CHURCHNEWS an electronic magazine for Immigrant Egyptian Churches in the world _________________________________________________________________________ 'ChurchNews' is a selected translation of the News section in the Arabic Church magazine El-Keraza. Direct any suggestions: cop@idsc.gov.eg _________________________________________________________________________ Keraza No.: 25, 26 I | X Date: Friday June 26th 1998 <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<< -- + -- >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Y | O Read in this issue: ------------------ The saints of the Coptic month of Abib................................ Miscellaneous News.................................................... Press Release......................................................... Endnotes.............................................................. =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= The saints of the Coptic month of Abib =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= The Coptic month of Abib almost coincides July in the Gregorian calendar: The church celebrates many saints from various classes. - The 5th Abib (12th July) the church celebrates the Apostles feast. It is mainly the martyrdom day of St Peter and St Paul, St Peter was given the task of preaching to the Jews while St Paul was given the task of preaching to the gentiles (Gal 2:7). We had published a booklet on those saints, which would be made available at the feast. Abib months feasts are not limited to St Peter and St Paul. - The 2nd Abib feast of St Thaddeos the Apostle. 9th Abib feast of St Simon Cleopas the Apostle, 8th Abib St James. It seems to be that we celebrate one third of the 12 apostles feasts in the month of Abib. In Abib also we celebrate two of the great monasticism leaders: - The 7th Abib (14th July), feast of St Shenouda the Archmandrite. This is the first year to celebrate the feast of St Shenouda after the Synod approved his old monastery in the desert of Suhag. After buying it's lands, building it's walls and having monks living there. - The 8th Abib (15th July) feast of St Bishoy the beloved by Christ. His feast this year coincides with the Silver Jubilee of the ordination of it's first bishop abbot, HG Abba Sarabamon. It is always so beautiful that both St Shenouda and St Bishoy Feast are close. With them in 11th Abib (18 July), Pope Shenouda was ordained monk. In whose time, St Bishoy monastery was revived, in such a way, unreached in previous centuries. The monastery of St Shenouda was also revived and monastic life began after it was empty for very long long centuries! - The 3rd Abib, the church celebrates a great saint, Pope Cyril the Pillar of Faith. Cyril I was the head of Ephesus Ecumenical Council in 431 and he is Pope No 4 of the Alexandrian Popes. He is one of the heroes of the world of theology in the whole Christian world. Unfortunately, our church rarely organises suitable celebrations. - The 24th Abib (31st July), we celebrate the child martyr St Abanoub of Nehissa. As our church cares venerates the leaders of monasticism and heroes of faith, it cares for children and amongst is Abanoub. - The 15th Abib (22nd July), we remember Kiriakos the child and his mother Julita. The people of Tema care very much for that feast. As we mention Julita we mention many women too: The 6th Abib, 13 July Theodosia the Martyr, 17th Abib Ophomia the Virgin and 23rd Abib St Marina. - The 28th Abib we celebrate the feast of St Mary Magdalene who announced the resurection to the Apostles in the same month that we celebrate their feast. It would be nice if a new church would be built on her name. - The 26th Abib, we celebrate a great saint, St Joseph the Carpenter, we remember him when remembering the flight of the Holy Family to Egypt. We rarely remember him otherwise! Rarely we dedicate churches to him! In Abib many other martyrs' feasts take place. =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Miscellaneous News =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= On Wednesday 1st June, Pope Shenouda received three Embassadors: His Excellency Mr G.Assimaco Paulos Greek Embassador in Egypt attended the meetings Their Graces Abba Joannes, Abba Suriel and Abba Gabriel. Mr Leonidas Maregarege Embassador of Burundy in Cairo attended the meeting Heg.Samaan Ibrahim priest of St Simon the tanner church in Mokattam. HH also received Mr Samir Mohamed Atta, former Egyptian president in Liberia. On Tuesday 12 May, HG Abba Barnabas Bishop of Turin and Rome received Dr Franccesco Castelani, maire