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About St. Moses & St. Katherine Coptic Orthodox Church Established in 2011, the Church of St. Moses & St. Katherine is a ministry dedicated to the glorification of the Holy Trinity: God the Father, His only begotten Son Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit the Comforter. This community was founded on three deep-seated values that we embrace every single day —culturally, spiritually, emotionally, rationally. They are: 1. A faithful community to the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ, hungry for spiritual growth and desiring to be a healing presence in the neighbourhood. 2. A worshipping community which offers praise, glory, honour, and reverence to God in all things, as is due to Him. 3. A multicultural community ministering to diverse members of the body of Christ holding a myriad of ethnicities, languages, and lived experiences. Missionary in nature, our mission is to spread the Good News throughout Downtown Toronto. We do this by nurturing SMSK into a home for the 'unchurched' and by channeling the love of God in service to our neighbours through humanitarian work. Our Patron Saints St. Moses the Strong 332 - 407 AD, Commemorated on July 1st Born in 332 AD, St. Moses the Strong was a slave of a government official in Egypt who dismissed him for theft and suspected murder. He became the leader of a gang of bandits who roamed the Nile Valley spreading terror and violence. He was a large, imposing figure. Attempting to hide from local authorities, he took shelter with some monks in a monastery in the desert of Scete, near Alexandria. After witnessing their godliness, especially that of St. Isidore who would become his spiritual guide, and experiencing the forgiveness of the Lord Jesus, St. Moses embraced the Living God and soon after gave up his old way of life to join this monastic community. His baptism marked the beginning of a struggle against his former fleshly passions and he had a rather difficult time adjusting to regular monastic discipline. Attacked by a group of robbers in his desert cell, Moses fought back, overpowered the intruders, and dragged them to the chapel where the other monks were at prayer. He told the brothers that he didn't think it Christian to hurt the robbers and asked what he should do with them. The overwhelmed robbers repented, were converted, and themselves joined the community. Read St. Katherine of Alexandria 287 - 305 AD, Commemorated on November 25th St. Katherine was the daughter of Constus, the governor of Alexandrian Egypt during the reign of Emperor Maximian. Living in the capital and possessing a rare beauty and intellect, Katherine received an excellent education, studying the works of the greatest philosophers and teachers of antiquity. Young men from across the empire sought her hand, but she was not interested in any of them, vowing she would only enter into marriage with someone who surpassed her in nobility, wealth, and wisdom. Katherine’s mother, who was secretly a Christian, sent her daughter to her own spiritual Father, a saintly monk living in a cave outside the city. After listening to Katherine, the monk said that he knew of a suitor who surpassed her in everything. “His countenance is more radiant than the shining of the sun, and all of creation is governed by His wisdom. His riches are given to all the nations of the world, yet they never diminish. His compassion is unequaled.” This description of Jesus Christ, the Heavenly Bridegroom, produced in Katherine’s soul an ardent desire to see Him. “If you do as I tell you,” said the monk, “you will gaze upon the countenance of this illustrious man.” Read Moses was zealous in all he did, but became discouraged when he concluded he was not perfect enough. Early one morning, St. Isidore, abbot of the community, took Brother Moses to the roof and together they watched the first rays of dawn come over the horizon. Isidore told Moses, "Only slowly do the rays of the sun drive away the night and usher in a new day, and thus, only slowly does one become a perfect contemplative." They could see below them devils on one side, but innumerable angels on the other side. Understanding that the power of God was triumphant over all other powers, St Moses took courage and returned to his cell. Moses proved to be a compassionate elder. When a brother committed a fault and Moses was invited to a meeting to discuss an appropriate penance, Moses refused to attend. When he was again called to the meeting, Moses took a perforated sack of sand that left a trail as he carried it on his shoulder. When he arrived at the meeting place, the others asked why he was carrying the sack. He replied, "My sins run out behind me and I do not see them, but today I am coming to judge the errors of another." On hearing this, the assembled brothers forgave the erring monk. Moses