Coptic Orthodox Diocese of the Southern United States

“Arise you children of the Light”

In the Orthodox Creed, the church fathers declared that Lord Jesus Christ is “Light of Light”. The term “Light of Light” is the official Orthodox analogy of the relationship between The Son and The Father. The Scriptural origin of that term may be found in the words of King David below:

“"For with You is the fountain of life; In Your light we see light. Oh, continue Your lovingkindness to those who know You and Your righteousness to the upright in heart" (Ps 36: 9,10)

- “For with You (O Father) is the fountain of life (The Son)” –

St. John elaborated on King David words in his first Epistle saying, “the life (The Son) was manifested, and we have seen and bear witness, and declare to you that eternal life (The Son) which was with the Father and was manifested to us.” (1 Jn. 1: 2). Lord Jesus also confirmed this saying, “I am the resurrection and the life” (Jn 11:25) – “ I am the way, the truth, and the life.” (Jn 14:6). Moreover, St. John said, “And this is the testimony: that God (The Father) has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son” (1 Jn 5:11). Lord Jesus Christ connected the terms “light” and “life” when He said, “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness but have the light of life.” (Jn 8:12). It is no surprise then to hear St. John say, “In Him (In The Son) was life, and the life was the light of men. And the light (The Son) shines in darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it” (Jn 1: 4,5) – “That (The Son) was the true Light which gives light (gives life) to every man coming into the world” (Jn 1:9).

- In Your light (In Your Son who is Light of Light) we see light (we see / know You O Father). Oh (Father), continue Your lovingkindness to those who know You (Through Your Light; Your Son) and Your righteousness to the upright in heart –

St. John said that “No one has seen (known) God (The Father) at any time. The only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, He has declared Him (Made Him known)” (Jn 1:18). Lord Jesus Christ said “No one comes to the Father except through Me (The Son). If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also; and from now on you know Him and have seen Him.” (Jn 14: 6,7) – Notice how “to see” and “to know” are used interchangeably. The words of King David could be understood as a prophecy about the knowledge of the Father through His Son.

Read more:

Glorious Feast of the Resurrection ~ May 2, 2021

Holy Gospel according to St. John 20:1-18

His Grace begins with a saying from St. John Chrysostom about Christ is Risen. Then His Grace shares with us five situations/characters that truly experienced the joy of the Resurrection.

St. Paul Coptic Orthodox Church

Houston, TX

Feast of the Cross by HG Bishop Gregory

His Grace explains to us that the cross is a weapon.

St. Meena Coptic Orthodox Church

Fort Worth, TX

Pastoral Visit

March 19, 2021

In the Holy Gospel reading for the 2nd Sunday of the Holy Great Fast (Matthew 4:1-11), His Grace reads for us the following:

"Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil..."

His Grace shares with us that the temptations to sin comes upon all of us and is expected. Yet we need to focus on our Lord Jesus Christ and not on the temptation itself.

St. John Chrysostom (Commentary on the Gospel of St. Matthew):

"For since Jesus did and underwent everything with a view to our instruction He likewise consented to be led there and wrestle against the devil in order that every baptized person who, after baptism, has to endure greater temptations may not be troubled as though this outcome were unexpected, but may continue to endure everything nobly as though it were happening in the natural course of things. For indeed, this was the reason you took up arms, not to be idle, but to fight."

Barsanuphius and John, Barsanuphius and John: Letters, ed. Thomas P. Halton, trans. John Chryssavgis, vol. 113, The Fathers of the Church (Washington, DC: The Catholic University of America Press, 2006), 183:

"Do not contradict temptation; for that is what the demons want, and then they will never stop. Rather, resist it by taking refuge in God, casting your weakness before him; for he is able not only to shut their mouths but also to abolish them."

Elder Porphyrius (EO Saint)

"Do not fight to expel darkness from the chamber of your soul. Open a tiny aperture for the light to enter, and the darkness will disappear."

Prayer of St. Ephraim the Syrian:

"O Lord and Master of my life, take from me the spirit of sloth, despair, lust of power, and idle talk.

But give rather the spirit of chastity, humility, patience, and love to Your servant.

Yea, O Lord and King, grant me to see my own transgressions, and not to judge my brother, for blessed art You, unto ages of ages. Amen."

Series also posted on

Podcast: Search for 'Coptic Orthodox Diocese of the Southern United States'

In the Holy Gospel reading of the 1st Sunday in the Holy Great Fast (Matthew 6:19-33), His Grace reads for us the following:

"Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven..."

His Grace also shares with us the words of St. John Chrysostom and St. Gregory of Nyssa to remind us as we begin the journey of the Holy Great Fast to be wise and give alms as we lay up treasures in heaven.

