St Innocent of Alaska “Finally let us say why we cannot possibly avoid the narrow way into the Kingdom of Heaven. a) Because in every man there is sin, and sin is a wound that does not heal by itself, without medicines; and in the case of some people this wound is so deep and… Continue reading The True Physician!
By Bishoy Marcus Let the protests continue! It is with great frustration and utter bewilderment that I write this post. I have never commented or written about this issue and I understand people get edgy and nervous when it is mentioned. The issue at hand what is the role of the clergy and the state.… Continue reading Let The Protests Continue!
By Bishoy Marcus Have you ever felt that the world is against you and that you are the only one rallying for a cause? If yes then this post is for you. The first distinction we need to make is what is your cause? Is your cause like that of St Athanasius the Great who at… Continue reading Counting The Cost!
In news coming in from Egypt. Coptic protesters in Menya demanding equal rights for their brothers are witnessing amazing things as we write. Reports coming in show doves of light flying above and a cross of purple light hovering over the crowds. Protesters can be heard chanting slogans such as “Lift your head high O… Continue reading BREAKING NEWS: Doves & Cross of Light Over Menya Protests
OTTAWA – Prime Minister Stephen Harper has condemned the violence against Coptic Christians in Egypt. “Canada is a tolerant, multicultural country with a proud tradition of defending religious minorities around the world. We stand behind the Coptic Christian community and their right to practice their faith in safety and security, free of persecution. This is a universal human right and one which our Government is committed… Continue reading Canadian PM on the Coptic Situation!
GENEVA — UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said Wednesday that he was disturbed by clashes between Christian Copts and Muslims in Egypt, days after fresh violence in Cairo left 12 people dead. Ban expressed concern that it could affect the recent progress towards democratic reform. “I am disturbed by the recent violence between Muslims and… Continue reading United Nations On The Coptic Situation!
A brilliant summary of the situation in Egypt!
A brilliant ABC report on the current situation in Egypt CLICK HERE to listen to the report or read below. MARK COLVIN: As the Egyptian government moves to strengthen security around places of worship in the Australian Coptic Christian community fears are rising for friends and relatives overseas. In particular there are concerns for the… Continue reading ABC PM On the Current Situation In Egypt!
It is acknowledged that the hymns of the Coptic Orthodox Church date back to the early period of the Ancient Egyptians. Today, Coptic music is considered to be one of the oldest musical genres alive. Coptic music is not transcribed, but rather passed down orally from generation to generation. In addition to its complexity, the… Continue reading The Modern History Of Coptic Hymns!
The angels proclaimed the news of Christ’s resurrection to the women saying, “Why do you seek the living among the dead? He is not here, but He is risen” (Luke 24: 5-6) The news of the risen Christ brought tremendous joy to the disciples, but terrified the Jewish leaders. As much as the day of… Continue reading On the Joys of Resurrection!
It’s official. The Coptic Orthodox Church, Diocese of Sydney and affiliated regions has given the blessing and approval to the Coptic orthodox Christian Motorcycle Association. No doubt the first Coptic Orthodox Christian bike club in the world and quite possibly the first amongst all Orthodoxy. All Coptic motorcyclists or any Coptics that are interested in… Continue reading Official Coptic Orthodox Bike Club
Desert in the City: The Holy Gospels record one of the first events at the beginning of Jesus’ public life. St. Mark (Gospel, 1: 10-12) writes that after the Theophany in which: “… the Spirit descending upon him like a dove; and a voice came from heaven, “Thou art my beloved Son; with thee I… Continue reading Aids To Help In Service Fatigue!
When the disciples had gathered on the new Passover (Pascha), the Lord’s Day or Resurrection Day, Jesus entered the room where they were – “the doors being shut…for fear of the Jews” – stood in the midst of them and showed them His hands and side. Christ then greeted them with that salutation, retained by… Continue reading Thomas!
Dr. James L. Wilson Back in the 1880’s Nietzsche declared that “God is dead,” and before the turn of the Twentieth Century, Shaw and Wells chimed in saying the 20th Century would mark the end of the world’s “religious phase.” Yet, today a church now meets in Russia’s Museum of Religion and Atheism-the former center… Continue reading Why We Still Celebrate Easter!
On the Resurrection Key verses: 1 Peter 4:12-13 As we celebrate the commemoration of the glorious feast of our Lord’s Resurrection on Sunday, we must never lose sight of the fact that as victorious as this resurrection is, it would never have come about without the apparent defeat of the cross. In looking at the… Continue reading Bishop Angelos On The Resurrection!
Today in Pascha we see the disciples amazement at the withered tree which Jesus Cursed. Was it not unreasonable to curse the tree for being fruitless when, as St Mark expressly says, “it was not the season for figs”? Was Jesus Cruel in cursing something that didnt fruit at the right time? This doesn’ pose… Continue reading The Fig Tree!
Golgotha is an ancient coptic hymn that dates back to pharonic times. The melody is said to have been the same melody used when pharohs were being buried. At the foot of the cross when Joseph and Nicodemus went to get the body of Christ for burial, they saw and heard angels singing, HOLY GOD… Continue reading Golgotha
HH Pope Shenouda III is the spiritual father of all the Coptic Christians in the world. He is the 117th Pope on the throne of St Mark the Evangelist. His incredible power to simplify the complex interaction between man and God has enthralled millions in his lifetime. His wisdom blended with humility and sincerity have made… Continue reading Come Back To God!
A truly remarkable and inspirational story. A testament to the love of great parents. A window into the heart of the mute. A vision into the mind of the wild. Simply Amazing. Enjoy
St. Isaac the Syrian says, “He who thinks that there exists a road to repentance other than prayer is deceived by the devil.” Without a doubt, it takes firm determination and conscious effort to overcome lustful thoughts and temptations, but we can’t do it without the grace of God. Therefore we pursue prayer first and… Continue reading Practical Ways To Conquer Lust!
When the Savior says to him, “Man, your sins are forgiven you,” he addresses this to humankind in general. For those who believe in him, being healed of the diseases of the soul, will receive forgiveness of the sins which they formerly committed. He may also mean this: “I must heal your soul before I… Continue reading Your Sins Are Forgiven You!
Parenting a teenager is hard enough, but add in trying to be a Christian parent and the challenges become even greater. Parents today are dealing with issues that their parents never even thought about. As our society “advances” the pressures facing teenagers today grow, meaning that parents today have to take a different approach to… Continue reading An Effective Christian Parent!
The Church is that living institution which is eternally joined to Christ, whose task it is to guide and bring all its children to God in His eternal Kingdom. All Orthodox Christians are called upon to observe the commandments of God: to love God with all their being and their fellow man as themselves; but,… Continue reading The Seven Sacraments
The New Testament describes the familiar account of the “woman at the well” (John 4:5-42), who was a Samaritan. Up to that point she had led a sinful life, one which resulted in a rebuke from Jesus Christ. However, she responded to Christ’s stern admonition with genuine repentance, was forgiven her sinful ways, and became… Continue reading St Photini – The Samaritan Woman!
St. Cyril of Alexandria, in his comment on “Hallowed be Thy Name,” affirmed that it is absolutely absurd to think that when we pray, “Hallowed be Thy Name,” we pray that additional holiness may accrue unto the all-holy God. He wondered, “If God be full and in every respect perfect in and by Himself, and… Continue reading Why Do We Bless God?
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