Coptic Orthodox Church - Tasbeha.org Community

HH Pope Shenouda and other 'popes'

copticuser20 — Sat, 04 Dec 2010 23:42:34 +0000

1.So is HH Pope Shenouda is the Pope of all Orthodox churches?

2. What is the difference between Pope and Patriarch?

3. If I was correct about number 1, if we arent in communion with all but 6 other churches, why is HH their Pope?

4. Why is there only one Pope for the different 'branches'?

While we are talking about the Pope, I just wanted to express my sincere and deep love towards HH Pope Shenouda. He is awesome and I hope God preserves his life for many more years! <3

New English language Orthodox mission in London

peterfarrington — Mon, 20 Jun 2011 07:54:58 +0000

Do pray for me as I am working to begin an English language mission in Central London.

My bishop has given his blessing for me to begin by celebrating the Liturgy on a monthly basis. It would be on a Saturday morning, probably with a sandwich lunch afterwards, and then a lecture and discussion on a topic of Orthodox spirituality.

Presently I am in touch with some people to locate a place for worship. Once that is sorted out then I hope to begin this mission as soon as possible.

Father Peter Farrington

The image of Jesus- where does it come from?

Hezekiel — Fri, 17 Jun 2011 17:02:05 +0000

Hi,

Does anyone know where the depicition of Jesus in icons comes from? How do we know what Jesus looked like or how did the Image of Jesus we have today develop? As far as I know,the holy Apostles did not leave any drawings of the Lord.Thanks for any info!

How to read the fathers?

andrew8345 — Fri, 17 Jun 2011 00:25:41 +0000

The discussion with Ioannes on another thread got me really thinking about how we are to read the fathers.

Does their advice always carry on to the present day? Much of it is instructive and corrective and time-specific. . or is it not?

How do we determine when it is and it isn't.

For example, Ioannes presented many quotes by the church fathers concerning how women should dress. The fathers instructed that no earrings, jewelry, etc. should be worn because that is what prostitutes wear.

But in today's society one who wears these things isn't immediately associated with a prostitute. Time has changed things. A woman in the first or second century might have been immediately associated with prostitutes if she wore earrings, jewelry, tighter clothes, etc. Today that isn't the case. To be associated with a prostitute a women would basically have to be much more revealing.

So do the rules change? Does what the fathers said not really apply? Should new rules be instated?

I appreciate your feedback.

Sermon on FORGIVENESS- By HH Pope Shenouda

Hezekiel — Sat, 11 Jun 2011 16:02:34 +0000

Hello,

On one side,they come out straight out of Mosques on Fridays and go immediatley on a murderous rampage and burn down churchs right and left and on the other side, there is a representative of the Lord Christ on earth who admonishes us to put on compassion, kindness and patience, forgiving one another, just as the Lord has forgiven us. The contrast can not be clearer.

Baba Shenouda's call to forgiveness is not an optional request,but he stresses as "as the Lord has forgiven you, so must you also forgive one another". If we refuse to forgive others we will not be forgiven by God.

As far as I am concerened,true forgivess is not easy. It takes a miracle to forgive someone who wants to destroy or eradicate you. But with God's help all things are possible, says HH Pope Shenouda.

I do not know about you, but in this sermon HH was talking directly to my own character and as such it is having a huge impact on me.

Please watch,if you have not already done so:

PS: Subscribe to the youtube channel of CYC and you will get update on new posted videos.

The Trinity

copticuser20 — Fri, 17 Jun 2011 15:26:24 +0000

Hi everyone. I am still very confused on the idea of the 3 in 1 and 1 in 3 concept of the Trinity.

When Jesus came on earth, was he just the Son or was he the Father, Son and the Holy Spirit?

Why did Jesus have to die?

copticuser20 — Fri, 17 Jun 2011 15:28:39 +0000

Hi everyone.

Why did Jesus have to die? Why couldn't God just erase sin and Satan before Adam and Eve fell so we can live with God in Paradise?

Orthodox view of salvation vs. Protestant view of atonement

Biboboy — Fri, 17 Jun 2011 10:11:43 +0000

In response to Rob Bell's controversial book "Love Wins", Steve the Builder from Ancient Faith Radio gives a short summary of the difference between the mainstream Protestant view of salvation and an Orthodox view.

The analogy in the video really helps to make sense of the differences in the views. The mainstream Protestant view is also the view of the Catholic Church (until Vatican Council II) on atonement based on Anselm's philosophy, so it's the general Western view of salvation.

