On Saturday, March 14, St. Marina Coptic Orthodox Church will hold a spiritual day for junior-high youth on the topic “Creation versus Evolution.” The aim of the programme is to educate young Orthodox Christian youth on the Church’s teaching on the creation versus evolution debate. In addition, the day will offer fellowship, skits, and games to both educate and entertain the youth. The schedule will be as follows: 10:00 – 10:30 Welcome 10:30 – 11:00 – …

The word Copt is derived from the Greek word Aigyptos, which was, in turn, derived from "Hikaptah", one of the names for Memphis, the first capital of Ancient Egypt. Following the Arab conquest of Egypt in 640 A.D., the land of Egypt has been called "dar al-Gibt" (home of the Egyptians) and since Christianity was the official religion of Egypt at the time, the word "Gibt" came to refer to the practitioners of Christianity as – …

The Lord Christ and the Cross The Lord invited to bear the Cross and said: “If anyone desires to come after ‎Me, let him deny himself, and take up his Cross, and follow Me” (Matt. 16:24; ‎Mark 8:34). And He said to the rich young man: “Go your way, sell whatever you ‎have and give to the poor,…and come, take up the Cross, and follow Me.” (Mark ‎‎10:21). ‎ He made the bearing of the – …

We all know that our Lord Jesus Christ raised Lazarus from the dead after four days. The woman who poured the fragrant oil was celebrating–albeit unknowingly–the end of the stench of death and the beginning of a new era. On that day, our Lord Jesus Christ was invited to the house of His beloved. Who are those beloved? They were Lazarus and his two sisters, Mary and Martha. And what about this new era? We – …

Introduction Occasionally, the Copts have been described as a schismatic eastern Christian minority, a lonely community in the land of their forebears. They have been forgotten since they chose living in oblivion after the tragedy of Chalcedon (451 A.D.) which was followed by a new wave of persecution inflicted upon them by fellow Christians and Byzantine rulers. Though they were not unknown to mediaeval and early modern travellers from Europe, Western Christendom appears to have – …

Under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, this holy period is specified for correction, purification, an enlightenment of our entire being, both physically and spiritually. Great Lent is considered the spring of our spiritual life, and for every soul that yearns for her Heavenly Bridegroom, this is considered “a honeymoon,” in which the soul relinquishes worldly cares in order to be free for the Bridegroom and can say with the bride of the Song of – …

POMONA, CA – On Thursday, January 19, 2009, His Grace Bishop Serapion and the clergy of the Diocese will convene at St. Marina Coptic Orthodox Church in Irvine, California for their monthly clergy meeting.  By special invitation of His Grace Bishop Serapion, the clergy will be edified with a lecture on the history of Oriental Orthodox liturgies by Dr. Hans-Jürgen Feulner. Dr. Feulner is a university professor for Liturgical Studies and Theology of the Sacraments – …

The Diocese is pleased to offer complete information and online registration for the 2009 conventions for college, high school, and junior high youth. The summer conventions are a great way for Coptic Orthodox youth in the Diocese to benefit spiritually from dynamic speakers while building lasting friendships with their peers and friend from all parts of the Diocese. God willing, this year will be the most successful year yet. For the first time, the Diocese – …

The great cannot exist without the small, nor the small without the great. There is a certain mixing together in all things, and usefulness in such. Let us take our body. The head without the feet is not anything, neither are the feet without the head. For the most insignificant parts of our body are necessary and useful to the whole of the body. But all work together and employ a single state of submission – …

The Hanging Church in Coptic Cairo is currently under restoration. The interior work is being done by a team of Russian specialists, who are using the experience gained from restoring ancient Orthodox churches in their own country. When I visited the Hanging Church in November 2006, I asked one of the Russians how long they had been staying in Egypt. She answered with a sigh and a smile, “We have lost our sense of time – …

According to the Catholic News Agency, a coalition of Jewish, Catholic and Protestant organizations has filed an amicus curiae brief with the California Supreme Court arguing that Proposition 8–the successful California ballot measure that banned same-sex marriage in November 2008–should be upheld. The brief offers the following points: Proposition 8 prevents a conflict between the church and state in issues that are undoubtedly affected by same-sex marriage, such as housing and public accommodations. Overturning Proposition – …

On January 29, 2009, His Grace Bishop Serapion will travel to Moscow, Russia on behalf of the Coptic Orthodox Church to congratulate and attend the enthronement of His Eminence Metropolitan Kirill of Smolensk and Kaliningrad as the 16th Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia, the official title of the heads of the Russian Orthodox Church. The Patriarch-elect received 508 of the 702 available votes in the secret election. He succeeds Patriarch Alexei II, who reposed – …