Norristown, PA – On Saturday, May 31, 2025, St George Coptic Orthodox Church of Greater Philadelphia played host to the Anchoring Orthodox Men Conference. The day began at 8:30 am with a celebration of the Divine Liturgy, led by the hosting priest, the V. Rev. Fr. Mina Shaheid. Joining Fr. Mina at the altar were the priests of Debre Ganet Kidus Gabriel Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church of Orange, NJ: V. Rev. Fr. Melake Ganet Kesis Tesfa Eyesus, Rev. Fr. Lique Tiguahan Kesis Beide Mariam, and Rev. Fr. Kesis Wolde Yohannes. Also praying with the assembled fathers was the Secretary of the Standing Conference of Oriental Orthodox Churches (SCOOCh), Rev. Archdeacon Gebre Kristos Nicholas Siniari. The event was organized jointly by Debre Ganet Kidus Gabriel’s E.M.E.R.G.E. organization, SCOOCh, and the Coptic Orthodox Diocese of Pennsylvania & Its Affiliated Regions.
After Liturgy and a brief agape breakfast, the fathers and the faithful reassembled to hear the conference’s keynote speaker – Rev. Fr. Shiryl Mathai of St. Thomas Malankara-Syriac Orthodox Church of Baltimore, MD – expound upon the topic of “Becoming a Man in the Image of Christ: Lessons from the Desert Fathers”. After his rousing and impassioned presentation, Fr. Shiryl was joined by his fellow priests for a clergy Q&A panel moderated by Archdeacon Gebre Kristos Nicholas. Joining Fr. Shiryl on the panel were Fr. Mina, Fr. Beide Mariam, Fr. Wolde Yohannes, V. Rev. Chorepiscopos Phillipose of St. Peter’s Syriac Orthodox Cathedral of Philadelphia, PA, and Rev. Fr. Efrem Mebrahtu of St. Gabriel’s Eritrean Orthodox Tewahdo Church of Harlem, NY.
Later in the afternoon, after a delicious luncheon of Egyptian, West Indian, and Ethiopian fare, a panel of distinguished Orthodox professionals was also convened and moderated by Archdeacon Gebre Kristos Nicholas, featuring Rev. Dn. Armen Terjimanian of the Armenian Church, Mr. Matthew Galey, Esq. of the Coptic Church, Mr. Bereketab Tesfazghi of the Eritrean Church, Mr. Norman Sheriff II of the Ethiopian Church, Dr. Mina Soliman of the Coptic Church, and Memhir Amde Brhan Jack of the Ethiopian Church. The panelists represented a wide variety of professional paths, ranging from Assistant State’s Attorney, to high school science teacher, to medical doctor, to owner and manager of a technology firm, to journalist, and beyond.
Both panels presented perspectives on how Orthodox Christian men can best represent Our Lord, God, and Savior Jesus Christ to all around them in their roles as husbands, fathers, sons, brothers, professionals, and above all, as servants. After the conclusion of the panel discussions, the panelists – both clergy and laymen – joined the attendees of the conference in small breakout groups for targeted talks on issues such as fatherhood, courtship and marriage, mental health, and leadership.
The conference was convened under the auspices of His Grace Bishop Karas of the Coptic Orthodox Diocese of Pennsylvania and Its Affiliated Regions and His Eminence Archbishop Petros of the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church Archdiocese of New York and Its Surrounding Regions; the latter of whom recorded an inspirational message which was screened at the event.
Photos of the event can be viewed below.
Video of the Divine Liturgy can be viewed here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wMKgC_MYM_Y
Video of the Conference can be viewed here: https://www.youtube.com/live/EKTKt2oq07I
Donations to Debre Ganet Kidus Gabriel to help the parish pay down their mortgage and to make events like this possible in the future can be made here: https://www.stgabrielseotcnj.com/aom-series-1
The Standing Conference of Oriental Orthodox Churches encourages you to donate generously to this worthy cause.
Save the date of November 1, 2025 for another Oriental Orthodox conference in the E.M.E.R.G.E. series.
Photos courtesy of Mr. Dimity Faltas