Here is the link to the video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WosgwLekgn8

Wine

Khas. — Wed, 15 Jun 2011 16:47:57 +0000

What wine does the church use?
Thanks

The Sagda Prayers

copticuser20 — Wed, 15 Jun 2011 13:55:39 +0000

Hi everyone. I know I'm late but why do commemorate the departed at the Sagda? I don't understand the correlation between departure and the sending of the Holy Spirit.

Mahragan el keraza 2011

marmar357 — Wed, 19 Jan 2011 13:22:54 +0000

Hi everyone,

Does anyone have/know where i can find the " mahragan el keraza 2011' in english??
And especially the first lesson (el hideya el 2oela/first present) coz we have to transalate them in dutch. It must be done at next friday.

Thank u, gb!

Job's Punishment

Hezekiel — Thu, 09 Jun 2011 16:28:19 +0000

Hello:

In the book of Job, God says of his servant " Then the LORD said to Satan, “Have you considered My servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, one who fears God and shuns evil?” So Satan answered the LORD and said, “Does Job fear God for nothing? 10 Have You not made a hedge around him, around his household, and around all that he has on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land. 11 But now, stretch out Your hand and touch all that he has, and he will surely curse You to Your face!” (Job 1:8-11).

The other day, I heard a sermon that says God allowed the devil to test job, because Job knew that he was innocent and good, that is, he was being self-righteous.In other words,Job had the sense of pride.So according to the sermon, God allowed the suffering to punish (not test) Job and move him to repentance.I did not understand the conclusion of this sermon, for God said that there was none like Job on the face of earth.

Satan manages to convince God to allow him to test Job, to see if he will curse him.

Did God allow Job to suffer just to prove a point to Satan that job loved Him? Why would God care what Satan thought? Why would God punish his servant severely? I am grateful for any clarifictions.

THE FOURTH COMMANDMENT

yousiegtennis — Mon, 06 Jun 2011 23:55:26 +0000

Hey everyone,

So I was reading the book of Exodus and I came across the ten commandments...now, as a child up until now, I was conscious that there were ten commandments and I could name them all; however, the fourth commandment which speaks about keeping the Sabbath had slipped my mind almost completely. My question is: how can we apply this commandment to our lives today? ???

Thanks for your responses in advance.

Who is St. Verena...and what is her story?

[Deleted User] — Fri, 10 Jun 2011 19:13:38 +0000

Anyone know her complete story?

The Sign of the Cross

copticuser20 — Thu, 09 Jun 2011 16:08:01 +0000

I'm not sure how to word this but Why do we make the sign of the cross after we say words like holy, blessed, etc? And why when Abouna makes the sign of the cross to us, we do it again?

NEW Agpeya

Biboboy — Thu, 09 Jun 2011 01:26:56 +0000

A new translation of the Agpeya is now available online at:

www.agpeya.ca

Precious Pearl

peterfarrington — Tue, 31 May 2011 10:49:09 +0000

Does anyone know if the Precious Pearl by John Ibn Saba has been translated into English. I know there are a few fragments on the net in English but I am interested in the whole book.

Father Peter Farrington

Rhyming "Madeehas"

the_least — Fri, 13 May 2011 19:31:23 +0000

What do you guys think of the idea of making English (or any other language) "madeehas" (NOT Doxologies) for any of the saints that contain the same things as the original ones (which I'm guessing were originally written in Arabic not Coptic, since they all seem to rhyme in Arabic) but make them so that they rhyme in that specific language. We made one for Archangel Michael in English; it's ok, although I think it could be better. Some of it sounds kind of childish, it was written by a 'tante' from our church.

If no one objects to the idea, we can start getting all those here and all those we know with poetic talents to start writing and editing each others' work.

Monasticism

liftmyheart — Wed, 01 Jun 2011 21:24:23 +0000

To become a monk in the Coptic faith, are there any requirements? I'm just wondering. I hear that you have to complete university and get a degree and give it up to show your dedication. Do you have to memorize a lot of hymns; know a lot of things? I'm asking because I saw a documentary on Father Lazarus and I thought he knew anything much about the Coptic faith before he became a monk, but God still called on him to become one.
Pray for me and forgive me my weakness.

