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It is issued by the Computer | | Departement in the Coptic Orthodox Patriarchate | |___________________________ _____________________________| Keraza No.: 3, 4 I | X Date: Friday Jan 16th '98 <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<< -- + -- >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Y | O ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Receiving congratulations at the Nativity ----------------------------------------------------------------------- [See picture] Wednesday Jan 7th '98, the Coptic church celebrated Christmas. The big mass was held at St Mark Cathedral. The following bishops served the mass with HH: HG Abba Timotheos, HG Abba Ruweis, HG Abba Boutros, HG Abba Joannes, HG Abba Gabriel and many priests, monks and the Theological Seminary Chorus conducted by Cantor Ibrahim Aiyad and supervised by Dr Ragheb Moftah. Pope Shenouda delegated HG Abba Moussa the celebrate the mass in Alexandria. Several prominent figures and officials attended the mass in Cairo others came to the Papal Residence and/or sent cards or deputies to congratulate the Copts in the person of HH Pope Shenouda for the Nativity Feast amongst were: Congratulation from president Mubarak who sent Dr Ossama El-Baz from the presidency cabinet, visit of Prime minister Dr Kamal El-Ganzury to the Patriarchate as well as Mr Fathy Sorur Head of the parliement, Dr Tantawy Head of Al-Azhar Mosque, Dr Nasr Farid Wassel Mofty of the country and ministers of Agriculture, Justice, Education, Economics, tourism and Awkaf and deputy for the ministries of Interior and Defense and the Governor of Cairo and His Excellency the Ambassador of Paraguay in Cairo and El-Sadek El-Mahdy Ex-prime minister of Sudan. Heads of different parties and ex-prime ministers and ministers. HH Maximos Hakim, Patriarch of the Greek Catholics and Rev Safuat El-Bayady the head of the Evangelical Church in Egypt. -=-=-=-=-=-=-=- News -=-=-=-=-=-=-=- HH Pope Shenouda went to St Bishoy monastery the evening of Christmas where he received Abbots of monasteries: HG Abba Sarabamon (Abbot of St Bishoy monastery), HG Abba Severus (Virgin Mary - El-Moharak), HG Abba Matthaus (The Syrian monastery), HG Abba Justus (St Anthony), HG Abba Bassilious (St Samuel), HG Abba Isodore (Baramos) and HG Abba Bemoa (St George - Khattatba). HH received as well HG Abba Andrews and HG Abba Lucas and hundreds of monks and gave them a spiritual word. On Thursday Jan 8th '98 morning, HH received at St Bishoy monastery, professors and teachers of the Institute of Coptic Studies to discuss what can be afforded on the occasion of the second millenum of the visit of the Holy Family to Egypt. On the occasion of Christmas, several television channels made interviews with HH Pope Shenouda amongst were the Egyptian TV, Arabic Satellite Channel ANN, Lebanese TV Network LBC and the well known British BBC. On Monday Dec 29th '97, HH had a meeting concerning the Better Life Program for rehabilitation of Drug Addicts (program of BLESS) with HG Abba Joannes, Mr Adel Raphael, Dr Nahed Fahim, Dr Cecile Naguib and Dr Rita. Then he went on Tuesday Dec 30th to the rehabilitation center at the farm where he sit with drug addicts and asked about them and their needs in the spirit of paternity and love. We knew from HG Abba Kyrellos, bishop of Milan in Italy that they 1- bought by the grace of God a new piece of land of 8500 sq meter in two pieces: a- The first 5000 sq meter on the foot of the mount of Bergamo, from there you can see the river and it is allowed to build projects on the area of 1500 sq meter. b- The second piece is 3500 sq meter where an old house exists, it is allowed to build there on the area of 2500 sq meter. This area is full of visitors during summer, it can be used for Church service, retreats, trips and summer activities. 2- They bought a land where a huge store exists on 400 sq meter which can be transfered to a church for Virgin Mary, beside which a 2 floor villa on 236 sq meter which can serve as bishopric inside of Milan. They also bought a flat of 140 sq meter, opening on the church ground, the work is now taking place to renew and finish the buildings. We thank the Lord that HG Abba Gregorius fiannly left the Hospital, he came to the papal residence on Christmas day to congratulate HH. PhD Thesis about Chalcedon presented by Fr Pachom Abdel-Malak, Virgin Mary Zagazig. Discussed on Monday Dec 29th '97 evening with HH Pope as Chairman and HG Abba Bishoy, HG Abba Jocobus, Dr Zaki Shenouda, Dr Morris Taodros and Dr Beshir Naeem. The thesis received an "Excellent". Wrote by Amir Nasr - From the fathers of the church Bishop Isodore Abbot of Virgin Mary Baramos mon. (1897-1942) ------------------------------------------------------------ This Jan 19th, Virgin Mary (Baramos) celebrates 56 years for the departure of the first Abbot who was ordained bishop who is the late Abba Isodore. He was known for his defense for the Orthodox faith against any deviations. He was also known for his history, theological and church writings. He wrote many valuable books amongst: Al-Kharida Al-Nafissa fi-tarikh Al-Kanissa Al-Mataleb Al-Natharia filmawadie Al-Ilahia Tanueeral athhaan fimagaa` fi`akaed alkanissa algharbia menalzayaghan Mer`atal haka`ek elgalia fihayat alkanissa alkeptia Bayanal bohtan almaogud fiketab sharh ossulal iman lelprotestant Beside the magazine of "Zion" which he founded on 1896 and which was a lamp guiding the people to Orthodox faith. For more than half a century, it was a mean of dialogue, culture, thought and History. It is known that HG was born on 1867 in the city of Sur (Hemss, Syria) from Syrian parents and he was named Naoum and was then known as Naoum the Syrian. In 1880 he came to Egypt with his uncle (Hegumen Isaiah El-Soriany) who was appointed at the time of Pope Joannes 19 (1874-1927) on 1881 deputy for the Patriarchate in Alexandria and was martyred at the Orabian Revolution. Naoum worked at St Mark College in Alexandria as teacher of French and Arabic and he supervised the (awkaf) of the church there. In Jan 12th 1885 he became monk in the name of Avram the Syrian El-Baramosy, he was ordained priest by the pope on 1887 then Hegumen on 1890. Because of his intelligence, knowledge and culture, the pope asked him to serve at his secretary. He worked so hard and had many positions supporting to the pope at the time of the problems with the Maglis Milli (Congregational Council). On Oct 17th 1897, Pope Kyrollos ordained him bishop for the monastery of Baramos in the name of Isodore, thus he became the first Abbot Bishop. He was also appointed dean for the Theological Seminary in Cairo. He passed through a tough experience, which he endured in great patience. God turned all his pains and problems to strenght in teaching and defending the faith of the church which he loved and belonged to. Beside his writings and extreme effort in studies. On April 1941, he received the absolution and blessings of Pope Joannes 19 and after few month he departed on Jan 19th 1942 and was burried at St Mercure (Abu-Seifein church) Old Cairo. It is worth to mention that Pope Shenouda named the actual Abbot Bishop of Baramos "Abba Isodore" after him to recognize his effort and work in the Coptic church for all his life. The Baramos monastery is in the process of publishing all the writings of the late Abba Isodore whether books, writings and articles published at Zion Magazine. -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- | + | | COPTIC ORTHODOX PATRIARCHATE + + + Translated and maintained | | Computer Departement + Shenouda M Abdou | | cop@idsc.gov.eg + shenouda@bitsmart.com | | + + + | -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-