of Turin in the purpose of finding a church for Copt Orthodox in Turin. Attended the meeting the secretary of the maire, the monk Fr Zakaria El-Suriany, Mr Nagui George and Mr George Armanios member of Virgin Mary church committee in Turin. The monastery of St Mena in Mariut celebrates the feast of St Mena. On Sunday 21st June, the Pope attended the Eve of the feast. He blessed the spices and ordained two monks: Johanna and Philopater Attended the ordination Their Graces Abba Domadios, Gregorios, Sarabamon, Ruweis and Abba Demetrios. In the evening of Thursday 18th June, accompanied by HG Abba Ruweis, HG Abba Joannes and HG Abba Gabriel, Pope Shenouda got to Al-Azhar Mashiakha (mosque center) to present condolence on the late Cheikh Mohamed Metwally El-Shaarawy. The Pope also asked HG Abba Philippos Metropolitan of Dakahlia to present condolence for the family in Dakados (Mit-Ghamr) where he was was burried. HH received some bishops before they return to their dioceses: HG Abba Antonios-Marcos General Bishop of Africa, Bishop Karas Abbot of St Antonios monastery in California. Bishop Damian of Germany, Bishop Paul of Predication and Bishop Suriel before he travels to New Jersey USA. Pope Shenouda received too: Metropolitan Bishoy for Clergy affairs, Bishop Sarabamon for St Bishoy Monastery affairs and HG Bishop Isodorus Abbot of Virgin Mary (Baramos) monastery concerning the feast of St Moses the Black and the ordination of some fathers. HG Abba Anthony attended the Poor Committee gathering as he uses to do during his visit to Egypt then returned to his diocese on Wednesday June 17th night. With some priests from abroad: ----------------------------- In the last couple of weeks, Pope Shenouda received many fathers: Heg.Samuel Thabet (St Mark Chicago), Fr Isaac Boutros (Virgin Mary Chicago), Heg.Johanna Ramzy (Toronto), Heg.Luka Sidaros (LA), Fr Isaiah El-Baramosy (Kent), Fr Mina Wahba (LA), Fr Ezra Anba-Bishoy (Kuwait) and Fr Severus Anba-Bishoy who returned from Jerusalem to his monastery. Trip of the Theological Seminary's Choir to France and Germany: -------------------------------------------------------------- In the period June 17th-July 2nd, the Theological Seminary's chorus (both from Cairo and Virgin Mary Moharak monastery) traveled to France upon the invitation of Dr Ashraf Iskander Sadek, Editor in chief of "Le Monde Copte" magazine in Limoges France. It shall perform some Coptic hymns to the Coptic community there and some interested French people. Then the choir travels to Germany to perform Coptic hymns in some German cities in the period July 2nd-12th. The chorus is headed by Dr Ragheb Moftah Head of the Music Departement at the Institute of Coptic Studies (ICS), it is lead by Cantor Ibrahim Ayiad and includes Fr Matthias Nasr, Fr Isaiah El-Moharaky, Dcn Mayez Gorgy secretary of the Theological Seminary in Cairo and 11 clerical student. The Pope received them before traveling. The Presidential Decree No 144/1998 was issued for the Coptic Orthodox Diocese of Giza to permit building "Virgin Mary Church", Second Sector of the central region piece No 2/46 at the City of 6th October, Governorate of Giza. Our thanks to the President and congratulations to the diocese of Giza. On Thursday 11th June in the morning, Pope Shenouda received His Excellency the Embassador of Haungary in Egypt with the Hungarian Television. HH talked about his souvenirs in his last visit to Hungary, he also talked about the Coptic church and it's relation to ancient Egyptian culture and the relations with other churches. On Thursday June 16th, Fr Raphael Anis returned to Egypt after serving for a while in Auckland, New Zealand to serve in his church where he was dedicated (St Mark Old Cathedral) The work began in building Virgin Mary and St Athanasios the Alexandrian church in Limassol Cyprus which HH had put the foundation stone on 1994. In the Papal Residence Yard at St Bishoy Monastery, the celebration of the Silver Jubilee of Bishop Sarabamon the Abbot was held. Attended it 34 metropolitan and bishop and hundreds of monks. There talked: Their Graces Abba Timotheos, Pachomius, Bishoy, Matthaus, Andrews and Abba Sarabamon himself who thanked them all. Then Pope Shenouda talked about the deep relations he has with HG Abba Sarabamon and which began in the ends of 1959 and lasted till now. All said that Abba Sarabamon has deep faith, kindness, simplicity, humility, loving and serving others, Paternal Spirit and that many monks and bishops were his diciples. The celebration was concluded by presenting gifts from Pope Shenouda