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 translation of the News section in the Arabic | | Church magazine Al-Keraza. It is issued by the Computer | | Departement in the Coptic Orthodox Patriarchate | |___________________________ _____________________________| Keraza No.: 1, 2 I | X Date: Jan 17th, 1997 <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<< -- + -- >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Y | O Read in this issue: =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= - HH Meetings in the Nativity feast. - Miscellaneous News. - Second Patristic Studies Conference..................... Not Translated - Overview of Church History.............................. Not Translated - Ancient Dioceses which disappeared...................... Not Translated - Spiritual Articles of HH and HG Abba Moussa and Heg Mikhail Fahmy =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= H H M E E T I N G S I N T H E N A T I V I T Y F E A S T =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Congratulation letters and delegations for the mass: --------------------------------------------------- HH received a congratulation on the occasion of the Nativity feast from Mr President Hosny Moubarak who sent his senior representative Mr Saeed Zada to attend the mass. HH also received a congratulation from the Prime Minister Mr Kamal El-Ganzoury who sent Mr Nourel-Din Farghal to attend the mass. He also received congratulation letters from: - Mr Ahmed Fathy Sorur head of the Egyptian Parliament. - Prof Dr Mostafa Kamal Helmy head of the Shoura council who delegated Dr Sinout Halim to attend the mass. - Another letter from His eminence the great Imam, Dr Mohamed Sayed Tantawy Cheikh of El-Azhar Mosque. - General Hassan El-Alfy minister of Interior delegated General Magdy Ayoub Director of Cairo Security to attend the mass. - Many other letters were sent from several ministers, leaders, army, governors, parliament and Shoura members, members of Governorates and regional councils. The feast's mass: ---------------- HH headed the celebration mass of Nativity. Participated with HH HG Abba Ruweis, HG Abba Boutros, HG Abba Makarios the Eritrian and HG Abba Joannes. Participated as well 11 priest and monk. The Theological Seminary Chorus and the Institute of Coptic Studies Chorus sang hymns, supervised by Dr Ragheb Moftah and conducted by Mlm. Ibrahim Aiyad. The mass was concluded around 3.00 am. HG Abba Abraham celebrating at Bethlehem: ---------------------------------------- HG Abba Abraham, metropolitan of Jerusalem throne celebrated the Nativity mass at Bethlehem where our Lord Jesus was born. Travel of HG Abba Pishoi and HG Abba Moussa: ------------------------------------------- On Thursday Jan 9th, both HG Abba Pishoi and HG Abba Moussa left for India to attend the Theological Dialogue between our Oriental Orthodox Churches and the Alliance of Reformed Churches. They are hosted by the Indian church and should be back by Jan 16th. Epiphany Mass: ------------- HH celebrates the Epiphany Mass in Alexandria. On Friday, He goes there, the prayers begin on Saturday evening (feast vespers), receives the guests then on Sunday he travels to St Mina Mon. (Mariut) that's why HH asks to be excused for the Sunday Alexandria General Lecture. In St Mina Mon. (Mariut): ------------------------ On Wednesday Jan 8th, HH received HG Abba Demetrius and Fr Raphael, Fr Salib, Fr Kyrollos and the monk Severus who were delegated to take care of the monastery and they reported to HH the monastery status. HH received some monks also on Friday Jan 10th. The 40th day Mass for the late HG Abba Mina Ava-Mina: ---------------------------------------------------- On Monday Jan 20th morning at 8.00 am, in St Mina mon (Mariut), HH will celebrate the mass for the late HG Abba Mina Ava-Mina. With Monasteries abbots: ----------------------- At the monastery HH received their graces: Abba Sarabamon abbot of St Bishoy mon. Abba Matthaus abbot of the Syrian mon. Abba Severus abbot of Virgin Mary (El-Moharak) mon. Abba Isodoros abbot of the Baramos mon. Abba Bassilious abbot of St Samuel mon. Abba Pemoa abbot of St George mon. With bishops: ------------ HH also received bishops at the monastery: HG Abba Tadros bishop of PortSaid, HG Abba Ruweis general bishop, HG Abba Kyrollos bishop of Nage-Hammady, HG Abba Pissada bishop of Akhmim HG Abba Andrews bishop of AbuTig and surroundings, HG Abba Pisenty bishop of Helwan, HG Abba Barsoum bishop of Dairout, HG Abba Antonios bishop