NNNN N N N N NNNN NNNN N N + / + / + N N N N N N N N N N / + + + / N NNNNN N N NNNN N NNNNN / + / N N N N N N N N N N / + + / + NNNN N N NNN N N NNNN N N / + + + + + + + + + + + ======================================== / + / + + / / + N N N N N N N N N N N N N/ / + N N N N N N N / / + N N N N N N N N N N N/N N / + N N N N N N N N / N / + N N N N N N N N N /N N N N / + ===============================/========== / + + + / / + + + \ \ ______________________________\_______________\________________________ | | | 'Church News' is a selected translation of the News section in | | the Arabic Church magazine Al-Keraza. | |___________________________ _____________________________| Keraza No.:3-4 I | X Date: February, 2nd, 1996 <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<< -- + -- >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Y | O The "Iskeem" for Some Abbots ---------------------------- H.H. will dress the holy "Iskeem" to three of the Abbots ( Monastery Heads) who spent more than thirty years in Monkism. This is on Wednesday evening January, 31st ( Tuba 22nd ) which is the celebration of St. Anthony, the father of all monks, and the first wore wore the Iskeem in the world, and it is he who delivered it to other monks. So, what is the story of the Iskeem? In the beginning of monkism history, the monks used to wear the Iskeem, and they were called then: Wearers of the Cross. As time passed, the Iskeem became a degree to old monks and ascets in which they have a special tradition of solitude, silence, fasting, and "mitanias". The bishops were chosen from this degree, so their life of solitude us broken against their will. Then, the tradition became just a mere celebration. So, the celebration of wearing the Iskeem was performed the night before the candidate for bishopism is ordained as a bishop without the practical life of the wearing the Iskeem. When HH Pope Shenouda III started his service as a Patriarch, he canceled the tradition of wearing the Iskeem for new bishops as it is a monastic degree not a ministerial degree. HH substituted for that tradition the tradition of ordination eve as the bishops can not practically live the life of solitude and silence related to wearing the Iskeem. As the tradition of wearing the Iskeem should be done by a wearer of the Iskeem, and to avoid the diminishing of that tradition from church, HH decided to dress the Iskeem to some Abbots starting with three of them who spent more than 30 years in monkism. They are HG Anba Sarabamon, St. Bishoy Monastery ( started monkism in Jan., 1960) HG Anba Mitta'ous, Serian Monastery ( started monkism in April, 1964) HG Anba Mina Ava Mina, St. Mina Monastery, ( started monkism in Sept., 1964) ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Our Monastery in France: The Papal decree no 11/25 was issued to form the council of the monastery of St. Mary and archangel Mikhail Monastery with the Abbot of the monastery as a president, Mr. Wadie Aziz Saleh ( Vice president), Mr. Mounir Al Komos Matta Mitias ( Secretary), Dr. Kamal Farrag Ayoub ( Treasurer), Mr. Malak Shenouda ( Member), and Mr. Nagi Fouad Abdel Messih is appointed as accounting auditor. Congratulations to the Copts of France. HG Anba Bola to Australia: HG Anba Bola has traveled to Australia in Jan., 25th in a ministerial mission to search personal matters of the Copts there. HG Anba Kirollos: On Wednesday, Jan., 17th, HG Anba Kirollos, responsible for our Coptic Monastery in Milan, came to Egypt to visit mother church. HH received him. Return of Priests delegated to Immigration Land: The Priests who were delegated to some immigration lands in USA, Canada, Europe have returned back to Egypt. With the Israeli Religion Minister: HH received on Wednesday, Jan., 10th, Mr. Shimon Shetreet, Minister of Religions in Israel. HG Anba Abraham attended the meeting as well as the Israeli ambassador in Cairo. The talk between HH and the minister was about the Monastery of Sultan in Jerusalem. HH received on Tuesday, Jan., 9th, some Copts from Berlin. HH received Mr. Momtaz Mansour, our church council president in Washington and his wife, Mrs. Amal. With a trip from Australia: HH receive on Tuesday, Jan., 16th 90 of our sons in Australia accompanied by Hon. Mr. Phil Honeywood, Hon. Mr. Eddie Micallef, Mrs. Elizabeth Jenson, and Mr. Kumar Ediriweera. Also, Mr. Seif, the president of the union of Egyptians in Australia as well as the police delegate resident and vice were at the meeting. HH lectured about Egypt, civilization, Coptic church, and its characteristics. HH answered their questions. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Father's news: Death of Two Priests: Fr. Mikhail Saad, our father in St. Mary and St. Joseph, Semouha, Alexandria. Fr. Mikhail left our finite world after 49 years of service. He was ordained in May, 7th, 1947. He founded "The Blessing House" of six floors for expatriated students, agers, the sick, and other activities of the church. Fr. Mikhail died in Jan., 25th. HG Anba Biniameen prayed the Funeral. We ask for peace for his soul and consolidation for his family and sons and daughters both in Egypt and in the immigration lands. Fr. Samaan El Sheikh, our father in St. George, Heliopolis, Cairo after several decades in the service. Prayed the funeral, HG Anba Timouthaous, HG Anba Morcos, HG Anba Botros, HG Anba Besenty, and many other priests. We ask our Lord peace for his soul and consolidation for his family and sons and daughters and his son, Fr. Amonious in Toronto, Canada. On Monday, Jan., 8th, Fr. Abanoub Attalah, one of our priests in Melbourne came to Egypt to visit mother church for three weeks. HH received him before he left ( Monday, Jan., 22nd) Also, Fr. Arsanious Aziz, our Father in St. George and St. Joseph in Montreal, arrived to Alexandria on Monday, Jan., 22nd to visit mother church. >From Vienna, Fr. Youhanna El Baramoussi arrived to Egypt on Monday, Jan., 22nd to visit mother church. On the same day, our Father in Philadelphia, Fr. Ropha'il Zaki came to spend 10 days in mother church. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- A Church Named after St. Paula in Ontario, Canada: A new church was bought in Ontario, 100 km away from Kitchener. The church was named after St. Paula. The church also has a small house, parking area of 40 car capacity, and a free land. Fr. Athansious Iskander is currently serving there. The opening ceremony of the church should be on the celebration day of St. Paula ( Amsheer, 2nd). HG Anba Rewais will travel to attend the opening. Then, HG will spend some time ministering in Kitchener, then in Birmingham, and will come back to Cairo in Feb., 19th. Translation of a book of HH to Dutch: The book " Ten Concepts" written by HH was issued in Dutch titled "Tien Begrippen". Mrs. Nawal Ramzy, Saleh Gerguis, and Mrs. Lips translated the book. Correction and revision were done by Dr. Magdi Ramzi, husband of Mrs. Nawal, and Mr. Ter Haar Rommeny. The book was published in Amsterdam. -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- | + | | The 'Church News' is translated + + + Any comment or suggestion | | and maintained by Danial + is welcome at | | the Prophet Fellowship + micho@auc-cs28.eun.eg | | + + + | -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-