A Message From the Reverend Beloved Father Hegumen Louka Sidarous Concerning the Current Events

In the name of our mighty God.

To my beloved brethren, the faithful congregation of the church who love the person of our Redeemer.

I write to you to express the divine love that has been poured in our hearts by the Holy Spirit, Who dwells in us. This love you have revealed towards me with all the true and spirit-filled feelings that I am not deserving of. This love was overwhelming to me as it was beyond my capacity to bear. Therefore, I pray continuously that the Lord reward your love and increase it more and more. This true love is indeed the person of Christ in you and is the bond of the church.

Concerning the events that are affecting our world today, I believe that when a very serious matter such as a pandemic affects the whole world, we ought to pay attention and carefully assess the situation. Most people are eagerly exchanging the news and discussing day and night with no end. However, what is needed is that each one of us comes to himself or herself, examines himself or herself and return to God with a pure heart, as the people of Nineveh did.

Being preoccupied with the news robs a person the ability to concentrate in prayers and in correcting his or her life. Today the world is afflicted with fear and panic. However, the children of God, even though they walk in the valley of the shadow of death, will fear no evil.

Remember that Christ our God has conquered death and broke its sting. Fear is not of the faith. Abide in the faith and in the truth and fear will escape.

Concerning the guidance and the ordinances that are given by the governments and those in authority, it is a must for us to submit to them without trying to circumvent them. Obedience is the true Christian behavior. What the fathers in the church have decided in response to the government we should absolutely obey, as the church teaches us.

I would like to say something to our faithful people who attend church regularly with commitment and diligence. It is natural to be sad and feel a great loss when we miss attending a liturgy, a vesper, a feast, or any other church event. We get sad when we are not able to attend church and are deprived of the presence in church, the comfort it gives and seeing our beloved brethren. However, in these extraneous circumstances, we should think and live as spiritual people.

On many occasions, in the times of harsh persecution, churches were closed for many years.

In the early days of Christianity, there were no churches nor regular meetings, so they prayed in homes and in caves; and, nothing prevented them from praying.

Therefore, I say now: every house of our homes in which the family congregates together is a small church. Devote time to pray together. Beseech the Lord, youngsters, and elders. Sanctify special times for the scriptures and practice Christian love.

The Lord has granted us the sacrifice of His flesh and blood and we partook of it with thanksgiving thousands of times. Let us ask ourselves how much did we enjoy that gift and what amount of fruit did we bring forth because of our unity with Christ? Did it not often turn into a habit? Did fasting not, on many occasions, become mere change of the food?

Let this period that the Lord has allowed be for our benefit to renew the covenants of our repentance and to reexamine our worship. Let it be a chance to be with our children for blessing and to grow the bonds of love within the family.

Christ our God is not limited by time or space. Whenever two or three come together in His name, He will be in their midst. Experience this special grace in prayers at all times.

Our God, the Pantocrator (Almighty), is capable to lift His anger and give His divine peace to every soul and accept the prayers of His children who cry out to Him.

Hegumen Louka Sidarous – 3/20/2020

On the eve of the commemoration of the repose of Hegumen Bishoy Kamel