became the spiritual leader of over 70+ hermits in the desert. At about age 75, word came that a group of renegades planned to attack the colony. The brothers wanted to defend themselves, but Moses forbade it. He told them to retreat, rather than take up weapons. He and seven others remained behind and greeted the invaders with open arms, but all eight were martyred by the bandits. We pray to Abba Moses for his intercession. In parting, the monk handed Katherine an icon of the Theotokos with the divine Child Jesus on Her arm and told her to pray with faith to the Queen of Heaven to be granted her heart’s desire. Katherine prayed all night and was permitted to see the Most Holy Virgin, who said to Her Divine Son, “Behold Thy handmaiden Katherine, how fair and virtuous she is.” But the Child turned His face away from her saying, “No, she is ugly and unbelieving. She is a foolish pauper, and I cannot bear to look at her until she forsakes her impiety.” Katherine returned again to the monk deeply saddened, and told him what she had seen in the dream. He lovingly received her, instructed her in the faith of Christ, admonished her to preserve her purity and integrity and to pray unceasingly. She then received holy Baptism from him. Again, Katherine had a vision of the Most Holy Theotokos with Her Child. Now the Lord looked tenderly at her and gave her a beautiful ring, a wondrous token of her betrothal to the Heavenly Bridegroom. About this same time, Emperor Maximian was visiting Alexandria for a pagan festival. Human victims who refused to deny Christ were brought before him and were condemned to death in the fire. Katherine’s love for the Christian martyrs and her fervent desire to ease their sufferings compelled her to speak to the pagan priest and to the emperor. Introducing herself, she confessed her faith in the One True God. Katherine’s beauty captivated the emperor. In order to show the superiority of pagan wisdom, the emperor ordered fifty of the most learned philosophers in the empire to dispute her claims, but the saint got the better of the wise men, so that they came to believe in Christ themselves. St. Katherine made the Sign of the Cross over the martyrs, and they bravely accepted death for Christ, being burned alive by order of the emperor. Maximian then tried to entice Katherine with the promise of riches and fame. Receiving an angry refusal, the emperor gave orders that she be tortured and then thrown in prison. On the following day, Katherine was again ordered before the judgment court where, under the threat of being broken on the wheel, she was urged to renounce the Christian Faith and offer sacrifice to the gods. She steadfastly confessed Christ and approached the wheel, but an angel smashed the instrument of execution, which shattered into pieces. Having witnessed this event, Empress Augusta and Imperial Courtier Porphyrius with 200 soldiers confessed their faith in Christ in front of everyone. Upon her husband’s orders, Empress Augusta and the others were beheaded. Maximian again tried to entice Katherine, proposing marriage to her, but again she refused. St. Katherine firmly confessed her fidelity to the heavenly Bridegroom Christ, and with a prayer to Him, she herself lay her head on the block beneath the executioner's sword. She was martyred at the age of 25. Meet Our Staff Priest and Lead Pastor Fr. John Boutros Fr John Boutros is priest of a young downtown church in Toronto, Canada, St Moses & St Katherine Coptic Orthodox Church. Fr John met the girl of his dreams, Mary, and was married in 2011, and is now daddy to Anastasia, Zoë and Élise. Ordained in July 2012, he was previously a paediatric surgeon. Now, Fr John serves a wide-variety of urban dwellers, students, and young professionals. Fr John is equally passionate for the marginalized, the poor, and those who have no one. Being in a community of disciples of Jesus, steeped in ancient faith and Orthodoxy, rooted in Coptic heritage, we live to incarnate God’s love in a metropolitan setting. News Anchor & Content Curator Sandra Abdel Malek Sandra has been passionately serving with and leading the Aroland Mission team for over a decade. She has as very gentle, loving heart for the disenfranchised, combined with creative flair. Operations Manager Mira Vuletic Mira Vuletic has a passion for serving others; It's her love language. A mom of three and a wife of one, she feels beyond blessed that she landed at SMSK as her home church for over 6 years. She is thrilled to be working in an operations role reporting into the Big Man upstairs. Steward of Community Ministries Hanan Sunbaty Hanan joined SMSK and became an active member on Jan 6, 2014. Her professional experience is in banking, insurance products and marketing. Hanan is a people person, with so much love to give because everyone has the image of God in him; everyone has something special