Learning about Coptic Orthodoxy with Fr. Gabriel Wissa

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In this video, I'm joined by Fr. Gabriel Wissa for a back and forth dialogue about Protestantism and Coptic Orthodox, our stories, and how we can learn from one another. If you're curious about how Coptic Orthodox Christians view other Christians, what the state of Coptic Orthodoxy is in the West, or what it's like to be a Coptic Orthodox priest, this video is for you.
You can find Fr. Gabriel's youtube channel here: ‪@CopticOrthodoxAnswers‬
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Gospel Simplicity began as a KZbin channel in a Moody Bible Institute dorm. It was born out of the central conviction that the gospel is really good news, and I wanted to share that with as many people as possible. The channel has grown and changed over time, but that central conviction has never changed. Today, we make content around biblical and theological topics, often interacting with people from across the Christian tradition with the hope of seeking greater unity and introducing people to the beautiful simplicity and transformative power of the gospel, the good news about Jesus.
About the host:
Austin Suggs holds a BA in Theology from Moody Bible Institute and is currently pursuing an MA in Liberal Arts with a focus in Theology and Philosophy from St. John's College, Annapolis. He has served in the local church in a number of ways, including as a full-time staff member,, teacher, church planter, and more. Today, he resides outside of Baltimore with his wife Eliza.
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[@robertotapia8086]

Catholic here 🙋🏽‍♂️enjoyed listening and learning as well. Your Brother Robert from Puerto Rico 🇵🇷

[@mrjustadude1]

I'm EO and love our OO friends.

[@cassidyanderson3722]

A Coptic family attends my GOARCH parish every Sunday. Great people, very involved. The two children receive the Eucharist. We need to pray for reconciliation.

[@mapa6772]

We splitvin the 4th century for questions so philosophical lost people do not understand them. Just a confusion of brain abstraction, nothing to do with God, really.

[@miastupid7911]

Father Gabriel if you see this, my heart was happy to see and hear you. From a Greek Eastern Orthodox Christian.

[@mwhabs]

Coptic Orthodox answers is his channel 🤓

[@bonniejohnstone]

Beautiful interview. Glory to God! Eastern Orthodox and Coptic Orthodox are doing more and more activities together. While we don’t celebrate the Eucharist together, we have celebrated Vespers (a week ago a Coptic Priest was part of our Pan-Orthodox Vespers during Lent). Coptic Clergy are part of Seminars, The Fellowship of Saint Moses the Black Conference, and retreats (my Priest was keynote speaker at the Midwest Coptic Clergy Conference a few years ago…and loved being there!) In the USA both Churches are growing.

[@johnnychikko3800]

As a Catholic I have not been to exposed to the Coptic position living in the west . I found this priest lovely and this interview very informative. Pax Christi

[@TheOtherNathaniel]

As an evangelical, the first time I went to an EO liturgy it turned out to be the triumph of orthodoxy. I was handed an icon and told to join the procession. For weeks after I was concerned I had just committed idolatry. 4 years later, I’m Orthodox and bring my own icon to the procession.

[@dallasbrat81]

Cool ignore Moses and Job who hide from all images of God but your special I guess

[@dallasbrat81]

Real question can you be Orthodox and pass on icons "venerate" or it's it mandatory

[@TheOtherNathaniel]

@@dallasbrat81 What can be asserted without evidence can also be dismissed without evidence. Source please:)

[@dallasbrat81]

@@TheOtherNathaniel how can a human dam another to hell? Isn’t that the Duty of a creator yet EO do it . Please stop kissing idols and repent and return to following Jesus

[@dallasbrat81]

@@TheOtherNathaniel in your search for enlightenment. Did it ever occur to you to talk with ex Orthodox and hear why they left ? Perhaps make an informed decision? I have and researched suggest you read what they are hiding from you

[@volnadr]

This has to be one of the best interviews you’ve had since Fr Seraphim Aldea. As an orthodox I battle with extremism every single day of my life on all sides.. it’s difficult as I have wrestled with many of these aspects during my return to spiritual life. However I think the best answers on these dilemmas is your own personal experience with God which for me is within orthodoxy (with all my disagreements I might have, dogmatic and otherwise)

[@GospelSimplicity]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@Motomack1042]

Enjoyed listening, and I hope that the dialogue between the Catholic and Coptic Churches resumes soon. It seem Pope Francis and Pope Tawadros II have formed a good and fruitful friendship. I thought the insertion of the 21 Coptic martyrs into the Roman martyrology was an appropriate and beautiful gesture and a sign of the spiritual communion that unites both churches.

