In response to the request of many parents for an official letter outlining the Coptic Orthodox tradition of celebrating Christmas, the Feast of our Lord’s Nativity, on January 7, Fr. Michael Fanous has prepared the following letter that may be signed by parents and submitted to their child’s school. Nativity Excused Absence

On Sunday, December 20, Their Graces Bishop Serapion and Bishop Youssef ordained the blessed servant Fady Antoun as a presbyter for the Diocese to serve at St. Mark Church in Los Angeles. He had previously served in this parish, most recently as Deacon Reweis before his ordination as Fr. Reweis Antoun.  May God preserve the lives of our bishops and grant him the fruit of the Holy Spirit in his service. May he also continue – …

One of the most beloved Kiahk melodies in the Coptic Orthodox Church is the praise on the Thursday Theotokion known as “The Burning Bush.” The story of Moses and the burning bush is easily found in the Book of Exodus: And Moses was feeding the flock of Jothor his father-in-law, the priest of Madiam; and he brought the sheep nigh to the wilderness, and came to the mount of Choreb. And an Angel of the – …

Last Sunday, faithful in the Coptic Orthodox Church celebrated with great joy the Feast of the Entry of the Holy Theotokos Mary into the temple. Although this event is not mentioned in the Holy Scripture, it is firmly rooted in the Holy Tradition of the Church, especially from a book known as the Protoevangelium of James, which offers details concerning the early life of the Holy Theotokos. When the Holy Theotokos was only three-years-old, her – …

During this holy month of Kiahk in the Coptic Orthodox Church, we commemorate the events that led to the transformation of the world through the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ. We are called to be attentive and faithful during this time as we see the Feast of the Nativity on the horizon, rapidly approaching as each day passes. It is a time for us to prepare and wait for the feast which commemorates the – …