Norristown, Pennsylvania – On Saturday, March 14, 2026, more than two hundred young women from throughout Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, and New Jersey gathered for a seminar and spiritual day exploring the topic of Freedom in Christ. The seminar was convened under the auspices of His Grace Bishop Karas – Bishop of the Coptic Orthodox Diocese of Pennsylvania and member of the Standing Conference of Oriental Orthodox Churches – and hosted by His Grace at St. George Coptic Orthodox Church.
The day began with the celebration of the Divine Liturgy led by the V. Rev. Fr. Mina Shaheid of St. George, who was joined at the altar by Rev. Fr. Kyrillos Eskaros of St. Mina & Pope Kyrillos Coptic Orthodox Church, Rev. Fr. Wolde Yohannes of Debre Ganet Kidus Gabriel Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church, Rev. Archdeacon Boules Bishara of St. George, and Rev. Archdeacon Gebre Kristos Nicholas Siniari, Secretary of the Standing Conference. After Liturgy, the attendees gathered for a Lenten breakfast before moving into the first session of the day.
The talks were led by Tasoni Crystal Siniari of St. Marina Young Women’s Orthodox Christian Ministry, an Eritrean Orthodox Tewahdo Ministry, organized under the auspices of His Grace Bishop Makarios and His Grace Bishop Sinoda of the Eritrean Orthodox Tewahdo Church Diocese of North America. Tasoni’s first talk juxtaposed the Christian concept of freedom in Christ – freedom from slavery, sin, death, and the devil – with the world’s concept of freedom to indulge in behaviors which alienate us from Christ and from salvation. Her second talk focused on the life of St. Marina – for whom her young women’s fellowship in the Eritrean Diocese of North America is named – and how this saintly young woman’s life exemplified true freedom in Christ in a real and practical way which the young women of today can emulate in their daily lives.
After breakout sessions which divided the attendees by age group – middle school, high school, and college-aged youth – the participants reconvened for a panel discussion and open Q&A – which was led by Tasoni Crystal, along with Dr. Reta Mikhail and Dr. Veronica Khalil of Arise and Build Ministries, a ministry of St. George Coptic Orthodox Church of Greater Philadelphia. The three women fielded a variety of questions from the enthusiastic youth, and the discussion ended only when the time for the seminar drew to a close, with all parties still eager for discussion. After the panel discussion ended, the attendees were treated to a Lenten dinner by the servants of St. George, and the youth had the opportunity to have their outstanding questions answered by their servants on a one-to-one basis. At the conclusion of this wonderful day of faith and fellowship, Abouna Mina dismissed the attendees with prayer, as all began preparations for the next day’s Liturgy.
The V. Rev. Fr. Antonious Salib of St. Mary & St. Kyrillos Coptic Orthodox Church and V. Rev. Fr. Melake Ganet Kesis Tesfa Eyesus of Debre Ganet Kidus Gabriel Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church also attended and participated in the conference. Melake Ganet Kesis Tesfa will host a conference on “The Orthodox Courtship Experience: Preparing for Marriage Before and After the Ring” featuring Tasoni Lilyan Andrews as the keynote speaker on July 18, 2026 at his parish in Orange, NJ. Please save the date and watch this space for more information as the date approaches! The Standing Conference of Oriental Orthodox Churches glorifies God for the love, fellowship, and unity with which He has blessed our precious Oriental Orthodox youth.
Photos courtesy of Mr. Dimitry Faltas.