As sin is separation from God, repentance then is returning to God. God says: "Return to me, and I will return to you" (Malachi 3:7). When the prodigal son repented, he returned to his father (Luke 15:18-20). True repentance is a human longing to return to the origin from which it was taken. It is the desire of a heart that stayed away from God, and felt that it stay away any longer. As sin – …

Family Planning means that the family plans to have children according to its economic and social conditions, as well as according to its ability to care for the children spiritually, economically, and socially. The family’s role is not limited only to having children, but more essentially to raising the children well. The family’s awareness of her responsibility towards raising her children is essential. For the Church, the core of family planning is centralized in the – …

There is an increase in the number of individuals, who pose as monks, and despite being stripped of their monastic order, persist in wearing the monastic garments. Therefore the committee recommends “that the fathers the metropolitans and bishops should make their priests and flock aware that these individuals should not be dealt with nor accepted in the homes. It is also necessary to confirm who the person wearing the monastic or clerical garment really is. – …

It is true that the Incarnation of Christ is a historic event; he actually ‎appeared on earth as a man, and lived in a certain time period, but how are ‎we to benefit from this appearance? How do we benefit today from our ‎Lord’s Incarnation? Are we merely antique and history collectors in our ‎church, or do these events have an actual meaning for us?‎ When someone starts giving us information on a very high – …

The following article was published in The Ecumenical Review, vol. 56, No. 3, July 2004. The Ecumenical Review is the quarterly journal of the World Council of Churches. In Porto Alegre, Brazil, thousands of Christians will gather for ten days to pray in one voice and with one spirit: “God, in Your grace, transform the world.” This is the theme of the ninth assembly of the World Council of Churches, which will be held in – …

The Letter to the Romans “Do not be conformed to this world but be transformed by the renewing of your minds, so that you may discern what is the will of God – what is good, acceptable and perfect.” (12:2). “Let your love be without hypocrisy.” (12:9). “Bless those who persecute you. Bless and do not curse them” (12:14). Live in harmony with one another. Do not be arrogant, but associate with those who are – …

The Holy Spirit was the One who gave the necessary power for the work of preaching. The sending of the Holy Spirit was a promise from the Lord (John 14:26, 15:26, 16:7), however, despite this He said to them, “Behold, I send the Promise of My Fr. upon you; but tarry in the city of Jerusalem until you are endued with power from on high” (Luke 24:29). Where will this power come from? He said – …

Take Your Bed and Walk The passage of the holy gospel which speaks about the Pool of Siloam, beloved brethren, addresses us in particular, because owe are freed. From the listlessness of sin through the grace of Baptism. Just as the paralytic whom the Lord cured was weak in all his members that he could accomplish no good act, so before the coming of the Lord the entire human race was weakened interiorly in soul – …

The Confession of St. Thomas the Apostle And now let us see whether the confession of Thomas the Apostle, when he cried, "My Lord and My God," corresponds with this assertion of the Evangelist. We see that he speaks of Him, Whom he confesses to be God, as My God. Now Thomas was undoubtedly familiar with those words of the Lord, "Hear, O Israel, the Lord your God is One." How then could the faith – …

Due to the presence of HH the Pope at the Monastery, the Orthodox Russian Delegate headed there on the evening of Thursday, December 16 to meet HH at His papal Residence at the Monastery. His Holiness the Pope received them and discussed matters concerning the Theological dialogue between the two Orthodox families and the Orthodox cooperation at the Ecumenical Councils especially at the World Council of Churches, also the Orthodox Joint responsibilities in confronting the – …

An article published in El-Keraza Magazine, Friday, July 14, 2006, Abib 7, 1722 AM Max Michael was our son, as son of the Coptic Church; he was born in it, was baptized in it and studied in our Theological College. And when he graduated, he served in our churched in Shobra, Zefta and Tanta. Then came the big trial, and it threw him outside the church so he said: “I have nothing at all to – …

The School of Religion and The Council for Coptic Studies at Claremont Graduate University cordially invite you to a public lecture on Christian Unity from an Orthodox Perspective By H.G. Bishop Serapion Coptic Orthodox Bishop of Los Angeles Claremont Graduate University Albrecht Auditorium, 925 N. Dartmouth Avenue Claremont, CA 91711 Wednesday, October 29, 2008 6:30 pm Social and Refreshments 7:00 pm Performance by Coptic Church Ecclesiastical Choirs 7:30 pm Lecture Christian unity is an important – …