Church Worship
- How can we worship the heavenly King of Kings?
- Who are the true worshippers?
- What is the worship that is well pleasing to God?
- What practical steps can we take to offer worship that is well pleasing to God?
- How can the body cooperate with the soul in sacred worship?
- Is it preferable for a person to pray to God with cries, or an audible voice, or a quiet voice whispering, or to pray in silence?
- How is beating one’s breast a way for the body to participate with the soul in worship?
- What are the blessings of a holy tongue? And what are the dangers of a corrupt tongue?
- Why did the Lord Christ say, “Away with you, Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only you shall serve’” (Matt. 4:10; Luke 4:8; Cf. Deut. 6:13)?
- Why does the Holy Bible maintain that we must worship God and bow down before Him, for He is a jealous God?
- Does the Holy Bible make it clear that it is not permissible to bow down for the purpose of worship, except before God alone?
- What forms of bowing in worship are acceptable before the Lord?
- Does the Coptic rite distinguish between the three types of prostrations before God?
- What is the relationship between bowing down and the saving work of Christ?
- What is the relationship between bowing down and prayer?
- Does the Holy Bible mention bowing down for purposes other than worshiping God?
- How do the demons strive to deceive the faithful to bow down before them?
- What is our view of the inability to worship due to illness?
The Life of Prayer
- What is prayer?
- How can we converse freely with God?
- How can we offer prayer that is acceptable before God?
- What should you do if God answers your prayers for your brother or sister?
- Why does God sometimes delay answering our prayers, and why does He sometimes not answer them at all?
- What are the effects of prayer?
- What practical steps lead us to practice prayer?
- Is it permissible for us to pray for bodily hardships to befall us?
- Why do we pray? Does God not know what we need?
- Are communal prayers necessary?
- Is it helpful to prolong prayer?
- What does the Lord Christ mean by saying, “ask … seek … knock” (Luke 11:9)?
- What does the Lord Christ mean when He says that a son asks for bread, fish, or an egg?
- What are the different types of prayer?
- Why did the martyrs cry out for vengeance on those who persecuted them (Rev. 6:10)?
- Why are we taught not to repeat words in vain when we pray (Matt. 6:7)?
- What is the best request we can make of God?
- Should we pray for vengeance on heretics?
- Why did the Lord Christ pray?
- How can we gain the wisdom and understanding we need to manage our lives?
- Is there a need for perseverance in prayer?
- Should we be content with prayer only and neglect learning?
- What is the connection between prayer and purity of heart?
- What is the ultimate goal of prayer?
The Agpeya Prayers (the Canonical Hours)
- The Psalmist prayed psalms that were relevant to his own circumstances; so why do I pray those same psalms when my circumstances may be different to his?
- The Agpeya prayers are arranged at certain hours of the day, so should a Christian adhere to a certain time for prayer?
- Were there prayers at canonical hours in the Jewish tradition?
- As Christians, are we required to observe Jewish tradition?
- Why is there no explicit commandment in the New Testament concerning the prayers of the canonical hours?
- Did the faithful of the apostolic age observe the prayers of the canonical hours?
- Can we perform the duties of prayer during work?
- What does each of the canonical hours commemorate?
- What is the Church Fathers’ understanding of praying the Psalms (the prayers of the canonical hours of the Agpeya)?
- What is the role of the psalms in monastic life?
- Do hermits practice the prayers of the canonical hours?
The Model Prayer
- Why is the Lord’s Prayer important?
- Why did the Lord Christ bid us to pray the Lord’s Prayer in the plural?
- Why do we address God thus: “Our Father who art in Heaven”?
- Why is the first supplication to the Lord: “Hallowed be thy name”?
- Why pray “Hallowed be thy name” when He is already holy?
- Is He not the King of Kings? So why do we pray, “Thy kingdom come”?
- Why do we say, “Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven”? Will God not carry out His will unless we ask Him to do so?
- What do the words “heaven” and “earth” signify in this expression (Matt. 6:10)?
- What does He mean by “bread” when He says, “Give us this day our daily (or essential, or tomorrow’s) bread” (Matt. 6:11)?
- Why does God not forgive us our trespasses unless we also forgive our brethren their trespasses?
- What does “lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one” mean?
- Why do we conclude the Lord’s Prayer by glorifying God with the words, “For Thine is the kingdom, the power and the glory forever and ever”?
- Why does He emphasize: “For if you forgive people their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, and if you do not forgive people their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive you your trespasses” (Matt. 6:14–15)?
- Why are the supplications in the Lord’s Prayer ordered this way?
Prayer of the Mind and Contemplation
- Why did St. Aphrahat the Persian sage focus on the internal prayer of the mind?
- What is the power of the prayer of the mind?
- What is the hidden (or secret) prayer to which the Lord Christ invites us?
- Is it sufficient to pray internally with our hearts or minds without uttering words from our mouths, raising hands, or bowing down before God?
- What are the signs of purity of heart?
- Why does St. Basil the Great insist on the prayer of the mind, especially for monastics?
