Fr. Abraam Sleman's Blog

I was not merely present in the Cathedral in Cairo. In spirit, I was carried far beyond the bounds of time and place. As I witnessed His Eminence Metropolitan Pakhomius crowning and enthroning His Holiness Pope Tawadros II—whom he embraced like a beloved son—I felt deeply moved, as if drawn into a heavenly vision. I found myself asking, “O my God, what am I seeing?” My thoughts turned to the vision of the prophet Daniel: “Behold, One like the Son of Man, coming with the clouds of heaven! He came to the Ancient of Days, and they brought Him near before Him. Then to Him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, That all peoples, nations, and languages should serve Him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, And His kingdom the one which shall not be destroyed.” (Daniel 7:13–14) In that moment, my heart and mind were captivated by the eternal enthronement of our Lord Jesus Christ following His ascension. As a deacon read from the Epistle to the Hebrew...

While all Coptic Orthodox churches share the same liturgy, rites, and spirit of service, some still refer to the Church of St. Mark in Jersey City as “a church covered with badger skins.” You may wonder—why speak of this church specifically? And what does that phrase mean? Allow me to share personal reflections that may help you understand why this image holds such deep meaning. I cherish all churches and deeply respect every servant of the Lord. Yet, following the example of St. Paul, I cannot help but magnify the ministry entrusted to me in my weakness (Romans 11:13). In doing so, I proclaim the mighty work of God and give glory to His holy name. In 1995, the Thrice-Blessed of Memory, His Holiness Pope Shenouda III, called me to serve this church. At the time, many beloved friends in Egypt were waiting for my return to continue serving in the Church of the Virgin Mary in Ard El-Golf, Cairo. News of my move to Jersey City left some disheartened. One friend even called me, scoffing: ...

Much has been said recently about the past era when papal candidates would be brought forth in chains, unwilling to assume the papacy out of deep humility. Some today mourn the loss of that era. Yet they may not realize that, while such physical chains may no longer exist, we have bound ourselves with other, more subtle chains—man-made rules and human restrictions. Some of those who circulate these nostalgic stories may need to step back and consider God's will from His own divine perspective. What matters most in the choice of a patriarch is not external tradition or historical romanticism, but the sovereign will of God, who alone sees the heart and appoints His servants. Chains of a Different Kind Today, the Church has imposed new chains—not on the candidate, but on the process itself. Through the centuries, we have accumulated a host of human laws and regulations governing the papal election. These rules, though perhaps well-intentioned, can obstruct the free and sovereign ch...

It never crossed my mind that one day I would be honored to vote in a papal election. Yet when the time came, I earnestly pleaded with God not to let me drink of this cup—for two reasons. First, I feared falling into the trap of favoritism, allowing personal preference to cloud spiritual discernment. Second, I hoped to avoid the painful responsibility of objecting to any nominee, as the election bylaws require. The spirit of objection is foreign to me. In my many years of priestly service, I have never viewed any of the Church fathers negatively. I see them through the lens of Christ's righteousness, as vessels chosen by the Holy Spirit to glorify God despite their human weaknesses. They are our fathers and instructors, those who have taught us the word of God (Hebrews 13:7). A Church in Controversy Yet what can we say about the rising objections to certain nominees? What will this controversy yield? And how can we navigate these turbulent waters without falling into the trap of...

I have never been one to interpret the Book of Revelation solely through a historical or tragic lens. Yet, the repetition of violence against Coptic Christians in Egypt—Kosheh, the Church of the Two Saints in Alexandria, Imbaba, Mokattam, Maspero, Amiriya, and now Dahshur—forces me to consider these events in light of the apocalyptic vision. When I heard what had happened in Dahshur, Revelation 17 came to mind—particularly the image of the woman “drunk with the blood of the saints and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus” (Revelation 17:6). I could not help but think of her as the invisible force behind these ongoing atrocities—not just in Egypt, but in many parts of the world where God's people suffer for their faith. Who Is This "Drunk Woman"? This woman, described in Revelation, is not just a symbol of corrupt political systems or earthly power. She “sits on many waters”—meaning she resides among "peoples, multitudes, nations, and tongues" (Revelation 17...

Today, I was deeply moved by the tears of “Mrs. Grace” as she wept in my office. Her story is not unique, but it is the most recent among many tales of displacement from Egypt and other Middle Eastern countries. Though many knew her story long before me, it was by Divine Will that I came to witness it firsthand. Her tears are the tears of thousands—those who left their homelands because of hardship, whether from Egypt, Iraq, Syria, or elsewhere, in search of a better life in the United States. In our “St. Abraam Ministry,” and undoubtedly in many other churches, we see the continuing struggle of these immigrants. They flee oppression in their countries only to face a different kind of hardship in the so-called land of opportunity. To help you understand, let me share part of Mrs. Grace’s story as a reflection of many like her. She is a woman in her sixties, married with four children who remain in Egypt. She alone received a visa to come to America, hoping to work and send support ba...