Theological Emphasis of non-Chalcedonian Orthodox Liturgy?

dzheremi — Wed, 25 May 2011 17:57:21 +0000

Hello all,

An interesting discussion started by an acquaintance of mine of an RC background who is currently exploring Eastern Orthodoxy has prompted me to wonder about Oriental Orthodoxy: What is the theological emphasis of the liturgy, in the Alexandrian Orthodox tradition? Is it, as has been explained to me, the Resurrection (as Byzantines say of their own EO liturgy), or the Crucifixion (as in the RC mass), or something else? My friend is coming from what he refers to as an Anselmian background, which as far as I gather posits a sort of "sacrifice as payment/divine justice" (I never studied Anselm myself, so I'm definitely vague on that). From my own reading of the Liturgy of St. Basil, I'm certainly not seeing that...but I also wouldn't want to assume that the Alexandrian school of thought would necessarily match the Antiochian when they seem to be very distinct in their overall approach to and understanding of the scriptures. He is wondering about the possible sacrificial meaning of the EO liturgy (since he doesn't see it if it is not within the paradigm he already knows), and I'd like to present him with an Alexandrian perspective of Orthodoxy, should there be any particularly distinctive ideas to note in the context of his struggle. I'm not so much trying to dissuade him from going Byzantine, but at the same time I would like him to know from the get-go that there is more than one way of looking at things (especially since as recently as two or three months ago he was telling me "I just don't understand why you want to be Orthodox...there's a Coptic Church in my town, and I don't think I could ever go to it!" How swiftly our Lord may work to open our hearts!)

Is there a good place to find writings on such aspects of the faith? Most of what I've read on the liturgy itself is more step-by-step explanatory booklets, and less about the "theological philosophy" of the liturgy, for lack of a better way to put it. I don't doubt that there is probably a lot on this in somewhere in the voluminous writings of HH, but I can't recall anything specific at the moment.

Thank you all in advance for any guidance you can provide.

Censing

copticuser20 — Sat, 14 May 2011 14:15:36 +0000

Why are priests the only people who can cense? Why can Archdeacons give the blood but not use the censer? Also, can we burn incense in our homes?

Catholic-Oriental Orthodox Forum

peterfarrington — Mon, 23 May 2011 16:05:58 +0000

The 6th meeting of the Catholic-Oriental Orthodox Forum will take place on Tuesday, 24th May and is hosted at the Catholic Bishops Conference General Secretariat.

The forum draws together bishops and representative clergy from the Catholic and Oriental Orthodox churches in the UK.

At this next meeting the priorities and strategy of the forum will be discussed.

Father Peter Farrington
Co-Secretary
Catholic-Oriental Orthodox Forum

Father Peter's article published

peterfarrington — Sat, 21 May 2011 17:18:30 +0000

I was very pleased to learn today that my article, The Christology of St Severus of Antioch, has been translated and published in the reputable Serbian Orthodox magazine Teološki pogledi (Theological views) which is published by the Holy Synod of bishops of the Serbian Orthodox Church. The article had been reviewed by the editorial board whose members include current Serbian theologians such as His Grace Metropolitan Amfilohije, and His Grace Bishop Atanasije Rakita.

Teološki pogledi has been considering extending their usual content of Eastern Orthodox theological writers to include contributions from the Oriental Orthodox communion, and I was pleased to have been contacted some little while ago to be asked for my permission to include this article on The Christology of St Severus of Antioch in a future edition. This has now been published and Teološki pogledi and its editor, Father Aleksandar Djakovac, have expressed a desire to continue to publish articles related to Oriental Orthodox Christology.

I think this is a wonderful opportunity to be able to explain and describe our Orthodox Faith in some detail to the theologically literate members of the Serbian Orthodox Church. I shall be trying to compile a list of Orthodox writers from all of the various Churches in our Communion who would perhaps wish and be able to contribute a theological paper on the subject of our Christology.

This article, and many others, is available in my book, Orthodox Christology, which is available here...

http://www.lulu.com/product/paperback/orthodox-christology/10969273

This is what some muslims think about the burning of the Churches

geomike — Tue, 10 May 2011 19:15:08 +0000

I pray that God will help them, because it is fearful to be in the wrath of God, psalms tells us.

120 Years Max ???

the_least — Sat, 21 May 2011 03:24:35 +0000

In Genesis 6:3 it says, "And the LORD said, “My Spirit shall not strive with man forever, for he is indeed flesh; yet his days shall be one hundred and twenty years.”

and then later on

Ishmael: one hundred and thirty-seven years (Genesis 25:17)
Isaac: one hundred and eighty years (Genesis 35:28)
Jacob: one hundred and forty-seven years (Genesis 47:28)
Levi: one hundred and thirty-seven (Exodus 6:16)
Kohath: one hundred and thirty-three (Exodus 6:18)
Amram: one hundred and thirty-seven (Exodus 6:20)
...
...
...