[@MeanBeanComedy]

I pray for it every day, and I trust you do, too. How many people do you think pray from Unity daily? Maybe a million? What if it became more? Imagine the possibilities!

[@momdad5368]

I have met a few coptic Christians. They loved their church and were willing to travel to the closest one ( 100 miles away).

[@mr.caleblynn9246]

I would love to see another conversation between you two!

[@MeanBeanComedy]

I'm feeling positive about reuniting the Apostolic Churches. 🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻 Insha'Allah we shall become One Church in our lifetimes. ✝️☦️✝️

[@Dustin_Quick_Holy_Smokes]

Greetings from Canada! Praying for reunion!

[@emptynester9241]

Can’t wait to be able to listen to the entire interview this evening😊

[@patrickghaly1315]

Let’s gooooo!!!

[@robiszabo903]

God grant unity to your church☦️

[@nevinemekhael]

Thanks

[@theappalachianbros.8293]

Some of my first experiences with Orthodoxy was in the Coptic Chrurches in southern CA. Absolutely beautiful. The priests to this day i still consider the most Christlike people i have met in my life so far. Made a huge impact on me. Later found they are not in communion with EO which was odd since in america the Coptic Priest go to Eastern orthodox seminary and as far i could tell share a common life and worship.

[@tylerrossjcl]

One way that I usually describe why a priesthood is needed for the Eucharist is by asking the question "who has the authority to offer Christ to the Father?" The obvious answer is: no one! And yet, Christ can give that permission, that power, that authority, to people if he so chooses. So from there, we'd just have to decide where this authority is given. Is it baptism? Holy Orders? Somewhere else? Really enjoyed the interview! God bless!

[@redeemedzoomer6053]

Something about Oriental Orthodoxy just shows SO much more fruit of the Spirit than Eastern Orthodoxy

[@Josue-pi4ce]

There's a lot more fruit in the real world. Unfortunately, as I'm sure you're well aware, the internet can breed toxicity.

[@MeanBeanComedy]

​@@Josue-pi4ceAgreed. I'm not going to tell you guys (assuming you're EO) what to do, but your Church would be helped *big time* if a Patriarch came out and chided these young men for their online behaviour. I'm aware that he's likely unaware of this activity, but I'd bet if one of your Bigwigs told them to knock it off, they'd straighten up.

[@Josue-pi4ce]

@@MeanBeanComedy haha one could hope. Anonymity is a hell of a drug.

[@MeanBeanComedy]

@@Josue-pi4ce It totally is, but these young guys respect hierarchy. They're the easiest people ever to rein in. Just have a superior tell em to stop! 🤷🏼‍♂️ I say this from experience. Temperamentally, I'm very similar. When someone who I believe exercises some authority over me tells me to stop, I do!

[@Josue-pi4ce]

@@MeanBeanComedy I think part of the problem too is that the online figure heads are also perfectly willing to attack a bishop as long as he isn't theirs, further reinforcing in these young men's minds that it's entirely OK to ignore an authority if they don't like him. I think a lot of these online guys are treating the internet as their parish pastor, instead of actually seeking a real personal interaction with someone who isn't afraid to tell them to cool it.

[@Athanasius313]

I like Orthodoxy but wanted to remain Protestant, so I became Lutheran.

[@Loganva]

Yeah there’s a part of me that really wants to be orthodox or Catholic or something but I’m not there intellectually. I’m convinced of Sola Scriptura and have various problems with the other churches. So I resort to a sort of a Anglo-Catholicism. I think Lutherans should literally just be Anglican. My only problem with the Lutheran church is how sectarian it is.

