Questions & Answers

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What about the people who have not heard about Jesus, how will they be judged? Apologetics
What prayers should be said when performing prostrations?Spiritual Issues
Sometimes I question who I am, what my purpose is in this place and why I should live and die?Spiritual Issues
What should I do when Satan attacks me with thoughts of self righteousness?Spiritual Issues
Is it correct that the Lord Jesus Christ did not complete His mission, but will complete it on the day of His rising up to life?Spiritual Issues
Does God require more in terms of prayers, fasting, devotion, etc., from the father monks than from laypeople?Spiritual Issues
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 prophetSpiritual Issues
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’?Spiritual Issues
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, likeSpiritual Issues
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?Spiritual Issues
If everything comes about according to the will of God, and nothing on the face of the earth happens without His command alone, then why doesn’t He prevent evil before it happens?Spiritual Issues
What is the doctrine of Christianity regarding wine? Is it allowed or forbidden? Or when is it allowed or forbidden?Spiritual Issues
What is to be understood by ‘simplicity’ in Christianity?Spiritual Issues
Is it right for a person to gouge his eye out, or cut off his hand, if it causes him to sin, as the Bible (Matt. 5:29-30) prescribes?Spiritual Issues
I want to have a strong personality. What are the elements of strength of character by which I can become strong?Spiritual Issues
What is the meaning of the verse: ” ‘For to everyone who has, more will be given, and he will have abundance; but from him who does not have, even what he has will be taken away. ” (Matt. 25:29) What does it mean that one does not have yet it will be takeSpiritual Issues
How should a young person occupy his free time especially during the summer holidays?Spiritual Issues
What does “Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth”(Matt. 5:5) mean?Spiritual Issues
Whenever I read books of the lives of the saints my soul starts to yearn to become like them, though unfortunately I am unable to do as they did. What would I do?Spiritual Issues
What is the highest virtue of all?Spiritual Issues
Why shouldn’t we ask the Lord to give us supernatural gifts, such as speaking in tongues and healing the sick and performing miracles? Doesn’t the apostle Paul say: “desire spiritual gifts”? (1 Cor. 14: 1) and “earnestly desire the best gifts ” (1 Cor. 12Spiritual Issues
Sometimes when I stand to pray I don’t know what to say, or I say a few words and come to a halt. How should I pray, and what should I say?Spiritual Issues
Is it permissible that an organ of one human being’s body (whether it is from a live or dead body) be transplanted into that of another? And would organ transplant constitute meddling around with bodies, and not showing due respect for them? Is it also peSpiritual Issues
Are sins equal or do they differ in degree? Will the people in Hell all suffer the same punishment? Or are there different degrees of punishment? And which verses of the Bible support this?Spiritual Issues
What do the words of the Sovereign Lord to Abimelech, when the latter took Abraham’s wife, Sarah, mean: ” I also withheld you from sinning against Me; therefore I did not let you touch her.” (Gen. 20:6) Was this something against the human being’s free wiSpiritual Issues
Can the Church Sacraments be sold, so that a price is fixed eg. for baptism, or for the anointing of the sick?Spiritual Issues
What is the difference between criticism and condemnation? And am I, by virtue of my job as a critic, committing a sin by criticising?Spiritual Issues
Is it better for us to correct people in public or in private if they have fallen into a doctrinal or theological error? And similarly, is it better for a punishment to be carried out in private or in public if someone has done something that requires punSpiritual Issues
Which is better: to act swiftly, which indicates resolution, decisiveness, and the ability to make a decision, or to take one’s time and deliberate calmly, with all that this conveys in the way of composure, stability and patience?Spiritual Issues
How can I deal with problems?Spiritual Issues
St. Paul said: “To the Jews I became like a Jew… to those who are under the law, as under the law, that I might win those who are under the law; to those who are without law, as without law (not being without law toward God, but under law toward Christ)Biblical
Some people say that there shouldn’t be any punishment in Christianity, in view of the fact that we are now living in the age of grace, and that if punishment does exist, it will be in heaven, and not on earth. Is this true?. Is punishment incompatible wiSpiritual Issues
What did the Lord mean in the gospel by His words: “Love your enemies?. ” (Matt. 5:44). How can that be done?Spiritual Issues
How can I resist thoughts which from time to time weigh heavily upon me and which try to force me to surrender to them?Spiritual Issues
What do you think of hymns being set to popular tunes?Spiritual Issues