to give. Her joy is in people and with people. When in her own, she enjoys books, financial discussions, biking, politics (knowing only), swimming, water and forests, and hiking. Finance Director Nany Giurguis Nany is blessed to be able to serve SMSK as the Finance Director. A certified accountant by trade, she brings a wealth of experience and expertise and manages all the day to day finances of the church. Reach out to her at finances@smsk.ca Custodian Christian Peralta A Short History on the Coptic Orthodox Church The word “Copt” is derived from the Greek word “Aegyptus”, meaning "Egypt." The Copts are the direct descendants of the ancient Egyptians. St. Mark, a disciple of African origin and the writer of the earliest Gospel, came to Egypt preaching salvation in the dawn of the Christian faith. He arrived in Alexandria around the year 48 A.D. and was martyred in 68 A.D. In that short period. St. Mark was able to witness to the faith and founded the Church in Egypt. Since that time, Christianity spread like fire throughout the country. The main reason for this was the fact that the Egyptians have always been a religiously minded people, having certain tenets and beliefs, which later were identified with the teachings of the Christian religion. Throughout history, the Coptic Church played quite a significant role in shaping and defining Christian doctrines. The contribution of the Coptic Church to world Christianity can be briefly summarized in the following five epochs: Theological Scholarship; Ecumenism; Martyrdom; Monasticism; and Missions. The Orthodox Creed We believe in one God; God the Father the Pantocrator, Who created heaven and earth, and all things seen and unseen. We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the Only-Begotten Son of God, begotten of the Father before all ages. Light of Light; True God of True God, begotten, not created; of One Essence with the Father, by whom all things were made; who for us, men, and for our salvation, came down from heaven, and was incarnate of the Holy Spirit and of the Virgin Mary, and became Man. And He was crucified for us under Pontius Pilate; suffered, and was buried. And the third day He rose from the dead, according to the Scriptures. He ascended into the heavens; He sits at the right hand of His Father; and He is coming again in His glory to judge the living and the dead; Whose Kingdom shall have no end. Yes, we believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the Giver of Life; who proceeds from the Father; who, with the Father and the Son, is worshipped and glorified; who spoke by the prophets And in one, holy, catholic, and apostolic church, we confess one baptism for the remission of sins. We look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the coming age. Amen.

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Young Adults @ SMSK A ministry of love, integration, and outreach. Welcome to the Young Adults Ministry at SMSK! Beginning your career in the big city can be slightly intimidating, especially when you're still learning how to adult. At SMSK, we're here to help you get plugged into community, truly feel at home, and make SMSK your home. Life Groups at SMSK You're not meant to do life alone. Life groups at SMSK ensure that you're surrounded with community as you traverse the peaks and valleys of this beautiful life. We meet Tuesday nights at SMSK. For more information on how you can join a life group, please reach out to Dena Marcos at smallgroups@smsk.ca Thursday Night Dinners Can't get enough of deep, Christ-centered discussions? Join us on Thursday nights, where we gather together for a meal, receive a spiritual word from a speaker, followed by dynamic small-group discussions. For more information, please contact Ebram Ayad & Sandra Abdelmalek at ebramayad@smsk.ca Campfire Nights It's a Monday evening in the summer, and the weather is perfect for a social gathering. If only there were a place you could go for a cozy evening bonfire...Look no further than "Campfire Nights" by OCSA. Join us for a spiritual word, snacks, and fellowship. For more information, please contact students@smsk.ca

PRE-SCHOOL An environment designed with children ages six weeks–Pre-K in mind. Welcome to SMSK kids where kids can learn about Christ and incorporate Him on the playground at school and their everyday life. Join us for Sundayschool after liturgy during Fr. John’s sermon. Parents can grab a cup of coffee before heading back to pick up their kids as they wrap up a cool craft to take home! We’re so happy you can join us to illuminate the light in their inner candle so that your kids may bring glory to His name! We love you and can’t wait to have you join our family. TEACHING ABOUT GOD IN A FUN AND ENGAGING WAY. Your preschooler can plan on lots of singing, dancing, and learning every week. WATCH ONLINE We've designed our content with