Hey ZoxasiWith all due respect to your questions above. But they can be seen as divisive rather than edify. Yes there are churches out there that can have faults so lets move to rectify and not rehash the same old arguments and self indulgence that …
That's a very broad question, Monica. Perhaps narrowing your query would help in answering it. Generally we are called not to conform to this world by to transform it. Secular culture can be constricting & permeates most aspects of our lives whi…
Hey Zoxasi"Abouna" athanasius henien is a former Coptic Orthodox priest who shepherded the small Coptic Orthodox community in Greece until he was censured multiple times by the Holy Synod which subsequently defrocked him (whether justly or unjustly,…
Hey Zoxasi,It's imperative that we see the historical events in scriptures as having happened and God's miraculous hand alongside that.
So it takes two distinct outlooks in those stories that piece together an otherwise hard story by today's secul…
"The story of the Copts" by Iris Habib el masry is an exemplary work. She was a disciple of Abouna Bishoy Kamel & Abouna Matta el meskeen and had her work blessed by them before beginning. She wrote a few volumes. 2 are below. As a beginner you …
Inpain, I don't want you to take my advice negatively. I only wish to expound to you what I learned the hard way. By being taught and reading some invaluable material on it.
I once read in unseen warfare that self pity is perhaps one of the most de…
A blessed Nativity,
I would start by saying it isn`t a corrupt church as much as local congregation that has gone awry and while perhaps having the best of intentions to keep their beloved priest, they ought not to resort to deception to achieve the…
I think Fr Andrew Stephen Damick of the Antiochan Orthodox wrote a piece answering Fr Freeman's first bit posted there. There's a few dangerous things said by Fr Freeman if misunderstood so Fr Andrew sought to answer those. I think we over philosoph…
Hi, ophadeceForgive my message if it offended you. However, I`m not here to tell people what they want to hear but what they need to hear. As I would hope for people to do the same for me. So again forgive me. It’s just that honesty and truth seems …
Hi,I`m seeing that it`s fashionable these days to deride the clergy of the church and fall back on the bandwagon of ``unsympathetic Coptic clergy`` without giving a second thought to what`s being said.
We need to be careful of what we say on here. …
TITL,I suggest you read up on previous discussions because almost everything that was said there will be repeated here. For starters, you can read V.C Samuel's 'The council of Chalcedon re-examined'. Although not the most perfect it takes you step b…
Hey Sara,I feel no hit the underlying problem while reading the replies. Why are you being bullied? From their perspective, what about you don't they like? What are they teasing you about? I'm not justifying their behavior but trying to contextualiz…
Hey,I used to be a person who criticized the church a lot about this issue (the handling and pastoral care), and then I discovered in my conversations with priests and bishops that it's a personal care between the repentant and priest/bishop. The la…
Abouna Antony Paul, very edifying advice. And coming from a celibate consecrated priest it's especially more apparent how practically important this advice is...Thank you
Hunting, is a worthwhile activity which I've participated in before. Taught me discipline and patience.
Hunting is no different than eating meat or poultry that's already been killed and processed for you by farmers, factories, etc.I think the 2 pr…
It's best to read the countless threads on this site about this topic rather than start a new one. In short, the council isn't mentioned in the Liturgy because it does not constitute a part of our faith.
We were not 'excommunicated' because that wo…
We live in the age of the 'I" "Me". "My opinion" is relevant because God gave me a brain. People don't realize that some opinions are mere nonsense and that obedience and respect ought to take precedence over any 'contribution' we can make.This is w…
An excellent read by Metropolitan Seraphim of the British Orthodox Church within the Coptic Orthodox Patriarchate about the Doctrine of Immaculate conception
http://britishorthodox.org/glastonburyreview/issue-122-an-orthodox-view-of-the-catholic-doc…
St Cyril the great certainly deserves his title. He contributed much to Christendom along with St Athanasius and St John Chrysotom. I consider those three among the illustrious men who defined and defended the faith through the centuries. Indispensa…
"I think it's better for us to focus on how to grow spiritually with such stories, rather than trying to use history to substantiate spirituality."
No one was doing such a thing, my friend. But thank you for the input and information. Certainly help…
Romans 1:26-2726 For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature:27 And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one tow…
Qawe, good point. I actually poorly wrote what I wanted to articulate. I actually meant someone who wasn't necessarily 'blood Egyptian' but was certainly raised there from a young age, is fluent in Arabic etc. But you're right, even that can pose it…
On top of what was said above, it would be hard for the 15-20 million Arabic speaking copts in Egypt to understand a Patriarch who isn`t fluent in Arabic. Forming a connection with them would be a challenge.Furthermore, Egypt is now a very political…
"A composite nature" or "One incarnate nature" without mixing or alterationI think we ought to leave this mystery as it is and only take from what the fathers have in their deep meditation and contemplation which they did through fasting, prayer and…
I think this is a question that we can safely say is a mystery while in the flesh, but will be revealed once we're united eternally with our Lord. Regardless of how many blog/forum posts, or how many fathers attempted to answer it, nothing can bring…
mikegkaldas, I think you've greatly misunderstood my post; I wasn't saying to cease praying or caring for others. But that's fine; I will not argue with you :) Just do me a favor, and keep me in your prayers as well. You're a good man.
It's great to be using public orthodox forums to ask for prayer requests, but I urge caution in mentioning people's names and places of residence. Although the names you mentioned are general, without last names, the issues seem personal and if anyo…