This section is for you. You can post a question and we can answer it for you or you can ask for a particular servant to answer it. The answer will be displayed on this page - and don't worry we will not put your name on it. If you like you can ask a question and ask for a email back without the question being displayed on this page.We will update this page each fortnight and we will also be adding some question that have been answered by others - like Anba Moussa. Have fun!

Why do we fast 43 days on the advent (Christmas Fast)?

40 days are for the receiving of the 10 commandments by Moses, as Moses received the word of God on the mountain, so are we receiving the word of God (Jesus), by His birth.

3 days are in memory of the day all Christians in Egypt were going to get killed if the mountain didn't move. The emperor commanded the pope to physically move the mountain in 3 days or all Christians will be killed. All the Coptic people fasted and prayed and after 3 days, they went to the mountain and St Simon the Tanner prayed to the Lord and the mountain was moved.

What is the process for a non orthodox to marry a coptic orthodox in the coptic orthodox church, does this mean converting and if so what is the process of converting?

For two people to get married in the orthodox church, both must be orthodox.

The reason behind this is simply because there is a unity in marriage, so how can there be a unity with a husband and wife if they do not have the same faith? Marriage is a means for salvation (ie. help you to get to heaven) so it is important to find someone who will help you get to heaven not take you away. Even if your future partner is orthodox, he/she must help you to get to heaven - so chose carefully.

However if your future partner is not orthodox, he/she may be baptised into the orthodox church and then you may be married. But be careful that your partner is converting for the love of Christ and the Church not only for you, because in the future he/she may not want to come to the church anymore and keep you away from the church.

Are people allowed to be baptised as an adult??

Yes it is allowed for people to get baptised when they are an adult. It can even be proved in the bible. For eg, In Acts 8:38, the Apostle Philip bapised a man when he was an adult, even St Paul in Acts 9:18 was baptised when he was an adult.

Is the Bible supposed to be taken literally, that is, word for word?

Yes. It is to be taken literally, but sometimes the Bible means something spiritually. An example of this is when Jesus said. “If Your eve causes you to sin, pluck it out" (Matthew 18:9). Christ didn't mean this literally, but meant if something tempts you to sin, turn away from it.

Is it true that Cain and Abel married their sisters?

Yes. During the time of the first generation, marriage amongst brothers and sisters was permitted for the purpose of procreation. But gradually, it became forbidden.

Is it wrong to sing non Coptic hymns in Church?

No, but there is something we need to be able to differentiate between : are these hymns lifting you spiritually or emotionally? Emotional music speaks to and excites the body. and so therefore, we must sing hymns which uplift us spiritually.

Does religion support medicine?

Of course. The Bible many times refers to medicine, especially in the book of Jeremiah, when he says, "is there no balm in Gilead, is there no physician there?" We utilise medicine when we are ill, but we surrender our will to the Lord.

Why do we baptise children when they are babies?

In the same way that we cannot deprive babies of physical nutrition. we cannot deprive them of spiritual nutrition. But when the baby is older, he takes the decision whether to continue in God's way, or other wise.

Why does the church baptise boys before girls, that is, boys after forty days and girls after eighty days

Simply because this is a Biblical commandment from the Old Testament, and we have followed this commandment as is. It is also to remind us of the original sin which began with Eve tempting Adam with the apple. However, we must not forget that if we fell by the first Eve, we are saved through the second Eve, who is our beautiful mother St. Mary, because she gave birth to our Saviour and Redeemer.

I have tried to talk to my non Christian friends about God, but they never seem interested. What can I do?

It is better to talk to them through your example and not through words. If you are holy, and you pray for them, and you genuinely like them and care for them, a time will come for talking to them. But first you must start by being a good example, and then the Lord will open the door for them, on a certain day and in a certain way.

Why are th e Jews th e chosen people of God if they don't believe Christ is the Son of God?

Before crucifixion, the Jews were the chosen people of God, however, they are no longer. The Christians are now the chosen people of God.

Why did Jesus Christ have to be the one to save us?

