Pastoral Letter for the Preparatory Sunday of the Great Lent
On February 8, 2010, (1 Meshir 1726 A.M.) the Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria begins observance of the Great Holy Fast, also known as the Great Lent. As part of the diocese’s spiritual program during this holy season, our father, His Grace Bishop Serapion, has recorded a pastoral message for the Preparatory Sunday of the Great Lent. It is available for streaming and downloading here: Pastoral Message for Preparatory Sunday of the Great Lent 2010
Treasures of the Fathers: Fourth Sunday of the Great Lent, Samaritan Woman
He indeed did not baptize, but they who carried the news, desiring to excite their hearers to envy, so reported. “Wherefore then ‘departed’ He?” Not from fear, but to take away their malice, and to soften their envy. He was indeed able to restrain them when they came against Him, but this He would not do continually, that the Dispensation of the Flesh might not be disbelieved. For had He often been seized and escaped, – …
Treasures of the Fathers: Fifth Sunday of the Great Lent (The Paralytic Man)
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 – …
Treasures of the Fathers: Sixth Sunday of the Great Lent (The Man Born Blind)
The Light of this World Again My Jesus, and again a mystery; not deceitful nor disorderly, nor belonging to Greek error or drunkenness (for so I call their solemnities, and so I think will every man of sound sense); but a mystery lofty and divine, and allied to the Glory above. For the Holy Day of the Lights, to which we have come, and which we are celebrating today, has for its origin the Baptism – …
Treasures of the Fathers: 2nd Sunday of Great Lent-Temptation Sunday
The Second Sunday of the Great and Holy Fast: On the Mountain of Temptation (Matins: Luke 4:1-13) And the devil said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, command this stone to become bread.” But Jesus answered him, saying, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God'” (Luke 4:3-4). On the First Temptation Then the devil draws near to tempt Him; expecting that the feeling – …