I recently presented a lecture to a group of students and others in Canada about the Orthodox understanding of Scripture. In this lecture, which is available here, I spoke about the fact that the New Testament and the early Church used a version of the Old Testament Scriptures which was a translation into the Greek […]
During the Liturgy and other services of the Church the priest will often turn to face the congregation and will say, “Peace be with you – Irini pasi!” After the consecration of the most precious and true Body and Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ, when he has made himself present on the altar for […]
I was asked for some advice about what seem to be a series of difficult and complicated relationships, and these are experiences that many of share and will perhaps face in the future. So I shared the following thoughts with my friend and hope they might be of wider use. At some point we need […]
In the Middle East, and indeed throughout the Roman Empire, cemeteries were always placed outside the city walls. Many people from cultures outside the British Isles, both in past centuries, and even today, would find it offensive that we place cemeteries in the centre of our communities and locate them around our places of worship. […]
Good news? The Christian message is one of Good News for all mankind, but over the centuries it has been misunderstood and misrepresented. Orthodox Christianity has preserved the faith which was taught by the Apostles, the followers of Jesus Christ, and this faith remains Good News for all who receive it with hope. The beginning […]
Halloween is now passed, and various thoughts have been offered by different people. Without disagreeing or opposing any views, I wanted to offer some reflections myself on what is an ancient Christian period of commemorating the saints and all the departed. For myself, there are several issues. 1. I have a problem with the sort […]
It is easy to insist that we are not saved by a religion but by a spirituality. However, such a view, when expressed in social media, usually means only that a person wishes to be free to develop their own religion. It is those who have abandoned all connection to the Apostolic Christian Tradition who […]
These are the final 4 chapters of a contemporary account of St Dioscorus, written by Theopiste, one of his disciples. I have translated these passages myself and am responsible for any errors. But in my love for this saint I will translate the rest of this text in due course. Especially if you are a […]
I have not usually ever recorded our celebration of the Liturgy. But on this happy occasion when I was praying with Father Hedra Fahmy in Stoke, on Saturday 17th September, I decided that I would record the Liturgy, not least for those who have often wondered and asked how an Englishman might celebrate the Coptic […]
Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness. 2 Peter 3:11 In the calendar of the Coptic Orthodox Church there is only one Sunday in the little month of Nasi, which contains only 5 or 6 days, and in this […]