St. Mary and the Saints
Faith Q&A › Metropolitan Youssef
160 questions in 52 topics
Topics
St. Mary 26Intercession 15St. Paul 9Angels 8Martyrs/Martyrdom 8Immaculate Conception 7Virginity 7Saints 5St. Joseph the Carpenter 5Departed 4St. Peter 4Commemoration of the Saints 3Constantine 3Relics 3St. Anthony 3St. John the Baptist 3Angel of Sacrifice 2Apparitions 2Archangel Michael 2Archangels 2Assumption of St. Mary 2Holy Family in Egypt 2Mary Magdalene 2St. George 2St. Marina 2St. Philopateer Mercurius 2St. Stephen 2Angels and the Deceased 1Asceticism 1Children of Bethlehem 1Female Saints 1Hermits 1Mar Isaac of Syria 1Monk Cell 1Nuns 1Origen 1St. Augustine 1St. Catherine 1St. Clement of Alexandria 1St. Clement of Rome 1St. Cyril 1St. James 1St. John the Beloved 1St. Mark 1St. Matthias 1St. Mehrael 1St. Moses the Black 1St. Patrick 1St. Pelagia 1St. Philip 1St. Tadros 1St. Veronica 1
All questions in this theme
- Angel of SacrificeWho is the angel of the Sacrifice?
- Angel of SacrificeHave you ever seen the angel of the Sacrifice?
- AngelsWhat is the Orthodox Church perspective on angels (guardian angels)?
- AngelsI was wondering if angels were created before Adam and Eve.
- AngelsDo the angels and demons have the same concept and perception towards the love of God to His creatures before and after the revelation of divine love by Christ to…
- AngelsAre our guardian angels with us all the time?
- AngelsWhat is the difference between the cherubim and the seraphim? I know that the cherubim are full of eyes and the seraphim have six wings. Do they both have many eyes and…
- AngelsWhy were the angels sitting at the tomb? What is the relevance of them sitting as opposed to standing?
- AngelsAt a Bible study with friends recently, we came across some verses in Ephesians 3 verses 8, 9, and 10. This brought about a discussion about the ranks of angels in…
- AngelsDo angels have free will? If yes can some of them still fall? If not when did that stop since they had free will and Lucifer and a 1/3 had fallen in the beginning? I…
- Angels: Angels and the DeceasedAre there any Scripture that specifically mention praying to angels or to people who have died?
- ApparitionsDo we as Coptic Orthodox Christians believe in the apparition of Fatima and do we think that it was really the Virgin Mary? If yes, does that mean that everything that…
- ApparitionsWe often hear about some parents having dreams about their children (future saints) being great people, such as St. Samuel the Confessor's father's dream about him, etc.…
- Archangel MichaelWhen is the Archangel Michael's day throughout the year? Why does the church celebrate Michael Archangel monthly?
- Archangel MichaelWhy do we commemorate Archangel Michael on the 12th of every Coptic month; is it commemorating a particular miracle involving Archangel Michael?
- ArchangelsIn the Doxologies of the Heavenly, we say the Archangels Michael, Gabriel, and Rafael are a type of the Holy Trinity. What does that mean? Aren't angels ranked with…
- ArchangelsWhere can I find information about Archangels Sedakiel, Sarathiel, and Ananiel?
- AsceticismHow can a Christian person living in the world practice asceticism?
- Children of BethlehemDoes the tradition say that the 144,000 are the virgins martyred in Bethlehem?
- Commemoration of the SaintsThe Gospel says that the woman who anointed Jesus’ feet in Matthew 26 will be remembered wherever the Gospel is preached. How come she is not mentioned in the…
- Commemoration of the SaintsWhy in the Divine Liturgy during the Commemoration of the Saints no females are mentioned?
- Commemoration of the SaintsIn the Divine Liturgy, we say: our holy fathers the patriarchs, the prophets, the apostles, the preachers, the evangelists, the martyrs, the confessors, and all the…
- ConstantineWhy does the Coptic Orthodox church consider Constantine the Great a saint mentioning his name in the Synaxarium; when he had helped Arius against Pope Alexander,…
- ConstantineWhy is Emperor Constantine canonized as a Saint (at least in the Eastern Orthodox Church)? The most cursory glance at history would show him very much steeped in paganism…
- ConstantineKing Constantine was believed to have been baptized by an Arian, on his death bed. How could we then verify his sainthood?
- DepartedWhy do we pray for the departed during the Divine Liturgy?
- DepartedIn comparative theology, I read about the difference with the Protestants, especially in the case of prayer for the dead body, because they reject prayer over the dead…
- DepartedPlease explain why we pray for the people that have departed to heaven. Do our prayers make any difference for them? Can God forgive their sins because of our prayers?