[@Athanasius313]

@@Loganva I was briefly Anglican (ACNA) before becoming Lutheran (LCMS). I didn’t like the 39 Articles which were too Reformed, and the Lutheran Church had a more firm teaching on Real Presence and Baptismal Regeneration. I found the Lutheran Church to be more “catholic” than historic Anglicanism. Anglo-Catholicism on the other hand has no firm basis in Protestantism, and one is better off just becoming Roman Catholic at the point, in my opinion. As to the charge of sectarianism, confessional Lutherans are very sure of their doctrine so they practice closed communion and don’t engage in ecumenical organizations. But I think that’s okay.

[@Loganva]

@@Athanasius313 You can interpret around the reformed stuff comfortably enough in my view. I agree that the Lutheran teaching is more firm, but that’s the appeal of Anglicanism to me. I’d be very happy going to church with someone with a Roman Catholic, Reformed, or Lutheran view on the Supper. I think we get down to too much needless division in these specifics. I guess I don’t know what you mean by Lutheranism being more historically catholic. You’d have to elaborate on that. There’s many reasons I wouldn’t join Rome. I can’t honestly convince myself of their view on Sola Scriptura and Holy Tradition, the last 3 Marian Dogmas, Iconography, the Papacy, etc. I especially can’t get behind the Anathemas that get thrown about. Yeah that’s unnecessary to me. We should come together whenever we can.

[@JW_______]

​@@LoganvaI find this an interesting discussion, as I've attended both ACNA and LCMS churches (after moving) and am parsing through these questions myself.

[@Loganva]

@@JW_______ same

[@toddvoss52]

Until Austin can tour a Coptic church you can still visit one with Matt Whitman. He visited and did a tour video as well as several conversations with the priest . Here is the tour kzbin.info/www/bejne/sKHFko2Oh7GKnacsi=9lY1gdYloQ8Xni_e

[@toddvoss52]

That was second half of the tour. He has a link in the show notes to the first half

[@JW_______]

I visited some beautiful Coptic churches in Cairo fourteen years ago. I'm an evangelical protestant, but I believe that persecution always makes the church more holy through suffering.

[@EJ_Lion]

Protestant here. Loved the Coptic view. I mostly hear about Eastern or Oriental never Coptic. I loved it when He said “the higher you get in responsibility in the church. The more you wash the feet. “ What a gracious and humble servant. Christ truly dwells in this man. So thank you for the information provided regarding this Church. 🙏🏻

[@elysebuehrer5981]

Protestant as well, I can testify there is something special about the Copts. Many of the clergy I’ve encountered are just genuinely Christlike in a very earnest and humble way.

[@MeanBeanComedy]

Coptic is a subset of Oriental. Oriental includes Coptics, Ethiopians/Eritreans, Armenians, Syriacs, and I _think_ one of the Indian Churches.

[@jaim0368]

Love the question of the priesthood as necessary for the eucharist. Something I'm thinking on... would the sacrifices of the OT have been "legit" without the correct priesthood?

[@richardbenitez1282]

In Egypt the Cootic church is often under seige by the Muslims. Here in California my therapist was a sworn, tattooed defender of the Coptic church in opposition and treats from Muslims. I think my therapist meant he would fight to the death for Coptic church in Egypt.

[@aaronwilliamh9905]

Hi I'm late to the party

[@Athanasius313]

I like Coptic Christians, I just wish they didn’t continue to reject the Council of Chalcedon.

[@RyanOlander]

One can of worms, coming right up!

[@Philosophy.T]

Lol

[@idontknowname-rl8yb]

Pope Leo is antichrist

[@copticconcept]

We reject it, because it undoes Ephesus

[@berekettesfamariam7500]

@@copticconcept indeed since the Council of Chalcedon believe 2 nature and one person of Christ and we do believe one nature and one person in Christ (Perfect God and Perfect Human being) I am from Eritrean tewahedo orthodox ( one of the 6th Oriental orthodox church)