St Mark Sermons

Fr. Matthias Shehad explores the differences between fasting practices in Protestantism and the Orthodox Church, highlighting fasting’s role as a spiritual discipline and communal act in Orthodoxy. He explains how Protestant churches generally view fasting as a private matter without fixed communal fasts, contrasting this with the Orthodox emphasis on both private and communal fasting tied to chur...

Fr. Matthias Shehad continues his series on comparative theology by exploring the origins and teachings of the Episcopal Church, also known as the Anglican Church outside the U.S. He outlines its historical connection to the English Reformation, led by King Henry VIII, and how it developed distinctively in America post-Revolutionary War. Fr. Matthias discusses the Episcopal Church’s position as a...

In this talk on comparative theology, Fr. Matthias Shehad continues his examination of Protestant beliefs by focusing on Baptist and Methodist doctrines. He explains Baptist views on baptism, emphasizing believer’s baptism by full immersion as a symbolic act rather than a sacrament, and discusses their rejection of predestination along with the doctrine of eternal security, which asserts that true...

Fr. Matthias Shehad explores key theological differences between the Orthodox and Protestant faiths, focusing on Communion and the doctrines of monergism and predestination. He explains how many Protestant denominations view Communion as a symbolic act, contrasting with Lutheran beliefs that affirm the real presence of Christ’s body and blood in the Eucharist. Fr. Matthias discusses the biblical f...

Fr. Matthias Shehad explores the differences between the Orthodox and Protestant churches by examining the five solas central to Protestant theology: Scripture alone, faith alone, grace alone, Christ alone, and glory to God alone. He discusses how Protestantism rejects church tradition, hierarchy, and the veneration of saints, emphasizing a biblical-only approach. Fr. Matthias also explains the Or...

Fr. Matthias Shehad continues his series on comparative theology by examining key Protestant doctrines in relation to Orthodoxy. He explores the Protestant principle of “faith alone” for salvation, referencing Ephesians and James, and explains how Orthodox Christianity understands faith as always expressed through works. He discusses the differences between Protestant concepts like eternal securit...

Fr. Matthias Shehad continues his examination of the differences between Orthodox and Protestant theology by focusing on the Five Solas of the Protestant Reformation. He explains the meaning of each sola—scripture alone, faith alone, grace alone, Christ alone, and glory to God alone—and how they arose as reactions to perceived corruption in the Catholic Church. Fr. Matthias discusses the Protestan...

In this talk, Fr. Matthias Shehad explores the origins and key distinctions between Orthodoxy and Protestantism as part of a comparative theology series. He traces the beginning of Protestantism to Martin Luther’s 1517 Reformation, highlighting issues such as the sale of indulgences and simony within the Catholic Church at that time. Fr. Matthias explains Luther’s initial views on priesthood, sacr...

Fr. Matthias Shehad explores key theological differences between Orthodoxy and Catholicism, focusing on major topics such as the papal authority of St. Peter, the doctrine of papal infallibility, and the filioque clause concerning the Holy Spirit’s procession. He discusses Catholic teachings on purgatory, the Immaculate Conception of the Virgin Mary, and the concept of development of doctrine, emp...

Fr. Matthias Shehad continues his series on comparative theology, focusing on key doctrinal differences between the Orthodox and Catholic Churches. He explores the Catholic teaching on purgatory, explaining its origins, theological basis, and critiques from an Orthodox perspective. Fr. Matthias discusses the concept of indulgences and their role in Church history, including their connection to the...

Fr. Matthias Shehad continues his comparative theology series by examining key theological differences between the Orthodox and Catholic Churches. He explains the Catholic dogma of papal infallibility, tracing its historical development and contrasting it with the Orthodox view of conciliar authority and the equal standing of all bishops. Fr. Matthias explores the doctrine of the Filioque, detaili...

Fr. Matthias Shehad begins a new series on comparative theology, focusing on key differences and similarities between Orthodox and Catholic Christianity. He explores the shared apostolic foundation and unbroken priestly succession in both traditions, emphasizing common beliefs such as the Trinity and the seven sacraments. Fr. Matthias addresses the Catholic Church’s claim of papal primacy, arguing...

