Sermons - less than 10m

Sunday Gospel Sermon by Fr. Michael Sorial

Where Does Your Life Point by Fr. Michael Sorial

A message from HG Bishop Gregory during the coronavirus pandemic.

On Bended Knees by HG Bishop Gregory

This is part of the series called "ABBA Give me a WORD".

His Grace shares with us some words from St. John of Dalyatha about the power of repentance and how the chains are broken and adversities changed into joy.

“Their chains are broken and their adversities are changed into joy and their tears into great rejoicing. He who had bound them is himself bound by their reins of darkness and delivered by them to the scourgers. Repentance destroys all his works, and all the pains he cause the servants who are not his, she HEALS and RESTORES. All whom he has killed she resuscitates, all his traps she shatters, and all his snares she cuts to bits.[…] She makes fornicators virgins” (Letter 43)


When the Lord Jesus Christ called His disciples, He called them by a few simple words..."Follow Me".

ABBA Give me a WORD

ABBA Give me a WORD: Do Not Despair by HG Bishop Gregory

This is part of the series called "ABBA Give me a WORD".

His Grace shares with us some words from St Eusebius of Caesarea says concerning this treatise:
“A pestilent disease took possession of many provinces of the whole world, and especially Alexandria and Egypt; as Dionysius writes, and the treatise of Cyprian ‘concerning the Mortality’ bears witness.”(1)

Then His Graces shares with some words from St. Cyprian of Carthage’s Treatise 7: On the Mortality, Part 16:
“…beloved brethren, what is it, what a great thing is it, how pertinent, how necessary, that that pestilence and plague which seems horrible and deadly, searches out the righteousness of each one, and examines the minds of the human race, to see (1) whether they who are in health tend the sick; (2) whether relations affectionately love their family; (3) whether masters pity their weakened servants; (4) whether physicians do not forsake the beseeching patients; (5) whether the fierce suppress their violence; (6) whether the greedy can quench the ever insatiable desire of their raging avarice even by the fear of death; (7) whether the arrogant bend their neck; (8) whether the wicked soften their boldness; (9) whether, when their dear ones perish, the rich, even then bestow anything, and give, when they are to die without heirs. (10) Even although this mortality conferred nothing else, it has done this benefit to Christians and to God’s servants, that we begin gladly to desire martyrdom as we learn not to fear death. These are trainings for us, not deaths: they give the mind the glory of fortitude; by contempt of death they prepare for the crown.” (2)

References:
(1)	Alexander Roberts, James Donaldson, and A. Cleveland Coxe, eds., Fathers of the Third Century: Hippolytus, Cyprian, Novatian, Appendix, vol. 5, The Ante-Nicene Fathers (Buffalo, NY: Christian Literature Company, 1886)

(2)	Alexander Roberts, James Donaldson, and A. Cleveland Coxe, eds., Fathers of the Third Century: Hippolytus, Cyprian, Novatian, Appendix, vol. 5, The Ante-Nicene Fathers (Buffalo, NY: Christian Literature Company, 1886).

When the Lord Jesus Christ called His disciples, He called them by a few simple words..."Follow Me".

ABBA Give me a WORD: Use Pestilence to Search me O God by HG Bishop Basil

This is part of the series called "ABBA Give me a WORD".

His Grace shares with us some words from St. Gregory the Theologian in Oration 17:
“Just take the first step. Comfort is near, on your lips and in your heart. I remembered God, says the Psalmist, and rejoiced. What could be easier than remembering? You too remember and rejoice. The remedy is so simple! The cure so fast! The gift so magnificent! The remembrance of God not only lulls the sense of desolation and anguish but also gives rise to joy.”

His Graces asks us to train ourselves to remember God!

When the Lord Jesus Christ called His disciples, He called them by a few simple words..."Follow Me".

ABBA Give me a WORD: Remember God by HG Bishop Gregory

This is part of the series called "ABBA Give me a WORD".

As we approach Holy Week praying via online services, His Grace shares with us some words from St. John Climacus:
“The effort of bodily prayer can help those not yet granted real prayer of the heart. I am referring to the stretching out of the hands, the beating of the breast, the sincere raising of the eyes heavenward, deep sighs and constant prostrations… If you can, lift up the eyes of your soul, but if not, the eyes of your body.” – (St. John Climacus, The Ladder of Divine Ascent, Step 15, On Chastity)

His Grace also shares with us some words from St. Macarius:
“If you do not have the prayer of the spirit, strive for prayer of the body, and then shall be added to you the prayer in the spirit.” (St. Macarius)

His Grace then continues to share us words from St. Isaac the Syrian:
“Consider every prayer wherein the body does not toil and the heart is not afflicted to be a miscarriage, for this prayer has no soul.” (St. Isaac the Syrian, Homily 21 in The Ascetical Homilies)

His Grace prays that we offer heartfelt prayers, truly raise our hearts to our Lord and pleading for ourselves and for the whole world.

