The Gospel reading of the Fifth Sunday of the Great Holy Fast, known as the Sunday of the Paralytic, begins with this simple statement: “After this there was a feast of the Jews, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem” (Jn 5:1). It is, prima facie, a simple statement that one can easily pass over, but it deserves our attention, for we learn from it more than the obvious fact that our Lord went to Jerusalem – …

On Thursday, April 7, which corresponds to the Feast of our Lord’s Annunciation in the Coptic Orthodox liturgical calendar, His Eminence Metropolitan Serapion celebrated the Divine Liturgy at one of the Diocese’s newest parishes, Holy Annunciation Coptic Orthodox Church in Inglewood. Participating with him were the Reverend Father John Botros of St. George Church (Bellflower), who currently serves this parish, and many of the blessed chanters and laity.

With great enthusiasm, the Diocese announces a marital enrichment event entitled ‘Communication Bootcamp’ on Sunday, June 26, 2016 at Holy Resurrection Coptic Orthodox Church in Los Angeles. All married couples are invited to attend. Lunch, valet parking, and a children’s program will be provided. Please see the flyer below for complete details. You may register online at http://www.lahrc.org/marriage (early registration until May 9).

For those seeking to benefit from this season of fasting, the Diocese is pleased to offer a page dedicated to the schedule of Divine Liturgies in parishes around the Diocese throughout the Great Holy Fast 2016. You may access it below or from the Diocese > Diocese Parishes menu above. Schedule of Divine Liturgies during the Great Holy Fast 2016

The past month will be remembered as a unique time in the history of the Diocese in light of the various elevations and ordinations that have taken place. For those who missed the news, here is a summary: Elevation of Metropolitan Serapion Axios! The Reception of Metropolitan Serapion (March 8, 2016) New Biography page Announcing the Consecration of Two Auxiliary Bishops Hegumen Father Isaac Boulos and Hegumen Father Dr. John Paul Abdelsayed (March 14) Elevation of Four – …

On Monday, March 14, 2016, as His Eminence Metropolitan Serapion celebrated the Divine Liturgy at the St. Paul Brotherhood and elevated the Very Reverend Father Isaac Boulos and the Very Reverend Father Dr. John Paul Abdelsayed to the priestly dignity of Hegumen, he also elevated Deacon Macarius Paul to the rank of Archdeacon. In the Coptic Orthodox Church, the archdeacon is the head of the deacons in any given parish and a close assistant to – …

On Monday, March 14, 2016, His Eminence Metropolitan Serapion celebrated the Divine Liturgy at the St. Paul Brotherhood and elevated the Very Reverend Father Isaac Boulos and the Very Reverend Father Dr. John Paul Abdelsayed to the priestly dignity of Hegumen. The elevation of these two beloved holy fathers precedes the eagerly anticipated joy of their consecration as auxiliary bishops later this year to assist His Eminence in various aspects of the service within the Diocese. – …

On Sunday, March 13, 2016, His Eminence Metropolitan Serapion and His Grace Bishop Karas, General Bishop and Papal Exarch in the Archdiocese of North America, laid hands upon and elevated Fr. Mauritius Mikhail to the priestly dignity of Hegumen as part of his continuing service at St. George Church in Bellflower. His Eminence Speaks about Fr. Mauritius and Fr. Jonah – Arabic http://lacopts:8888/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Concerning-Fr-Mauritius-and-Fr-Jonah-Arabic.m4a His Eminence Speaks about Fr. Mauritius and Fr. Jonah – English http://lacopts:8888/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Concerning-Fr-Mauritius-and-Fr-Jonah-English.m4a Fr. – …

On Sunday, March 13, 2016, His Eminence Metropolitan Serapion, along with His Grace Bishop Karas, the General Bishop and Patriarchal Exarch at the Archdiocese of North America, laid hands upon and ordained Deacon Jonah Labib (formerly Dr. Michael Labib) as a presbyter to serve in the Diocese at St. George Coptic Orthodox Church in Bellflower. We congratulate Fr. Jonah, his family, and the entire parish community for this joyful occasion while praying that the Lord – …

On March 12, 2016, the St. Athanasius and St. Cyril Coptic Orthodox Theological School hosted a spiritual day at Claremont School of Theology for all servants in the Diocese, which featured academic lectures from His Eminence Metropolitan Serapion (“Studying Theology in the Life of a Servant”), Reverend Dr. Deacon Severus Mikhail (“A Brief History of the School of Alexandria”), and Dr. Lillian Larsen (“Early Monasticism in Egypt”). This slideshow requires JavaScript. For those who were unable – …

In the Divine Liturgy for the March 2016 Clergy Meeting at St. Pope Kerollos VI Church, His Eminence Metropolitan Serapion laid hands upon and elevated Father Shenouda Ghattas to the priestly dignity of Hegumen. This was His Eminence’s first act of elevation after his own elevation to the episcopal dignity of Metropolitan on February 28, 2016. The Reverend Hegumen Father Shenouda was ordained as a presbyter by the Thrice-Blessed Pope Shenouda III of blessed memory – …

With great joy, the Diocese and her children received their newly elevated father and shepherd in Christ, His Eminence Metropolitan Serapion, on Tuesday, March 8 at St. Mark Church in Los Angeles. The reception was attended by almost all of the clergy and many parishioners from the four corners of the Diocese who came to congratulate their father and receive his blessing. After the Prayer of Thanksgiving, there was an Arabic word of congratulations offered – …