Highlights of the Second Annual Diocese Servants' Meeting
On Saturday, October 2, 2010, the servants of the Diocese participated in the Second Annual Diocese Servants’ Meeting under the auspices of our beloved bishop, His Grace Bishop Serapion, and our honored guest speaker, His Grace Bishop Thomas of El Quosia.The day commenced with the celebration of the Divine Liturgy with Their Graces and several diocese clergy. After brunch, the servants were blessed to hear a spiritual word from Bishop Thomas on the importance of – …
The Departure of St. Julius of Aqfahs, the Historian of the Martyrs (Thout 22/October 2)
On Thout 22, we commemorate the martyrdom of St. Julius of Aqfahs, the “Historian of the Martyrs.” The Lord Christ appointed him to care for the bodies of the holy martyrs, to shroud them and to send them to their hometown. The Lord brought blindness into the hearts of the governors, and no one objected to him. They also never forced him to worship idols. The Lord kept him to care for the martyrs. He used – …
Diocese Participates in Joint Oriental Orthodox Meeting
On Tuesday, September 28, 2010, His Grace Bishop Serapion and members of the diocese clergy participated in the Annual Joint Oriental Orthodox Liturgy and Meeting in Los Angeles. This year, the gathering was hosted St. Ephraim Syrian Orthodox Church with His Eminence Metropolitan Mor Clemis Eugene Kaplan of the Syrian Orthodox Archdiocese of the West, His Eminence Archbishop Moushegh Mardirosian of the Armenian Orthodox Western Diocese presiding. In addition, clergy from the Coptic, Syrian, and – …
The Feast of the Cross (Thout 17 / September 27)
Because of its power and holiness, the Coptic Orthodox Church celebrates two separate Feasts of the Cross in its liturgical year. The first, on Thout 17 (September 27 or 28), commemorates the discovery of the Holy Cross by the Empress Helen, mother of the first Christian Roman emperor, Constantine. Through her diligent search and efforts, the Holy Cross of our Lord Jesus Christ was recovered from under the rubble at Golgotha. The second Feast, on – …
Technology Updates from Around the Diocese
Over the past few months, several parishes and servants from around the diocese have worked diligently to bring the richness of the Coptic Orthodox Church to the devices and gadgets people use every day, such as iPhones and iPads. Here are some updates concerning what’s new and updated in technology from around the diocese.1. iAlhan App ReleasedA wonderful new application called iAlhan was released through St. Mercurious and St. Abraam Coptic Church in Torrance. This – …
Diocese Expresses Solidarity with Russian People and Church over Wildfires
In the summer months of 2010, the land of Russia was afflicted by an extraordinary number of wildfires, their number surpassed only by their intensity. More than one-hundred villages were destroyed by the fires, at least 50 people died, and thousands were left homeless.Out of a sense of love for, and solidarity with, the Russian people, and after a global appeal by His Holiness Patriarch Kirill, the Diocese of Los Angeles, Southern California, and Hawaii made – …
The Martyr Portrays the Icon of the Resurrection
During these blessed and joyous weeks, we celebrate the The Feast of Nairouz and the beginning of another Coptic New Year. The Church chose the beginning of the reign of Emperor Diocletian in 284 A.D. to mark the beginning of the Church Calendar, because he was one of the cruelest emperors, who severely persecuted the Christians, especially in Egypt. The Coptic Orthodox Church offered thousands of martyrs during the reign of this emperor.When we celebrate – …
The Coptic New Year 1727 A.M.
From September 11, 2010 (Thout 1) to September 27 (Thout 17), the Coptic Orthodox Church celebrates the Feast of Nayrouz, which is the feast of the new year in the Coptic calendar, 1727 A.M. The designation “A.M.” at the end of the Coptic year refers to “Anno Martyrii,” which is Latin for “Year of the Martyrs.” The reason years in the Coptic calendar are called “years of the martyrs” is the fact that the calendar – …
Mahragan Al Keraza Competition 2010 Results
On Saturday, August 28, many children from almost every parish in the Diocese participated in the Mahragan Al Keraza Spiritual Competition for children in grades 1-5. The competition took place at St. Mary and St. Athanasius Church in Northridge, California under the auspices of His Holiness Pope Shenouda III and our beloved father, His Grace Bishop Serapion. Attending the event with His Grace were several priests, clergy, and servants from the various parishes of the – …
Departure of Abba Parsoum the Naked (September 10 / Nasie 5)
On September 10, the Church celebrates the departure of Abba Parsoum the “Naked” (El-Erian). He was born in Misre (Cairo). His father called El-Wageeh Moufdel, was the scribe of the Queen “Shagaret El-dor”, and his mother was from the family of El-Taban. When his parents departed, his uncle took possession of all that they had left. Parsoum did not quarrel with him but forsook the world and lived the life of the righteous hermits. He – …
Departure of St. Takla the Ethiopian
On August 30, we celebrate the departure of the blessed St. Takla the Ethiopian (Haymanout). He was born in a village nearby Jerusalem which was the share of Zadok and Abia-thar the priests during the reign of King Soliman, son of King David. Zadok begot Azariah, Azariah begot Zadok, who was named after his grandfather, and Zadok begot Levi, and so forth till the father of this saint was born. His name was Tsega Ze-Ab – …
On Wearing the Cross
The Cross of Jesus Christ is the joy and boast of Christians. By the Cross we were saved and by the Cross the demons are put to flight. Wearing the Cross on our person is a fundamental and simple way to keep Christ in our daily life and to fight the influence of the devil. Who wears the Cross and when? Infants and adults who are baptized in the Coptic Orthodox Church typically receive a small – …