I am confused

Coptic Language Summer School

peterfarrington — Tue, 17 May 2011 15:55:52 +0000

I am presently developing plans to organise a 4 or 5 day intensive Coptic Language Summer School in London towards the end of August.

The course would be led by a university lecturer who has taught Coptic formally at Birkbeck and Kings College, London, and who is an academic Egyptologist. Her PhD was based on a Coptic Martyrdom text.

I am particularly interested in studying Coptic formally so as to be able to read and translate ancient Coptic texts. Of course even an intensive Summer School will only be a beginning. But the Summer School would be structured around reaching a degree of competency in reading simple texts, and being confident to continue reading and studying Coptic.

I suppose that the target audience is independent students such as myself, members of the academic community who wish to gain some grasp of Coptic texts, Coptic Orthodox who wish to develop or extend their knowledge of ancient written Coptic texts, and perhaps even non-Orthodox and non-Christians who are interested in the history and ancient culture of Egypt.

My university lecturer considers that a group of 8-10 students would be optimal.

I am locating central London facilities for the event, hopefully at a minimal cost. The cost of the Summer School would cover the duplication of materials, and the expenses of our teacher, who I would wish to be well rewarded, and encouraged to support further such courses. I am guessing that a 5 day Summer School might cost £50-£60.

I would be very interested in hearing from anyone who might be interested in being part of a Summer School. If you know anyone who might be interested then please let them know about the planned Summer School. If you have any ideas or advice about such a Summer School then also please respond.

Father Peter

pray for eritrea

mabsoota — Thu, 19 May 2011 16:18:27 +0000

for everyone in london to attend if they can please, and everyone else to pray:

On Thursday May 26th 2001 there is an international day of prayer for Eritrea.

Time: 3.30pm - 4.30pm
Location: Across the street from, and facing the Eritrean Embassy, 96 White Lion Street, London, N1 9PF.
Nearest tube: Angel. Nearest train: Kings Cross and St. Pancras.

During our time together we will sing, pray and a letter will be presented to the Ambassador by representatives of the participating organisations.

In a country of about 4 million people, many thousands have ‘disappeared’ and Christians, especially, are punished for not agreeing to serve indefinately in the army, for revering God more than their dictator, or sometimes just for being found with a Bible. Bibles are not allowed during times of military service, and the army can increase people's military service for as long as they want, sometimes many years. The persecution is too terrible to summarise in just a few words.

The Eritrean Orthodox Church makes up the majoriy of the 47% Christians in the country. This is a sister church of the Coptic Orthodox Church (based in Egypt), and their patriarch, Abune Antonios, was illegally deposed and put under house arrest in early 2006. There are no reliable reports as to his health since 2007, as members of the church are not allowed to visit him, but he is elderly and suffers from diabetes.

Punishments of Christians from the protestant, orthodox and catholic churches include beating, incarceration in conditions of gross overcrowding and extremes of temperature (without reasonable access to food, water and sanitation) and many other shocking types of abuse. People have their food confiscated, leading to starvation, and are subject to forced labour and forced indefinite conscription in the army. Family members of prisoners are intimidated and beaten.

Further links here:

http://www.inchainsforchrist.org/
http://www.release-eritrea.com/
http://www.releaseinternational.org/
http://www.opendoorsuk.org/news/latest_news.php

mabsoota.

does god give us free will to marry who we want to marry?

bigeee — Sat, 14 May 2011 17:02:33 +0000

if i want to marry someone does he give us free will to marry each other? of course i am talking if we follow his commands

does God speak through our parents always ?

Sun, 15 May 2011 12:29:56 +0000

aghapy everyone ,

If your parents disagree to the one you want to marry , does that mean God is also disagreeing ?
They say God speaks through your parents. How do you know what gods will is &; whether or not he wants you to marry that person ? thank u

forgive me ,
+mahraeel+

Metanoias (metaniat) during the Holy 50 Days of Resurrection

Timothym — Sun, 01 May 2011 13:02:15 +0000

I was wondering what the Coptic Orthodox practice is in regards to metanoias during the Holy 50 Days? Do we not do them at all during this time (in remembrance of the Resurrection)?

I was visiting a church during liturgy and I noticed that even during the bowings to the Holy Body and Blood of Christ, the deacons serving inside the altar did not bow down fully (although this is not technically considered a metanoia)...they just simply bowed their heads or at the waist slightly...is this the correct practice while serving at the altar as well?

Thanks