Hegumen Abraam Sleman

The resurrection of Jesus Christ is the cornerstone of Christian faith and the radiant culmination of God’s redemptive plan for humanity. Often, we reflect on Christ’s triumph over death, but the Scriptures also lead us to see the intimate and active role of God the Father in the resurrection. From eternity past to the resurrection morning and beyond, the Father was working in perfect unity with the Son through the Holy Spirit to accomplish the salvation of the world. 1. The Father's Eternal Purpose Before the foundation of the world, the Father chose and appointed His Son to be the sacrificial Lamb. Christ's death and resurrection were not reactions to human failure but the unfolding of a divine plan. “He indeed was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you” (1 Peter 1:20) The resurrection was the crowning act of a plan ordained in eternity—a divine response of love and justice to redeem humanity. 2. The Suffering ...

The Passion of Christ is the most sacred revelation of God's love for humanity—a love that was not only demonstrated by the Son but also initiated and carried out by the Father. While the Cross reveals the suffering and obedience of Jesus, it also unveils the heart and will of the Father who sent Him. To understand the fullness of the Passion, we must look through the lens of the relationship between the Father and the Son. 1. Foreordained Before Time Began Long before the world was created, God the Father had already set forth His redemptive plan. Jesus, the Lamb of God, was not an afterthought but the fulfillment of the Father’s eternal counsel. “He indeed was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you” (1 Peter 1:20) “And truly the Son of Man goes as it has been determined…” (Luke 22:22) The Cross was not a disruption in God's plan—it was the plan. 2. The Father Was in Christ in His Suffering Though Christ suf...

I believe that the fear that is spread in the world today because of the coronavirus is much worse than the virus itself.  If the peace of God’s children is lost among all the disturbing news of the spread of this virus throughout the world, then what would be the state of the world’s children? Therefore, let us calmly and without the hostility of social media, seek an understanding of the situation and how to confront it in light of God’s word. With God’s grace, I would like to mention some spiritual concepts and principles to take into consideration:   First: The current coronavirus is not the first, nor will it be the last epidemics or disaster we face in this world. Our Lord Jesus Christ has informed us of this when He said: “And there will be great earthquakes in various places, and famines and pestilences; and there will be fearful sights and great signs from heaven” (Luke 21:11). As if the Lord is telling us today, “See, I have told you beforehand” (Matthew 24:...

  أعتقد أن الخوف – المنتشر في العالم اليوم بسبب فيروس كورونا – أسوأ بكثير من الفيروس نفسه. وإذا ضاع سلام أولاد الله في وسط الأخبار المزعجة لانتشار هذا الفيروس في العالم كله، فماذا يكون الحال مع أولاد العالم؟  لذلك في هدوء وبعيدا عن صخب الميديا ومواقع التواصل الاجتماعي، دعونا نلتمس فهم الموقف وكيفية مواجهته في نور كلمة الله. وبنعمة ربنا، أود أن أذكر بعض المفاهيم والمبادئ الروحية نأخذها في الاعتبار : أولا: فيروس كورونا ليس هو الأول ولن يكون الأخير من الأوبئة أو الكوارث التي نواجهها في هذا العالم. لقد سبق أن أخبرنا ربنا يسوع المسيح بذلك، وقال: “وَتَكُونُ زَلاَزِلُ عَظِيمَةٌ فِي أَمَاكِنَ وَمَجَاعَاتٌ وَأَوْبِئَةٌ. وَتَكُونُ مَخَاوِفُ وَعَلاَمَاتٌ عَظِيمَةٌ مِنَ السَّمَاءِ” (لوقا 21 : 10-11)، وكأن الرب يسوع يقول لنا اليوم أيضا: “هَا أَنَا قَدْ سَبَقْتُ وَأَخْبَرْتُكُمْ” (متى 24 : 25)، “قَدْ كَلَّمْتُكُمْ بِهَذَا لِيَكُونَ لَكُمْ فِيَّ سلاَمٌ. فِي الْعَالَمِ سَيَكُونُ لَكُمْ ضِيقٌ، وَلَكِنْ ثِقُوا: أَنَا قَدْ غَلَبْتُ الْعَالَمَ” (يوحنا 16 : 33) . ثانيا: انتشار الشر والأمراض ف...

حتى لا نتوه عن معنى الاحتفال بالعيد، وحتى لا يضيع سلامنا في موسم الاحتفال بميلاد ملك السلام، أعتقد أننا في حاجة لمراجعة أنفسنا - بهدوء - بعد زوبعة ردود الأفعال على رسالة الحبر الجليل نيافة الأنبا سرابيون مطران لوس انجيلوس بخصوص الاحتفال بعيد الميلاد المجيد . في البداية، نقدم المجد لله الآب وربنا يسوع المسيح، من أجل بركة الاحتفال بعيد الميلاد المجيد، ومع حفظ كرامة عيد الميلاد المجيد، وأهميته، وضرورة الاحتفال به، وفي خضوع تام لتدبير الكنيسة برئاسة قداسة البابا، أود توضيح بعض الملاحظات السريعة لعلها تساعد في المراجعة من أجل سلام الكنيسة و سلامنا مع الله، وحتى نكون بضمير صالح أمام الله (1 تيموثاوس 1: 5، 1 بطرس 3: 16) . أولا: نشكر الله من أجل الأمور الإيجابية التي لمسناها في شرح قداسة البابا الأنبا تواضروس الثاني للرسالة وفي مضمون الرسالة نفسها وتوضيح أصحاب النيافة الأنبا سرابيون والأنبا دافيد . بغض النظر عن تعدد الآراء وردود أفعال البعض، لكننا شاهدنا وسمعنا ولمسنا - في قداسة البابا وشركائه فى الخدمة الرسولية معنى الأبوة الغامرة والاهتمام الكبير باحتياجات الرعية. وهذا كان واضحا جدا في...

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...