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.:23-24 I | X Date: June, 21st, 1996 <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<< -- + -- >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Y | O HH Visit to Lebanon ------------------- HH Pope Shenouda III went on Monday evening June 10th to Lebanon accompanied by HG Anba Bishoy and HG Anba Moussa. HH attends the executive committee meeting of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC). Then, HH contributes to the Islamic-Christian meeting about Jerusalem which takes place in Beirut from June 14th to June 16th. Fr. Dr. Riad Jarjour, the secretary of the MECC opens the meeting. The opening ceremony speeches (Friday) are to be lectured by: 1. HH Pope Shenouda III 2. Cardinal Mar NasrAllah Boutros Sagheer, the Patriarch of the Maronite 3. Dr. Mohammed Said Tantawi, the Great Imam Sheikh of Al Azhar 4. Patriarch Michel Sabbah (Catholic) 5. Patriarch Agnatious Haseem IV, Patriarch of Roman Orthodox 6. Catholicos Araam I Keshishian, Armenian Orthodox 7. Sheikh Mohammed Mahdi Shams El Din, Kotb of Shiaa in Lebanon 8. Mofti Sheikh Ahmed Keftaro 9. Representative of Mofti Sheikh Mohamed Rashid Kabbani 10. Sheikh Youssef El Karadawi 11. HG Samir Kofeti, head of Anglican church 12. Mofti Al Aksa Sheikh Akrama Sabry 13. President Sheikh Rafik Al Hariri 14. Dr. Esmat Abdel Meguid, the general secretary of the Arab League 15. Mr. Hamed Al Fayed, the general secretary of the Islamic Conference Organization The following lectures are to take place on Saturday 1. Jerusalem: Islamic and Christian views by HG George Khedr and Dr. Mohammed Selim El Awwa 2. Jerusalem: Historical View by Mr. Hani Mahd 3. The Israeli Emaciation by Mrs. Hanan Ashrawi 4. A Future Vision to Jerusalem by Mr. Faisal Al Hoseni Follows the discussion of the final document in the final meeting and a visit to the village of South Cana on Sunday June 16th. Many of the church leaders and Muslim Sheikhs were invited to attend the conference away from the speeches. The conference is in general a way to express the opinion of the religious people in the issue of Palestine and Jerusalem. From those invited: Patriarch Mar Agnatious Zakka Iwas Patriarch Maximous Hakim Patriarch Roufail Bedawned ( from Iraq) Patriarch Deodoros I Patriarch Youhanna IIXX Kasparian ArchBishop Kerelous Bestres Metropolitan Ilias Owda Fr. Dr. Samuel Habib Metropolitan Ghayes Abdel Malek Sheikh Said Seod Sheikh Mohammed Rashid Kabbani Sheikh Mohammed Hussein, Imam of Aksa Councilor Ahmed Nattour Delegates from Syria, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Morocco, Kuwait, Libya, Sudan, Abou Dabui, Vatican, and the Middle East Council of Churches were also invited. The slogan of the MECC is Muslims and Christians for Jerusalem. The conference promotes the importance of the unity and coordination of the efforts of the Muslims and Christians for Jerusalem, and the role of MECC to support the Arab view regarding the Palestinian issue. Bishopric of Services Reception to honor the two Bishops of Italy As they used to do every year, the Bishopric of Services made a reception to honor the two Bishops of Italy: HG Anba Kirellous and HG Anba Bernaba on Sunday June 2nd. Speeches in the reception were given by HG Anba Bishoy, HG Anba Moussa, HG Anba Serapion, HG Anba Kerillous Bishop of Milan, and HG Anba Bernaba Bishop of Torino. The reception was ended by a speech of HH. After the return of HH from Lebanon, HH will organize the tradition of HG Bishop Kerllous and HG Bishop Bernaba, the two Bishops of Italy, and the delegation which will enable each of them to sit on his Bishopric. On Saturday June 8th, in the church of Anba Shenouda in the Papal headquarters, HH ordinated 14 dedicated girl servants ( 9 for the Bishopric of Youth, and 5 for the Metropolitan of Damietta). Accompanied HH in the prayers, HG Anba Bishoy, HG Anba Sarabamoun, HG Anba Mittaous, HG Anba Moussa, HG Anba Isothorous, HG Anba Youannes, HG Anba Antony, Hg Anba Bernaba, HG Anba Demian. The names of the dedicated servants of the Bishopric of Youth are Phebi, Sarah, Irini, Maria, Aghabi, Lidia, Demiana, Youstina, and Marina. The names of the dedicated servants of the Damitta Metropolitan are Agia, Sarah, Mariam, Ologia, and Heplis. The Return of Bishops to their Bishoprics ----------------------------------------- HG Anba Abraham went Jerusalem to receive HH in Lebanon HG Anba Serapion, HG Anba Karas, and HG Anba Youssef to the USA HG Anba Seraphim, HG Anba Mesail, HG Anba Antony to the UK HG Anba Boulous to Zaire in Africa HG Anba Morcos the Aretrian has traveled to Aretria after HH received him on Wednesday June 5th. Afterwards, HG will return back to his Bishopric in London. When HG last visited Aretria, he was