On July 10-11, 2009, Saint Athanasius and Saint Cyril Theological Library held its Third Annual Patristics Conference featuring His Grace Bishop Serapion, the Reverend Protopresbyter Father George Dion. Dragas, and Deacon Severus Mikhail.
With God’s grace and through your prayers, the conference was a tremendous blessing and success.
The conference commenced with a general youth meeting at St. Maurice Coptic Orthodox Church on Friday, July 10, 2009. Earlier that morning, the church celebrated the Feast of St. Cyril of Alexandria, which brought about great joy and blessings among the attendees of the conference. Deacon Severus Mikhail presented a lecture entitled "The Kingdom of God" explaining the concept of Our Lord’s Kingdom throughout the Holy Scriptures. Afterwards, Father George Dragas presented a lecture on the Christocentric approach to the anthropic principle focusing on the relationship between Christ, the universe, and man.
Early next morning, His Grace Bishop Serapion and several Diocese priests celebrated the Divine Liturgy on the feast of two great martyrs, St. Apakir and St. John. After an elaborate brunch, His Grace Bishop Serapion delivered a spiritual and edifying lecture entitled "The Lord’s Prayer in the Writings of St. Cyril of Alexandria." The lecture discussed each part of the Lord’s Prayer and how its meaning was revealed to us by St. Cyril in his Commentary on the Gospel According to St. Luke.
Father George Dragas delivered the next two lectures entitled "The Lord’s Prayer in the Fathers." This edifying lecture presented several spiritual insights on the Lord’s Prayer in the writings of St. Cyril of Alexandria, St. Macarius of Corinth and the greater patristic witness, as well.
The Theological Library joyfully received several honorable visitors from the Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox Churches, including the Right Reverend Alexei Smith, Ecumenical Officer for the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Los Angeles, the Reverend Father Maximus of Holy Transfiguration Monastery in Newberry Springs, and many members of the St. John Chrysostom Society.
All of the lectures were professionally recorded and, God willing, will be available via this website soon.
We thank God for the blessing He has given us in the opportunity to be instructed in the faith by these distinguished spiritual speakers.
