Author: David Bebawy

Coptic Clergy Ordination – May 30, 2015 – Fr. Gregory Saroufeem

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

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On May 30, 2015, Bishop David ordained a new priest, Fr. Gregory Saroufeem, for the St. Mary and St. Mark Church of Manhattan. The ceremony took place at St. Vartan’s Armenian Cathedral and was attended by close to 400 parishioners. Formerly known as Nader Saroufeem, a pharmacist from New Jersey who regularly attended Mahattan services, Nader was ordained as Father Gregory. This was a historic event, as this was the first ordination for the Manhattan Church.

Prior to being ordained as a Priest, Father Gregory was first ordained as Deacon Athansius.

The ordination was attended by approximately 20 clergy from New York, New Jersey, New England states and Egypt. Father Gregory explained that he chose the name Gregory after St. Gregory the Armenian, the Illuminator.

Father Gregory is headed to Egypt for his forty day training and will return on July 10th. A reception is planned that afternoon, as he cannot serve the congregation without the reception. The congregation of St. Mary and St. Mark are looking forward to receiving Father Gregory and looking forward to his first mass at the Manhattan church on July 11th.

May God keep for us the life and standing of our beloved Bishop David and our beloved Fr. Gregory Saroufeem. Amen.

Congratulations to Fr. Gregory, his Family, and the congregation of St. Mary & St. Mark Church in Manhattan, NY!

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Synod Hymns Committee on Kiahk Hymns

by David Bebawy, posted in Church News, Coptic, Coptic Hymn, Coptic News, News, Religion
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Happy & Blessed fast of Advent!

As we await the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ this Advent season we are filled with joy as we celebrate the story of our salvation and the mystery of the incarnation. We attend vigils and prayers and the month is filled with hymns and praises about the Messianic prophesies, the virginal birth, and the glorious incarnation. I pray that this fast is a blessed time in which we deepen our relationship with God and prepare Him a place in our hearts to be born anew.

In recent new the Holy Synod has formed a Hymns Committee, led by H.G. Bishop Makari, General Bishop of South Shobra, and includes the involvement of many well-known priests and cantors in the Church for the main goal of unifying the sources of hymns. This committee has already met twice (October 31, 2014 and November 3, 2014) and has chosen the following sources for Advent (Kiahk) Hymns:

The following were mentioned to be present at the meetings:

  • H.G. Bishop Makari, General Bishop of South Shobra (Committee Head)
  • Hegumen Isaiah El-Muharraqi, St. Mary’s Monastery of El-Muharraq
  • Fr. Youannis Halim, Youth Bishopric Hymn Board
  • Fr. Angelos Ishaak, HICS Hymns & Music Department
  • Mr. Michelle Badee Abdel-Malik, Head of HICS, Hymns & Music Department
  • Cantor Ibrahim Ayad, Teacher at Didymus Institute for Chanters and the Clerical School
  • Cantor Gad Lewis, Teacher at Didymus Institute for Chanters and HICS
  • Cantor Todari Anwar, Teacher at Didymus Institute for Chanters
  • Cantor Milad Nadi, Teacher at Didymus Institute for Chanters
  • Cantor Magdy Bekhit, Teacher at Didymus Institute for Chanters
  • Cantor Youssef Ayoub, Association (Rabetat) of Chanters in Cairo
  • Cantor Rida Barsoum, Teacher at HICS Hymns & Music Department and the Clerical School
  • Deacon Beshara Nader Attia, Secretary of Youth Bishopric Hymn Board

Some related audio resources:

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Bishop Ordinations June 16, 2014

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

H.H. Pope Tawadros II officiated the Holy Liturgy in St. Mark’s Cathedral in Al Abbasiya, Cairo, Egypt on June 16, 2014.  During this liturgy H.H. Pope Tawadros II, with our fathers the Metropolitans and Bishops, ordained 7 new bishops and enthroned 1 of the bishops over a diocese.

CTV Coverage of The Bishop Ordinations Liturgy – June 16, 2014

MeSAT Coverage of The Bishop Ordinations Liturgy – June 16, 2014

 

Newly Ordained Bishops:

  1. H.G. Bishop Isaac, formerly Khouri Abiskobos Isaac, as a general bishop.  His Grace is a graduate with a bachelor of science. He joined Al Surian Monastery in 1963 and was ordained a monk in 1964. He was the assistant to H.E. Metropolitan Pachomius.
  2. H.G. Bishop Bemwa, formerly Fr. Arsanious El Abanoubi, as a bishop of the Diocese of Suez. His Grace is a graduate with a bachelor of commerce. He joined the monastery in 1996 and was ordained a monk in 1999.
  3. H.G. Bishop Isaac, formerly Fr. Isaac El Anba Bishoy, as general bishop.  His Grace is a graduate with a bachelor of science. He joined the monastery in 1996 and was ordained a monk in 1999.  He will serve as an assistant bishop to H.E. Metropolitan Abraam of Al Fayuum.
  4. H.G. Bishop Karas, formerly Fr. Karas El Anba Bishoy, as general bishop to serve Cairo.  He joined the monastery in 1994 and was ordained a monk in 1993.
  5. H.G. Bishop Angelos, formerly Fr. Sharobim Al Baramousy, as a general bishop to serve Cairo. His Grace is a graduate with a degree in medicine.  He joined the monastery in 1991 and was ordained a monk in 1995.
  6. H.G. Bishop Markos, formerly Fr. Mark Ava Mina, as a general bishop to serve Cairo. His Grace is a graduate with a bachelor of commerce. He joined the monastery in 1994 and was ordained in 1997.
  7. H.G. Bishop Pavli, formerly Fr. Paul of Sinai, as a general bishop to serve Cairo. His Grace is a graduate with a degree in engineering in 1991. He joined the monastery in 1994 and was ordained in 1997. He is the first monk to enter the Monastery of St. Moses.

May God keep for us the life and standing of our beloved Pope Tawadros II and all of our fathers the metropolitans and bishops. Amen.

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