St. John Chrysostom:

"Buy as much as you can. Do you have one coin? Buy the sky. Not because the sky is cheap, but because the Lord is a lover of mankind. You do not even have one coin? Give a glass of refreshing water. 'The one who offers one glass of refreshing water to one of the least of these for my sake will not lose his reward.' Heaven is a business and an enterprise, and we are negligent.

Give bread and seize paradise.

Give small things and grasp great ones.

Give mortal things and take firm hold of immortal ones.

Give corruptible things and capture incorruptible ones."

St. Gregory of Nyssa:

"the poor are our gateway to the Kingdom." He says, "These poor are the ones who store away the good things that we look upon. They are the gatekeepers of the Kingdom. They open the gates before the merciful and shut them in the face of the cruel ones who do not do good. They are the strongest accusers and the best defenders. They do not accuse and defend with words, but the Lord sees what is done to them. Every action cries out in a loud voice before God, the searcher of hearts."

Series also posted on

Podcast: Search for 'Coptic Orthodox Diocese of the Southern United States'

His Grace shares with us a story from the book called “The World of the Desert Fathers” which exemplifies the importance of fasting.

As we approach the Holy Great Fast, let us remember the lesson from this story along with the saying of St. John Chrysostom: "Fasting of the body is food for the soul."

Series also posted on

Podcast: Search for 'Coptic Orthodox Diocese of the Southern United States'

His Grace shares with us sayings from the Letters of St. Anthony the Great and the Desert Fathers about our choice regarding life and death and loving our neighbors.

From the Letters of St Anthony the Great

Letter 6:

"For they know that our perdition is from our neighbour, and our life also is from our neighbour."

Letter 6:

"For this cause, therefore, he who sins against his neighbour sins against himself, and he who does evil to his neighbour does evil to himself; and he who does good to his neighbour, does good to himself."

From the Sayings of the Desert Fathers, saying #9 of Abba Anthony:

He said also, "Our life and our death is with our neighbor. If we gain our brother, we have gained God, but if we scandalize our brother, we have sinned against Christ."

Series also posted on

Podcast: Search for 'Coptic Orthodox Diocese of the Southern United States'

2021 Theophany Feast Homily

Holy Gospel according to St. John 1:18-34

St. Mary Coptic Orthodox Church

Delray Beach , FL

Pastoral Visit

January 19, 2021

His Grace shares with us a prayer by St. Ephrem the Syrian, titled:

'How many times have I promised, yet every time I failed to keep my word. But disregard this according to Thy grace'.

"Grant forgiveness, O Lord; send also strength. Convert me, that I might live in sanctity, according to Thy holy will. Sanctify my heart that has become a den and dwelling-place of demons.

I am unworthy to ask forgiveness for myself, O Lord, for many times have I promised to repent and proved myself a liar by not fulfilling my promise. Thou hast picked me up many times already, but every time I freely chose to fall again.

Therefore I condemn myself and admit that I deserve all manner of punishment and torture. How many times hast Thou enlightened my darkened mind; yet every time I return again to base thoughts! My whole body trembles when I contemplate this; yet every time sinful sensuality reconquers me.

How shall I recount all the gifts of Thy grace, O Lord, that I the pitiful one have received? Yet I have reduced them all to nothing by my apathy—and I continue in this manner. Thou hast bestowed upon me thousands of gifts, yet miserable me, I offer in return things repulsive to Thee.

Yet Thou, O Lord, inasmuch as Thou containest a sea of long-suffering and an abyss of kindness, do not allow me to be felled as a fruitless fig tree; and do not let me be burned without having ripened on the field of life. Snatch me not away unprepared; seize not me who have not yet lit my lamp; take not away me who have no wedding garment; but, because Thou art good and a lover of mankind, have mercy on me. Give me time to repent, and place not my soul stripped naked before Thy terrible and unwavering throne as a pitiful spectacle of infamy.

If a righteous man can barely be saved, then where will I end up, I who am lawless and sinful? If the path that leads to life is strait and narrow, then how can I be vouchsafed such good things, I who live a life of luxury, indulging in my own pleasures and dissipation? But Thou, O Lord, my Savior, Son of the true God, as Thou knowest and desirest, by Thy grace alone, freely turn me away from the sin that abides in me and save me from ruin."

Ephrem the Syrian, A Spiritual Psalter or Reflections on God, trans. Isaac E. Lambertsen and Antonina Janda (Liberty, TN: The St. John of Kronstadt Press, 2004), 191–192.

Series also posted on

Podcast: Search for 'Coptic Orthodox Diocese of the Southern United States'

His Grace shares with us 5 points to help us to rely on God:

1) To know Him

2) To practice being in His presence for He is present in us

3) To sandwich our thoughts or solutions with prayers

4) Realize that the door of our weaknesses or trials the devil is trying to use to make us despair but use it as a door to enter into a relationship with Him filled with trust

5) Use expressions of trust and recall His promises in your prayers