English Bible Study

The 1st lecture of the 2023 Graduate Youth Retreat. The theme of the retreat was "The Hidden Person of the Heart" (1 Peter 3:4), Fr. Kyrillos gave the first lecture on the concepts of Hiddenness, Solitude, and Newness. He gave beautiful definitions for each concept as well as how we can go about living each one.

Song of Songs 4:12-5:2 - Bible Study - Fr. Mina Dimitri by Saint Mary Coptic Orthodox Church, East Brunswick, NJ

Fr Mina continues his bible study with Song of Songs chapter 4 with more of the story of the souls marriage to God. Like a true lover, God describes to us the details of what he loves about us. Fr. Mina delves into the symbolism behind all beloved’s features that capture the lover’s heart, and how the love and word of God makes the beloved even more beautiful.

In this week's bible study, Fr Mina discusses the next stage of the soul’s journey with God by describing our marriage to God and how we can enter into the eternal Trinitarian love with the thermometer of our love to God being suffering. As much as the human soul praises God in heaven, God praises the human soul in a perfect requited love.

Fr. Mina continues with our study of the most beautiful song ever written. He speaks about how the human soul begins to feel discouraged when the soul does not feel God as it used to. The soul searches for God during the period of sin and doubt and does not find Him. When we do not find God in our laziness, we must rise now into action. The soul performs true repentance by searching for the One she loves. After this period the soul enters into marriage with God.

Fr. Mina continues the second chapter of Song of Songs by discussing the journey of the soul after she finds God and experiences the absence of God in periods of spiritual dryness. He explains how as doves, we can present little acts of love that become great.

Song of Songs 1:15-2:7 - Bible Study - Fr. Mina Dimitri by Saint Mary Coptic Orthodox Church, East Brunswick, NJ

Fr. Mina continues our study of the book Song of Songs. He begins with a quick recap of last week's bible study and reminds us that we are interpreting the book as typology. The woman is the human soul and the Beloved is God. Fr. Mina then gives a verse-by-verse breakdown of the next 7 verses. He continues to explain the period of initial grace and we begin to hear how God speaks to the human soul during this period.

Fr. Mina returns with the Inn Bible Study. He begins the book Song of Songs which was written by King Solomon.

His grace Bishop Karas gives the sermon on the last Sunday before the Coptic new year. His grace teaches us how to be prepared for the second coming.

Fr. Mark gives the sermon on the last Sunday before the Coptic New Year. Fr. Mark teaches us how to prepare for the end of times.

Fr. Jacob gives the sermon during the vespers for the feast of the revealing of the assumption of the body of St. Mary.

Fr. Augustine Daoud gives the sermon on the 12th Night of Nahda. Fr. Augustine continues with the theme of this year and instructs us on Self-Control. Fr. Augustine focuses on the importance of Asceticism when it comes to self-control.

Dr. Wahid gives the sermon on the 14th Night of Nahda. Dr. Wahid continues with the theme of the fruit of the Spirit and focuses on Joy.

HG Bishop Saraphim gives the sermon on the 13th night of Nahda, during the vespers of the Feast of Transfiguration. His Grace speaks about the transfiguration and its relation to our mother St. Mary.

Fr. Mark Hanna gives the sermon on the 11th night of Nahda. Fr. Mark continues with the theme of this Nahda and instructs us on the fruit of Joy.

HG Bishop Seraphim sings a song about St. Mary that he loved as a child in the 70's.

The Melody for the Paramoun of Nativity.

Fr. Morcos gives the sermon on faith, but focuses on dogma. He also warns us about some modern-day pitfalls and obstacles to faith.

Fr. Suriel Endrawis gives the sermon on the 8th night of Nahda. Fr. Suriel continues with the theme of this year being the fruit of the Spirit and instructs us concerning Gentleness.