Los Angeles Coptic Orthodox Women's Ministry

03/25/2019

Thank you to all those who came to the last Women's Day and special thanks to our speakers! It's always wonderful to gather together.

08/31/2018

Thank you to all who attended this event! It was a lovely day, and we hope you all enjoyed it. And a special thank you to our wonderful speakers!

12/09/2017

Today on the 29th day of the blessed month of Hatour, we commemorate the departure of St. Catherine of Alexandria. May the blessing of her prayers be with us all!

"She diligently studied philosophy, poetry, mathematics, astronomy and medicine. She realized from all her studies the falsehood of the pagan worship and its corruption. The divine grace moved her heart to search for the truth." [Coptic Synaxarium]

10/22/2017

Today on the 11th day of the blessed month of Paope, we commemorate the departure of St. Pelagia, the Penitent. May the blessing of her prayers be with us all!
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A condensed version of her story from the Coptic synaxarium:

On this day, St. Pelagia, departed. This righteous woman was born in the city of Antioch to pagan parents. Besides a corrupt faith, she had a corrupt manner of life also.

She met a holy bishop, whose name was Paul, who preached to her. She believed in the Lord Christ through him, and confessed to him everything she had done. He encouraged her and taught her not to despair but to repent with a true determination. Then he baptized her in the Name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit and she was illuminated by the grace of baptism. She led a penitent life with a firm heart and a pure determination. She exhausted her body with strenuous worship.

She dressed herself in the garb of men and went to Jerusalem where she worshiped in its sanctuaries. She met Abba Alexandros, Patriarch of Jerusalem, who sent her to one of the convents nearby Jerusalem. She dwelt there for 40 years and departed in peace.

Her prayers be with us and Glory be to our God, forever. Amen.

10/17/2017

Today, on the 6th day of the blessed month Paope, we commemorate the departure of the Righteous Hannah, the mother of Samuel the Prophet. May the blessing of her prayers be with us all!

Then she conceived and brought forth a son, and she called him Samuel, which is interpreted as "being asked for", because she said, "I have asked him of the Lord."
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On this day, the righteous Hannah, the prophetess, and mother of Samuel the Prophet, departed. This just woman was of the tribe of Levi. Elkanah, the son of Jeroham, married her. He also had another wife whose name was Peninnah.

Hannah had no children because she was barren. Peninnah was always reviling her because she had no children. Hannah wept and did not eat. Elkanah, her husband, comforted her saying, "Why do you weep? Why do you not eat? And why is your heart grieved? Am I not better to you than ten sons?" (1 Samuel 1: 8)

She did not accept his comfort and went up to the house of the Lord during the days of Eli the priest. She prayed and wept before the Lord. Then she made a vow, and said, "O Lord of hosts if you will give Your maid-servant a male child, then I will give him to the Lord all the days of his life." (1 Samuel 1: 11) Eli the priest was watching her as she stood silently, for she was praying in her heart. Eli thought that she was drunk and he rebuked her but she told him, "No, my lord, I am a woman of sorrowful spirit I have drunk neither wine nor intoxicating drink, but have poured out my spirit before the Lord." He answered her saying, "Go in peace and the God of Israel grant your petition." (I Samuel 1:17) She believed his word, and went home.

Then she conceived and brought forth a son, and she called him Samuel, which is interpreted as "being asked for", because she said, "I have asked him of the Lord." When she weaned him, she took him to the house of the Lord, as she had vowed. She brought the child to Eli the priest, and she said, " ... I am the woman who stood by you here praying to the Lord. For this child I prayed, and the Lord has granted me my petition which I asked of Him. Therefore I also have lent him to the Lord; as long as he lives he shall be lent to the Lord." (I Samuel 1:26-28) Then she praised God in that well-known praise attributed to her. She lived after this a life well-pleasing to God, and departed in peace.
[from Coptic Synaxarium]

10/11/2017

Today, on the first day of the blessed month Paope, we commemorate the martyrdom of St. Anastasia. May her blessing of her prayers be with us all!

St. Anastasia to the soldiers of Emperor Decius: "O you hard-hearted men is that what you do to those whom God created in His own form and image and for whom He gave Himself up?"
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On this day, St. Anastasia was martyred. This fighter was a native of Rome, and the daughter of Christian parents. They raised her well and taught her the Christian manners. When she grew up, her parents wanted her to get married, but she did not agree with them for she had forsaken the vanities of the world and its lusts.

She instead chose to lead a spiritual life and longed for the heavenly glories since her young age. She entered one of the convents of the virgins in Rome and put on the monastic garb. She subdued her body with devoutness and asceticism. She did not eat except once every two days. During the holy Lent she ate only on Saturdays and Sundays after the prayer of the sixth hour of the day. Her food during all the days of her monastic life was dry bread and salt.

It came to pass that some of the convents of virgins, nearby the convent where this saint was staying, were celebrating a feast. The abbess took St. Anastasia, with some of the virgins, and went to join in celebrating that feast. On their way, St. Anastasia saw the soldiers of Emperor Decius the Infidel torturing some Christians and dragging them. Her heart became inflamed with divine love and she shouted at them saying, "O you hard-hearted men is that what you do to those whom God created in His own form and image and for whom He gave Himself up?" One of the soldiers seized her and brought her to the Governor who asked her saying, "Is it true that you are a Christian, worshipping Him who was crucified?" She confessed the truth and did not deny it. He inflicted her with severe tortures, then he crucified her and lit a fire under her, but it did not harm her. When she did not give up her faith because of these pains, he commanded that her head be cut off. She said a long prayer, then she bowed her head and the swordsman cut off her neck and she received the crown of martyrdom.
[from the Coptic Synxarium]

03/20/2017

Thank you everyone that showed up and spread the word about the last Women's Day-- approximately 150 women around the Diocese attended the event! We're looking forward to the next one, and we hope you are too!

02/18/2017

Join us for our next Women's Day on March 18, 2017 at St. Mary and St. Athanasius Coptic Orthodox Church!
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/womens-day-building-community-tickets-32075135594

02/05/2017

The next Women's Day will be Saturday, March 18th at St. Athanasius! The theme is "Building Community"...stay tuned for more details!

03/28/2016

03/25/2016

Our next Women's Day is tomorrow-- we're excited! If you're still planning to come, make sure to RSVP asap. https://www.eventbrite.com/e/los-angeles-coptic-womens-day-holistic-living-tickets-20532851311

Coptic women, join us again for another women's day! We'll begin with a liturgy, followed by brunch and some great talks from wonderful speakers. Our theme for the day is Holistic Living: A Look into the Physical, Emotional, and Spiritual Aspects of Christian Life. Feel free to email us at CopticWo…