God knew from the beginning that man was going to sin, and He was not only going to forgive therm but He was also going to redeem them. But first we need to understand what are the qualifications of a redeemer:

    a) He must be man because humans who are sinners are men         (men meaning human).

    b) He must die, because the wage of sin is death.

    c) He must be sinless, because if he was sinful he also will be in        need of redemption.

    d) He must be unlimited, because our sin is unlimited.

    e) He must be a creator, in order to create a new nature.

To fulfil these requirements, God had to be incarnated in the form of man, and dwell among men, and die thus He was the unification of humanity and divinity. Through humanity Hewas man and died; and through divinity He is unlimited and the Creator and He is sinless.

What proof is there that St Mary was NOT born sinless?

If St Mary was born immaculate, that is sinless, then she would not have had a need for salvation. However, this is not the case, because St Mary herself declared, "My soul inagniflies the Lord, and my spirit has rejoiced in God iny Saviour" (Luke 1:47).

Why are boyfriends/girlfriends bad if God gave us adolescense/puberty in which we will start to attract to guys/girls? are parents ALWAYS right, sometimes can't they be wrong, seriously? is it wrong to think about a guy/girl?

Desires are natural and normal and if we didn't have them we would be abnormal. The desire itself is not wrong, but it can be the start of a wrong thing: ...when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it isfully grown brings forth death'"(James 1:15). Therefore, when desire starts you must control yourself not to sin, and try rather to have spiritual desires in order to help you keep control.
Anba Moussa

What is wrong with smoking?
The young people are usually persuaded by their friends to start smoking, but out of deep and genuine love to everybody, please don't start smoking, and if you smoke, please give up. Because a time will come when you feel regret, but after destroying your health. Sometimes young people take things lightly and as some sort of fun, but this is not the correct way to deal with anything in life. We must deal with things seriously. Life is not fun only; fun is only one aspect of life. Please do not consider smoking as fun, because it will destroy you. You will lose your spiritual blessings because you won't have the power to fast, you will lose your will, you will lose your money, and you will lose your health.
Anba Moussa

Do you think that the end of the world will be soon? Due to the earthquakes, floods and wars that are happening now, because God said these are the beginning of sorrows. So what do you think?

Yes it does seem that the end is near - but noone is sure. However our church teaches us from the bible that there are signs which must come first. Wars, earthquakes, floods are some signs...but there are more, for example Elijah and Enoch (both who were taken up to heaven and did not die) must come to earth and be killed, the anti-christ must come with his followers, the Jews wil convert to Christianity etc. These things haven't happened yet but they might happen in 10 years, a year, a month or maybe even tommorrow. Nobody knows the hour.
However we will never know when we will die and as soon as we do die this is like the second comming because we will have no chance of repentance after death. So whether the second comming comes first or we pass away we still must all be prepared!
Thanks for the person who asked this question.

Is there anything wrong with going to parties?

It is up to you to decide this and to consider what occurs in parties. Is the party going to be in a Christian atmosphere, or are you going to lose your spiritual blessings by attending? We do not want you to live in isolation and seriousness, we want you to be happy, but you must select the party that will not hurt you spiritually.
Anba Moussa

Why do priests wear black hats and black clothes?

The priest's hat is shaped like a dome, representing the fact that the priest belongs to the church. As for the black clothes, there are three types of people who wear black: the lawyers, the judges and the university professors. Thus the priest wears black because he is a lawyer who defends us before God, he is a judge who hears our confessions and gives us the absolution, and he is a professor who teaches us Christianity.
Anba Moussa

What is the meaning of life?

Life is to enjoy the love of the Lord, and to convey the love of the Lord to others through service, and to prepare yourself for eternity where you will live with the Lord forever.
Anba Moussa

Is there anything wrong with dating?

Dating is acceptable during the engagement process, but outside of this process, dating may lead to sexual practices. Do not deceive yourselves by the culture around you, for it is a culture that has resulted in broken families, broken marriages, and many distraught children who have lost their parents through the malpractice of family life.
Anba Moussa