“Unless a person keeps the commandments of God, he cannot make progress even in a single virtue” - Abba Agathon By studying the lives of Old Testament prophets, we are able to highlight a clear concept towards being a servant of God, which is being obedient towards God’s commandments. Originally I used to imagine that …
Why do I pray? Why do I fast? Why do I seek seclusion? And why do I read? Is it in order to be a man of prayers, or fasting or to be known as a lover of seclusion or a man of knowledge? Do I like to be a worshipper? Is this a lust …
The first thing is the blessing and obedience to the commandment of God. As it was said about Joseph the Upright in his prosperity: “The Lord was with Joseph, and he was a successful man” (Gen 39:2). And that: “The Lord made all he did to prosper in his hand” (Gen 39:3). Search for the …
Macarius the Great, also called Macarius the Egyptian (to distinguish him from Macarius of Alexandria) is one of the most venerated saints of the Coptic Church (his name, which means "blessed," in Greek is "Makarios," in Arabic "Maqar"). He was born around the year 300 in Jijber (present-day Shabshir), a village in the southwest portion …
The powers of heaven stand ready in their ranks to advance with fear before the Bridegroom as he comes in glory on the clouds of heaven to judge the living and the dead; and we do not believe. What then will come upon us in that hour, brethren? How may we there defend ourselves to …
All the works, visibly done in this world, are done out of a certain hope of enjoying one's labors and unless anyone is fully convinced that he will profit from his labors, he would see no advantage in doing them. For the farmer sows seeds in the hope of fruit and he undergoes toils on …
Every new Priest straight after his ordination he seeks a Monastery (a very remote and quiet place) to go to and spend “ 40 days” there, for many benefits such as: To be away from every one; his family, relatives and his friends and be only with God, to know more about Him through meditations …
A certain old man said, there was a harlot who was so beautiful and so rich that all princes flocked to her. One day she went into the church and desired to pass inside the gates, but a subdeacon who was standing at the door would not allow her to do so. He said, “You …
Two Decades in establishment of a Monastery are very important to notice, not in the growth of the buildings or the growth in number of Monks but in the kind of the proper Monastic life that had been achieved by the Monks. It is known very well that All of us as Servants of God …
Monastic Principles By Fr. Raphael El Baramousy, St Shenouda Monastery Publications As I flicked through the pages of ‘Monastic Principles,’ it occurred to me that the book is addressing those living the monastic life. But after reading the first chapter, it was clear that writing to that audience was most beneficial to me. Monks strive …