Is social service the work of the Church or that of other institutions?Spiritual Issues
If circumstances hinder me from my actually committing a sin (which I had been intending to commit), can it still be counted against me as a sin, even though I have not done it?Spiritual Issues
What was the first sin which the world came to know?Spiritual Issues
Are vows permissible or forbidden?Spiritual Issues
What should I do about being nosey and over-curious about other people’s affairs, because I suffer from this habit and want to be rid of it. I want to know how to stop being like this and how to avoid making this mistake.Spiritual Issues
Can I be excused from paying the tithes?Spiritual Issues
Does Christianity believe in the existence of envy?Spiritual Issues
Is every bad thought which goes round in my mind to be considered a sin? Where do these bad thoughts come from, and how can I stop them from coming?Spiritual Issues
Is it against the Lord Christ’s divinity that He prayed and got tired sometimes? How can we interpret His praying, His fatigue and similar things?Theology & Dogma
The Lord Christ said to the paralytic, “your sins are forgiven you.” (Mark 2:5) and to the sinful woman He said the same (Luke 7:48). Both obtained forgiveness without baptism nor confession, in the same moment, what is the necessity of these two sacramenTheology & Dogma
Who are those whom the Church does not pray for after their death? Why? And can the church pray for the person who commits suicide, being with mental and psychological disorder?Theology & Dogma
Can the devil be saved? What do the fathers say? Is this thought right?Theology & Dogma
What is the rule of religion with respect to spiritualism? Can anyone call spirits, ask them and receive their answers and believe what they say?Theology & Dogma
Why did the Lord Christ call Himself the Son of Man? Is it a denial of His divinity? Why did He not say that He is the Son of God?Theology & Dogma
Did Christ pray before working the miracle so that God might do it and respond to His prayer?Theology & Dogma
Are the miracles of Christ merely an influence of impressiveness?Theology & Dogma
What is the meaning of the words “partakers of the divine nature” (2 Pet 1:4) and “the communion of the Holy Spirit” (2 Cor 13:14)? Do we partake of God’s divine nature? Did the human nature unite with the divine nature in the disciples when the Holy SpirTheology & Dogma
What is the theological meaning of the words, “He ascended to heaven and sat on the right of the Father?” Does God have right and left as we humans have?Theology & Dogma
Did the Lord Christ come for the Jews only, the lost sheep of the house of Israel? Can His religion be thus confined to the Jews, not extended to the whole world? And was Judaism also confined to Jews?Theology & Dogma
Does the Incarnation of the Lord mean that He is limited within certain boundaries though He is limitless?Theology & Dogma
Is there any similarity between the Holy Trinity of Christianity and the pagan trinity? Or what is the difference? And was the cause of spreading Christianity in Egypt the similarity between the Trinity of Christianity and the pagan trinity as manifestedTheology & Dogma
If blessing belongs to God, can blessing be taken from a human? Can a person bless another person? What is the biblical evidence of this?Theology & Dogma
Do we not believe that a person is renewed in baptism (Rom 6:4)? Why then does one sin after baptism in spite of being renewed?Theology & Dogma
Since the Lord Christ has said, “He who believes and is baptised will be saved.” (Mark 16:16), why then are children baptised before accepting faith?Theology & Dogma
It is written in the Holy Bible, “Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will not pass away” and the Law commands us to keep the Sabbath holy. Why then do we not keep it?Theology & Dogma
Is it true that the body of the Lord Christ, i.e., the Church, is the same body on the altar and the same body that ascended into heaven and sat on the Father’s right hand, both being One? Is this mentioned in the sayings of any of the father saints?Theology & Dogma
How did the Lord die though we say that His divinity was not separated from His humanity even for a moment or a twinkle of an eye?Theology & Dogma
How is it possible that Christ dies, though He is God? Can God die? Was the death of Christ a weakness? Who was managing the world during His death?Theology & Dogma
Concerning our attitude towards the Blood of Christ, is it true that our attitude towards the Lord Christ is not important, but His attitude towards us! What is your opinion of these words?Theology & Dogma
Since the wages of sin is death and the Lord Christ died on our behalf and saved us, why then do we die?Theology & Dogma
The Lord God said to our father Adam, “But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.” (Gen 2:17). Why then did not Adam and Eve die on the same day they ate of the tree?Theology & Dogma
God inflicted punishment on Adam, and He punished Eve, Then the Lord Christ came and saved us with His blood. Why then – after such salvation – there is a punishment still: Man toils to eat bread and woman in pain brings forth children?Theology & Dogma
