Showing results by author "Bishoy Boshra Behnam" in All Categories

To our Beloved sons and daughters What do you know about the book of First Samuel? The subject: Appointing a king over Israel. In the beginning, God was the king. God sent them judges when they went astray, but the people asked for a king like the other nations. The topic of this book: Samuel was the fruit of his mother’s prayers, and Saul was the fruit of the persistence of the people, not the fruit of prayer. King David was the fruit of the prayers of Samuel the prophet. + This is considered a topic about the fruit of prayers. + The beginning of choosing a king, that is why we find for ...

A long time ago, Nebuchadnezzar had destroyed the temple of the Lord in Jerusalem and had destroyed the city and its walls. The Samaritans and the opposing gentiles found destroying the walls an opportunity to enter without resistance from its inhabitants. God has allowed that to chastise His people for a time. Also, God ordered Cyrus, the king of Persia, to return the Jews from captivity and build the temple. So He sent Zerubbabel and all the Jews who wanted to return, and they started putting the foundation of the temple; however, the enemies opposed them, but finally, it was built. After...

Dogmas are the interpretation of our experience of God, in the Crucified and Risen Jesus Christ. This experience through the ages does not alter, for Jesus Christ remains the same yesterday, today and forever (Heb. 13:8). The disciples and apostles (and bishops afterwards) did not sit around a table and agree to teach new dogmas, but rather they preached their Christian experience. As St. John says, "That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you" (1 John 1:3). Thus, all Christian dogmas produced are the church's experience of the Crucified and Risen Christ. "Truth" and "Love" at the...

This book presents five Soliloquies of Saint Augustine [Whenever You drew me close unto You, my soul would continue to search for You, driven by my aspiration, while You resided in my heart!] From Soliloquy 1 [My Lord… You are my Light; open my eyes to behold Your divine brightness so that I would be able to walk down my path without stumbling in the traps of the enemy!] From Soliloquy 2 [If anything, godly was found in me, You would be its Source, for the godliness inside me is Your goodness, O Righteous, and from You I have received it!] From Soliloquy 3 [I beg You to command the dead ...

Immerse yourself in the spiritual journey of "Fasting," a short pamphlet exploring the ancient Christian practice as viewed through the lens of the Coptic Orthodox Church. With a blend of biblical narratives and theological insights, this guide invites believers and seekers alike to experience the transformative power of fasting. "Fasting is a calling to see God," begins the pamphlet, addressing the innate questions about the purpose and necessity of this discipline, far from a mere abstention from food. Journey through the experiences of Moses and Elijah, whose mountaintops during periods ...

With every book of the Holy Scripture, in both the Old and the New Testaments, our hearts are drawn more toward Jesus the Lord of Glory, in order to get to know Him more and to kindle the fire of our love for Him inside us. It brings us to anticipate with great longing His coming to carry us with Him up to the bosom of God the Father so we may enjoy the exalted secret of God. This book confirms the preoccupation of God the Creator in the affairs of men. In His care for us, He grants us the divine wisdom to keep us in this world, to let us bear a creative mind and by it to grants us eternity...

Volume 2 - Book 5 of the Catechism of the Coptic Orthodox Church The Believer and the Heavenly Hosts The book addresses questions about the following topics: 1. The creation of the Spiritual World 2. Our Companionship with the Heavenly Hosts 3. The order of the Heavenly Hosts 4. The devil has no authority over us

Young children as well as grown ups can gain much happiness from listening to the beautiful stories which are told in the book of Exodus, despite the fact that these stories took place more than thirty centuries ago. Now I want you to close your eyes and imagine Miriam, the prophetess and sister of Aaron and Moses, imagine that you are sitting by her side along with the other children gathered around. Miriam loved to tell stories, and the children loved to hear them. She would tell them about things she herself had seen and had heard. Miriam kept many of these stories in her heart and mind,...

If you happen to be agonizing under a sexual or emotional yoke, which is impeding your attempts to fast, pray, or serve, then your first priority is to know our Lord Jesus. Are you thirsting for a particular sin which you fancy - which could be sexual indulgence or a desire to accumulate wealth? Remember: our Lord Jesus alone is the Paradise of your soul - He is your soul's Bread and Water (John 6:35), your soul's Shepherd and Life (John 10:11), and your soul's Friend and Groom (John 11:25). Our Lord Jesus is beautiful and sweet. You cannot know Him unless you experience Him. If you do not ...

Perhaps some may wonder why the divine inspiration used this courting style to express the mutual love between God and His Church. Through the divine inspiration, God speaks to us with the same style in a colloquial manner. Moreover, He also uses the same expressions we use, so that the inspiration is not foreign to us. This interpretation of the divine love as a spiritual marital love that binds the soul with God is not strange in the Bible, but has been used by both the prophets of the Old Testament as well as the Disciples of the New Testament. We shall see this when we discuss the “...

