Fiery Darts from the Orient -
Multimedia Meditations
Divine Mercy: More Than Mercy By:Andrew Youssef Length:7:05 Date:16/06/11 Abstract:As a group of Armenian women are publicly humiliated, tortured, and ultimately burnt to death by Turkish soldiers on account of their Armenian identity, they are heard invoking the short yet profound prayer that features most regularly in Oriental Orthodox worship: "Lord, have Mercy." They thereby bear powerful witness to the all-encompassing spirit of Divine Mercy which resonates with its conception in the Oriental Orthodox Tradition as well as the Hebrew Scriptures.
Fiery Darts from the Orient -
Church History, Fathers, & Saints
Bishop Yousaab, Bishop of Girga and Akhmim (1735-1826 A.D.) (Feast Day: 25th January / 25th Toba) By Fr. Anthony St Shenouda 23/01/11
Fr. Anthony provides us with a unique glimpse into the life and accomplishments of a rarely discussed Coptic Bishop of the 18th century, accompanied with an exclusive icon of the Saint and exclusive video footage of his incorrupt relics.
'A Prayer for our Enemies' by Catholicos Simeon Yerevants'i (+ c. 1710-1780) Edited and Translated by the Faculty of St Nersess Armenian Seminary, NY 16/01/11
The recent tragic bombing of a Coptic Orthodox church in Alexandria, which took place as the faithful were welcoming the New Year with worship and praise, in addition to the accompanying threats against Coptic churches all over the world, are naturally bound to impel many with feelings of anger and bitterness towards those responsible. I thought it befitting, therefore, to publish at this time a prayer of the 18th century Armenian Catholicos Symeon Yerevants'i which serves as a sober reminder of that most difficult, yet superior path to which we, as Christians, have been called: to love, forgive and pray for our enemies; a path that Christ personally trod in His own persecuted life and which He calls all of us to follow as imitators of His Perfection.
He Gave His Baptism to us By Andrew Youssef 01/01/11
A short exposition on the meaning and implications of Christ's baptism to our salvation, in light of commentary on the Epiphany event by the sixth century Syrian Orthodox Father, St Philoxenus of Mabbug.
Fiery Darts from the Orient -
Church History, Fathers, & Saints
A 7th Century Monastery Discovered in the United Arab Emirates By Fr. Anthony St Shenouda 01/01/11
Fr. Antony gives a brief account of the recent discovery of a pre-Islamic Christian monastery in the UAE, in addition to a short history of Christianity in the region. He applauds the fact that the Muslim rulers of the UAE have funded the relevant excavation work, in addition to their generally amicable treatment of Christians in the UAE, and in turn laments the continued oppression of Copts in their homeland, Egypt.
