Coptic Holy Synod Session – May 28, 2015

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On Thursday, May 28, 2015, the Coptic Holy Synod convened with the presence of 115 members of the distinguished metropolitans and bishops, and was presided over by H.H. Pope Tawadros II and H.G. Bishop Rafeal, the Secretary of the Holy Synod.

Holy Synod Decrees – May 28, 2015

  1. Recognizing The Monastery of the Virgin Mary & Archangel Michael for nuns in Dairut.
  2. An official letter to His Holiness requesting the approval for each novice to take the monastic vow must be submitted by the Abbot of the monastery.
  3. A “Monastery Center” is an administrative and lodging center for monks and nuns, with certain health or social conditions. The center should not get involved in any ecclesiastic services or pastoral care except the divine liturgy.
  4. Establishing a center for a monastery requires approval and written permission from His Holiness the Pope and/or the Bishop of the Diocese as to where the center will be established. Abbotts are to rectify situations that contradict this decision.
  5. Churches are obligated to follow the usual rituals of the Resurrection Re-enacting without the use of any special effects of sound, light, 3D, special theatrical effects or fog, etc.
  6. Lately there has been spreading of writings attributed directly or indirectly to His Holiness Pope Cyril VI, who was canonized by our church during the Holy Synod’s assembly in June 2013. In these books, the writer uses phrases like:  “I partook of the Holy Sacrament before the creation of the world;” and “not by repentance or by good deeds we reach the Kingdom” also “Keeping the commandments does not lead to salvation;” and “Call on Lord Jesus and do not call St. Mary;” as well as “We will not be rewarded for good deeds and will not be punished for evil deeds.” These statements and what they represent can never be said, explained or endorsed by the departed Saint and Pope.  It is for this we caution against such writings and enforce banning its distribution in the libraries of our churches and monasteries.

Recommendations of the Holy Synod Committees, May 2015

Committee of Public Relations:

  1. Establishing branches for “Bayt Al A’ela Al Misriya” (Home of the Egyptian Family) in each diocese.
  2. Encouraging the establishment of a financial support fund for Crisis management.
  3. Establishing a Committee for Public Relations in each diocese.

Committee of Family Affairs:

  1. Encourage couples considering marriage to attend a course in family counseling before marriage.

Committee of Pastoral Care and Service:

  1. Review the regulations of chanters and celibate consecration for a vote next November.

Committee of Media and Information:

  1. His Eminence Metropolitan Bishoy is selected as the secretary of the Satellite Channels Committee.
  2. Establishing a subcommittee for printed and electronic Media. His Grace Bishop Thomas is selected as its secretary.

Committee of Faith, Education and Legislation:

  1. To collaborate with the committee of the Churches Abroad to produce specialized and extensively researched publications to address and answer current questions among our youth in Egypt and abroad.

Committee of the Churches Abroad:

  1. To highlight the identity of the Coptic Orthodox Church in all publications, documents, releases and television programs and focus on the attribute “Coptic”, emphasizing its title of “Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria”

Other Recommendations:

  1. To elect the Holy Synod Secretariat Committee during the Holy Synod session convening in May 2016. It has been decided that the Holy Synod of the Coptic Church convenes once every year before the Feast of Pentecost and the seminar for the bishops takes place once a year before the Nativity fast.

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Bishop Ordinations May 23, 2015

H.H. Pope Tawadros II will officiate the Holy Liturgy at St. Mark’s Cathedral in Al Abbasiya, Cairo, Egypt on May 23, 2015.  During this liturgy H.H. Pope Tawadros II, with our fathers the Metropolitans and Bishops, will enthrone and ordain some new bishops. More information to follow.

CTV Coverage of The Bishop Ordinations Vespers – May 23, 2015

MESat Coverage of The Bishop Ordinations Liturgy – May 24, 2015

Newly Enthroned Bishops:

  1. H.G. Bishop Youannes enthroned on the Diocese of Assiut, Egypt and its vicinity.
  2. H.G. Bishop Louka enthroned on the Diocese of the South of France and Geneva, Switzerland and its vicinity.

