Three Reverend Oriental Orthodox Patriarchs Sign Common Declaration in Damascus
Friday and Saturday, December 9-10, 2005, the Heads of the Oriental Orthodox Churches in the Middle East, His Holiness Pope Shenouda III of the Coptic Church, His Holiness Patriarch Zakka I of the Syrian Church and His Holiness Catholicos Aram I of the Armenian Church-Catholicosate of Cilicia, held their 8th meeting, at St. Ephrem Monastery, Ma’arat Saydnaya, Damascus, Syria. This fellowship was founded in 1996. During their deliberations, the three Heads addressed issues related to – …
Report of Catholic-Oriental Orthodox Commission
Report of Catholic-Oriental Orthodox Commission A Shared “Ecclesial Patrimony Stemming From Apostolic Times” VATICAN CITY, FEB. 12, 2007 (Zenit.org).- Here is the report issued at the conclusion of the fourth meeting of the International Joint Commission for Theological Dialogue Between the Catholic Church and the Oriental Orthodox Churches. The meeting took place Jan. 28-Feb. 3 in Rome. The fourth meeting of the International Joint Commission for Theological Dialogue between the Catholic Church and the Oriental Orthodox Churches took – …
Diocese Issues Press Release About Student Starvation Claim
March 7, 2008–-In response to a recent news story about Jonathan McCullum, a U.S. Exchange Student who claimed he was starved by a Coptic Christian family due to church fasts, the Coptic Orthodox Diocese of Los Angeles, Southern California, and Hawaii clarifies as follows: Although the Church strongly encourages her believers to observe periods of fasting according to Apostolic Tradition, fasting is a voluntary spiritual sacrifice. The Church does not impose her fasting days on anyone. – …
The Opening of the New Church Building of Saint Demiana Church in Bakersfield
By God’s grace and the prayers of our beloved father, H.G. Bishop Serapion, the new church building of St. Demiana Church in Bakersfield is completed and the opening will take place on Saturday November 20th, 2004. H.G. Bishop Serapion will bless the event by praying Vespers on Friday, November 19th and celebrating the Divine Liturgy on Saturday, November 20th. Following the Divine Liturgy on Saturday, there will be a spiritual celebration. Everyone is invited to – …
2006 Diocese Youth Spiritual Competition
Another Year of Success and Blessings for the Diocese Youth Spiritual Competition Over 500 students, ranging from junior high to college age, competed at this year’s diocese-wide Youth Spiritual Competition, held August 19 at Saint John Coptic Orthodox Church. Saint John Church (Covina) took home first place for the college competition, Saint Mark Church (Los Angeles) won for high school, and Saint George Church (Bellflower) earned first place at the junior high level. Third place – …
Ordination of Archdeacon Mina Tadrous
On November 24, 2006, on the occasion of the Feast of St. Mina, at St. Mina Church in Riverside, His Grace Bishop Serapion, ordained the blessed servant, Rafaat Tadrous, to the rank of Archdeacon to serve at St. Mina Church in Riverside. May the Lord God bless their service for the Glory of His Name.
Christian Churches Together (CCT) Formally Launched In Pasadena
Pasadena, Calif., February 9, 2007 – A consensus on the importance of evangelism and the need to eliminate domestic poverty marked the official formation of Christian Churches Together (CCT) meeting here February 6-9. The CCT is composed of 36 churches and national organizations from virtually all U.S. Christian groups who have been seeking to come together for fellowship, worship and opportunities to share in important ministries. “Remember that you belong to God and God does – …
Library Conference Live On-Line
Thank God, this year’s Patristic Conference is now being broadcast live by Saint Athanasius and Saint Cyril Theological Library at copticlibrary.org. Lectures and presentations will be made by Rev. Fr. George Dion. Dragas of the Greek Orthodox Church and Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology, as well as our beloved, His Grace Bishop Serapion.
Receiving The Relics of Saint Verena
On Thursday, October 14, 2004, H.G. Bishop Serapion left Egypt for Switzerland for a pastoral visit of the Coptic churches in the German and French regions of Switzerland. During this visit, His Grace will also meet with Fr. Joseph Boules, priest of St. Mary and St. Verena Church in Anaheim, and Fr. Gregory Bishay, priest of St. Verena and the Three Holy Youth in Orange, as well as delegations from both churches in order to – …
Ordination of Fr. Antony Selim
On Thursday, June 16th, His Holiness Pope Shenouda III ordained the blessed servant Bishoy Mamdouh Selim as a priest for the Diocese of Los Angeles. The new priest received the name of Fr. Antony. The blessed ordination took place at the church of the Papal Residence in Cairo. The bishops who participated in the blessed ordination were His Grace Bishop Serapion, His Grace Bishop Beeman of Nagada and Quos; His Grace Bishop Youaness, General Bishop – …
Blessing and Laying of Cornerstone of Archangel Raphael and Saint Mina Church in Palmdale
On Friday, February 17th 2006, after the Divine Liturgy, His Grace Bishop Serapion blessed and laid the cornerstone of the new Church building for Archangel Raphael and St. Mina Church in Palmdale. The blessed ceremony was attended by Fr. Paul Megally, Fr. Raphael Hanna, Fr. Danial Azer, Fr. Zocimus Kneiber, Fr. Michael Ibrahim and Fr. Boules Baky. In attendance also, representing Assembly District Sharon Runner and Senator George Runner was Mr. Laryy Grooms; representing Supervisor – …
Father Samuel Samaan Rested in the Lord
With our firm faith in the resurrection of the dead and the life of the age to come, the Diocese of Los Angeles announces the departure of the blessed and beloved, Fr. Samuel Samaan of St. Abanoub and St. Anthony Church in Corona, on the early Morning of Friday March 2, 2007. Father Samuel Fahiem Samaan was born on September 20, 1936. He earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree from the Cairo University Faculty of – …