Joint Oriental Orthodox Sunday School Bible Competition
On Saturday, May 13 the Armenian, Syriac, and Coptic Orthodox Churches gathered their Sunday School students for a Bible Competition, which was held at St. Mary’s Armenian Apostolic Church in Glendale, CA. The event was for students ages 11-15 and it focused on the history of the three Oriental Orthodox churches and the first ten chapters of the Gospel of Matthew. This event was under the guidance and supervision of H.E. Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian, Prelate – …
St. Athanasius and St. Cyril Theological Library Prepares for its First Patristic Conference
The Saint Athanasius and Saint Cyril Theological Library cordially invites you to its First Annual Patristic Conference on “READING THE SCRIPTURES WITH ST. ATHANASIUS AND ST. CYRIL” from July 20-21, 2007 at Holy Virgin Mary Coptic Orthodox Church For the Commemoration of the Feast of St. Cyril with special guest lecturers: + Fr. George Dragas "Saint Cyril: The Christological Exegesis in St. Cyril’s Commentary on Genesis" + Deacon Severus Mikhail "Saint Athanasius and His Use – …
Oriental Orthodox Leaders Establish Joint Council
October 13, 2003, Pomona, CA Hosted by His Grace Bishop Serapion, Bishop of the Coptic Orthodox Diocese of Los Angeles, Southern California, and Hawaii, the leaders of the Oriental Orthodox churches met in the spirit of love and unity on October 7, 2003. The meeting, held at the Coptic Orthodox Diocese of Los Angeles headquarters in Pomona, H.G. Bishop Serapion welcomed Archbishop Hovnan Derderian, Primate of the Western Diocese of the Armenian Church; Archbishop Moushegh – …
Report on Joint Commission between Oriental Orthodox Churches and the Roman Catholic Church
REPORT Third Meeting of the International Joint Commission for Theological Dialogue Between the Catholic Church and the Oriental Orthodox Churches Etchmiadzin, Armenia, 27 – 30 January 2006 Catholic and Oriental Orthodox representatives, delegated by their churches, met 27-30 January 2006, as members of the International Joint Commission for Theological Dialogue between the Catholic Church and the Oriental Orthodox Churches, under the co-chairmanship of His Eminence Cardinal Walter Kasper, President of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian – …
Coptic Educational Foundation Merit Achievement Award Reception
On August 6 2006 the Coptic Educational Foundation Merit Achievement Award Reception was held at the Marriott Hotel- Los Angeles. His grace Bishop Serapion, Fr. Boulos, Fr. Isaac, Fr. Michael, Fr. Raphael and over 140 guests attended this event. The purpose of the event is to celebrate the accomplishments of the high school seniors and to announce the 10 recipients of the CEF-Merit Achievement Award. The CEF received 21 applications from this award. Each of – …
Council of the Oriental Orthodox Churches in Western USA
On Tuesday, June 19, 2007, the Council of the Oriental Orthodox Churches of the Western USA convened at Saint Ephraim Syrian Orthodox Cathedral in Burbank, CA.
Spiritual Day for Junior High Youth – Creation versus Evolution
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 – …
Copts Throughout the Ages
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 Feasts of the Cross
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 – …
On Lazarus and the Spikenard
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 – …
The Copts and Christian Civilization
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 – …
The Holy Great Fast: A Joyful Journey
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 – …