ability of the Agpeya to teach prayer but rather to preserve it-it is our "anchor" in prayer.

Self Control: the Virtue Among Virtues

The book of Proverbs 25:28 likens a man without self control to a city broken into and left without walls. This description shows how important self control is, since it acts like a guard to our life. As the verse says, a man without self control is like a city broken into and left without protection, easy for thieves to break into, steal and destroy. Likewise, if we leave our soul and spirit without self control, Satan can easily enter and spoil our lives. Self Control is therefore important and recommended for everyone without exception or exemption regardless of gender, age or position.

The Didache

The Didache may be the oldest of known documents of Christian antiquity. It has been said to be undoubtedly the most ancient church "manual" in mankind's possession. In the early church, historically recorded, particularly in the nation of Egypt the Didache was held worthy of great respect and is documented as often quoted from by St. Clement of Alexandria as well as St. Athanasius the Apostolic.

God the Dispenser of Talents, Gifts or Both

Out of all the creatures that God has created, man is the most favored by Him. God has created man in His own image and bestowed on him various natural abilities, skills and talents. These talents were to be used for the benefit and enjoyment of mankind. There are many narrations in both the New and Old Testaments of how people had used their talents. God, having given Adam the linguistic talent, allowed him to enjoy using it by letting him name all the animals in the Garden. Noah, under the instructions of God, put into effect the architectural talent in building the Arch. David the psalmist used his musical talent and sang the psalms that he had composed and that were inspired by the Holy Spirit. St. Paul, in the New Testament, was skilled in weaving tents. He used his talent to provide for himself and those who were with him by selling the tents that he used to weave. Talents are therefore, natural, free capabilities essential for mankind in order to enrich and diversify his life.

From Resurrection to Pentecost

Introduction
The Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ not only brought about victory over death, Satan, and sin but also marked the beginning of a new resurrected life to be lived fully here on earth and continued and glorified in eternal life. That is why during the fifty days after the Resurrection, and while waiting to celebrate the descent of the Holy Spirit, as promised by our Lord Jesus Christ to His disciples, our beloved church filled, directed and inspired by the Holy Spirit continues to reveal to its members who that Person of Jesus Christ their Savior truly is; and what He, in essence, has procured for them. This the church does in such a significant, related manner throughout the seven consecutive weekly Gospel readings.

The Holy Joy of His Resurrection

“Show us the holy Joy of Your Resurrection.” That is how the priest concludes the prayer of blessings at the end of the Pascha Rituals everyday of the Holy Week, after which the believers depart filled with firm hope in obtaining mercy while looking up to the Crucified Christ Who is about to suffer crucifixion purposefully for the sake of procuring this mercy for humanity.

“Jesus Christ our true God who had accepted suffering willfully, and died on the cross for us, may He bring to completion this holy Pascha with peace and show us the Holy Joy of His Resurrection.”
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Resurrection Joy & Peace

Then the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in the midst, and said to them, "Peace be with you.""

John 20:19

Through His Death, He Trampled Upon Death

On the occasion of the glorious and joyous feast of the Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ, I would like to extend my wishes to you for a happy feast. May the blessings of this day be with us all.

The Cross Revealed in the Old Testament Offerings

One of the most interesting and intriguing topics in the Old Testament is the sacrifices or offerings that God the Almighty had ordered the Israelites to present to Him; and their direct relation to the grand offering of our Lord Jesus Christ on the cross.

The Holy Book of Leviticus deals extensively with this issue. In it we come across the terms: offering, sacrifice, and oblation (Korban).

Service in Secret

Once a man came to visit Father Pishoy in his home. At the time Father Pishoy was very ill and confined to his bed. He went on to tell a long story so that he could take money from Father Pishoy. At that time Father Luke was present, so he took the man to one side and discovered that the entire story was a lie. Father Luke then went back to Father Pishoy privately and told him the truth about this man and that he was lying to get money.

The Great Fast and Breaking Our Chains

You might one day discover that the Great Fast is a wonderful time of surprises. It will surprise you by showing how much progress you can make in the spiritual life, even when you’ve started out at ground zero. It will surprise you by revealing how much strength there is in you to fast that you never imagined you had. It will surprise you with how much determination wells up inside you to fight and defeat certain weaknesses before the Fast is over. In a life of spiritual dullness and frailty, you will discover that this is the period of spiritual zest and might. It is the perfect time to follow St. Paul’s injunction to “…strengthen the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees” (Heb 12:12).

The Golgotha