We are God’s children and we pray, “Our Father Who are in heaven” and Christ is the Son of God; what is the difference between Christ’s Sonship to God and ours?Theology & Dogma
When did the disciples receive the Holy Spirit? Was it when the Spirit came upon them in the form of tongues as of fire (Acts 2)? Or when the Lord breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit” (John 20)?Theology & Dogma
In the story of the baptism of Cornelius while Peter was speaking, “The Holy Spirit fell upon all those who heard the word.” This made the believers astonished, “Because the gift of the Holy Spirit has been poured out on the Gentiles also” (Acts 10:44,45)Theology & Dogma
Is the body the element of sin in a person? Is it the cause of all sins? Is it accountable for sins so as it might be called the body of sin? Does it sin alone and the spirit has no hand in the matter because what the spirit desires is opposed to the flesTheology & Dogma
To what extent can a mad person be held accountable for his sins? Or is he accountable at all?Theology & Dogma
Is conscience God’s voice?Theology & Dogma
Why did God create man? Did he create man to worship and glorify Him?Theology & Dogma
Does man have a free will or not? And if he does, is it for everything?Theology & Dogma
If Moses the prophet was the writer of the first five Books of he Bible, how could they include the account of his death? (Deut. 34:5-8).Biblical
What are the signs by which we will recognise that the end of the world is near? Many speak about, and predict the time for the end of the world and even suggest dates for it.Biblical
The Lord said “Assuredly I say to you that there are some standing here who will not taste death till they see the kingdom of God present with power” (Mark 9:11). How could that be, and which kingdom did He mean?Biblical
In the parable of the land owner who hired labourers for his vineyard (Matt. 20:1-40), he gave one denari to each labourer, the one who started from the beginning of the day like those who started at the eleventh hour. Will we all be equal in wages in theBiblical
Does the Bible discourage the growing in knowledge and learning by saying “for in much wisdom is much grief?” (Eccl. 1:18).Biblical
When the disciples of the Lord Christ were going through the grain fields; they became hungry; so they began to pluck the corn to eat (Mark 2:23). Was this considered stealing because they plucked ears of corn belonging to someone else without his permissBiblical
How did Christ that loves peace and is the prince of peace say ” Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth. I did not come to bring peace but a sword. “For I have come to set a man against his father ” (Matt. 10:34- 35)?Biblical
When St. John the Baptist sent two of his disciples to the Lord, he asked “Are You the coming One, or do we look for another?” (Luke 7:19) Was that doubt in Jesus person?Biblical
Who blasphemed the Lord during His crucifixion, the thief on the left or the thief on the right? How could it he that one deserved Paradise?Biblical
Is the verse “Be angry and do not sin ” (Ps. 4:4) a permission for us to get angry? Is that applied also to the verse “But rather give place to wrath ” (Rom. 12:19)?Biblical
Were Solomon and Samson saved?Biblical
Did Judas partake of the Holy Communion along with the disciples on Maundy Thursday?.Biblical
What is the meaning of the saying of the Bible “Do not be overly righteous”?Biblical
Who is Melchizedek? What is the meaning of what is said in the psalm “You are a priest forever According to the order of Melchizedek.” (Ps. 110:4). What is the order of Melchizedek?Biblical
It was said about Enoch that he ascended to heaven (Gen. 5:24), and the same was said about Elijah the prophet (2 Kin. 2:11). St. Paul also said that he was caught up to the third heaven, whether in the body or out of the body, he did not know (2 Cor. 12:Biblical
The Lord said: “It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.” (Mark 10:25) Does this mean that all the rich cannot enter the kingdom?Biblical
Who is Kedar? Kedar is mentioned in (Ps. 120:5) and (Song. 1:5).Biblical
What does Anathema mean? It is mentioned in (Gal. 1:8-9) and (1 Cor. 16:22).Biblical
What does Maran-a’tha mean? It is mentioned in (1 Cor. 16:22).Biblical
What does “Selah” mean? It is mentioned quite often in the psalms, as in Psalms 46 to 50.Biblical
Why did our Lord Jesus Christ say on the cross “Father, forgive them… ” (Luke 23:34) and did not say by His own authority “your sins are forgiven…”Biblical
What is the meaning of the saying of the Lord Christ “Make friends for yourselves by unrighteous mammon ” (Luke 16:9)? Can the money that we gain by injustice or through sin in general, be accepted by God, or can we use it to do good, or to win friends wiBiblical
What does the Bible mean by saying that John the Baptist came in the spirit and power of Elijah (Luke 1:17), and its saying: he is Elijah who is to come. (Matt. 11:14). Is this metempsychosis (reincarnation)? Did the spirit of Elijah reincarnate in John?Biblical
Don’t we say that man is free to choose? Then why are these verses mentioned in the Bible: ” But indeed, O man, who are you to reply against God? Will the thing formed say to him who formed it, “Why have you made me like this?” Does not the potter have poBiblical
