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 – …

“… And breaking bread from house to house, the ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart.” Acts 2:46 We ask all the parish churches of the Diocese of Los Angeles to hold fast the Biblical-Patristic Tradition of Agape Meals after Divine Liturgies. We encourage every parish church to invite her beloved children, after the Divine Liturgy, to share together with gladness and simplicity of heart a simple Agape Meal without sale and purchase – …

On December 11, 2008, His Grace Bishop Serapion clarified a liturgical rubrics question in a meeting with the clergy of the Diocese. The question presented was: In the Vespers Raising of Incense on Saturday evening, is it proper to chant the Adam (Amoini Marenousht) or Watos (Tenousht) Verses of the Cymbals? His Grace clarified that the rites of the Raising of Incense on Saturday evening follow the occasion/event of Sunday, the next day. For this – …

Addiction is a widespread, chronic condition that may have very serious emotional, physical, social, financial, and legal implications. It afflicts the life of the addict in all its aspects, leading to a wide range of consequences, and frequently ends up with loss of functioning or even death. Such consequences often extend to include the addict’s family as well as the whole community. Every year, millions of lives and billions of dollars are lost all over – …

My brethren and children in the lands of immigration, clergy and laity. Peace to you from the Lord and grace, with my greetings to you during the Glorious Feast of Nativity. Wishing you in these occasions a new holy life that is better than what it was in the previous year. I wish to say to you that the birth of Christ was an annunciation of salvation, as the angel said to the shepherds “I – …

My Beloved, the Blessed Children of the Holy Church, It is my pleasure to wish all of you a blessed and joyous Feast of the Nativity. We rejoice on this blessed feast day, because of Immanuel our God. Let us reflect together on this joyous prophecy said by Isaiah the Prophet, “See, the virgin will conceive and bear a son, and you will call his name Immanuel. He will eat curds and honey. Before knowing – …

The Word of God searches for the work of truth. And so it is for a man to speak, to hear, and to do. For this reason one hears what is said, so that he might complete the work of obedience. On this day the Lord was born, the life and the salvation of men. Today is born Him who reconciles divinity to humanity and humanity to divinity. Today all creation leaps for joy. Those from – …

With great joy and enthusiasm, the Diocese received newly ordained Presbyter Father Daniel Habib on Saturday, December 6, 2008 after his return from Egypt where he spent 40 days in spiritual retreat and training to prepare for his service. Father Daniel was received by the priests and congregation of Saint John Coptic Orthodox Church, where he will begin his service immediately. May God preserve the life of our honored father, His Grace Bishop Serapion, and – …