- DepartedI thought there is no forgiveness after death and everyone will be judged according to his or her deeds.
- HermitsCould Your Grace please tell us about hermits and the extraordinary things they do such as celebrating Divine Liturgy or Midnight Praises?
- Holy Family in EgyptAre there episodes giving an account of the Holy Family's journey from Israel to Egypt as well as the period of our Lord's life from childhood to the age of thirty?
- Holy Family in EgyptIf the Magi took around 2 years to come to Christ from Iran to Palestine, does that mean that the Holy Family stayed in Bethlehem these 2 years until the angel said to…
- Immaculate ConceptionIf both the immaculate birth of St. Mary and the Assumption of her body are not biblically documented, why does our Church, unlike the Catholic Church, believe in the…
- Immaculate ConceptionWhat are the sources, whether oral or written, that prove the Assumption of the Virgin Mary’s body?
- Immaculate ConceptionIs Your Grace familiar with Duns Scotus' explanation of the Immaculate Conception?
- Immaculate ConceptionIn the matter of the Immaculate Conception, I cannot agree with your statement that by protecting His mother from original sin our Lord belittled His cross. Is not God…
- Immaculate ConceptionIf in the general sense, Christ's death was necessary, this does not rule out that He can apply the merit of that death as He wills. As it is His death, and He is…
- Immaculate ConceptionI'm a Catholic, enquiring as to the official stance of the Oriental Orthodox Church on Mary's sinlessness. I It appears that you believe that the Theotokos was conceived…
- Immaculate ConceptionWe believe in the Immaculate Conception of the Virgin Mary? Does the Coptic Church share this view as well?
- IntercessionSince God is the Ultimate Mercy and He loves me more than any one else, including the saints and angels, why would I need to ask them to intercede for me?
- IntercessionHow are we to communicate with the saints? How do we identify the saint appointed by God to watch over us?
- IntercessionWhy do we commemorate the saints in the Liturgy? How do the saints intercede for us? Isn’t Jesus our only intercessor? Once we are in heaven, will not praising God be our…
- IntercessionIf you ask a saint, for example Saint Mary, to intercede on your behalf, but you say it silently, can she hear you? Or does it have to be out loud for her to hear you?
- IntercessionI don't understand the concept of intercession of the saints. Could Your Grace explain it to me please?
- IntercessionThe Evangelical Lutheran Church's point of view concerning the saints can be summarized in the following points: All those who live in the faith of Christ are saints…
- IntercessionDo the saints in heaven hear our prayers? Do they know our situation on earth; if yes, how; any biblical verse? Do they hear more than one prayer at once?
- IntercessionWhy do we pray to the blessed Mary or other Saints in heaven for help? We can pray to the Holy Spirit but we can't pray to the departed saints. We are not told by the…
- IntercessionDo the departed saints possess attributes of deity? Do we have any single verse in Holy Scripture that teaches us to pray to the saints in heaven? The Holy Bible clearly…
- IntercessionI have a number of points to make concerning the departed saints’ intercessory prayers: Are there any biblical evidences of the apostles praying to the saints and…
- IntercessionI feel that I am ready to get married, but concerned because nobody has ever "asked about me," and I am now 26 years old. I wonder if it is because my parents are not…
- IntercessionAccording to the Holy Book of Romans 8:34, is Christ an intercessor or a judge?
- IntercessionHow do I defend my Church's doctrine concerning the Intersession of Saints before those good, non Orthodox Christian friends, who claim that it is a form of idol worship,…
- IntercessionDo we need to pray to the saints to intercede for us? Can't we talk directly to God?
- IntercessionAs a Coptic Orthodox, I finally understand "prayers and intercessions of the saints." It took me many years of confusion because many fellow Copts would tell me that I…
- Mar Isaac of SyriaA vast majority of the holy fathers of the 20th century, such as His Holiness St. Pope Kyrillos VI, His Holiness Pope Shenouda of Thrice-Blessed Memory, and Father Abd el…
- Martyrs/MartyrdomWhat is the exact definition of a Christian martyr? Should he/she be a believer or not? Should he/she die naturally or by shedding his/her blood in the name of Christ?…
- Martyrs/MartyrdomIs the Christian martyr the one who shed his blood willingly in the name of Christ and because of his/her faith, or unwillingly?
