Caption:
On the Lord’s Prayer by Saint Cyril of Alexandria, published by Saint Paul Brotherhood Press, Diocese of Los Angeles (www.lacopts.org). For copies contact: [email protected].
On 10 and 11 July, Saint Athanasius and Saint Cyril Theological Library, which is among the ministries of the Coptic Orthodox Diocese of Los Angeles, held its Third Annual Patristics Conference. His Grace Bishop Serapion, the Reverend Protopresbyter Father George Dragas, and Deacon Severus Mikhail were guest speakers. The event was a tremendous success.
The conference commenced with a youth meeting at St Maurice Coptic Orthodox Church. Earlier that morning, the church had celebrated the feast of St Cyril of Alexandria, which brought about great joy and blessings to those who attended. Deacon Mikhail delivered a lecture on “The Kingdom of God” explaining the concept of Our Lord’s Kingdom throughout the Holy Scriptures. Afterwards, Father Dragas talked on the Christocentric approach to the anthropic principle focusing on the relationship between Christ, the universe, and man.
Early the following morning, His Grace Bishop Serapion and several Diocese priests celebrated the Divine Liturgy on the feast of two great martyrs, St Apakir and St John. After a social intermission, Bishop Serapion delivered a spiritual and edifying lecture entitled “The Lord’s Prayer in the Writings of St Cyril of Alexandria.” The lecture discussed each part of the Lord’s
Prayer and how its meaning was highlighted by St Cyril in his Commentary on the Gospel
According to St Luke.
Father George Dragas delivered the two lectures on “The Lord’s Prayer in the Fathers.” They presented wide spiritual insight regarding the Lord’s Prayer in the writings of St Athanasius and St Cyril of Alexandria, the 18th century St Macarius of Corinth (d. 1805).
The conference offered a unique ecumenical component. Several visitors from the Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox Churches, including the Right Revd Alexei Smith, Ecumenical Officer for the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Los Angeles, the Revd Fr Maximus of the Holy Resurrection Monastery in Newberry Springs, California, and many members of the Ecumenical Society of St John Chrysostom attended the conference and interacted with everyone in the spirit of unity fostered by the joint study of Saint Cyril of Alexandria and his writings.
All of the lectures were professionally recorded and will be available soon at www.lacopts.org.
Saint Athanasius and Saint Cyril Theological Library aims to help modern Christians regain “the mind of the Fathers” in their everyday lives through the publication of works about the Church Fathers, holding conferences, and mass circulation of patristic material. Today the Library features over 6,000 volumes focusing on the works of the Church Fathers, theology, Church history, and more.
In 2010 the library hopes to organise another patristics conference targeted specifically towards young people. The event will feature a writing competition to encourage youngsters to study and contribute to the fields of theology and patristics.