1.) The very moment the body’s will leans toward some sensual desire, curb it, deny it, avoid it and remove yourself from the surrounding of it. Just as the body would use a stray thought or desire to distract your prayerful moments, do the same. When the body’s senses try to lean toward a desire,… Continue reading Tips On Training Your Natural Will!
St. Mark the Founder The Coptic Orthodox Church is an Apostolic Church. It was founded by St. Mark the Apostle and Evangelist in the first century. It is also known as “The Church of Alexandria” or “The See of St. Mark.” It was one of the earliest four “sees” or “patriarchates”: Jerusalem, Antioch, Alexandria, and… Continue reading Who are the Copts? Part 2
There is a very simple technique that you can use to challenge yourself. It is a challenge technique used by soldiers in their battlefields. For often times, in a war, a soldier can be stationed in a fox hole, or lookout, simply to wait until the enemy approaches. This waiting can completely deaden the senses… Continue reading Try This Challenge!
Being Christian is the most unnatural thing you will ever do. For our human nature is in direct opposition to our spiritual yearnings and as such, you will find that the very greatest battle you will ever fight in this spiritual warfare is the battle with yourself. Be prepared to fight against your wants, your… Continue reading A Constant and Daily War!
I have read so much on the different roles of man within the church and in regards to the family unit. However it is unfortunate to say not much attention has been given to what fatherhood really is. Personally I think it’s impossible to discuss this without examining the personality and role of the “Father… Continue reading The Role of Man!
If one man is with another person and knows things concerning him, and if you, twenty years old, know things concerning your neighbour, can Satan, who has been with you from birth, not know your thoughts? For he is already many years old. Still we do not say that before he tempts he knows what… Continue reading Does Satan know our Plans?
People around him try to stop him, but the blind man cries louder, “Jesus of Nazareth, have mercy on me.” Hearing the cry, Jesus stood still. What a marvelous revelation of God this is! Jesus was no doubt on His way to some important mission. But above the noise of the crowd He heard the… Continue reading The Power of Prayer!
About various visions: How does one make a distinction between visions from the Holy Spirit and visions conjured from the Evil one. Firstly, pray and make supplication unto the Revealer of secrets that He may make you posses the ability to distinguish between these matters. I have learned that the visions and revelation of the… Continue reading The way of the Devil! Part 2
Sons of Pharaohs The Copts are the rightful ancestors of the ancient Egyptians. The term “Copt” is derived from the Greek word “Aigyptos” which is in turn derived from the ancient Egyptian word “Ha-ka-Ptah” which means, the house of the spirit of Ptah, a most highly revered deity in Egyptian mythology. Since the Arab conquest… Continue reading Who are the Copts? Part 1
There once was a King who offered a prize to the artist who would paint the best picture of peace. Many artists tried. The King looked at all the pictures, but there were only two he really liked and he had to choose between them. One picture was of a calm lake. The lake was… Continue reading This Is True Peace!
St Anthony, a master of discernment, a wise guide to the traveler, and a trained athlete in the wars of the supernatural, wrestled for many years against the schemes of the devils. We recall what St. Paul says, “We wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against powers, principalities, and rulers of darkness (Eph 6:12). … Continue reading The way of the Devil! Part 1
Women have their energetic and positive role in the Coptic Orthodox Christian Church. For example: Ø Those who wish to consecrate their life to God may become nuns. They play an important role in the life of families and their convents are spiritual centers for the people. Ø Abbesses have a leading role to attract,… Continue reading Women in the Orthodox Church! Part 2
The Orthodox Church respects the natural order God created, i.e. the difference between male and female, for God created man and woman to compliment each other. Truly in Jesus Christ there is no man and woman (Galatians 3:28), for each of them is a member of the one body, having the same faith. Both are… Continue reading The Issue of Female Priests!
When Jesus says, “Come,” He does not stand on the top rung of a long, high ladder in heaven to signal us to start climbing. For He Himself has climbed down the ladder to stand at our very elbows. He has come to us. “For us men and for our salvation (He) came down from… Continue reading He Came!
I take time to thank God for the good things that came into my day. I review the many details of the day in no particular order. For instance, I thank God for sunshine or rain, for getting a chair fixed, for a phone call from a friend, for feeling good all day long, for… Continue reading Examination of your Conscience!
Often times, females in our Church feel left out and ignored. Is this a correct feeling? Does the Church really propagate such an idea in Her teachings? In addressing the issue of the role of women in the Church, we have to distinguish between Holy Tradition and customs that are influenced by culture and do… Continue reading Women in the Orthodox Church! Part 1
Could you imagine an army commander, being advised by his scouts, that the enemy is on the move to his position and will soon be attacking – and the commander turns away, puts up his hands and says, “I don’t want to know.” Ignorance is certainly NOT blissful. Ignorance is an action on our part… Continue reading Ignorance is NOT Bliss!
Satan called a worldwide convention. In his opening address to his evil angels, he said, “We can’t keep the Christians from going to church. We can’t keep them from reading their Bibles and knowing the truth. We can’t even keep them from forming an intimate, abiding relationship experience in Christ. If they gain that connection… Continue reading Satans Worldwide Convention!
1. Life of Dedication “Then Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest and asked letters from him to the synagogues of Damascus, so that if he found any who were of the Way, whether men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. (Act… Continue reading The 10 Lives of St Paul
People react quite differently when confronting suffering. Some cry out in anger; others rebel in frustration. Another might seek scapegoat to vent his frustrations. A fourth might instead abandon the way of purity and righteousness, and decide to live a life of pleasure and lust, feeling almost justified to lust for his light affliction. St.… Continue reading Dealing with Suffering!
The church, being the house of God, is naturally the dwelling of God with His people, in them and for their interest. The church community constructs the church building as an oblation of love to God, who accepts it, sanctifies it, and turns it into his heavenly and holy temple. Within it, the community receives… Continue reading Coptic Architecture!
Our Lord Jesus Christ is a generous and loving Father, always giving us more than we need. As He is perfect in His love and perfect in His knowledge of His children, He knows our hearts desires and always provides for us. Although it may seem at times that God does not listen to us… Continue reading Our Provider!
Yesterday the Coptic Orthodox Church celebrated the Entry of the Holy Family into Egypt, below is a short discourse on some of the wonderful miracles that happened on this journey. Hosea, the Prophet, foresaw the Son of God going out of Bethlehem and fleeing to Egypt, where He found a welcome in the hearts of… Continue reading "Blessed Be Egypt, My People"
Yesterday the Coptic Orthodox Church celebrated the Entry of the Holy Family into Egypt, below is a short discourse on some of the wonderful miracles that happened on this journey. Hosea, the Prophet, foresaw the Son of God going out of Bethlehem and fleeing to Egypt, where He found a welcome in the hearts of… Continue reading “Blessed Be Egypt, My People”
I thank God that He has granted you the blessing of entering the academic field. A university is not only a school of knowledge, but also a school of life. The young person who spends the university years with an upright heart builds a mature and effective Christian personality and increases his experiences of life… Continue reading Letter to University Students!
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