Tag: Church News

West Point Cadets Visit St. George and St. Shenouda Coptic Orthodox Church

by David Bebawy, posted in Church News, Coptic, Coptic News, News, Personal News, Religion
H.G. Bishop David address the West Point Academy cadets
West Point Cadets listen to General Bishop David at St. George and St. Shenouda Coptic Orthodox Church

On Thursday, September 25, 2008 our church, St. George & St. Shenouda Coptic Orthodox Church, welcomed some cadets from West Point Academy as they came to learn about our religion and the ethnic customs of its members.  The cadets enjoyed an Egyptian lunch at Bethany then went to the Church for presentations about the Coptic Church.  H.G. Bishop David, general bishop of the Coptic Orthodox Church, was present, he addressed the cadets, and answered their questions about the church and its members.

Full Story at NJ.com – West Point cadets come to Jersey City for Ramadan – Hudson County

Pre-Servants Graduation 2008

by David Bebawy, posted in Church News, Coptic, News, Personal News

Every year our church celebrates the graduation of it’s Pre-Servants Class on the eve of the Feast of the Coptic New Year.  It was a special surprise this year to have some of the oldies of the class graduate.  David Fam, George Bebawy, and Daniel Bishara (who couldn’t make the ceremony) graduated this year after some 4-5 years in the program.  The program is 2 years long.  There are roughly 10 exams and 2 papers in various topics such as Church History, Rites of the Church, Comparative Theology, The Holy Bible, and Spirituality.  In order to graduate, you need to have 70% attendance and 70% on all your exams. In all fairness its quite difficult to finish in the 2 years.  I myself took the 3 year plan.

Also graduating with the oldies were the regular scholars, Merit Eskandar, Caroline Gadalla, Joanne Malek, Marize Ramzy, Marian Girgis, and Magi Ibrahim. So CONGRATULATIONS to all and welcome to our servants family at St. George & St. Shenouda Coptic Orthodox Church.

The oldies talking together in disbelief...
The oldies laughing at me taking pictures of them like crazy!
From Left to Right: Dr. Labib Labib, Merit Eskandar, David Fam, Fr. Makarius Sawirus, H.G. Bishop Serafim, George Bebawy, Fr. David Bebawy, Caroline Gadalla, Joanne Malek, Boutos Wassef, Marize Ramzy, Marian Girgis, and Magi Ibrahim.
The oldies!
The oldies and I!
A bunch of us congratulating the oldies after the ceremony...

The passing of Fr. Rewis Magar

by David Bebawy, posted in Church News, Coptic, Coptic News, News, Religion
Fr Rewis Magar
The Late Fr. Rewis Magar Priest of St. George's Coptic Church in Astoria, Queens, NY.

Dear Beloved Brethren,

The heavens rejoice in receiving a beloved priest, Fr. Rewis Magar, who served the altar of St. George’s Coptic Church in Astoria, Queens, NY. He reposed in the Lord last night, Monday, September 8, 2008, and has gone to the paradise of joy, the place out of which grief, sorrow, and groaning have fled away.

The family will be taking condolences 5pm-9pm tonight, Tuesday, September 9, 2008, at the church (38-25 31st Street, Astoria, NY 11101).  Tomorrow, September 10, 2008, there will be Vespers and Midnight Praises followed by the Divine Liturgy and Funeral Service on Thursday, September 11, 2008.

We pray that God may repose his soul and grant comfort to his family, children, and to us all.  Amen.