appointed a secretary for its Holy Senate keeping his position as a member in our Holy Senate. HH met, on Tuesday June 4th, with the Higher Commission of Sunday School where HH discussed with them the Preparatory stage curriculum. HH continued the meeting on Sunday June 9th. It is expected that the curriculum will be ready by early September of this year. News of the Bishops ------------------- HH received on Wednesday June 5th HG Anba Domadious, Metropolitan of Giza, and some of the Priests. HH received on the same day some of the monks of the Monastery of St. Mina. HH delegated HG Anba Youannes to inquire about the health HG Anba Mina Ava Mina. On the same day, HH received HG Anba Morcos, HG Anba Athanasious ( both from France), HG Anba Morcos the Aretrian, and HG Anba Boulous, the general Bishop of Preaching. HG Anba Timothaous has traveled to Abnoub ( Assuit) to serve there on Saturday and Sunday June 15th and 16th. He should return by Monday June 17th to receive HH. HG Anba Antony has returned back to his Bishopric ( Ireland, Scotland, and North East England) on Thursday June 13th accompanied by Fr. Demetrious Anba Bishoy, our new priest in Doncester. May God bless their service. The Holy Senate Decisions ------------------------- The Holy Senate has approved what the Committee of Bishopric Affairs had suggested regarding engagement certificates which includes: 1. Standardizing the engagement certificates in all Bishoprics. An example was suggested. 2. It should be stated in the certificate the relation between the fiance/fiancee 3. There should be no marriage prohibition for the fiance/fiancee 4. The names of the fiance/fiancee should be announced in the bulletin board of the church 5. It should be made sure of the truthfulness of the faith of the people joining the Coptic Orthodox church before any sacrament is performed including marriage. The Holy Senate also approved what the Preaching and Service Commission had suggested which include: 1. Organizing a seminar to train priests and servants who care about the service of the prisoner and their families 2. Organizing another seminar regarding some faith issues 3. Suggesting a program for dedicated deacons. It was appointed to HG Anba Bishoy, HG Anba Beniamen, and HG Anba Moussa. The Commission of the Church Relations submitted a paper written by HG Anba Bishoy, about the Assurians, and their demand to join the MECC, and how they commit to the Nastorian faith, and they do not want to change it. The Holy Senate has also approved what the Commission of Traditions has suggested regarding 1. All priests should wear their known clothes whether inside the church service or outside 2. The prayer of (Oushia) should be made in public. 3. The Synexsarian will be printed after revision HH received on Thursday June 6th Mr. Bernard Wilson and Mrs. Madiha Kassem from the BBC in an interview about the Coptic church. HH also received on Wednesday June 5th Fr. Iliah Raouf, Councilor Nagi Is-hak, Councilor Malak Mina, and Mr. Fikry Habib. Our churches in the USA celebrating the Silver Jubilee of HH ------------------------------------------------------------ Before HG Anba Serapion has returned to LA, he discussed with HH the celebration of his Silver Jubilee in the USA. HH has mentioned that he is very busy in the coming few months. Therefore, it was decided that the celebration will take place in the end of November or early December. There will be three celebrations: In the east (New Jersey), in the west (LA), and in the middle (Cleveland). Our churches in Canada celebrating the Silver Jubilee of HH ----------------------------------------------------------- Fr. Rewais Awad, our priest in Mar Girguis and Anba Rewais in Toronto, has arrived to Cairo on Wednesday June 5th. HH received him on Friday June 7th. Fr. Rewais presented a letter from our priests in Canada (20) to celebrate the Silver Jubilee of HH and they asked for his presence. HH has promised to visit them in the end of November or early December. Fr. Mikhail Naguib, and Fr. Bimen Kamel, our priests in St. Mark church in Milan with some of the congregation to celebrate the ordination of HG Anba Kerellous as a Bishop of Milan. HH received them on Saturday June 1st. HH received a letter of recommendation to ordain Deacon Maher Nada as a priest in Sydney, Australia. Fr. Yehnis Al Seriani, priest of Mar Mina church in Fluorine, has arrived to Cairo on Monday May, 27th to visit mother church for one month. -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- | + | | The 'Church News' is translated + + + Any comment or suggestion | | and maintained by Danial + is welcome at | | the Prophet Fellowship + micho@auc-cs28.eun.eg | | + + + | -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-