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...

This is my second blog request (delayed – I apologise to that reader!) It also coincides with my blog on ‘Women and Communion’ written last year- which can be found here: https://learnpraylove.com/women-and-communion/ “Those therefore who do not obey Him, that He may lighten and deliver them from the bonds of the Old Law, obey not God, who has called them to come forth unto release and rest and refreshment; and they bind themselves with the heavy burdens of the Old Law, which are of no avail.” (Didascalia, Ch. 26, Teaching of the Apostles, 3rd c) (This blog is quite long...

I have formed you, you are My servant; O Israel, you will not be forgotten by Me! (Isaiah 44:21) This article is inspired particularly by the special youth of St. Mark’s Church London, of whom I am honoured to know and spent more time with this past year. A question was asked during our past Friday Youth Meeting retreat about feeling God’s love and presence, a question (or rather experience) I believe most, if not all of us have encountered, and at times, struggle with from time to time. God is love. God is everywhere. God is powerful, all-knowing, all-loving, all...