On the Holy Waters of Baptism
Excerpt from On the Spirit, Chapter 15 Through the Holy Spirit comes our restoration to paradise, our ascension into the kingdom of heaven, our return to the adoption of sons, our liberty to call God our Father, our being made partakers of the grace of Christ, our being called children of light, our sharing in eternal glory, and, in a word, our being brought into a state of all “fullness of blessing,” (Rom. 15:29) both in this – …
Festal Letter for the Feast of the Theophany 2010
The Coptic Orthodox Diocese of Los Angeles, Southern California, and Hawaii wishes you all a blessed and joyous Feast of the Theophany 2010, commemorating the manifestation of the Holy Trinity to humanity and the baptism of our Lord Jesus Christ. His Grace Bishop Serapion has posted a festal message in audio format. You may hear or download it here: Festal Message of H.G. Bishop Serapion for the Feast of the Theophany 2010 May our Lord – …
The Source And Giver Of New Life
The Holy Church teaches us that Jesus Christ our Lord, Who gave Himself "for the life of the world" (Jn. 6:51), is the One, Who saved us from eternal death by His crucifixion, trampling death by death. Through His Resurrection, we are given a new life in Him, where sin and death are forever conquered. By the mercy of God, we are brought back to have life in His everlasting Kingdom. But like any form – …
On the Holy Epiphany (Part 1)
O you who are the friends of Christ, and the friends of the stranger, and the friends of the brethren, receive in kindness my speech today, and open your ears like the doors of hearing, and admit within them my discourse, and accept from me this saving proclamation of the baptism of Christ, which took place in the river Jordan, in order that your loving desires may be quickened after the Lord, who has done – …
From Heaven to the Jordan
“There was a man sent from God, whose name was John.” He who is sent is sent from somewhere to somewhere; and the careful student will, therefore, inquire from where was John from, and to where was he sent. The place he was sent is very clear from the story–he was sent to Israel, and to those who were willing to hear him when he was staying in the wilderness of Judea and baptizing by – …