Category: Resources

What is the purpose of “hymns and spiritual songs”? Why is it an important part of our spiritual life?

His Grace Bishop Youssef:  The Holy Bible teaches us that in singing hymns we are imitating our Lord Jesus Christ, Who after instituting the holy mystery of the Eucharist, sang a hymn with His disciples just before he went to the Mount of Olives where He knew He were to be arrested “And when they …

Would I be judging my friends who are dating, if I stop mixing with them? I honestly do not want to harm my spiritual life. What is your Graces’s opinion in this matter?

His Grace Bishop Youssef: The first thing you should do is talk to your friend about dating and why it is wrong to date. A good book that you can give him to read is “I Kissed Dating Goodbye” by Joshua Harris. Secondly, concerning judging, when we disagree with peoples’ actions, we are not judging …

Why do we kiss a priest’s hand?

His Grace Bishop Youssef: We kiss the hands of bishops and priests because in the context of the Divine Liturgy, the hands hold and distribute the holy Body and Blood of our Lord, God and Savior Jesus Christ! This is an enduring and centuries old tradition in the Eastern Christendom that has a purely metaphorical …

Is it sinful for a female to kiss a male even if it feels good, satisfying and would be considered by me as a sign of affection and not sex?

His Grace Bishop Youssef:  If kissing did not feel good no one would have the desire to do it. Like everything else in life there is a time and a season for everything. Kissing a guy who is not your husband is definitely wrong no matter how good it felt. Since you felt good this …

Can a priest tell others about a sin I confessed?

His Grace Bishop Moussa: NEVER! I assure you that a priest is not allowed to tell your secrets to anyone – this is just your imagination, because sins are more or less the same, especially in certain stages of life. Your secrets and your confessions are guaranteed, for if the priest mentions your sins to …