Saint Mark Coptic Orthodox Church : Los Angeles, CA

4th Sunday of Tute - The Sinful Woman

The story of the repentance of the sinful woman is full of emotions. It is difficult for the human being to express it. This woman, in her repentance did not utter one word. She didn't open her mouth. So how could we talk about what, she herself was not capable of expressing? She dissolved all the feelings for repentance, and all the thoughts to return to God with the flood of her tears, which she poured on the Savior's feet. We can't imagine the scale of tears, which that woman has shed, sufficient enough to wash Jesus' feet. That woman, with her mannerism, invented a new means for repentance. The church, through the years, adopted it, and it became the ultimate example for the power of repentance, and the courage to reach Jesus' feet.... Read more...

2nd Sunday of Tute - One thing you lack

Now as He was going out on the road, one came running and knelt before Him, and asked Him, 'Good Teacher, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?' So Jesus said to him, 'you know the commandments: Do not commit adultery, Do not murder. And he answered and said to Him, 'Teacher, all these things I have kept from my youth.' Then Jesus looked at him, loved him, then He told him, 'One...

Saint Mary's Virginity

A series of lectures given by Fr. Tadros Malaty on the topic of Saint Mary in the Orthodox Concept. These lectures cover Saint Mary's Virginity, The Theotokos or the Mother of God, Our New Eve, Full of Grace, Our Mediatrix, Saint Mary the model of virgins, Saint Mary and the Church & Saint Mary in the Coptic Rite. Fr. Tadros examines these qualities of the Virgin Mary supported by sayin...

Curriculum for Preparation of Sunday School Servants

Beloved of our Lord Jesus Christ: May the grace and peace of our Lord be with you.It is with great joy that we announce the publication of a new book “Curriculum For Preparation of Sunday School Servants”.This book includes so many useful features that we believe will help Sunday School s...

Sunday Contemplations

4th Sunday of Abib - The Raising of Lazarus from the dead

The Lord was planning to give Himself to death for the world. He intended to give us life, not only to our body, but also to our dead spirit. These are the spirits that died in sin and the filth of guilt (sins). Therefore, the Lord has arranged to raise Lazarus from the dead as a guarantee for everyone's resurrection. When the Lord raised Lazarus, He opened the gate of hope, for those in the...

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Feasts

The Comforter Spirit

If we just endure to walk in the narrow path. If we just cross the valley of tears, carrying the cross, despite of the world's prosecution, then the Holy Spirit is our salvation, the intercession of our endeavor and our the only support for our comfort. Whoever experienced the Holy Spirit amid hardship, then the can challenge the pains and will not care about hardship, "In the multitu...

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Spirituality

How to Benefit Spiritually from Holy Pascha Week

1. Our Behavior Inside and Outside of Church It is very noticeable that many people during Pascha Week are one thing inside church and completely different outside. In side church, black curtains, somber hymns, solemn readings, and concentrating on the suffering of Christ. Outside of church, we often laugh, joke around, socialize, think and talk about many worldly issues. We lose al...

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Saints and Martyrs

Our Saints: The Reverend Apostles

First, we should mention that those reverend Apostles had been called for their mission by Jesus Christ himself. He is the One who said to them:" You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you" (Jn15:16) And Jesus Christ also said to them...

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Church Worship

Kiahk Praises explained

The praise of Kiahk (also known as "7 and 4") on the Eve of Sunday is the praise of every eve of Sunday all year, since Sunday is the day of the Resurrection when the Church stays awake until daybreak. Eventually, it contacts the dawn of eternity, whose sun never leaves, because the Lord Jesus, the true Light, the Sun of Righteousness, will be its light. This article will explain t...

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How do I benefit from the Holy Liturgy?

Fasts and Holy Pascha

"Those with which I was wounded in the house of My friends..." (Zech. 13:6)

Thisprophecy was fulfilled in the life of our Lord Jesus. For the sake of savingmankind from eternal perdition, the only begotten Son, God the Logos wasincarnated. Since death was in the way of our salvation, He yearned to gothrough it, because of His love to us. His life on earth was a chain ofsufferings, from His childhood till He went to the cross to suffer the judgmentof our sins. We are those...

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Wisdom of the Fathers

“He stands, then - but not alone, for before Him go angels, saying: 'Lift up the gates, O ye the princes.' What gates? Even those of which the Psalmist sings in another place also: 'Open to me the gates of righteousness.' Open, then, thy gates to Christ, that He may come into thee - open the gates of righteousness, the gates of chastity, the gates of courage and wisdom. Believe the message of the angels: 'Be ye lifted up, ye everlasting doors, and the King of Glory shall come in, the Lord of Sabaoth.'”

St. Ambrose of Milan, Exposition of the Christian Faith, Book IV