Questions & Answers Archives • Page 2 of 35 • Coptic Orthodox Diocese of the Midlands, U.K.

Does God require more in terms of prayers, fasting, devotion, etc., from the father monks than from laypeople?

Yes, undoubtedly. More is required of the monks because they are in a situation of complete dedication to the Lord, …

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What is your view on people who have confessed, but whose sins have not been forgiven, like Pharaoh, who confessed his sin to Moses (Ex. 9:27), and Achan son of Carmi, who confessed to Joshua (Josh. 7:20), and King Saul who confessed to Samuel the prophet

The sacrament of confession in the Church is also called the sacrament of repentance. A person must show himself repentant …

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The Bible says: ” Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect ” (Matt. 5:48) What does it mean to be ‘perfect’, and how can a human being attain it? When can we say of a person that he is ‘perfect’?

Absolute perfection belongs to God alone, no human being can ever attain it, because we will all be found wanting, …

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The nearer I get to God, the more trials, problems and difficulties I seem to have, so that I get fed up and weary with life. I can’t seem to find a way out of this except by keeping away from God, so that I get a more comfortable and peaceful life, like

Whenever you follow the road to God, and grow in your spiritual life, the devils become jealous of you, and …

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I caused some people to stumble, and they fell badly into sin because of me. I then repented, but they have not yet done so. I still see the fruits of my original fall in the lives of those other people. Is my repentance sufficient for me to be forgiven?

This is a difficult question, and one that can have a far-reaching effect. Essentially it is this: A person who …

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