- Martyrs/MartyrdomWith the terrible attacks that happened in Alexandria, and other places alike; why do we classify the 23 who were murdered as martyrs? What's the actual definition of…
- Martyrs/MartyrdomWere the youth that were killed during the bombing at the Alexandrian church, or in any other church during a terrorist attack, automatically considered martyrs? In other…
- Martyrs/MartyrdomAre martyrs automatically canonized like the 21 in Libya?
- Martyrs/MartyrdomIf someone is martyred, does he automatically become a saint?
- Martyrs/MartyrdomIf a person commits a lot of sin and even murder but they die because of their faith and proclaim Jesus's name before dying, do they go to heaven?
- Martyrs/MartyrdomWhat is your opinion on some of the glorifications for martyrs that, as far as I understand, have not been officially recognized by the Holy Synod? With all due respect…
- Mary MagdaleneWas it Mary Magdalene the woman caught committing adultery and brought to Jesus by the Jews to be stoned (John 8: 1-12)? If not, did that woman follow our Lord Jesus…
- Mary MagdaleneWhy was Mary not allowed to touch Jesus after His resurrection?
- Monk CellIs 'monk cell' a Coptic word?
- NunsIf St. Anthony was the first monk; who was the first nun?
- OrigenDoes the Coptic Church consider Origen a saint? Was he ever restored after having been excommunicated?
- RelicsOne of my friends told me that, "the honor we pay to the rotten bones and dust of the Saints, by adoring, kissing, wrapping them up in silk and placing them in golden…
- RelicsHow do we know that the relics of martyrs in our church are real and what do we say when people outside our religion, ask about it?
- RelicsWhat do we say in English for perfuming the relics of saints on their feast?
- SaintsI would like to ask His Grace a question in light of his feature article on terrorism. I quote:
- SaintsWhat is the meaning of the name Tobias and Raphael?
- SaintsI read on the website that no one is in Heaven. Does that include St. Mary and all the other saints?
- SaintsI know in our Orthodox Church, there are several bodies of saints that are still existing until today, which means that they didn't become bones. I also heard in a…
- SaintsWhen is a person recognized as a saint in our Church? Is it after 50 years? What is the Coptic law regarding this?
- Saints: Female SaintsI am wondering if there is any website or books about different female saints? I have been looking for Coptic female saints and could not find any and was wondering if…
- St. AnthonyVery often St. Anthony is, more often than not, addressed as the Founder of Monasticism and the Father of all monks who had learned from the ascetics, living on the…
- St. AnthonyTo whom was Anba Antonios, the father of monasticism, confessing?
- St. AnthonyWhy is St. Anthony making salvation as if it depends solely on works? That is what I read in this quote. Mind you, he is talking to a sect of people who have already…
- St. AugustineIf Saint Augustine is canonized by our church as a saint; why isn't he in our Synaxarium or Antiphonarium?
- St. CatherineWhere is Saint Catherine of Alexandria in the Synaxarium?
- St. Clement of AlexandriaWhere can we find the English version book about St. Clement who was the.disciple of St. Peter the apostle?
- St. Clement of RomeIf the homilies by Clement of Rome are authentic please correct me. I am uncertain how the Church perceives these latter Clementine literature. 1.…
- St. CyrilI watched a movie called Agora. The movie was about the life of Hypatia the philosopher. They said she was killed by the hands of Coptic monks and blamed St. Cyril for…
- St. GeorgeWhen is Saint George's birthday?
- St. GeorgeIs the story of St. George fighting Satan, depicted as a dragon in the picture, a true story? Did he really fight Satan or was that symbolic?
- St. JamesDid you hear about the burial box found? It is claimed to be a burial box for James, son of Joseph, brother of our Lord Jesus Christ. What do you think of it?
- St. John the BaptistWhy did St. John the Baptist have to be the person he was, who came from the desert, as a new kind of prophet that the Jews were not used to seeing?
- St. John the BaptistIf at the time of the baptism of Our Lord Jesus Christ, John the Baptist knew that it was Jesus and that He was the Christ, why did he ask the question that he had asked…
- St. John the Baptist" Assuredly, I say to you, among those born of women there has not risen one greater than John the Baptist; but he who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than…
- St. John the BelovedIs John who wrote one of the New Testament Gospels, the same as 1 John, 2nd and 3rd? Also is he the same one who wrote Revelation? Also is he John the Beloved?
- St. Joseph the CarpenterWhy does not the Coptic Church mention St. Joseph in the Divine Liturgy? St. Joseph was entrusted by the Lord to be the earthly father of our Savior, and took care of the…
- St. Joseph the CarpenterWhy did St. Mary refer to St. Joseph as Jesus' father when she herself knew through the angel's annunciation that he was not? Could you please explain our Lord's answer…
- St. Joseph the CarpenterWhy had St. Matthew and St. Luke mentioned the genealogy of St. Joseph; although St. Joseph had no biological relationship with our Lord Jesus? Could your Grace please…
- St. Joseph the CarpenterSt Mary is the mother of God, but we cannot say Joseph is the father of Jesus Christ, can we?
