The Blessed Advent Fast
The Coptic Church prepares for the celebration of the Feast of Nativity through the Advent Fast, which begins on November 25 and ends with the Feast of Nativity on January 7. Many wonder why the Western churches celebrate birth of Christ on the 25th of December while many of the Eastern churches celebrate it on the 7th of January. The answer to this question has been answered in “Calculations of the Date of the Date of – …
St. Mina the Wonderworker (Hatoor 15/November 24)
The Coptic Orthodox Christian Church commemorates the lives of the saints in Her Tradition through the Divine Liturgy, the praises services, the Difnar, and the Synexarium. The commemoration of the saints is important in the Orthodox Church because the saints reflected Christ’s light in the world. Many Orthodox believers develop a personal relationship with one or more saints who become their intercessor throughout their lives. One of the most popular saints in the Coptic Orthodox – …
The Commemoration of the Four Incorporeal Beasts (Hatoor 8/November 17)
On this day, the church commemorates the four Incorporeal Beasts who carry the throne of God. As it is mentioned by St. John who witnessed this in his Revelation saying, “Immediately I was in the Spirit; and behold, a throne set in heaven, and One sat on the throne. And He who sat there was like a jasper and a sardine stone in appearance: and there was a rainbow around the throne in appearance like – …
Saint Macarius Bishop of Etkou (Babah 27/November 6)
On this day, the blessed father St. Macarius, Bishop of Etkou, was martyred. In this holy man, the words of David the Prophet were fulfilled saying, “Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stands in the path of sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in His law he meditates day and night.” (Psalms 1:1-2) – …
The Departure of the Great St. John the Short (Paopi 20/October 30)
On this day, the great light and saint, the hegumen Abba John (Yoannis) Colobos (the Short), departed. He was a native of Betsa in upper Egypt and he had one brother. His parents were righteous and God-fearing people, rich in faith and good deeds. When he was 8 years old, his heart turned away from the futility of this world, its lusts and its glory, and he desired the monastic life. The grace of God – …
The Departure of Pope Theophilus of Alexandria (Paopi 18/October 28)
On this day of the year 44 A.D., the holy father Abba Theophilus, 23rd Pope of Alexandria, departed. He was a disciple of St. Athanasius the Apostolic. He was brought up by him and learned all the spiritual doctrine from him. When Pope Timothy I departed, this father was chosen to take his place. Abba Theophilus was knowledgeable, well read in the church books with full understanding of their interpretation. He wrote many discourses and – …