preschoolers in mind. Catch up on past videos you missed or watch them again! Parenting is an important job! You want to get it right and raise great kids. We want to help! We have a plan to help every child discover God, no matter their age! Your child will learn: God MADE me. God LOVES me. Jesus wants to be my FRIEND forever. This month in Waumba Land, your child is learning . . . Conversation Card Prompts for conversation between yourself and your kiddo! Verse Cling Put this verse up in a place where you and your child see it every day! Here's how to start your journey. Fun Music Video Get ready to clap, dance and spin Raising Grateful Preschooler Teach your child about gratitude Make Obedience Stick Helping your kids obey right away Stay Connected Follow us on instagram For Parents Resources and opportuinites Waumba land is on Youtube Good, Safe FUN! This month in Waumba Land, your child is learning . . . Join Our Team We are looking for great people who want to have FUN Have Questions? We'd love to help Here's how to start your journey. Middle School Student who have faith of their own Elementary School Preparing kids to take on high roads High School Positive influences and good friends

Student Services @ SMSK A ministry of love, integration, and outreach. Welcome to Student Services at St. Moses & St. Katherine Coptic Orthodox Church! Nestled in the heart of downtown Toronto, with an ever-growing student population, SMSK is here to serve you during your studies, and beyond. Orthodox Christian Students' Association (OCSA) The Orthodox Christian Students' Association (OCSA) services activities for students, by students, on or near campus. OCSA services the University of Toronto, Toronto Metropolitan University, OCAD University, and George Brown College. OCSA services include: socials, sandwich runs, Study Hall, on campus liturgies, Bible Study, prayer groups, and Life Groups. For more information, please. contact students@smsk.ca SMSK University/College Ministry In addition to OCSA, SMSK also has its own university and college ministry, which meets on a weekly basis. This ministry is ideal for students who live downtown, students who consider SMSK their home church, and anyone else who would like to attend. In addition to weekly meetings, SMSK's university & college ministry also plans regular student socials, overnight trips, retreats, day trips, and much more! For more information, please contact Mark Eskandar, or Mary Arsanious. SHIP (On-Campus Evangelism Ministry) Ever felt an urge to share the gospel with your fellow student? Do you yearn to provide your classmates with the answers to life's burning questions, for which they so desperately search? SHIP might be the right ministry for you. SHIP is SMSK's on-campus evangelism and community building ministry. For more information, please contact ship@smsk.ca

Share life, faith, hope and Jesus at Alpha . Alpha is an 11-week course that creates a space, online or in person, where people are excited to bring their friends for a conversation about life, faith and Jesus. What is Alpha? Alpha is a way to inspire and equip churches to create a space where people from any background can encounter Jesus. The same Alpha content is run all over the world, by Christians of all traditions, and provides a common expression of faith. What does an Alpha Session look like? 1 Connection At each 2-2.5 hour session, there is a time of connection over refreshments and/or drinks, where possible. 2 Content The time of connection is followed by a talk on a subject central to the Christian faith. They explore the big issues of life and faith and unpack the basics of Christian belief, addressing questions like “Who is Jesus?”, “Why and how do I pray?” and “How does God guide us?” 3 Conversation After the talk, participants divide into pre-arranged small groups, in which they remain for the duration of the Alpha course. The groups provide participants with opportunity to discuss the talk in an environment where each person is free to ask or say whatever they wish. What topics does Alpha cover? Is there more to life than this? Who is Jesus? Why did Jesus die? How can I have faith? Why and how do I pray? Why and how do I read the Bible? How does God guide us? Who is the Holy Spirit? What does the Holy Spirit do? How can I be filled with the Holy Spirit? How can I make the most of the rest of my life? How can I resist evil? Why and how should I tell others? Does God heal today? What about the Church? Join Us! Email us at info@smsk.ca