and many bishops and monasteries. Our best congratulations to Abba Sarabamon. May the Lord keep him for many years to come. On Wednesday 17th June, Pope Shenouda received General Nader Sherif head of El-Zohur Club and Mr Essam Mubarak the Club Deputy (brother of President Mubarak). They invited HH to give a lecture in the club on June 25th at 8:00 pm. Attended the meeting Abba Joannes and Abba Gabriel. On Sunday 14th June 1998, HH annointed the new baptistery at the great St Mark Cathedral in Alexandria, attended in the annointing prayers HG Abba Joannes. The baptistery is located in the right ritual place at the North-West side of the church and has some stairs for older people to get inside and outside the baptistery. At the same day, Pope Shenouda chrysmated three children amongst was a child from Canada. Helped in chrysmating him, HG Abba Joannes and the fathers. =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Press Release =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= The 10th booklet of Pope Shenouda shall shortly appear: ANGELS God willing the ten booklets should be compiled in one big book, while remaining publishing individual new booklets amongst the booklet about St Peter and St Paul which shall appear in the Apostles' Feast. ST MENA OF WONDERS 535 pages, excellent printing Publisher: St Mena Monastery - Mariut including 14 chapter about the life of the saint and the movement of his relics since his martyrdom. Some of his wonders, the location of the monastery and the archeological excavations. Foundation of the new monastery and begining monastic life there. St Mena in church prayers and offices and other saints in the name Mena. Mr Nadi Guirguis made many books in Braille Method for the blind including book of the Offices of Great Friday and six books of Pope Shenouda: Explanation of the Creed, Booklet about Anunciation, Booklet about Virgin Mary, Booklet about Baptism and St John the Baptist, Booklet about The Cross and a last about ascencion. All those books should be requested from El-Keraza Magazine (Anba Ruweis, Abbasiya Cairo). =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Endnotes: -------- HH : His Holiness, title for Popes and Patriarchs. HE : His Eminence, title for Metropolitans. HG : His Grace, title for Bishops. Heg. or Hg. : Hegumen, prior priest. Dcn : Deacon, for full deacons. BLESS : Bishopric of Public Ecumenical and Social services. Abba : Old Coptic word meaning father, used for Coptic metropolitans, bishops and the Pope. Abuna : Arabic word meaning "Our Father" used to address priests and hegumens. This title is also used in the Eritrean Orthodox church as title for the Patriarch, metropolitans and bishops and also in the Ethiopian church. Servant: Volunteer steward in the Coptic church activities, sometimes used to designate Sunday school teachers. Mayamer: in singular (Meimar) Syrianic word designating biography of a saint. Tamav : Coptic word meaning "my mother" used as title for abbesses and any mother superior of a Coptic convent. Tasoni : Coptic word meaning "my sister" used as title for Coptic deaconness or priest wife. Sayedna: Arabic word "Our Master" used to address the Pope, metropolitans and bishops. Eskeem : Built in the form of a cross worn by monks who spent many years of monasticism. Care Stick: Stick in the hand of Popes, Patriarchs, metropolitans and diocesian bishops. Prior : 1- (Abuna El-Wekeel) In Cairo and Alexandria Patriarchates, a married priest or hegumen delegated by the Pope to manage churches and priests in the Pope's diocese. There exist a prior for the Patriarchate in Cairo (Cairo churches), another in Alexandria (Alexandria churches) n.b. Those two priors are the only married priests who are members of the Holy Synod of the Coptic church. 2- (El-Robbeta) In a monastery, a prior is a monk, usually a priest monk chosen by the abbot to manage the monastery affairs when the abbot is away. Holy Synod: Presided by the Pope, the synod gathers all Coptic Orthodox Metropolitans and Bishops + the 2 Patriarchates' priors in Cairo and Alexandria. Congregational Council: (Maglis Milli) Laymen council assisting in managing the church affairs. The general Congregational council in Cairo, presided by HH Pope Shenouda and including 24 laymen (12 member+12 delegate). Regional congregational councils exist in all dioceses they are presided by the diocese bishop and include 5 members each. NY : New York NJ : New Jersey DC : District of Columbia, Capital of the United States of America. =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=