- What is prayer of the mind?
- What does praying in the room mean in the Lord Christ’s words: “But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly” (Matt. 6:6)?
- What is unceasing prayer?
- What is the connection between unceasing prayer and the virtuous life?
- Why does the apostle call us to pray without ceasing?
- Does prayer without ceasing justify a neglect of performing actions?
- How can one deal with distracting thoughts that disturb prayer?
- What does “the ear of the heart” mean?
- What is the tradition of hidden prayer among the monastic Fathers?
The Jesus Prayer or the Arrow Prayer
- What is the “Jesus Prayer”?
- Are there other short prayers that can be considered as arrow prayers?
- Did St. Ephrem the Syrian use arrow prayers?
- Does the Paradise of the Fathers refer to the Jesus Prayer?
- What is the story of the Russian pilgrim who longed to enjoy the practice of the Jesus Prayer?
- How can someone with family commitments implement the practice of this pilgrim?
- What do the Holy Bible and the Fathers say about the power of the name of our Lord Jesus?
- How did St. John of Dalyatha practice silent prayer without ceasing?
- How did St. Isaac the Syrian practice prayer without ceasing?
- How did the scholar Origen experience the power of invoking the name of Jesus Christ?
- How did St. Augustine practice continual prayer through the name of Jesus?
- What does St. Anthony say about the practice of the Jesus Prayer?
- What did St. Macarius the Great say about the practice of the Jesus Prayer?
- Did David the prophet practice something similar to the Jesus Prayer?
- Do the liturgical prayers of the Church invite us to practice the Jesus Prayer?
- How can we persevere in the practice of the Jesus Prayer?
- What practical steps can one take to practice the Jesus Prayer?
- How did the apostles experience the power of the name of Jesus?
- What role does the name of Jesus play in the knowledge of divine mysteries?
- What is meant by a _metanoia_ ?
- What does the word _metanoia_ mean?
- What is the relationship between metanoias and repentance?
- What is the relationship between metanoias and prayer?
- What does a believer feel when performing metanoias?
- How can metanoias quench the fury of anger?
- What is the value of a metanoia if it lacks love and humility?
- Is it humiliating to perform metanoias?
Holy Worship and the Full Life
- What does the Holy Bible mean by fullness and by emptiness?
- What does the apostle Paul mean by a life of fullness?
- Why did the Lord Christ not choose Saul of Tarsus to be among His disciples?
- What is fullness or the life of perfection according to the apostle Paul?
- How can we, as members of the Church, enjoy fullness or perfection?
- How can the believer experience fullness or perfection?
- What things deprive a person of a life of fullness?
- How should those who enjoy a life of fullness deal with those who are weak?
- What is the majesty of the ministry of the New Testament and its glory afforded to the faithful?
- How does God turn all things to the glory of His true believers?
- What does the apostle mean when he says, “[you] have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him” (Col. 3:10)?
Worship and the Fear of the Lord
- What are the varieties of fear?
- Does the fear of the Lord destroy one’s sense of self-esteem?
- What effect does the fear of the Lord have on our lives?
- Does fearing the Lord mean discounting His compassion?
- John says, “Perfect love casts out fear” (1 John 4:18), so why does David the prophet say, “Oh, fear the Lord, you His saints!” (Ps. 34:9)?
- Where does “the fear of the Lord” sit on the ladder of the practical life of faith?
- What are the sources of the fear of God?
- Is the fear of the Lord natural for the soul?
- How can the fear of God bring about spiritual growth?
- Does the fear of God protect us from evil thoughts?
- What is the measure of my fear of the Lord?
- What is the extent of the fear of God?
- Is fear the first step towards heaven?
- How can we counter fear?
- Who is able to cast fear away from us?
- What is the difference between the fear that love casts out, and the pure fear that endures forever?
- How can we not be afraid of the devil?
Holy Fasting
- Why does the believer need to fast?
- What do the Church Fathers say about fasting?
- What did the desire for food do to the people of God?
- Why did our Lord Jesus choose Moses and Elijah to behold Him and speak with Him at His transfiguration?
- What is the link between fasting and the friends of the bridegroom?
- Why does the Creator call us to practice the way of the angels?
- How does fasting prepare us for spiritual warfare?
- Does God expect us to destroy the body when we fast?
- What does the prophet when he says, “Consecrate a fast … call a sacred assembly” (Joel 1:14; 2:15)?
- How can the believer offer his fast as a sacrifice of love?
- How can we practice fasting so that we are led by love?
- How can we practice fasting as a sabbath to the Lord and find rest in Him?
- How can we practice fasting as worship in spirit?
- What modern medicine’s view of fasting?
- What is the purpose of fasting?
- Why does the Church conclude most of her fasts with a relevant feast?
- How is our Christ transfigured through the fasting of the Church?
- What is the trajectory of the Church’s thought throughout the Lenten fast?
Worship and ‘Dying with Christ’
- Why do Paul the apostle and so many Church Fathers strongly stress the concept of ‘dying with Christ’?