To the Coptic Orthodox Church, Dogmas are not merely theological concepts concerning God, man, Church, eternal life, heavenly creatures, demons, etc., to be discussed among clergymen, scholars, and laymen. But dogmas are, in essence, daily experiences each member of the Church has to live. In other words, dogmas representing our faith in God through various aspects have one message, i.e., our communion with God the Father in Jesus Christ, the incarnate Word of God, by His Holy Spirit. Thus, we conceive of our redemption, our membership in the Church, a deep understanding of the Holy Bible, ...

When St. Augustine turned 30 years old, he threw a very peculiar party to celebrate his birthday. He had invited his friends for the three days of continuous celebration. His mother was also in attendance, and at that time, he hadn’t yet repented from his previous life and returned to the Church. What had preoccupied him during this party was not the fact that he had reached the age of complete manhood; rather, he was concerned with the meaning of happiness. He proposed a question for discussion: “What is a happy life?” St. Augustine argued that deep inside every person there is a ...

Suddenly, there came a sound from heaven, as of a mighty rushing wind on all the apostles. The wind mixed with the sound, and tongues of living fire from the Father, came down on their heads; and all of a sudden, they felt stronger, in body, soul, and wisdom. Their minds got enlightened more, and many things became clearer to them. They then knew for sure that the Holy Spirit has dwelt in them, and started to be their Instructor and Guide. The weak and simple became strong and wise. The fishermen became teachers and scholars. The rushing wind that came all of a sudden turned into an ...

Volume 2 - Book 6 of the Catechism of the Coptic Orthodox Church Christian Concepts and Everyday Life The book addresses questions about the following topics: Christian Virtues The Virtue of Discernment and Illumination The Virtue of Obedience The Virtue of Chastity and Purity Vices or Evils Christian Faith and Human Culture The Relationship between Church and State Christian Faith and Military Service Christian Faith and Social and Familial Relationships Social Cohesion Christian Faith and Social Class Christian Faith and Liberty Wealth and the Wealthy in the Christian Faith Science and Faith

Dive into the depths of spiritual renewal with "The Book of Joel: A Patristic Commentary" by Fr. Tadros Y. Malaty. This transformative commentary offers a profound exploration of repentance, chastisement, and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. Whether you're a seeker of wisdom or a student of sacred books, this book invites you to experience a personal journey through the pages of Joel, promising continuous spiritual renewal and a deeper understanding of the divine plan for humanity. Witness the transformation of the heart's wilderness into the fruitful paradise of God with every page ...

Our Youth, both in Egypt and abroad, experience many emotions and have great potentials. They are in need of someone who can enter their world and offer support without imposing on them and affecting their personalities. They need someone who can understand their innermost secrets without bias or prejudice. They need someone who reciprocates their love and appreciates their emotions and values. They need someone to support them without being an obstacle to their growth and to guide them without usurping the right of steering their own lives. This book discusses the following topics: 1. ...

The Family and Friends The Book of Ben Sirach may be considered a book of wisdom based on God's precepts and intended for practicing a life that is pleasing to Him. The book carefully examines the relationships between men and women, especially those between the couple, the family members, and connections between friends. Amazingly, it deals with some issues that date back to about 2200 years, yet these writings continue to be helpful and applicable up to the present day. Marriage or family life is the basis upon which society is founded. If it is dissolved, the corporation is dissolved ...

This is book 3 of the series "BROTHERLY LOVE". It discusses the following topics: 1. FAMILY BOND: Caring for every member of the family - Family stability - Love is the pillar of the family structure. 2. PARENTHOOD IN CHRISTIANITY: The concept of parenthood. 3. RESPONSIBLE PARENTHOOD: The importance of raising children - you are responsible! - you are responsible even for the salvation of the illegitimate son. 4. PARENTHOOD BETWEEN LOVE AND AUTHORITY: Childhood world - 1. Parental authority is for the children! - 2. Your job is to pave the way not to own them - 3. Mutual benefits - 4. ...

Jesus Ben Sirach did not only speak to his disciples, but he also prayed for them while in their presence. He also recorded prayers about them. Together with the prayers of the saintly people of God - men and women of earlier times - these are all considered contemporary prayers for new generations. His prayers constitute a dialogue shared between him and God. They offer honor to God in anticipation of His divine care to all human beings, and they also convey the love of humankind. The desire and spirit of prayer are a gift from God. A person who desires to pray stands in the presence of ...

Every wise father and mother desires that their child become a successful leader, capable of leading a life in all the physical, intellectual and spiritual aspects found in the society he or she lives in. Such a desire is in harmony with God’s will, for He created a sound humanity, in possession of authority, so that not one from amongst them may become enslaved. This pamphlet examines a terrific biblical example; one that offers practical means in the sound guidance of raising our children, so that they may develop leadership skills at a young age, while possessing a spirit of humility, ...