St. John Chrysostom and Carrying our Cross
This week, as millions of Americans around the world give thanks during the Thanksgiving holiday, the Coptic Orthodox Church commemorates the exemplary life and departure of one of the most influential figures in the Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church: St. John Chrysostom (the “Golden-Mouthed”). St. John was one of the most eloquent preachers of Christ’s Gospel as well as an ascetic and great teacher. His love for our Lord Jesus Christ was great, as was – …
The Martyr Portrays the Icon of the Resurrection
During these blessed and joyous weeks, we celebrate the The Feast of Nairouz and the beginning of another Coptic New Year. The Church chose the beginning of the reign of Emperor Diocletian in 284 A.D. to mark the beginning of the Church Calendar, because he was one of the cruelest emperors, who severely persecuted the Christians, especially in Egypt. The Coptic Orthodox Church offered thousands of martyrs during the reign of this emperor.When we celebrate – …
Muslim Extremists Attack Coptic Christians Over Church Fence in Marsa Matrouh
On Friday, March 12, Muslim extremists attacked a church and community center in Marsa Matruh and injured 28 Coptic Orthodox Christians, some critically. According to Egyptian officials, the cause of the attack was the assailant’s anger over a new fence that was erected around the center. The assailants mistakenly believed that construction workers were building a new church, not a simple fence around the center. The following audio files contain firsthand witness accounts of this – …
Diocese to Commemorate Nag Hammadi Martyrs
On February 14, the diocese will solemnly observe the Fortieth Day Commemoration of the Nag Hammadi martyrs. His Grace Bishop Serapion has called upon all parish churches to remember the names of the blessed martyrs in their celebrations of the Divine Liturgy. The names of the seven martyrs are as follows: Mina Helmy Said, Bishoy Farid Labib, Boula Atef Yassa, Ayman Zakaria Louka, Abanoub Kamal Nashed, and Rafik Refaat William. Also, His Grace has released – …
Christianity and Martin Luther King’s Dream
On Monday, January 18, millions in the United States and around the world observed the Martin Luther King holiday, which commemorates the life of Dr. King and the struggle of the African-American community seeking freedom, equality, and justice in the United States. The significance of this holiday should not be lost on Orthodox Christians. The experience of African Americans persevering in their pursuit of freedom, equality, and justice has many parallels for modern Christians around – …
Official Statement from Christian Churches Together in the USA on the Earthquake in Haiti and the Nag Hammadi Martyrs
At the recent annual meeting of Christian Churches Together in the USA, a fellowship of 36 churches and religious organizations in the United States, from January 12-15, 2010, church leaders gathered to deepen their fellowship with one another and present a united front in the face of recent events and tragedies that have affected the Christian community, as St. Paul says, “And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it” (1 Cor. 12:26). The – …
Church Leaders Condemn Violence Against Copts in Egypt
In response to the recent attack and violence against Coptic Orthodox Christians in Nag Hammadi in which six Coptic Christians were martyred, church leaders from around the world have expressed their solidarity with the Coptic Orthodox Church in various ways. His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI of the Roman Catholic Church spoke out against the violence in his weekly blessing on Sunday, saying, "Violence against Christians … has caused indignation among many people, particularly because it – …
Coptic Christians Martyred in Nag Hammadi
On the eve of the Glorious Feast of the Nativity, six Coptic Orthodox Christians were martyred in a new wave of sectarian violence against Coptic Christians in Egypt when three gunmen fired automatic weapons at them after they exited Holy Virgin Mary Coptic Orthodox Church in Nag Hammadi after the Divine Liturgy on the Feast. The names of the martyrs are as follows: Zakaria Toma, Mina Helmy Said, Bishoy Farid Labib, Boula Atef, Ayman Zakaria – …
Who is the Martyr?
In the Christian understanding, a martyr is the person, who is killed, because of his faith in our Lord Jesus Christ. We saw this happen in Abu Korkas, where some Moslem extremists entered the church and killed the worshippers. Despite the fact that they knew nothing about them, they killed them just because they were Christians. There is also a higher degree of martyrdom, in which the person, who is suffering, is given the opportunity – …
"For me, to Live Is Christ, and to Die Is Gain" (Philippians 1:21)
In the past few months, we have been shocked by the news of disasters and tragedies, which resulted in sudden death of many people. We lived through the disastrous news of the crash of the Egypt Air plane off the shores of the Northeastern United States. This resulted in the death of 217 persons, of whom many of us may have had social, friendly, or family ties. In less than a minute they changed from – …
The Strength of God's Children (Part 1)
God’s children should be strong because they were created in His image and likeness (Gn 1: 26); and God is powerful. We say about Him “Holy is the Lord God Almighty”; therefore, they should be strong like Him. In the book of Numbers, when God ordered Moses to take a census of the people, this was restricted to young men who can go to war (Nu 1: 3). When the Song of Solomon talks about – …
Carrying The Cross
Our Church celebrates two feasts for the Cross. One is on Parmhat 10th (March 19th), which always falls during Great Lent. The other is on Tout 17th (September 27th), which falls at the end of our celebrations of the The Coptic New Year (The Feast of Nairouz), and this latter Feast of the Cross is celebrated for three days. Our celebration of the Cross is actually a celebration of Christ’s victory over Satan and conquering – …