(Greek Orthodox Icon of Christ the Pantocrator – with Greek inscription above His head of “ ‘Ο ΩΝ” which means “I AM”) This blog post is inspired by the bestseller “The Power of Now” by Eckhart Tolle. A book I would recommend reading in the light of knowing and practicing your Christian faith.   “With the past I have nothing to do; nor with the future. I live now.” — Ralph Waldo Emerson So many of us struggle with time. With our past, — whether decisions we have made, focus on people who hurt us, or reminisce the ‘good...

A Cure for Loneliness?  This is my first topic-request, so I hope it touches that specific reader and everyone who reads this.   Loneliness is an increasing epidemic in our 21st century world – and it stems from one simple problem: a separation from a deep and intimate communion with God, with fellow man and with one’s self. From the beginning, Adam had everything – he had all the plants, animals, food, nature, and later was given Eve to be his companion, but above all, he had and enjoyed the presence of God. Adam was simply in perfect union with...

Since the man who helped end the apartheid in South Africa has passed earlier this month, a number of people have had their opinion and judgment on Mandela – first as a man who can be considered ‘Christian’ and second if he is saved. (And yes I went there in posting a photo of Mandela and the late Pope Shenouda III) I don’t know what it is but many of us Christians, when someone of high profile and one of good honour and reputation passes, such as Nelson Mandela, it seems that the automatic response to do is to...

A brief contemplation on the purpose of the Incarnation for my life. The human mind is not able to grasp or will never able to fully comprehend an event so glorious as that of the Incarnation, yet God still reveals His truth among us to behold the awesomeness of His love and humility for us when He took flesh for our sake. I am in no way near of having the ability to express the depth and beauty of the Incarnation as our early fathers have (namely, St. Athanasius’ profound and must-read work for every Christian (and non-Christian too...

But most gladly I will rejoice in my infirmities..that the power of Christ may rest upon me. (2 Cor 12:9) I am in no way writing as someone who has accomplished the power of pain, but I am writing to express something we all share in common and deal with regularly, so each one may receive hope and strength. Pain is a very supernatural thing. Every human life experiences pain in one way or another – from being born into the world until we take our last breath, we face uncomfortable realities that are foreign to our innate being....

What is the REAL reason women can’t take communion? A Biblical, Historical, Patristic, and Theological Approach “What God has cleansed you shall not call common or unclean” (Acts 10:15) *For Arabic translation click here* (*This blog has also been newly-published in the book “Women and Communion” (in Arabic) by St. Macarius Monastery (2016) – found also here among other great articles on the topic: https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B1l-Zo1ib-71ZjRYLU9nVDN0cmc/view ) Yes, I went there. Call me a feminist, a rebel – whatever – I’d like to consider myself a thinker and a researcher. Hopefully a theologian too. I think this subject is vast –...