- St. Joseph the CarpenterWas St. Joseph the Carpenter married and had children prior to his marriage to St. Mary?
- St. MarinaI was reading one of His Holiness' books and H.H. gave an example using St. Marina and how she spent some time in repentance for a sin she did not commit - fathering a…
- St. MarinaI have a question regarding the executioner that beheaded St. Marina. By cutting off his neck, is he not accused of committing suicide, in spite of his accepting the…
- St. MarkWhy is St. Mark the Apostle called the Beholder of God?
- St. MaryHow long did St. Mary live on earth? How old was she when she entered the temple?
- St. MaryWas the pregnancy of the Virgin Mary of the Holy Spirit or was the Lord Jesus Christ "an actual child" similar in nature to us?
- St. MaryWe know that St. Mary died and her spirit went to Paradise. After that the Lord Jesus Christ came and took her body. Where is her body now? Did her spirit return back to…
- St. MaryHow can I prove to someone that St. Mary was truly a virgin before and after the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ?
- St. MaryWas the Holy Mother of God born with the original sin or not? I know the Ethiopian and Eritrean Orthodox churches believe in the purity of Our Holy Mother St. Mary and…
- St. MaryWhat is our Church's view on the story of the apparition in Lourdes (of the Virgin Mary)?
- St. MaryWhen Saint Mary passed away, was her body taken up into heaven along with her soul?
- St. MaryIs St. Mary's body and spirit in Heaven or Paradise?
- St. MaryDid St. Mary have the pain of labor when Jesus was born? I would think yes, because He was fully human, and obviously so was she; but the whole reason that there is pain…
- St. MaryDoes our Church believe St. Mary is sinless or just the perfect person on Earth at that time?
- St. MaryIf the Kingdom of Heaven will be opened on Judgment Day, and all the righteous will be in Paradise, why do we say that St. Mary is on the right hand of the King?
- St. MaryDid St. Mary have more children?
- St. MaryI am an Eritrean Christian Orthodox and I have learned so many times in Sunday Schools and also in churches that our Lady, the Holy Virgin, St. Mary is immaculate with so…
- St. MaryIs it blasphemy to call St. Mary the mother of God? God was never begotten and never made. What is the best title to announce St. Mary? Are we blaspheming God by…
- St. MaryDid St. Mary have any other children after the birth of the Lord Jesus Christ or did she live her whole life as a virgin until she passed away?
- St. MaryI know St. Mary gave birth to the Lord Jesus Christ by the Holy Spirit of God and she is a virgin. After the birth of the Lord, did she have any more children because in…
- St. MaryWhy did the Jews not stone St. Mary to death when she became pregnant? I know the angel appeared to St. Joseph, but the Jews did not know that and she was engaged, but…
- St. MarySince the Jews did not know that the angel came to St. Joseph and St. Mary was only engaged to him, but not married, so when she became pregnant, it would be considered…
- St. MaryI know St. Mary was born with Original Sin, but did she ever commit a sin herself?
- St. MaryHow does original sin related to Saint Mary? If you have sermon about this topic, please send.
- St. MaryMy questions are about 2 verses that seem to contradict each other in the Thursday Theotokia. The verses are: Thursday Theotokia (5) “For He who was born is God, born…
- St. MaryFrom what I have heard from a Coptic friend, St. Mary appeared in Zeitoun, Egypt. When I did research on it, some people where saying that it was just a holographic…
- St. MaryIn Isaiah 7:14, it says: "Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel." However,…
- St. MaryWhy did St. Mary have to be a virgin? Why would it not have been suitable for Jesus to be conceived normally?
- St. MaryMay I know if the Orthodox Church views St. Mary as co-redemptory?
- St. MaryMy Catholic friend once told me that the blood of Christ used to redeem the world is the blood of St. Mary quoting Hebrews 2:14. That is why St. Mary participated in the…
- St. Mary: Assumption of St. MaryIf the Eastern Orthodox do not believe in the Assumption of the body of the Holy Virgin Mary to heaven; how then did we get to believe in this tradition in our Church?
