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It is issued by the Computer | | Departement in the Coptic Orthodox Patriarchate | |___________________________ _____________________________| Keraza No.: 1, 2 I | X Date: Friday Jan 2nd '98 <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<< -- + -- >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Y | O ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Celebrating 2nd Millenium of Christ Birth and His visit to Egypt ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Headed by HH Pope Shenouda, a synodal committee gathered to study what our Coptic church can do to celebrate 2000 years for the birth of Christ and his coming to Egypt with Virgin Mary and St Joseph. The committee is willing to receive any suggestions so that the celebrations would be perfect. The main points that the committee raised were: 1- Producing films about the visit of the Holy Family to Egypt and churches that were built. 2- Main sites: St Serge Old Cairo, Tree of Virgin Mary Matarya, Virgin Mary Church Zeitoun, Virgin Mary El-Moharak mon., Virgin Mary mon. Assuit mountain, Virgin Mary (Gabal El-Teir) monastery and archeological sites in the Delta and Upper Egypt. 3- Drawing a map for the visit of the Holy Family where a spot of light moves 4- Building a Museum about the Holy family where many artists can participate. 5- Publishing many books about the visit of the Holy Family to Egypt in different languages and spreading it to churches abroad to serve as a Guide Book. 6- Publishing on the Internet a series of news about the visit of the Holy Family to Egypt and realted toutistic sites. 7- Preparing the places to be suitable to receive visits and guests along with the preparation of local and international tours and training special tourist guides to have suitable information about the visit of the Holy Family. 8- Agreeing on a logo for the celebrations of the Holy Family and how to use it. 9- Making Cloth, toys bearing the logo of the visit of the Holy Family amd organising church choirs to perform specially for the celebration of this great occasion. 10- Organising a special Panorana about the visit of the Holy Family. 11- Organising special games for the celebration with presents to the winners. 12- Shooting the celebrations in Video both in Cairo and Alexandria to be kept and diffused to diocese. 13- Coordinating the efforts of Cinema, Music, Hymns, Artists, Pictures, Press, Theater, Choirs and painters. And coordinating what is done in Egypt with what is done abroad. 14- Present what the moansteries and nunneries can produce and afford for this occasion. 15- Focusing in all Coptic Magazines on the visit of the Holy Family to Egypt and celebrating it. Only 98 and 99 are remaining so we have to begin now and we wait for your suggestions and execution. On Friday Nov 21st, HG Abba Youssef, Bishop of Florida and South USA inaugurated a new Services building attached to Virgin Mary Church in Houston - Texas. This is the first step in building the church. This buiding will be temporarly used to celebrate mass until the church would be built. Hegumen Isaac Sadek is currently serving there. On Sunday Dec 7th, HG put as well a Memorial stone for building St Mercurius Church in Dallas - Texas. It was a great day for the whole congregation. Patricipated in puting the stone Hegumen Boules Farid Mikhail the priest of the church. Via the Internet you can now listen or record a the weekly lecture of HH Pope Shenouda through the following URL: www.copticpope.org We received from Dr Bagib Guirguis Abdalla, Vice President of St Mark Medical association: The first Congress for Coptic Physicians was held in the diocese of Southern USA Nov 21-23 '97 with the blessing of HG Abba Youssef the bishop of the diocese and with the participation of HG Abba Serapion bishop of Los Angeles. Many issues with socio-medical nature were raised. The congress was opened with a spiritual word about the role of the Christian Physician as we learned from the Bible and specialy in the book of Joshua. Many topics were raised amongst were: - Tube infantile, artificial fecundation, biological cloning, Family planning. - The physician position facing machines that would prolonge the life of patients infected with useless diseases such as advanced malegnancy, cissation of Neurological System. - The problem of Female Circumcision which is still practiced in our country. - The effect of immigration on health of individuals and families and problems which emmerge such as cultural and spiritual alienation, divorce and various psychological problems. - The gathering watched two slide shows, the first about medicine in Ancient Egypt, the second about the rolel of Copts and their contribution in early ages in civilisation. 80 physician almost and others interested in socio-medical work were there. Amongst were many Coptic professors of Medicine in USA. The congress was loved by all participants because of the many diverse and different topics which were raised. All of them asked that it would be held on an annual basis for further study for these topics in deep. The congress was concluded with celebrating the Holy Liturgy, and all best wishes for the association and blessing of the bishops and prayers of HH Pope Shenouda. On Wednesday Dec 17th and Thursday Dec 18th HH received Metropolitan Mar Gregorius Johanna Ibrahim, Metropolitan of the Syrian Orthodox in Aleppo and HG Metropolitan Siboah Sarkessian Metropolitan of Armenian Orthodox in Damas. They discussed preparing for the meeting of Patriarchs of the three Orthodox Churches: Coptic, Syrian and Armenian next March in Cairo. Attended the meeting HG Abba Bishoy, HG Abba Moussa, HG Abba Joannes and HG Abba Gabriel. -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- | + | | COPTIC ORTHODOX PATRIARCHATE + + + Translated and maintained | | Computer Departement + Shenouda M Abdou | | cop@idsc.gov.eg + shenouda@bitsmart.com | | + + + | -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-