Day: October 13, 2012

Short List of Papal Candidates

by David Bebawy, posted in Church News, Coptic, Coptic News, News, Personal News, Religion, Video

At a press conference on Saturday (October 13, 2012) afternoon in Wadi El-Natroun, headed by Bishop Pakhomious, our Coptic Orthodox Church announced the short list of 5 candidates in the running to become the next pope to succeed The Late Pope Shenouda III.

Two of the candidates are bishops and three are monks. The candidates are:

  • Heg. Fr. Bakhamious El-Souriani, Monk Priest from El Souryan Monastary
  • H.G. Bishop Tawadros, General Auxiliary Bishop, Serves with H.E. Metropolitan Pakhomious in the Diocese of El Beheira
  • H.G. Bishop Raphael, General Bishop, Serves with H.G. Bishop Moussa in the Downtown Cairo Churches
  • Heg. Fr. Raphael Ava Mina, Monk Priest from St. Mina’s Monastery, Disciple to the Late Pope Cyril the Sixth
  • Heg. Fr. Sarafim El-Souriani, Monk Priest from El Souryan Monastary
Top Left: H.G. Bishop Rafael
Top Right: H.G. Bishop Tawadros
Bottom Left: Fr. Rafael Ava Mina
Bottom Center: Fr. Sarafim El-Souriani
Bottom Right: Fr. Bakhamious El-Souriani
From Left to Right, H.G. Bishop Tawadros, H.G. Bishop Raphael, Fr. Bakhamious El-Souriani, Fr. Sarafim El-Souriani, Fr. Rafael Ava Mina
Short Video

Full Video

The timeline of the upcoming events in the papal election process are as follows:

  • Nov. 19-21 – A three-day fast for the upcoming Papal Election.
  • Nov. 24 – Papal Election, participants include 2,411 Coptic voters across the world.
  • Nov. 26-28 – A three-day fast for the upcoming Altar Lot.
  • Dec. 2 – Liturgical service at the St. Mark’s Cathedral in which the Altar Ballot will take place and the new pope will be chosen.
  • TBD – Enthronement Ceremony for the newly elected Pope

May God appoint for us a Pope, according to His choosing, to shepherd His people in purity and righteousness. Amen.

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