His Eminence Speaks at Southern Region Servants’ Meeting
On Sunday, April 10, 2016, His Eminence Metropolitan Serapion addressed a group of servants from around the Southern Region of the Diocese (including Orange County, San Diego, and surrounding areas) at their bimonthly meeting. His Eminence’s lecture, “The Spiritual Growth of a Servant”, discussed the dynamic nature of the spiritual life and its goal and direction: perfection in Christ. It also provided practical advice for growth in loving those whom we serve, growth in our – …
Placing our Weaknesses before Christ
In the Gospel reading of the Evening Raising of Incense for the Third Sunday of the blessed Coptic month of Hatour, we hear our Lord Jesus Christ speaking to us personally, saying, “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My – …
The Exercise of the Arrow Prayer
The Concept Behind this Exercise These prayers are called “arrow-like prayers” by the Church for they are, in a manner of speaking, spiritual arrows that penetrate the thick veil that can exist between man and God, rises to the pinnacle of heaven and enters the sanctuary of the Lord and is most effective. When you repeat this prayer with concentration, you will experience the following: 1. You will feel that the Lord is opening you – …
The Christian in the Parables of Christ
Introduction The life of a Christian is not supposed to be spent haphazardly. That is, the Christian does not perform random acts hoping that the act that he has taken is a proper act. So if a Christian does not act randomly, then there must be a guideline, or standard by which he can evaluate an action and thus know what to do or what direction to take in a specific situation. Likewise, Christians should – …
On Wearing the Cross
The Cross of Jesus Christ is the joy and boast of Christians. By the Cross we were saved and by the Cross the demons are put to flight. Wearing the Cross on our person is a fundamental and simple way to keep Christ in our daily life and to fight the influence of the devil. Who wears the Cross and when? Infants and adults who are baptized in the Coptic Orthodox Church typically receive a small – …