News

Diocese Encourages Parishioners to Be Counted in 2010 U.S. Census

MosesS
| Friday, March 19, 2010 | No comments.

During the month of March, every household in the United States will receive a form from the U.S. Department of Commerce Census Bureau. Each household will be asked to complete this form so that the Census Bureau may estimate the number of individuals residing in the United States. By law, this information will remain confidential, and it may not be used for any other purpose besides the census, including immigration purposes.

The respective Coptic dioceses of the United States encourage all members of the Church to complete this form and return it to the Census Bureau as soon as possible. You may download a PDF that explains the respective bishops’ position here.

The form asks questions relating to "race" (questions 6 and 9). The Diocese recommends that all of those who are of Coptic descent write the word "Coptic" under "Some other race." (See below.) (More)

Muslim Extremists Attack Coptic Christians Over Church Fence in Marsa Matrouh

MosesS
| Monday, March 15, 2010 | No comments.

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 most recent attack against Coptic Christians in Egypt:

Witness Account #1

Witness Account #2 from the Hospital 

Account from Abouna Matta (More)

2010 Graduates and Young Professionals Passion Retreat

MosesS
| Monday, March 1, 2010 | No comments.

With great joy and enthusiasm, the Diocese announces an upcoming retreat for graduates and young professionals from March 19-21 at the Coptic Village in Big Bear. The featured speaker for the retreat will be Father Daniel Habib of St. John Coptic Orthodox Church in Covina, California.

Additional information is as follows:

Prices

$120 Person/For Double Room
$95 Person/For Quad or 6 people
$15 Late Fee (After March 1)

Deadlines

March 1 (Regular)
March 8 (Late)

FAQ

Are children allowed on the retreat? We cannot accomodate children on this retreat. No one under the age of 22 years is allowed to attend unless they have graduated college. (More)

World Council of Churches Message of Solidarity to Christians in Egypt

MosesS
| Friday, February 26, 2010 | No comments.

Concerned about the security of Christians in Egypt, the World Council of Churches (WCC) has encouraged the churches in the country to continue their involvement in Muslim-Christian dialogue."

It is a matter of regret that in Egypt today Christians can easily fall victim to violence and hatred, and that their security is not fully guaranteed. Many Copts, in particular, are made to feel like aliens in their own country."

This statement is part of a message to the member churches of the WCC in Egypt issued by the Council’s executive committee at the end of its 23-26 February meeting in Bossey, near Geneva, Switzerland.

In one of the latest attacks targeting Christians in Egypt, six Christians and one Muslim were shot down by gunmen at the conclusion of the celebration of a Coptic Christmas midnight mass in Nag Hammadi on 7 January. (More)

Diocese Schedule of Divine Liturgies during the Great Lent

MosesS
| Tuesday, February 9, 2010 | No comments.

As Orthodox faithful observe the holy Great Lent this year, parish churches throughout the entire diocese have increased celebrations of the Divine Liturgy throughout the week.

As His Grace wrote in the recently released Great Lent publication: (More)

Diocese to Commemorate Nag Hammadi Martyrs

Fortieth Day Commemoration on February 14, 2010

MosesS
| Tuesday, February 9, 2010 | No comments.

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 an audio message on the First Sunday of the Great Lent, the "Sunday of Treasures," in which he speaks about the example of these seven martyrs who laid not treasure for themselves on earth, but rather, in the Kingdom of Heaven. (More)

"Christians and the State: Comparing Russian and Egyptian Experiences" at Claremont Graduate University

His Grace Bishop Serapion to Deliver Opening Remarks

MosesS
| Saturday, February 6, 2010 | No comments.

On Wednesday, February 17, 2010, Claremont Graduate University School of Religion and Claremont McKenna College Department of Religious Studies will hold a public lecture entitled "Christians and the State: Comparing Russian and Egyptian Experiences" featuring Professor Sergei Plekhanov of York University in Toronto, Canada.

The lecture will compare relations between temporal and ecclesiastical authorities among Christians in Russia and Egypt, as well as the the historical and contemporary experiences of these two sister churches to help understand the evolving role of religion in the modern world.

His Grace Bishop Serapion will deliver opening remarks on Coptic Orthodox-Russian Orthodox ecumenical dialogue and relations.

The lecture will take place at:

Albrecht Auditorium
925 N. Dartmouth Avenue
Claremont, CA 91711

The proposed schedule is as follows: (More)

الإيبارشية تنشر مطبوعاتها إلكترونياً لجهاز أمازون "كينديل" الرقمي

emmanuelgergis
| Tuesday, February 2, 2010 | No comments.

يسعد الإيبارشية أن تعلن عن توفير أولى كتبها الإلكترونية "إي-بوك" لجهاز أمازون "كينديل" الرقمي بعنوان: "عن ظهور الله في ميلاد مسيحه" (العظة ٣٨ للقديس إغريغوريوس اللاهوتي –  مجموعة الرسائل الرعوية). (More)

Diocese to Digitize Publications for Amazon Kindle and More

MosesS
| Tuesday, February 2, 2010 | No comments.

With great joy and enthusiasm, the Diocese announces the availability of its first electronic book ("eBook") for the Amazon Kindle platform, On the Manifestation of God in the Birth of Christ (Oration 38 of St. Gregory the Theologian) (Pastoral Messages Series).

The release of this publication for the Amazon Kindle format is part of the Diocese’s efforts to digitize past and future publications to take advantage of the benefits of the electronic book format. Among the advantages are books with searchable text, which is particularly useful for servants and readers who wish to find a specific word, phrase, or Holy Scripture reference in a book; enhanced content, such as audio, color illustrations, and more; and a more environmentally friendly method of distribution. (More)

Diocese Great Lent Lecture Series

MosesS
| Saturday, January 30, 2010 | No comments.

The Saint Athanasius and Saint Cyril Theological Library joyfully announces its first annual Great Lent Lecture series, "Fasting in the Desert: A Historical and Spiritual Examination of the Desert Fathers and the Applicability of Their Lives Today."

God willing, the Library has organized a series of six lectures on the Sunday evenings of the Great Lent at various churches throughout the diocese, following the Sunday evening prayer. The schedule of these lectures is as follows: (More)