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

Alexandria was famous for its many schools long before Christianity became established in the city. By far the largest school was the "Museum," founded by Ptolemy and destined to become the most renowned school in the East. Other celebrated institutions were the "Serapeum" and the "Sebastion." Each of these three schools possessed its own enormous library. St. Jerome records that St. Mark himself founded the Christian School of Alexandria . The Holy Spirit inspired him to establish the school in order to teach Christianity since this was the only way to provide the new religion a solid ...

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 “...

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 ...

To my father, whom I truly love Your soul never stopped working for the sake of every soul, when it was imprisoned in your weak body - even in the bitterest moments of pain. It will never stop working even, now, after leaving the body and fleeing towards heaven to enjoy complete freedom in God's bosom and with the saints. When you were living in faith, God's peace filled your heart and pushed you to the pastoral work with great conviction - that everybody may experience unity with the suffering and the risen Jesus Christ. Now that you are in the Savior's bosom, seeing Him clearly, don't you...

Dive into the depths of Christian history and spirituality with "The Epistle of St. Paul to Philemon" – a profound exploration of love, forgiveness, and transformation. This commentary brings to light the timeless message of a unique New Testament epistle. The text captures the essence of Christian fellowship and its impact on societal structures such as slavery. The book delves into the relationship between Paul, Philemon, and the once runaway slave Onesimus, whose story unfolds into a powerful testament of change through faith and life in Christ. With discussions on the implications of ...

THE WISDOM BOOKS + Job: The believer triumphs in the Lord amid tribulations. + Psalms: Our life in the Lord is a sweet song. + Proverbs: The educated, as well as the illiterate, both need the Proverbs. + Ecclesiastes: The reality of our current world is that it is the “Vanity of vanities, all is vanity”. + Song of Solomon: The soul enjoys its eternal wedding ceremony without growing old! In the Poetic Books of Wisdom, the believer recognizes the spiritual concept of worship. It is a mutual relationship of love in which every emotion and talent is sanctified so that the believer would ...

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 ...

For a long time, some western writers looked to “tradition” as blind obedience to the past, a means of mechanically conveying inert thoughts and ideas. Their point of view holds tradition as a precise catalog of ancient doctrines, canons and rites, or else a museum for antiquity. Therefore, they consider the traditional church obsolete, an obscurant to modern mores, and attached to what is old simply for its antiquity. In this simple work, I would like to explain our concept to “tradition” through the Holy Bible, patristic thought and our practical church life. Fr. Tadros Y. Malaty

Delve into the depths of early Christian leadership and spirituality with "A Commentary on the Epistle of Paul the Apostle to Titus". This epistle, penned by the apostle Paul, is not just a theological discourse but a vibrant call to live in Christ, applicable to all believers in their daily walk. Saint Paul brings to the forefront the essential aspects of Christian shepherding, highlighting the ordination of church leaders and their role in the community. He presents a simplified yet comprehensive portrait of pastoral care that is as relevant today as it was in the nascent days of the ...

This book is the product of collected from a few articles issued after the passing of Fr Pishoy after reviewing and adding to it. A Life of growing in the Lord for a Contemporary Priest My God allowed me to meet the blessed brother Sami Kamel Ishak (Abuna Pishoy Kamel) in 1953 AD at the beginning of my university studies in Alexandria. At that time, he was a servant in the Church of the Virgin Mary in Muharram Bey. Sami Kamel was characterized by an open, loving heart with wisdom, accompanied by a simple life. His virtues and spiritual abilities were apparent to all who met him, and his ...

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. ...

Unveiling the layers of early Christian life and challenges, "A Commentary on the First Epistle of Saint Paul to the Thessalonians" offers a deep dive into the apostle's words and their enduring significance. This book provides a penetrating look into the sociopolitical and spiritual context of Thessalonica, a pivotal city in the Roman Empire known for its strategic location and port. The introduction meticulously sets the scene for the Thessalonian church's birth against the backdrop of Saint Paul's missionary journeys and the complexities of spreading the Christian faith in a diverse and ...

In the midst of his suffering in prison, St. Paul gives us a true glimpse into his faith and hope. Despite his circumstances, he describes his life as a joyful journey, because it is under the leadership of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Incarnated Word of God. During his time in prison, St. Paul neither expresses care for being deprived of his preaching the Gospel, or for his lack of freedom to meet his Beloved. Yet, in the midst of his pain and suffering, his soul did not cease to rejoice in the victorious life of faith in Jesus Christ – in every minute of every day. He did not view faith ...

Volume 2 - Book 4 of the Catechism of the Coptic Orthodox Church Church Worship as a journey to Heaven The book addresses questions about the following topics: 1. Church worship 2. The life of prayer 3. The Agpeya Prayers (the Canonical Hours) 4. The Model Prayer 5. Prayer of the mind and contemplation 6. The Jesus prayer or the Arrow Prayer 7. Metanoias and Prostrations 8. Holy worship and the Full Life 9. Worship and the Fear of the Lord 10. Holy Fasting 11. Worship and "Dying with Christ" 12. Tears in worship 13. Praise and the Heavenly Mindset 14. Church Hymns and the Heavenly Mindset ...

Explore the depths of the New Testament through the lens of the Coptic Orthodox tradition in this commentary. That work bridges contemporary readers to the patristic era, offering a unique blend of ancient wisdom and practical guidance for modern spiritual lives. In "The Second Epistle of Paul the Apostle to Timothy," we delve into the heart of pastoral ministry and the apostolic spirit that shaped the early Christian Church. As St. Paul's last written words before his martyrdom, this epistle is a testament to his enduring legacy and his charge to his beloved disciple, St. Timothy. With ...

- The Book of Genesis, as the first Book in the Holy Bible, is considered as the living prelude to understanding the word of God. It gave us the broad lines that were manifested and realized in the Books to follow. In the Book of Genesis, as God reveals His love for man through creation, He continues to talk about His love by renewing creation, until the new earth and the new heaven appear in the Book of Revelation. - In the Book of Genesis, God promised Abraham that his children will inherit the kingdom of heaven. And, in the New Testament, the kingdom was revealed in the children of ...

This epistle is considered the sweetest of the epistles written by the apostle Paul. It is as though an essay sent by him to the church in all eras, and to every believer in all times, exhorting them to live perpetually exulting, despite any situation prevailing around them; through practicing the new life that knows no idleness, but is on an un-ceasing motion in Christ Jesus. The apostle wrote this epistle to a congregation with which he had a special relationship of love, that made them provide him with gifts to spend on the message of the gospel; whether concerning his necessary needs, ...

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

Unlock the ancient wisdom of the Patristic Fathers with this commentary on the Book of Haggai. Discover how their insights reveal the deep spiritual layers of this Old Testament Book, guiding us to rebuild not just physical temples but the temple within our hearts. This volume of the series offers a profound journey into the messages of divine priority and inner sanctification. Embrace a path to spiritual renewal and joyous salvation with this compelling read.

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...