This Great Friday sermon, titled "By His Stripes We Are Healed," draws on Isaiah 53:5 and the account of Christ's scourging under Pilate, describing the historical background of Roman flogging and Paul's references to bearing "the marks of the Lord Jesus" as signs not of shame but of victory. The sermon argues that Christ does not ask us to conceal our brokenness, but transforms our wounds, scars,...

The sermon reflects on the parable of the Prodigal Son as a meditation on "home" — physical, emotional, and spiritual. Fr Thomas traces the younger son's journey away from his father, his descent into destitution, and his return in repentance, met by the father's unconditional, joyful embrace before he can even finish his rehearsed apology, contrasted with the elder son, who, though physically pre...

The sermon reflects on Luke 5:1–11, the account of Jesus calling Simon Peter after a night of failed fishing. The central focus is Simon's response to Jesus's instruction to cast his nets again: "Nevertheless at Your word, I will let down the net." Fr Thomas builds the message around that single word, "nevertheless," as a posture of trust that persists despite exhaustion, disappointment, or a sens...

This Coptic New Year, Fr David challenges us to consider that we are known not only by others but by God, explaining that worldly appearances do not define our true spiritual identity.

This sermon, titled "Hearts Blameless in Holiness," reflects on 1 Thessalonians 3:11–13, where Paul prays that the church would abound in love so that God may establish their hearts blameless in holiness as they anticipate Christ's second coming. Fr Pishoy examines what it means to have a heart "after God's own heart," using David and Abraham as examples showing that holiness requires obedience, t...

The sermon, titled "Going Through the Motions," is a call to spiritual renewal rather than routine religious observance. Fr Thomas opens with the idea that Christians often "grow older" in faith without truly "growing up," treating prayer, fasting, and church attendance as habitual tasks rather than transformative acts. He connects this to the Gospel passage where the Pharisees question Jesus abou...

This sermon, delivered on the Feast of the Assumption of the Body of the Virgin Mary, is titled "The Practice of the Presence of God." Fr Pishoy draws on Saint Mary's readiness to receive the Archangel Gabriel, the Transfiguration of Christ, and Moses's encounter with God on Mount Sinai to show that being aware of and dwelling in God's presence is central to the spiritual life. He notes that busyn...

The sermon reflects on the Gospel passage where the disciples ask who is greatest in the kingdom of heaven, and Christ responds by placing a child before them as the model of true discipleship. Rather than greatness coming from personal ambition, Fr Thomas explains, Christ points to the virtues found naturally in children: dependence, simplicity, obedience, trust, and the willingness to love witho...

This sermon, delivered on the first Sunday of Great Lent, introduces a new six-week series called "Finding Hope," exploring how Christians can remain anchored in hope amid uncertainty, pressure, temptation, shame, and darkness. Fr Thomas explains that Lent is not a season of gloom but one of joy, purification, healing, and renewal — a time to return to loving God fully and loving one's neighbor. D...

Amazon Prime, Uber eats, changing lanes while driving. We are all programed to choose fast and quick. How can we slow down?

The sermon, titled "God Loves a Cheerful Giver," reflects on the feeding of the multitude, focusing on the boy who gave his five loaves and two fish to Jesus. Fr Pishoy draws out the idea that the child gave willingly and joyfully, and Christ multiplied that small gift. The homily connects this to the poor widow's two coins, emphasizing that true giving is measured not by quantity but by the heart...

This sermon, part of an Advent series called "Songs of Hope," focuses on this week's theme: the "Song of Synergy" — the idea of working together with God. Fr Thomas recalls last week's message on Zacharias and Elizabeth, whose impossible conception showed that transformation comes through silence and pondering God's work. He then turns to Saint Mary, drawing on Saints Augustine, Athanasius, and Or...

This sermon, titled "The Lamp of the Body Is the Eye," reflects on Christ's teaching that a good eye fills the body with light while a bad eye brings darkness. Fr Pishoy connects this to Christ healing the man born blind, and to Ephesians 1, where Paul prays for "the eyes of the heart" to be enlightened. He notes that people hear the same Gospel yet respond differently — some are transformed, whil...