Fr. Abraam Sleman's Blog

To His Holiness Pope Tawadros II, Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of the See of St. Mark May the Lord preserve your life and ministry. After kissing Your Holiness' holy hands, with deep sorrow and heartfelt condolences, I offer my sympathy to Your Holiness and to the entire Coptic Orthodox Church on the departure of the venerable Metropolitan Pakhomious, Archbishop of Beheira, Matrouh, and the Western Pentapolis. We remember with reverence and gratitude his faithful and fruitful service spanning more than seventy years—marked by wisdom, humility, and dedication. His role in shepherding the Church during the transitional period of 2012 with great competence and spiritual insight remains an enduring testimony to his leadership. His fatherly influence is evident in the generations of clergy and servants he nurtured, including Your Holiness, whom he helped shape with care and love. May the Lord repose his soul in the paradise of joy, and may His divine comfort be with Your Holines...

In a world that increasingly normalizes separation and divorce, the sacred covenant of marriage is often diminished to a contract of convenience. Yet, from a biblical perspective, marriage is far more than a legal arrangement—it is a divine institution established by God the Father, meant to reflect His love, faithfulness, and unity. When conflicts arise in marriage, the call of Scripture is not for abandonment but for reconciliation. This call flows from the heart of the Father, who reconciles sinners to Himself through Jesus Christ and commands us to mirror that same ministry of grace and restoration in our relationships—especially within the family. 1. Marriage Is a Covenant Before God Scripture affirms that marriage is not a human invention but a divine covenant. In Malachi 2:14-16, God speaks with righteous indignation against the breaking of this covenant: “Yet you say, ‘For what reason?’ Because the Lord has been witness between you and the wife of your youth, with whom yo...

In moments of sorrow, when we gather to honor the life of a beloved father, our hearts are filled with both grief and gratitude. Grief—because the one we loved and looked up to is no longer with us in the flesh. Gratitude—because of the life he lived, the family he raised, the example he set, and the love he gave. Today, as we remember a faithful father, we also turn to the comfort of Scripture and the truth of our faith, which teaches us that earthly fatherhood is a sacred reflection of the heavenly Father. The Scriptures remind us that fatherhood is not merely a social or biological role—it is a spiritual calling. In the Christian vision of family, the earthly father is meant to reflect something of the nature and heart of God the Father . His leadership, love, sacrifice, and guidance become a living picture of God’s care for His people. 1. The Christian Family Reflects the Household of God The Christian family is more than a social unit; it is an expression of God’s own hous...

In John 5:1–18 , we read the powerful story of a man who had suffered for 38 years, lying beside the Pool of Bethesda, waiting for healing. One day, Jesus came, saw him, spoke to him, and made him whole. This account is more than a miracle—it’s a window into Christ’s heart and a pattern for how healing can begin at home. What if your home could become a Bethesda —a place of mercy, restoration, and grace? A place where Jesus is welcomed, suffering is noticed, brokenness is met with compassion, and transformation begins? Here are six biblical applications from this story for every Christian family. 1. Recognizing and Responding to Suffering Within the Family “When Jesus saw him lying there and knew that he had already been a long time in that condition…” (John 5:6) Jesus noticed the man before he ever spoke. He saw not only the man’s physical state but also the loneliness and helplessness hidden beneath. In the family: Each member must learn to see beyond the surface. Is th...

إذا شعرت عائلتك بالتعب أو الجرح أو الانكسار، فأنت لست وحدك. كثيرون يحملون آلامًا صامتة - زيجات فاشلة، تباعدًا عاطفيًا، تواصلًا متوترًا، أو وحدة عميقة في المنزل. لكن هناك قصة في انجيل يوحنا ٤ تُبعث أملًا حقيقيًا، حتى في أكثر الحالات جرحًا . إنها قصة امرأة سامرية التقت بالرب يسوع عند بئر. كانت حياتها مشوشة . علاقاتها معقدة. كان قلبها عطشانًا. لكن في ذلك اليوم، بدأ كل شيء يتغير . ١ - الرب يسوع يلتقينا في تشويشنا لم تكن المرأة عند البئر تبحث عن الرب يسوع - بل كان هو يبحث عنها. في حديثهما، كشف الحقيقة بلطف: "كان لكِ خمسة أزواج، والذي لكِ الآن ليس زوجكِ" (يوحنا ٤: ١٨) . كان الرب يسوع يعرف كل شيء عنها - علاقاتها المحطمة، أخطائها الماضية، شهواتها العميقة. لكنه لم يرفضها. لم يُدنها. رحّب بها في الشفاء والنعمة . ربما تشعر أن عائلتك لا يمكن إصلاحها. ربما كان هناك الكثير من الألم، والكثير من الكلمات التي قيلت، والكثير من لحظات الصمت. لكن الرب يسوع لا يزال يلتقي بالناس في خضم التشويش. إنه يرى الألم - ويمنح الأمل، قلبًا تلو الآخر . 2- قوة الاعتراف الصادق قبل أن يكشف الر...