Reintroduction Podcast

Join Father Elijah and Mina in this enlightening episode as they delve into the concept of mysticism within Christianity. Our special guest, Father Kyrillos Ibrahim from St. Paul American Coptic Orthodox Church in Irvine, California, shares his profound insights on this often misunderstood topic. What to Expect: Defining Mysticism: Understand the true meaning of Christian mysticism and how it differs from the mysticism seen in other religions. Mysteries vs. Mysticism: Explore the relationship between the Church’s sacraments and the mystical experience. Practical Mysticism: Learn how everyday practices like prayer and fasting contribute to a mystical relationship with God. Book Recommendation: Discover "All That I Have Is Yours" by Father Kyrillos, which offers stories that highlight the transformative power of faith. https://a.co/d/6L2q0NY Clarifying Misconceptions: Clear up common misunderstandings surrounding mysticism and emphasize its role in personal spiritual growth. Father Elijah, Mina Sawires, and Father Kyrillos conclude with a discussion on the importance of integrating mysticism into daily faith practices, encouraging a genuine and transformative relationship with God. Watch and be inspired to deepen your spiritual journey and embrace the mystical life that Christianity offers. Don't forget to like, subscribe, and comment with your thoughts or questions!

In this episode, Andrew Ishak shared his journey in creating "Abouna," the lessons he learned, the challenges faced during filming, and the audience reactions he received. This conversation is packed with insights on integrating cultural perspectives with our rich tradition. Don’t miss out on this inspiring episode!

Uncover the ancient ascetic practice that has been utilized to overcome the human passions as we explore how fasting isn’t just about abstaining from certain foods—it’s a journey to rejuvenate the body, mind, and spirit. Join us as Sandra Mathoslah Sayegh shares her insights on transforming our approach to food and fasting, revealing the secrets to a balanced, nutritious lifestyle that honors both faith and well-being. Whether you’re curious about Orthodox practices or seeking inspiration for a healthier life, this episode is a feast for the soul. Tune in and let Sandra guide you through the nourishing path of fasting!

Join us as we embark on an insightful journey alongside the wonderful Dr. Kathy Tadrous. With a blend of medical insights and real-life experiences, we'll uncover the remarkable influence of the church on building communities that truly matter. Get ready for candid conversations about vulnerability, and the profound impact of authentic connections.

Authenticity lies at the heart of Christianity, for it calls us to embrace our true selves and connect with God on a profound level. In a world often filled with pretense and artificiality, Fr. Joseph Dawoud and Fr. Kyrollos Murad will share their insights, drawing from their spiritual journeys and experiences within the Orthodox Christian faith.

Does spirituality evolve? Or take different appearances over time? Tune in as we discuss how Christians can still live out an ancient faith in the 21st century while overcoming misconceptions about what it means to be a Christian. With our guest Father Antony Paul!

We are so excited to be back! In this episode, we discuss with Fr Elijah, formerly Chris, about his call to priesthood and how that impacts the podcast. We also discuss the plans we have for season 3 and the theme- What it means to be Christian!

Tune in as we debrief the highlights of the season and things that we learned from all the amazing guests who joined us!

We all know a thing or two about contentment. Some of us have felt it in a moment in time, seen it in a grandparent, or heard that it’s more fulfilling than happiness; yet it remains easy to miss. Join us in this episode as we learn more about Godly contentment with our dear friend, Mariam Kaldas!

Do you prefer cats or dogs? Beaches or mountains? We tend to gravitate towards God’s creation because It makes us feel a certain way, but is that the only reason the rest of creation exists? What is its impact on us and what is our responsibility towards restoring it to the paradise it ought to be? Join us this week as we discuss God’s intention behind the co-dependence of humanity and nature on each other, with John Saad!

Have you passed by a homeless person lately that you did not want to help, but still could not look them in the eye? We tend to make decisions on the basis that both, poverty and affluence are relative to us. This makes it easy for us to choose who to help and who to ignore, but is it the best way? Is the answer always “giving?” Is there such a thing as the spirituality of dealing with money when it comes to planning, giving and receiving? How do we deal with having disposable income while the local and international communities still struggle with poverty? What about our own poverty? Tune in as we discuss all these great questions with our awesome guests, Fr Abraham and Dalia Fam!

Is it ever ok to “cancel” someone, and Is there anything good about “cancel” culture? We live in a time where public and private opinion can turn against someone in an instant. Some argue that it is a force for good, while others warn of how it can be rooted in judgment and lack of forgiveness. Where do we draw the line? Join us this week with Fr Nathanael Guirguis Guirguis priest of St. Mark American Coptic Orthodox Church as we discover and walk the line between responsibility, mercy and forgiveness as Jesus taught us!

Why do we fight wars? And how have we spoiled peaceful and harmonious relationships to the point of annihilation throughout history? Is there something in common between our personal conflicts and world crises? Tune in this week as we discuss how God restores human relationships through beautiful humans- in conflicts of all shapes and sizes. Tune in to this episode as we have Aida Samir and Maria Andrawis on to discuss this topic from their vast experiences in war-stricken countries.

Marriage is nearly the most celebrated institution across all cultures. It is loved, feared and joked about all at once. There are those who have unlocked its God-given potential, and others who are left wondering why they did it in the first place. Join us as we learn about why God gave it to us, when is it successful, and how to prepare for it from a professional and a spiritual point of view with Dr Maggie Ateia and Fr Shiryl Mathai!

Many people wonder about the purpose of their time single. Is a time of waiting to meet your life partner? Is it a time for one to focus on personal improvement or possibly draw near to God? Should we refer to it as a season that hopefully will pass? Tune in to this topic with our awesome guest, Deena Guirguis, to see how God intends to be with us in our time single!

Do you feel like sometimes it’s hard to be Christ-like in the workplace? Do you feel like sometimes your job feels detached from your relationship with God? Do you feel like the difficult personalities at work make it near impossible to have peace let alone bring light to the setting? Tune in to this episode as we discuss these challenging questions and continue our theme of what it means to be human. Guest: Peter Meshreky

Why did God give us work and what is it supposed to do for us as humans? Is it supposed to unlock something in our humanity that we wouldn’t reach otherwise? Tune in as we focus on the purpose of work and how should that shape the pursuit of our careers. We are super excited about special guests Fr Daniel Meleka and Maggie Meleka.

“Where are you from?” and “what do you do for a living?” are two of the most common questions at any social function. Are we identified by these questions, or do they limit our understanding of ourselves and others? Join us this week as we discuss how we can discover our identity and how it is meant to integrate with our roles, gifts and responsibilities- with our very own, Heba Estafanous!

From human rights issues to our daily dealings with others, one thing they all have in common is that they deal directly with dignity. What is it? Is it impacted by our subjective experiences? Join us this week as we discuss how God intended for us to reveal the dignity of our brother. With Avram Ibrahim!

When God created man, He gave him a partner and a family and even strangers for a purpose. But how exactly did God intend for that relationship between humans to look like? What happened to that purpose today of human relationships and why should we even bother restoring it?! With guest, Sherry Fam!