This blog is dedicated to those with broken families, those seeking refuge and understanding to find peace in the midst of their homes. (For Arabic translation click here.) This is probably my most personal blog I will write – and may ever write – but I feel it is overdue time to speak about what Copts (among many other cultures as well) avoid speaking about: broken families. This is written from personal experiences and my perspective – coming from a mixed background and seeing many broken families hide behind what may seem a ‘perfect’ family portrait. “Her parents are...

This is a brief reflection during my time spent with the Coptic Patriarch, Pope Tawadros II during my recent trip to Egypt This past October, I was fortunate to have had a retreat to Egypt, where most of my time was spent in Alexandria with my spiritual mother, Tasonee Angel Basili. But part of my trip was purposed at meeting with His Holiness Pope Tawadros, and thankfully, with God’s work, myself and Joanne R. were able to meet with him one on one in Cairo. We sat for about an hour (and I am exceedingly grateful for the time...

“Now all who believed were together, and had all things in common…so continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart” (Acts 2:44) There are some people who will forever leave an imprint and stamp on my soul … Tasonee is one of them. I’ve been asked several times how my recent trip to Egypt was and was asked to share my experiences. And so here I am. It is a bit lengthy — but I hope this personal journal will touch and inspire the...

This is a brief excerpt from a lecture by great theologian and scholar of the Orthodox Church, His Eminence Metropolitan Ware (author of many books and articles, including well-known book, “The Orthodox Way”). The lecture was delivered at the OTRF (Orthodox Theological Research Forum: https://otrf123.wordpress.com) Conference on “Inspiration through Time: Women’s Ministries in the Orthodox Church” in England on September 8th, 2014  For full audio lecture, please email me at donnamrizk@gmail.com Below is a transcription (as said by Metropolitan Ware himself) of parts of his lecture (unless noted everything is from him). ———————————- Are women and men treated differently in...

We live in a world of consumerism. Everything is rapidly and constantly changing – always for “the better” and “quicker”. A new iPhone is on the market less than every year or so with so-called “life-changing improvements”. Or a new anti-aging product that promises health and longevity and less wrinkles, more perfection and youthfulness. Or the new Michael Kors bag or latest BMWi series… We buy things, throw things, buy more things, then need more things, buy, throw, so forth. We don’t like this shirt that’s now out of style after two months, so we throw it away or...