When the Lord Jesus Christ called His disciples, He called them by a few simple words..."Follow Me".

ABBA Give me a WORD: Active Participation in Prayer and Bodily Toil by HG Bishop Gregory

His Grace shares with us a Prayer of Repentance that can be found in Homily 16 of the Ascetical Homilies of St. Isaac the Syrian as well as Discourse 4 of John of Dalyatha:

O Master Lord Jesus Christ, who wept for your friend Lazarus and shed tears of sorrow and compassion upon him, accept the tears of my bitterness. 

Through your passions heal my passions; through your wounds cure my wounds; through your blood purify my blood, and mingle with my body the fragrance of your life-giving body. 

Let the gall, which was given to you by the enemies, sweeten my soul from bitterness, given to me by the adversaries.

Let your body, which was stretched on the tree of the Cross, make my mind, pulled down by the demons, fly towards you.

Let your head, which you bowed on the Cross lift up my head, smitten by the opponents.

Let your all-holy hands, which were nailed by the godless on the Cross, raise me from the chasm of perdition and bring me towards you, as your most holy mouth has promised.

Let your face, which receives spats and spittles by the cursed ones, bring a shine to my face, sullied by my sins.

Let your soul, which you, while on the Cross, offered to your father, lead me towards you by your grace.

I do not have a painful heart to seek after you; I do not have repentance nor contrition which bring the children back to their inheritance; I do not have, O Master, entreating tears.

My mind has darkened by worldly and material things and is not capable of look at you with pain.

My heart has turned cold from the multitude of temptations and cannot warm itself with the tears of love for you.

But you, O Lord Jesus Christ, the treasury of good, grant me complete repentance and a painful heart, so I may go out searching for you with all my heart.

Without you, I am stranger to any good.

Thus, grant me, O good one, your grace; let your Father, who, before all ages and eternally, has begotten you from his bosom, renew in me the form of your image.

I have forsaken you, but do not forsake me; I have come out away from you, so come out in search for me, and lead me into your pasture, numbering me among the sheep of your excellent flock and feeding me together with them the grass of your divine mysteries whose haunt is the pure heart and in which the illuminations of your revelations is seen, bringing consolation and refreshment to those who work hard and suffer afflictions and various griefs for you.

Make us worthy of this illumination through your grace and love of man, our Savior Jesus Christ, now and ever and unto the ages of ages. Amen.

Series also posted on 
Podcast: Search for 'Coptic Orthodox Diocese of the Southern United States'
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLkkYZew63JGZJLHlG1iy55SGL_KbTxa_a

ABBA Give me a WORD: A Prayer of Repentance to our Merciful Savior by HG Bishop Gregory

Fr. Mark's Sunday Sermon on the gospel of Luke 11:27-36, concerning the eye as being the lamp of the body.

The Lamp of the Body is the Eye - Fr. Mark Hanna

Light is an energy, which means there must be a source of that light. Christ is that source! And so our eyes will never see light, unless they see Christ. Listen to this incredible sermon as we learn the three criteria we need to see Christ as the true Light.

Let Your Eyes Be Full Of Light (Fr Daniel Fanous)

"Our hearts were created for God, they remain restless until they rest in Him". Often we have infinite longing for something that is limited, and are never satisfied. Listen to this amazing sermon as Fr Dan encourages us to question the real reason why we seek Jesus.

Downloads

Seeking Pleasure (Fr Daniel Fanous)

Fr. Kyrillos Farag on 'Beings of Love', contemplating on the scene of the sinful woman at the feet of Christ.

Summer Youth Camp 2021 - 'LOVE'
13.02.2021

Humility In Love - Fr Kyrillos Farag

Why did the Lord choose Jonah in light of his disobedience? A reflection for the Fast of Jonah/the Ninevites 2021.

Live Services from St. Gregory American Coptic Orthodox Church

Why Jonah? A Meditation by Bishop Kyrillos

In the first of a series of 10 minute presentations, Father Peter Farrington of St Mary and St Cyril Coptic Orthodox Church, Liverpool, begins to consider how our thoughts produce feelings and behaviours. When our thoughts about God, ourselves and others are not true, then our feelings and behaviours can become negative and harmful, especially when it is our connection with God which is affected.

Sermons - less than 10m

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