The Christian Monastery of Saint Anthony, or Deir Mar Antonios, is the the first ever monastery, and lies at the coast of the Red Sea, to the east of the Fayum oasis. Dedicated to St Anthony, it was founded in 356 AD immediately after the saint’s death, and is now the oldest Christian monastery still… Continue reading Restoration of St Anthony's Monastery
The Christian Monastery of Saint Anthony, or Deir Mar Antonios, is the the first ever monastery, and lies at the coast of the Red Sea, to the east of the Fayum oasis. Dedicated to St Anthony, it was founded in 356 AD immediately after the saint’s death, and is now the oldest Christian monastery still… Continue reading Restoration of St Anthony’s Monastery
St. Andrew was a native of Bethsaida in Galilee. He worked in the family fishing business with his brother, St. Peter. The name “Andrew” literally means “strong man,” but he was also surnamed “Protoklitos” because he was the first who was called upon by Christ. CLICK HERE to Continue Reading the life of St Andrew… Continue reading St Andrew the Disciple
Death in a true Orthodox understanding isn’t the end of life it is the beginning of life. When God banished Adam & Eve from the Garden of Eden it wasn’t for eternal condemnation it was for temporal retribution- Retribution for the sin that Adam dared to commit in paradise. Out of his love God did… Continue reading Death is the Beginning of Joy!
It is obvious from reading the teachings of the Fathers of the Church that sex is a wondrous and beautiful gift from Almighty God. The proper use of human sexuality is called chastity, and the improper use of human sexuality is lust. Secular society today has completely lost the true meaning and inherent beauty of… Continue reading Pure Purity or Evil Lust?
In recent days I have been thinking about the issue of responsibility. Personally I believe one of the most important personal decisions you can make on your road to becoming a good Christian is to accept complete responsibility for everything you are and are currently experiencing, as well as everything you will ever become or… Continue reading Accepting Responsibility
A Christian family has special traits that spring from the Christian concept of sacred marriage and the commandments of the Bible for the married couple about how to deal with each other and how to bring their children up. The family in the Christian concept is a small church, for St. Paul says: “To Philemon… Continue reading 10 Ingredients for a Happy Family
At such a time angels stand by the Priest; and the whole sanctuary, and the space round about the altar, is filled with the powers of heaven, in honour of Him who lies thereon. For this, indeed, is capable of being proved from the very rites which are being then celebrated. I myself, moreover, have… Continue reading Miracles That Occur In the Liturgy – St John Chyrsostom
Make every effort and be hard working, so when your enemy attacks you, he will find you busy away from him, not finding room for him in your heart. Being idle is fatal venom; it is the moth for virtue, and the mother of all heresies and the evil fantasies. It is the virus of… Continue reading Laziness – The Couch Potato Syndrome
“Everyone needs friends, even adults cannot do without certain friends. Young people may learn life long lessons from friendships, grow in Christ due to friends, get into trouble because of friends and become very close to some friends. We need to understand the three types of friendships, what the Bible teaches about friendships, and the… Continue reading The Three Types of Friendship!
We hear and see it everywhere. Mainstream media portrays the message: “millions of years ago there was an ‘age of dinosaurs’, but they became extinct long before man appeared on this planet”. I disagree, and I think there is good evidence against this message. In this Blog Daniel Ayad answers many of the tough questions… Continue reading Explain Dinosaurs, Please!
Open the bed chamber of your heart to let Jesus in and you will find perfect rest, for everything is vain without Him. You will not find anyone to carry your burden to ease it off, but Him. In Him you will find happiness, and with Him you will find eternal life and peace of… Continue reading Is YOUR Heart Empty?
One can imagine the utter despair behind those words, “Sir, I have no man.” How well he knew the pain of loneliness — a pain expressed so well by the Ancient Mariner: “Alone, alone, all, all, alone; alone on a wide, wide sea.” A famous doctor was asked to name the most devastating disease. His… Continue reading Loneliness
I recently heard a story that makes a profound point about surrender. Some time ago a radio station reported news of a stolen VW Bug in California. The police staged an intense search for the vehicle and the man who stole it, even to the point of making announcements on local radio stations to contact… Continue reading COMPLETE SURRENDER TO GOD BRINGS COMPLETE LIFE
A little girl sat on her mother’s knee, and as she looked into her mother’s face she said: “Mummie, you’ve got the prettiest hair and the sweetest eyes I have ever seen. And Mummie, yours is the kindest face in the entire world. But, Mummie, why are your arms so ugly?” The mother then explained… Continue reading The Scars Speak!
A Frenchman was crossing the desert with an Arab guide. Day after day the Arab knelt on the burning sand and called upon his God in prayer. One evening when the Arab knelt to pray, the unbelieving Frenchman asked him: “How do you know there is a God?” The guide fixed his eyes upon the….… Continue reading Footprints & Nailprints
Why did the Lord appear to Mary Magdalene after the resurrection? Why did He say to her ” Do not cling to Me,” (John 20:17) While He allowed Saint Thomas to touch Him? (John 20:27). He, also, allowed the rest of the apostles to touch him. (Luke 24:39) Did He prevent her from touching Him… Continue reading Do not cling to Me!
In this post Daniel Ayad continues in his discussion on Evolution focusing on – How life started? CLICK HERE to read part 4 in this series
A Beautiful analogy from the desert fathers which wonderfully demonstrates how a true Christian should focus on the treasured prize! Abba Hilarion [founder of Palestinian monasticism] was asked, “How can it be right for a diligent brother not to be offended when he sees other monks returning to the world?” The old man said, “Let… Continue reading The Hare & The Dogs
The most significant event in history is the Resurrection of Jesus Christ. It is the strongest evidence that Jesus is the Son of God. This event gives men and women the sure hope of eternal life a hope that not only gives us joy as we look to the future but also provides us with… Continue reading Crucifixion or CruciFICTION?
The Hymn of Tonseena is next in our series on Coptic Hymnology of Easter LYRICS We, the believers, praise and worship the Word, One in eternity with the Father and the Spirit, born of the Virgin for our salvation, for He agreed and accepted to go up on the cross, and to suffer death in… Continue reading Hymns of Resurrection Part 4
The Hymn Tolitho is next in our series of the Coptic hymnology of Easter! Lyrics: While the stone was sealed by the Jews and Your holy body was guarded by the soldiers You arose on the third day O Savior, granting life to the world. For that reason the heavenly hosts cry out to You,… Continue reading Hymns of Resurrection Part 3
Next in our Series on the Coptic Hymnolgy of Easter is the Hymn Ekhristos Anesti which has two distinct tunes as you will hear below in the video from St Marks Cathedral in Egypt from this years Easter Mass. The hymn is sung after the re-enactment of our Lord Jesus Christ opening the gates of… Continue reading Hymns of the Resurrection Part 2
A curious custom of the Coptic Church is the liturgy is prayed and sung in Coptic, the original language of ancient Egypt. The Church keeps alive the language of the pharaohs, which was written in hieroglyphics, hieratic and demotic and now a modified version of the Greek alphabet, Egyptian written in Greek and demotic (the Copt)… Continue reading Hymns of Resurrection Part 1
The Coptic Church was founded by St Mark the Evangelist who wrote the Gospel of St Mark. Hstory documents that St Mark entered into Egypt somewhere between 40-50AD Furthermore, while it is debated many scholars agree that the 1st Epistle of St Peter was written by St Peter in Egypt in the year 43AD. As… Continue reading History of the Nile Valley Christians!
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