Fr. Abraam Sleman's Blog

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...