Is there a verse in the Bible that says “A little wine is good for the stomach”. Does this verse encourage the drinking of alcoholic beverages?Biblical
Why did the Bible not mention the biography of the thirty years the Lord Christ spent before His ministry? Did He go to China to study Buddhism as some say?Biblical
There are two accounts in the Book of the Acts of the Apostles about the appearance of the Lord to Saul. It seems that there are some contradictions between both accounts, in what they saw or heard, please explain.Biblical
What is the book of Jasher? Is it one of the Books of the Holy Bible or the Torah (Pentateuch)? How was it mentioned in the Book of Joshua and in the Book of 2 Samuel and yet it is not part of the Bible?Biblical
The verse that says “Therefore I say to you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven ” (Matt. 12:31) alarm me very much. Sometimes I think that I committed the sin of blasphemy so I fall intoBiblical
The Lord Christ in Matthew 24 talked about the signs of the time and the end of the age saying ” Assuredly, I say to you, this generation will by no means pass away till all these things take place ” (Matt. 24:34). This generation had passed and many otheBiblical
The Bible says “So the Master commended the unjust steward” (Luke 16:8). How did the Lord commend the unjust steward?Biblical
Could the iniquity of the fathers visit the children as the Bible says in (Ex. 20:5) and as we say “The fathers ate sour grapes and the children’s teeth are set on edge”?Biblical
What is the meaning of the statement of the Lord “I am the door of the sheep all who ever come before Me, are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not hear them ” (John 10:7-8). Is it believable to say about all the prophets that came before Him that thBiblical
Who were the three that Abraham the patriarch hosted in Genesis 18? Were they the Holy Trinity? Was Abraham’s worshipping them an indication of that? He talked to them at times in plural and at other times in singular, is that a proof for the Trinity?Biblical
How can the Lord Christ be the maker of peace and the king of peace, and at the same time tell His disciples “he who has no sword let him sell his garment and buy one.” (Luke 22:36) What did He mean by ordering His disciples to buy a sword? Why when theyBiblical
Isn’t God the absolute goodness? How then is it said about Him that He is the maker of peace and creator of evil (Is. 45:7) while evil doesn’t agree with God’s nature.Biblical
(Gen. 6:2) describes before the account of the flood “that the sons of God saw the daughters of men, that they were beautiful,. and they took wives for themselves of all whom they chose.” Who are the sons of God? and who are the daughters of men?Biblical
In Genesis there are two stories about the creation of man, the first is in the first chapter where God created man; male and female, and the second is in the second chapter where Adam and Eve were created. Do these two accounts coincide with each other?Biblical
Does God predetermine everything?Apologetics
Can we trust the Bible?Apologetics
Did Jesus really rise from the dead?Apologetics
Why do people suffer?Apologetics
How is the Coptic Orthodox church different from all other Christianities in terms of doctrine and dogma related to marriage and divorce?Theology & Dogma
What is the importance of confession?Spiritual Issues
What is the significance of praying with the Agpeya? How does it compare to American Christian Denominations way of praying?Spiritual Issues
Is it okay to occasionally drink some alcoholic beverages at home and not before people?Theology & Dogma
What is Your Grace’s opinion concerning tattooing? Is it true that it is a sign of permanent enslavement (Exodus 21:5-6)? Why do we accept ear piercing?Social
Why are pre marital relationships unacceptable? Won’t they assist in helping to choose future partners?Theology & Dogma
What is the difference between the Coptic Orthodox Church and the Coptic (Egyptian) Catholic Church?Theology & Dogma
Why do I have to confess to a priest? Isn’t it enough to confess directly to God?Spiritual Issues
What happens if I repent for my sins but don’t take the next step of confessing?Spiritual Issues
What should I do when constantly the same sins over again?Spiritual Issues
Why can’t we take Communion at the Catholic Church? Is it allowable at our church, to immerse the Body into the chalice and dispense it?Theology & Dogma
I want to fast but I think that fifty-five days of fasting are too long. What is your advice?Spiritual Issues
What is wrong with smoking?Social
Did God create dinosaurs? Did they really walk upon the earth? Can you explain why it was never mentioned in the Holy Bible?Apologetics
Why is dancing wrong? God did not forbid dancing overtly in the Holy Bible. Many people danced (David, Miriam … Aaron’s sister…)Social
I have a boyfriend whom I like to talk to on the phone. We do not have bad conversation we’re just friends. Is this sinful or bad behavior?Social
We hear in stories of the Wilderness Fathers that they may go without Holy Communion for a long time, even though our church says that 40 days without Holy Communion makes one spiritually dead. So what becomes of these father?Spiritual Issues