- St. Mary: Assumption of St. MaryI have a question regarding the assumption of the body of St Mary. Is her body separately placed in heaven until the resurrection or has her spirit being united with her…
- St. MatthiasAccording to the Synaxarium, St. Matthias preached in a city of cannibals who plucked his eyes and jailed him before they would eat him. Did St. Matthias get his sight…
- St. MehraelThank you very much for your article about St. Mehrael ( http://www.suscopts.org/mightyarrows/vol3_no2/stmehrael.pdf )! The most interesting for me are these words: "God…
- St. Moses the BlackIs St. Moses the Black named "the Black" because of his skin color or from all of his past sins before knowing God? (or neither of these reasons?)
- St. PatrickIs St. Patrick of Ireland recognized as a saint in the Coptic Orthodox Church or is he only recognized in the Eastern Orthodox Churches?
- St. PaulAlthough St. Paul was available at the time our Lord had chosen the disciples and apostles, why was he not chosen as well? Why did the Lord Jesus Christ call him after He…
- St. PaulI think that St. Paul used scare tactics to convert the Gentiles, threatening them that the Lord Jesus Christ was coming very soon and probably within their lifetime. Do…
- St. PaulI have a question concerning St. Paul's conversion. In the Holy Book of Acts 9:7 it says that the men who journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a voice but seeing…
- St. PaulI heard some people differentiate between the words of St. Paul and the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, what do you think about this?
- St. PaulIn the Holy Book of Acts 27:23-25, I would like to know if Paul was brought before Caesar according to what the angel had said "you must be brought before Caesar"? If…
- St. PaulCould Your Grace elaborate on St. Paul's words in the Holy Book of 1 Cor 11:1 (NKJV) " Imitate me, just as I also [imitate] Christ ."
- St. PaulAccording to the Holy Book of Acts,a few days after his baptism Paul immediately preached in the synagogues that Jesus is the Son of God." Immediately there fell from his…
- St. PaulWhat is the explanation for St. Paul who received all the teachings of Christianity, like Baptism, Communion, Confession, and more, if he did not meet the disciples until…
- St. PaulWhen was St. Paul caught up to the third heaven? Was this at the beginning of his service or after the appearance of the Lord to him?
- St. PelagiaAs I was reading the story of St. Pelagia, I read that she threw herself out of a window because she was afraid of the soldiers that the magistrate sent to arrest her…
- St. Peter"Go tell the Disciples AND Peter." These were our Lord’s words to Mary after his resurrection. Why is Peter’s name mentioned distinctly from the other disciples? Is it…
- St. PeterWhat was the significance of Saint Peter putting his Outer Garment BACK on and jumping into the water? I understand that he took it OFF in the first place to start…
- St. PeterWhat is the correct story behind Our Lord’s repeated question to Peter whether he loved Him?
- St. PeterIf St. Peter believed in our Lord Jesus Christ as being our Savior, why did he deny him three times?
- St. PhilipWas St. Philip the deacon originally one of the disciples?
- St. Philopateer MercuriusWhere are the two swords of St. Philopateer, Abu Seifeen, kept? Where is his armor?
- St. Philopateer MercuriusFrom where did St. Philopateer Abu Sefein get his swords?
- St. StephenThe Holy Book of Acts 7:55 tells us that St. Stephen saw the Lord Jesus Christ stand on the right hand of the glory of God. That he was seeing God and the Lord Jesus…
- St. StephenWas Saint Stephen the first martyr? Where is this mentioned in the Holy Bible?
- St. TadrosWho is Saint Tadros the General (pi-stratilatis)?
- St. VeronicaI hear a lot about a lady by the name of Veronica who was said to have wiped the face of our Lord on His way to Calvary. She is honored with a feast day in the Catholic…
- VirginityThe Holy Book of Deuteronomy 22:13-30 talks about laws of sexual morality and evidence of virginity, could you please comment on their practices?
- VirginityMy fiancé confessed to me that a long time ago he lost his virginity. He regrets it, and has confessed and repented. I know he loves the Lord and I told him I still love…
- VirginityWhat is the Church's stand on a woman who loses her virginity due to other factors other than being with a man, for example, masturbation, medical examinations,…
- VirginityWhat is the Church's stand on a woman who loses her virginity due to other factors other than being with a man, for example, masturbation, medical examinations,…
- VirginityIf I lost my virginity at a young age, after I confess to my confession father, what will he make me do and will I be able to regain it? If so, will I be able to wear the…
- VirginityModern American culture seems to perpetuate this idea that virginity in a man who is above a certain age is something that makes him defective, pathetic, and unmanly.…
- VirginityAm I still a virgin if I had anal sex?
Questions answered by His Eminence Metropolitan Youssef (opens in a new tab) of the Coptic Orthodox Diocese of the Southern United States. Questions and answers © Coptic Orthodox Diocese of the Southern United States. All rights reserved.