of Manfalout, HG Abba Thomas bishop of Kossia, HG Abba Piemen bishop of Nakada & Koos, HG Abba Joannes General Bishop and HH secretary. HH received as well at the Cairo Papal residence: HG Abba Athanasios Metropolitan of Beni-Soueif, HG Abba Philloppos Metropolitan of Dakahlia, HG Abba Aghathon Metropolitan of Ismailia, HG Abba Timotheos the general bishop. With Sheheet sceet monks: ------------------------ On Wednesday Jan 8th, HH received around 300 monk and novice from the monasteries of St Bishoy, the Syrian, Baramous and St George monasteries at Khatatba. He answered many spiritual, biblical and ritual questions. Seven bishops attended who are the 4 monastery abbots and HG Abba Tadros, HG Abba Ruweis and HG Abba Joannes. With HH Patriarch Maximos Hakeem: -------------------------------- On Sunday Jan 12th morning, HH received HH Patriarch Maximos Hakeem Patriarch of the Greek Catholics in Egypt and the Antiochian Throne in Syria and Lebanon. Official Invitation to HH Pope Shenouda to give a lecture in Greece --------------------------------------- To HH the Patriarch of the Throne of Alexandria, Pope Shenouda III Your Holiness, I and my colleagues would like to express the feelings of joy, thanks to God for the spirit of love and co-operation which governs the relations between the "Faculty of theology-Athens" and your Coptic church through the enrollment of many of your children at the faculty. We witness their devotion for the study and their excellent spiritual life. >From this point, and with the dialogue between the churches is going forward, I would like with humility to invite your holiness to officially visit the faculty of Theology where you give a lecture on the university stage. Both the subject of the lecture and the timing are left to your holiness. I present to your holiness along with my colleagues our best wishes for Epiphany and the New year praying for your health and for many coming years. Prof Christus Volgars Dean of the Faculty of Theology Athens University - Greece Trip of HG Abba Pissada: ----------------------- On Monday Jan 13th, HG Abba Pissada left for Canada and USA till Mar 3rd. HH received HG before his trip. HG Abba Joannes: --------------- On Jan 16-17, HG Abba Joannes attends a meeting of the Life & Service Unit of the "Middle East Council of Churches MECC" in Jordan and he returns on Saturday. HH 4th booklet: -------------- HH previously published three booklets about: Transfiguration, Virgin Mary and Hermits. The fourth will be about "Epiphany" and then "Angels". With Dr Boutros Ghali: --------------------- On Monday Jan 6th, HH received Dr Boutros Ghali Ex-UN Secretaire General with Dr Youssef Boutros Ghali the Minister of the Government. Attended the meeting HG Abba Joannes and Mr Adel Raphael. The enthronement of HG Abba Makary, bishop for Sinai: --------------------------------------------------- Both HG Abba Sarabamon and HG Abba Tadros, delegated by HH to enthrone HG. He is seen at the picture (look at picture) with the sermon. Churches abroad: =============== Virgin Mary COC (Ottawa - Canada) council: ----------------------------------------- The Papal decree 3/26 was issued to form a council for the church as follows: After HG Abba Tadros proposal and the congregation advise, it was decided to form a council for Virgin Mary COC (Ottawa - Canada) headed by the priest and the membership of our blessed sons: Dr Boules Raphael, Eng Mofid Matta, Eng Phillip Salib, Dr Mourad Basta, Mr Erian Farag, Eng Farid Kamel. The council should gather headed by Heg Shenouda Doos the priest and choose a secretary and a treasurer and send us a report about the church status. St Mark COC (Winnipeg - Canada): ------------------------------- The Papal decree 4/26 was issued to form a council for the church as follows: After HG Abba Tadros proposal and the congregation advise, it was decided to form a council for Virgin Mary COC (Ottawa - Canada) headed by the priest and the membership of our blessed sons: Dcn Adel Takla, Dcn Samir Asaad, Salwa Louka, Dcn William Fouad, Dcn Magdy Dawoud, Mary Rizkalla. The council should gather headed by Fr Moussa Mattar the priest and choose a secretary and a treasurer and send us a report about the church status. -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- | + | | COPTIC ORTHODOX PATRIARCHATE + + + Translated and maintained | | Computer Departement + Shenouda M Abdou | | cop@idsc.gov.eg + shenouda@bitsmart.com | | + + + | -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-