Newly Ordained Bishops:

  1. H.G. Bishop Boktor (Victor), formerly Hegomen Monk Bishoy Al-Muharaqy, as a General Bishop to serve in the Diocese of Al Wadi Al Gadeed.
  2. H.G. Bishop Youakim (Joakim), formerly Hegomen Monk Bakhoum Al-Bakhoumy, as a General Bishop to serve in the Diocese of Esna and Armant.
  3. H.G. Bishop Ilarion, formerly Hegomen Monk Ilarion Ava Mina, as a General Bishop to serve in the Diocese of Ezbet El Haganna, Almaza and Nasr City.
  4. H.G. Bishop Iklemandos, formerly Hegomen Monk Iklemandos Ava Mina, as a General Bishop to serve in the Diocese of Eastern Canada.
  5. H.G. Bishop Mark, formerly Hegomen Monk Apollo Anba Bishoy, as a General Bishop to serve in the Diocese of Paris, France.
  6. H.G. Bishop Hermina, formerly Hegomen Monk Hermina Al-Baramosy, as a General Bishop to serve in the Diocese of Ain Shams and El Matareya.

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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2015 Coptic Lands of Immigration Seminar

H.H. Pope Tawadros II presided over the first ever, 2015 Coptic Lands of Immigration Conference from May 20, 2015 – May 23, 2015.  Delegations from each diocese outside of Egypt were in attendance and presented on a variety topics concerning the future of the Coptic Orthodox Church outside of Egypt.  The delegations were composed of the supervising Bishop of the area, an elder priest, a young priest, an elder servant, and 2 youths.  We continue to pray for the success of this conference and for the growth of the Church.  I hope to have / share more information with you all about the results of the conference.

Sessions [http://www.landofimmigration.org/content/sessions]

# Region Assigned Topic(s)
1 Canada
(Bishop Mina)
The challenges of service in the Land of immigration:

  1. Feasts’ dates issue
  2. General Medical Committee – To advise and help with cases sent from the Mother Church for treatment
  3. Churches acclimating to the land of immigration
2 Bolivia
(Bishop Youssef)
The service of Evangelism outside the United States
3 Melbourne
(Bishop Suriel)
Theology schools, seminaries, Coptic schools, and Curricula
4 Sydney
(Bishop Daniel)
Churches: Buildings, Boards, Legal issues, Bylaws and needed Policies
5 United Kingdom
(Bishop Angaelos)
Communicating our Message, Mission and Identity
6 St. Shenouda Monastery – Australia
(Bishop Daniel)
Monasteries of the Land of Immigration ‐ Consecration
7 Archdiocese – New Jersey
(Bishop Karas)
Relationship with the Mother Church ‐ connecting the youth and educating them about the Church of Alexandria
8 Los Angeles
(Bishop Serapion)
Relationships with different denominations and the Society of the Land of Immigration
9 New York
(Bishop David)
The service of Evangelism inside the United States
10 Brazil
(Bishop Aghathon)
Priest of the Land of Immigration: Scope of service, essential qualities, factors facilitating and others hindering his service, clothes, etc.

Attendees [http://www.landofimmigration.org/content/attendees]

Selected delegates from the United States, Canada, South America, and Australia are invited to attend. Participants from the 3 continents will be divided into 10 areas as follows:

Regions

  1. Brazil and Bolivia (Bishop Aghathon and Bishop Youssef, respectively)
  2. Melbourne (Bishop Suriel)
  3. Sydney (Bishop Daniel of Sydney and Bishop Daniel of the monastery)
  4. Canada (Bishop Mina)
  5. Los Angeles (Bishop Serapion)
  6. New York (Bishop David)
  7. Virginia (Bishop Michael)
  8. Archdiocese – New Jersey (Bishop Karas)
  9. Archdiocese – Outside New Jersey (Bishop Karas)
  10. Southern United States (Bishop Youssef)
  11. United Kingdom (Bishop Angaelos)

Delegate Demographics

From each area, 5 delegates will be assigned by each bishop as follows:

  1. Elder priest – More than 20 years of service
  2. Recent priest – Less than 20 years of service
  3. Elder representative – Board member or deacon who has been living in the land of immigration for at least 30 years
  4. Youth representative – At most 30 years old and has been living in the land of immigration for at least 15 years
  5. Female representative – A servant who has been living in the land of immigration for at least 15 years

Gallery

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