- If worship is a call to joy, how is dying with Christ related to it?
- What does the apostle mean by being crucified with the Lord Christ and dying with Him?
- Was it possible for the Healer of our sicknesses to suffer sickness Himself?
- How can we imitate the crucified Christ?
- In what ways did St. Paul experience dying in Christ?
- What does the apostle mean when he says, “always carrying about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus” (2 Cor. 4:10)?
- How is dying with Christ understood in the life of asceticism?
- How is dying with Christ understood in the life of preaching and service?
Tears in Worship
- What do the tears of a believer express?
- On what occasions, mentioned in the Holy Bible, did the Lord Christ shed tears?
- What purposes do weeping and tears serve for God’s mourning people?
- What do we learn from David the prophet about the potency of those tears that are acceptable before God?
- What does the psalmist mean when he says, “You have fed them with the bread of tears, and given them tears to drink in great measure” (Ps. 80:5)?
- Do tears of longing for God render tears of sorrow in distress unnecessary, and vice versa?
- What does the psalmist mean when he says, “I have eaten ashes like bread, and mingled my drink with weeping” (Ps. 102:9)?
- What does the psalmist mean when he says, “Those who sow in tears shall reap in joy. He who continually goes forth weeping, bearing seed for sowing, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with Him” (Ps. 126:5–6)?
- What do the Fathers say about holy tears and the tears of the afflicted?
- Are there certain limits to the tears of sadness we shed over those who have departed?
- Should a believer shed tears for a family, community, or city that has abandoned God?
- What were the hidden places where Jeremiah shed tears for God’s fallen flock?
Praise and the Heavenly Mindset
- What are the blessings of praising God?
- Why did the Church Fathers find it important to talk about praise?
- How can we offer a praise of thanksgiving in the midst of harsh circumstances?
- Is there a particular time for praise?
- Who can teach me to praise the Lord?
- How do the Fathers understand praise?
- How did the Church of the New Testament understand worship through praise in the temple?
- Which Church Fathers composed praises and Church songs through the ages?
- What is the role of St. Mary as someone who praises God?
- Why is David the prophet called “the sweet psalmist of Israel” (2 Sam. 23:1)?
- Why does David call on heavenly beings and those who are silent to praise?
- Does the Lord need human praise?
Church Hymns and the Heavenly Mindset
- What is the difference between praises and Church Hymns?
- What features do praises and Church Hymns have in common?
- Why do we cherish Coptic Church Hymns? Is it permissible to translate them into the language understood by the people?
- Are rites and Church Hymns necessary in the Church? Do they impact on our salvation and eternity?
- What tunes are used by the Coptic Church in her worship?
- Why are Church Hymns sometimes chanted in an abbreviated short tune and sometimes in a long tune?
- Are Church Hymns merely a heritage we preserve?
The Coptic Church Calendar and Joyful Daily Life in the Lord
- What is the purpose of the Church calendar?
- What themes run throughout the Church calendar?
- What is the benefit of the annual Church calendar?
- What is the Coptic Church calendar cycle?
- What is the daily Church cycle?
- What is the weekly Church cycle?
- What is the monthly Church cycle?
- What is the annual Church cycle?
- What are the major feasts of our Lord?
- What are the minor feasts of the Lord?
- Why did Moses and Elijah appear at the Lord’s Transfiguration?
- What are the feasts of the Theotokos, the Mother of God?
- What are the feasts of saints?
- Why do we celebrate the consecration of churches?
- What are the communal fasts of the Church?
- What is the relationship between the Coptic calendar and the ancient Egyptian calendar?
- What is the difference between the ancient Egyptian calendar and the Julian calendar?
- What connection is there between the Alexandrian Computus (Epact) and the Christian Pascha?
- What connection is there between the Coptic calendar and the ancient Egyptian calendar?
- What are the names of the Coptic months?
- How do we celebrate the New Year?
- How can we make our celebrations a fruitful experience?
- What are the most important fixed feasts in the Coptic calendar?
- What are the most important occasions in the month of Thout?
- What are the most important occasions in the month of Paope?
- What are the most important occasions in the month of Hathor?
- What are the most important occasions in the month of Koiak (Kiahk, the month of vigil and praise)?
- What are the most important occasions in the month of Tobe?
- What are the most important occasions in the month of Meshir?
- What are the most important occasions in the month of Paremhotep?
- What are the most important occasions in the month of Parmoute?
- What are the most important occasions in the month of Pashons?
- What are the most important occasions in the month of Paone?
- What are the most important occasions in the month of Epep?
- What are the most important occasions in the month of Mesore?
- What are the most important occasions in the Little Month or Pi Kogi?
- What are the moveable occasions that depend on the date of the Feast of the Resurrection (Christian Pascha) each year?
- What is Holy Week or Passion Week (the week of the Christian Pascha)?
- What are the Holy Fifty Days following the Feast of the Resurrection?
- What connection is there between the Church calendar and the Bridegroom who is the joy of every heart?