How can we seek first the Kingdom of God?

By CopticBot.ai (Coptic Space Inc.) · Last reviewed 2026-10-10

In the Coptic Orthodox tradition, seeking the Kingdom of God is not passive waiting or a mere intellectual pursuit; it is an active, daily transfiguration of life through the mysteries of the Church, the guidance of the Fathers, and the preservation of the true faith.

To seek first the Kingdom of God, we follow these essential spiritual pillars:

1. Living the Faith of the Councils

Seeking the Kingdom begins with "Right Belief" (Orthodoxy). We adhere strictly to the faith of the three Ecumenical Councils: Nicea (325 AD), Constantinople (381 AD), and Ephesus (431 AD).

• We seek the Kingdom by confessing the Creed in every liturgy and prayer.
• We reject the heretical divisions of Nestorius and the later deviations of the Council of Chalcedon. By maintaining the "One Nature of God the Word Incarnate" (Mia Physis), we remain united to the true, undivided Body of Christ.

2. The Interior Life: "The Kingdom is Within You"

As St. John of Damascus reminds us, "The kingdom of heaven is not in word but in deed." To seek the Kingdom is to cultivate the heart.

• Repentance (Metanoia): As Philoxenus of Mabbug teaches, the call to the Kingdom is a call to "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has drawn nigh." We do not seek the Kingdom through worldly curiosity but through the keeping of the commandments and the "drawing nigh" of our souls to God.
• Detachment: The history of our saints, such as the daughter of the king mentioned in the chronicles, shows that seeking the Kingdom requires stripping away worldly "vain glories." She removed her crown and dressed in the outfit of a servant to follow Christ. We seek the Kingdom by prioritizing eternal joys over "lustful desires" and "passing pleasures."

3. Sacramental Participation

The Kingdom of God is manifested on earth through the Divine Liturgy.

• When we participate in the Eucharist, we are not merely remembering an event; we are entering into the Heavenly Jerusalem.
• We seek the Kingdom by being "heirs and guests" at the Table of the Lord, as described in the ascetic discourses.

4. Carrying the Cross

The Apocryphon of James and the lives of the Egyptian martyrs remind us that "none of those who are afraid of death will be saved." Seeking the Kingdom involves a total commitment—a "martyrdom of conscience" where we put to death our ego and selfish desires. As the Lord said, "Whoever does not carry his cross and follow Me is not worthy of Me."

5. Immersion in the Holy Scriptures

St. John of Damascus encourages us to "knock at the very beautiful paradise of the Scriptures." By reading the Word of God with the mind of the Church (the Alexandrian allegorical interpretation), our minds are lifted "onto the back of the sacred dove" and brought to the "Father of lights."

6. The Role of Liturgical Prayer and Hymnology

We seek the Kingdom through the preservation of our oral and liturgical tradition. The hymns of the Church are the "theology of the people." To pray the hymns correctly is to pray the faith of Athanasius and Cyril.

To learn this path through the sacred chants of the Church, we look to the masters of our tradition who have preserved the authentic Coptic melody and rite, such as:

• Moalem Ibrahim Ayad
• Moalem Gad Lewis
• Moalem Zaher Andrawes
• Moalem George Mikhail (who famously pioneered the Hymns School concept to ensure youth follow the St. Didymus curricula)
• Moalem Mina Makar
• Moalem Milad Nady

Seeking the Kingdom of God is a life of faith (adhering to the three Councils), action (keeping the commandments), and worship (the liturgical life of the Church). It is a journey from being a "seeker" to becoming an "heir."