How can one get rid of evil, disturbing thoughts? Regardless of frequent repentance and prayers, disturbing thoughts keep coming back.Spiritual Issues
How can I help my friend who is addicted to drugs and does not see it is wrong?Spiritual Issues
How can I have pure fun and still live a true repentant and a victorious Christian life?Spiritual Issues
Sometimes I feel pressured to have a boyfriend. Is it okay to have a boyfriend if I don’t do anything wrong?Social
What is your suggestion if someone, a really close friend, is on and off in his relation with me to a point that is really confusing me?Social
I am worried about my friends, who are a big part of the youth group at my church. Lately they have been doing inappropriate things. What is worse is that their parents know, but do not bother. Please tell me what I should do besides praying.Spiritual Issues
Is there anything wrong with having different types of hairstyles, because, for example, in Leviticus 19:27, it says, “You shall not shave the sides of your head…”?Social
Isn’t fasting a decision made by a person according to his spiritual level? In the Catholic Church, it is logical that you shall not eat one hour before communion.Spiritual Issues
What is the church’s viewpoint concerning homosexuals and homosexuality?Social
What is the purpose of “hymns and spiritual songs”? Why is it an important part of our spiritual life?Spiritual Issues
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?Spiritual Issues
Why do we kiss a priest’s hand?Questions & Answers
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?Social
Can a priest tell others about a sin I confessed?Spiritual Issues
What is the churches view on karate as a sport or hobby? Can I join a club that might even have an evil dragon sign knowing that I do not care about their philosophy/religion?Social
What is the difference between love and lust?Spiritual Issues
I am suffering from laziness and lack of energy. Can you help me?Spiritual Issues
What can I do when my parents drive me crazy?Spiritual Issues
I have a very close friend of the opposite gender and we love each other as friends; and we’ve spoken about keeping our friendship pure. We’ve become very close and we sometimes hug. Although neither of us feels lust, I wonder if what we are doing is wronSpiritual Issues
Why is the Coptic New Year called “Nayrouz?”Theology & Dogma
Why do men and women sit on different sides in the church?Theology & Dogma
Does God Who is full and perfect need to be blessed, glorified, or magnified? Does His Holy Name need additional holiness? We say “Hallowed be Thy Name”, “we bless Thee” or “we glorify Thee?” How could St. Mary say, “My soul magnifies the Lord?”Theology & Dogma
What should I do when my mind wanders during prayer?Spiritual Issues
How can I deal with hindrances in prayer?Spiritual Issues
Why did the evangelist neglect the names of some saintly women like Sara, Rebecca, and others, in the sequence of genealogies, while he mentioned adulterous women like Tamar, Rahab, the wife of Uriah the Hittite, and Ruth who is a woman of a foreign race?Biblical
Who are the wise men? Why did the star appear to them? How did they overcome the Jews? Was the star a natural star? What are the symbols which the story of the wise men bear, and what are their relationships with the Gentiles and the Jews?Biblical
Why the Registration by Genealogy From Joseph?Biblical
Why did the Apostle Matthew say in the genealogy sequence: “Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham” (Matt. 1:1); and mentioned David firstly, although Abraham precedes David as regards time?Biblical
Why does St. Matthew say there are 42 generations from Abraham to Christ but when we count them there are only 41?Biblical
Why do we celebrate the feast of the Nativity on the 7th of January, while some other churches celebrate it on the 25th of December. What is the reason for this difference?Theology & Dogma
How can the earth be part of the sun as the scientists say, while the Bible states that the sun was created on the fourth day after the creation of the earth?Biblical
What is the difference between the creation of the sun and light in Genesis? And was the light created on the first day or the fourth?Biblical
How can the saying of the Bible that God created the world in six days coincide with the opinion of the geologists that the age of the earth is thousands even millions of years?Biblical
Why must we use the Agpeya in prayer? Can a person just use their own words if they feel that it helps them get closer to God, or would this be disobeying the Church? Also, as time goes by, are we supposed to be growing in how many psalms we recite from tQuestions & Answers
Who is/are the author/s of the Agpeya? When and how was it written?Questions & Answers
What is the view on abortion and adoption of the Coptic Orthodox Church?Social
In the Holy Book of Numbers chapter 12, both Miriam and Aaron talked about Moses behind his back; but God punished Miriam only. Why did God not punish both of them?Biblical
What are the qualities that make one “a man after God’s own heart?”Spiritual Issues
Is there any unforgivable sin such as blasphemy or adultery or does it take longer for certain things to be forgiven?Spiritual Issues

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