Can't attend in person? No problem. Divine Liturgy Sunday 9am - 11am & Thursday 6am - 8am Vespers & Midnights Praises : Saturday 7pm Seeing Red Series: Sunday 11am Meet with us online through our live stream. WATCH NOW Watch Recent Talks by Fr. John Listen - How to Hear the Voice of the Holy Spirit Fr. John Boutros Join Fr. John @StMosesStKatherine Church as he walks us through how we can avoid missing the point by looking at the heart. WATCH Jesus, King of Our Hearts Peter Fanous Sir, we wish to see Jesus! Tune in as Peter Fanous shares with us how he sees Jesus in light of the Pascha readings of Palm Sunday! WATCH Arise, O Sleeper Fr. John Boutros Fr John breaks down how he always prays the Liturgy spiritually, even from when before he was a priest. WATCH

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TIME WITH GOD Establishing a Habit of Connecting with God Do you wish you could hear from God? In our relationships with other people, we grow by being present and listening to each other. The same is true for our relationship with God. God desires a close relationship with each one of us. But we must choose to make time for him and to quiet the world around us to hear from him. We want to help you create a habit of spending consistent time with God. We’ve provided a short video with tips on connecting with God. We’ve also provided a way to access reading plans to get you started. Explore Plans The Bible for Grown-Ups 5-Day Reading Plan Many of us know some Bible stories, but very few of us know the story of the Bible. Do you know how the Bible came to be? Knowing the story of the Bible is as important as knowing what’s in the Bible because if you don’t know it, it’s easy to discount or dismiss the stories in the Bible. In this 5-day reading plan, Andy explores the story of how we got the Bible and how it sheds light and gives us insight into the stories in the Bible. Five Things God Uses to Grow Your Faith 6-Day Reading Plan Your faith in God matters to God. And he’s committed to growing it. Big. Imagine how differently you would respond to difficulties, temptations, and even good things if you knew with certainty that God was in all of it and was planning to leverage it for good. In this reading plan, Andy Stanley builds a biblical case for five things God uses to grow BIG faith. Better 4-Day Reading Plan Whether you are starting a new year, or you just want to make a change, these principles will help you have a better year than the last. Learn how to let go of what is hindering you and allow God to lead you to a better life. When, God? 7-Day Reading Plan Have you ever felt like God was inattentive, uncooperative, or late? In this 7-day reading plan, Andy Stanley shares stories from the New Testament about three different men who felt that God was not responding in their time of need. These stories teach us that we can walk through difficult times and know that God is still with us—he isn’t inattentive, he isn’t uncooperative, and he is never, ever late.

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HIGH SCHOOL An environment designed with 9-12th grade students in mind. AUTHENTIC FRIENDSHIPS. POSITIVE ROLE MODELS. A PLACE WHERE YOU BELONG. The Coptic church spans the world There is probably a local church in your area Welcome to InsideOut, our ministry designed specifically for 9–12th grade students! InsideOut meets weekly at 4:30 p.m. in the Theater. Join us for a live band, practical teaching and guided group discussion. InsideOut small groups are led by adults committed to equipping students to successfully navigate high school and develop a faith of their own. If you need assistance joining a group, please email us. Opportunities to Serve FOOD AND FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE Resources for those experiencing hardship Emotional Support Resources to manage anxiety and stress Recovery Support on the journey to recovery Counseling Referrals Trusted professional counselors Career Assistance Help in the midst of career transition What's Happening in InsideOut FOOD AND FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE Resources for those experiencing hardship Student Impact Serving the church Join the team Volunteers makes Inside out possible Baptism in inside out An opportunity to show what God has done Stay Informed Subscribe to our mailing list High School mile makers Shared experience for parents and students Connect with other parents Join our parent facebook group Explore ways to serve others and find resources for you. October A Grown-Up’s Guide to Kids’ Wiring October 7, 2021 – November 7, 2021 A Digital Event with Kathleen Edelman Join us as we sit down with author and temperament coach Kathleen Edelman. November Become a Volunteer October 22, 2021 – November 12, 2021 St Moses & St Katherine Church Learn more about our top three current volunteer roles. Become a Volunteer October 22, 2021 – November 12, 2021 St Moses & St Katherine Church Learn more about our top three current volunteer roles. Stay Connected Throughout the Week Other Environments for Kids and Students Middle School Student who have faith of their own Elementary School Preparing kids to take on high roads High School Positive influences and good friends