Blogs in Coptic studies

Explanation of the Kneeling Prayers (“Salaat el Sagda”) on the Feast of the Pentecost by Fr. Bishoy Lamie Mikhail June 8, 2014 Every year on the Feast of Pentecost, the Coptic Orthodox Church practices “Salaat el Sagda,” or the “Kneeling Prayer,” in the evening. This important prayer has a deep meaning, as it explains the significant role of the descent of the Holy Spirit in our salvation and life as a church. “In the Old Testament, Pentecost was the feast which occurred fifty days after Passover. As the Passover feast celebrated the exodus of the Israelites from the slavery of Egypt, Pentecost celebrated God’s gift of the Ten Commandments to Moses on Mount Sinai. In the new covenant of the Messiah, the Passover event takes on its new meaning as the celebration of Christ’s death and resurrection, the “exodus” of men from this sinful world to the Kingdom of God. And in the New Testament as well, the Pentecostal feast is fulfilled and made new by the coming of the...

The themes of Sunday Liturgical Readings in the Coptic Orthodox Church

September 10, 2016

Reading of Sundays Excerpted from many sermons by The V. Rev. Fr. Athanasius K. Farag Sunday reading aims to show us the work of the Holy Trinity in the creation, redemption and glorification of the human, it is called the economia of the Holy Trinity. Month of Tut In the first month of Tut we read the love of God the Father who called all for repentance “who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.” I Ti.2:4 Month of Babah In the second month of Babah, the churches tells us “Who is this Saviour?” we see him through his work miracles of healing the paralyzed, casting out demons, raising the dead. Month of Hatour In Hatour we see who is the Saviour through His word which is planted in our hearts. Month of Keyhak • All from Luke chapter 1: the scenes which accompanied the Nativity season Month of Toba the incarnation of the Only Begotten Son who called us from darkness to the light, who walk...

Excerpts from St. Cyril of Alexandria commentary on The Book of Jonah

February 08, 2017

I summarized some noteworthy points from our great father, St. Cyril of Alexandria: 1- The Book of Jonah serves as a 'shadow' to the 'mystery of the Incarnation of our Saviour.' 2- We should not apply the entire story of Jonah to Jesus. For example, "he was sent to preach to the Ninevites, but tried to flee from the face of God, and proved reluctant about his mission; the Son also was sent by the God and Father to preach to the nations, but did not lack enthusiasm for his ministry, nor seek to flee from the face of the God and Father." 3- The story is meant to highlight a comparison between how the Gentiles accepted the preaching and how the Jews rejected it. As St. Cyril explains, "what happened was by way of condemnation of Israel; they were convicted of being forward, unresponsive, paying little heed to the laws of God. After all, at a single prophet's preaching . the Ninevites were instantly brought around to a sense of obligation to repent, ...

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