CHURCHNEWS an electronic magazine for Immigrant Egyptian Churches in the world _________________________________________________________________________ 'ChurchNews' is a selected translation of the News section in the Coptic Church magazine 'El-Keraza'. The arabic main magazine has Pope Shenouda III Editor in Chief. Suggestions about the main text would be directed to: coptpope@tecmina.com About this Electronic news translation direct suggestions to: cop@idsc.gov.eg To obtain English hard copies with pictures address: elkeraza.stevenage@ukonline.co.uk Old releases dating back from December 1995 on may be retrieved at the CoptNet Electronic Archives http://www.coptic.net/cn/public/news/ _________________________________________________________________________ Keraza No.: 3, 4 I | X Date: Friday 22 January 1999 <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<< -- + -- >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Y | O Read in this issue: ------------------ - The United Christian Personal Statute Project ........................ - Congratulations for the Nativity Feast ............................... - From one side of the globe to the other .............................. - Miscellaneous News ................................................... - Book Review .......................................................... - Obituary ............................................................. - Endnotes ............................................................. =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= The United Christian Personal Statute Project =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= After an intensive study which took place over many sessions at the Patriarchate, on Tuesday 5 January 99, The United Christian Personal Statute project was signed by: HH Pope Shenouda III for the Coptic Orthodox HH Patriarch Stephanos II, for the Coptic Catholic HH Patriarch Maximos Hakeem for the Greek Catholic HH Patriarch Petrus VII for the Greek Orthodox HE Metropolitan Ghayes Abdel-Malek, Head of the Anglican church Rev'd Dr Safwat El-Bayady, Head of the Evangelical church Rev'd Solaiman Sadek, Head of El-Nile Evangelical Synod HE Metrpolitan Shenshenyan for the Armenian Orthodox Fr Rapola for the Syrian Orthodox in Egypt HE Metropolitan Youssef Dorgham for the Maronite Catholics Metropolitan Youssef Sarraf for the Chaldenean Catholics HE Metropolitan Youssef Hannoush for the Syrian Catholics Many advisors and church delegates signed it: Advisor Melek Mina (Coptic Orthodox) Advisor Gerges Masoud (delegate of the head of the Evangelical church) Advisor Makram Lamei & Mr Fouad Moteie (the evangelical church) On the Nativity Feast Day (7 January), upon the visit of Advisor Farouk Seif El-Nasr the Minister of Justice, Pope Shenouda showed it to him. They agreed that HH shall send an official letter to the minister of Justice with an attached copy of the project and the ministry shall study it and do the necessary. Worth to mention that it is very useful for different churches and denominations in Egypt to have one personal statute. It is also useful for legistlative authorities to they depend on one text for judgement instead of many different laws they have for different denominations. No doubt it is a great achievement to begin the year with. We do hope that it would come to light as a law. =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= People congratulating for the Nativity Feast =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Officials [Pictures]: -------------------- Amongst were: Prime Minister Prof Dr Kamal El-Ganzury The Grand Sheikh of Al-Azhar Mosque Dr Mohamed Sayed Tantawy The Head of the Egyptian Senate Prof Dr Mostafa Kamal Helmy Prof Dr Boutros Ghali and Dr Youssef Boutros Ghali Dr Youssef Waali, Prime Minister Deputy and minister of Agriculture Advisor Faruk Seif El-Nasr, the Minister of Justice Prof Dr Ossama El-Baaz, Head of the Presidential Political Office The ministers of Endowments and Tourism and the Mayor of Cairo Prof Dr Hussein Kamel Bahaa El-Din the Minister of Education Eng Ibrahim Shukry, Head of The Labour Party El-Sadek El-Mahdy (Sudan) Church Men - amongst were: ------------------------- Patriarch Maximos Hakeem (Greek Catholic) Patriarch Petrus VII (Greek Orthodox) Metropolitan Ghayes (Head of the Anglican Church) Rev'd Safwat El-Bayady (Head of the Evangelical Church) [Picture] The Pope holds the hand of HG Bishop Gregorius in their way out. =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= From one side of the globe to the other =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= A priest for Nubia: ------------------ Following an invitation of HG Abba Sarabamon, bishop of Atbara and Om-Dorman, HG Bishop Pachomius of Behera Matruh and Pentapolis traveled to the Sudan and participated in the ordination of Dcn Youssef Besheer as priest for the nubians living in the villages of Dar El-Salam in the name Fr Pachomius. HG Bishop Pachomius participated in the inauguration of the new Coptic Clinic in Om-Dorman and the fifth anniversary of the ordination of Abba Sarabamon. He also visited HE Abba Daniel the Metropolitan of Khartoum. Our church in Kenya: ------------------- >From HG Abba Paul: two retreat houses were built in the region of Asino in Kenya. One for men and the other for women on the Equator. Baptism of 5 Spanish girls: -------------------------- On 6 January 1999, Heg Moussa Anba-Bishoy baptised four spanish sisters in the region of Andora Spain. They came especially to Paris to be baptised in the "Paroisse de l'Archange Michel et de St Georges". Their age is (17 to 13) and their names are: Yvonnes (Demyana as baptism name), Petra (Sarah), Giomar (Maria) and Sherly (Lydia). =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Miscellaneous News =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Nativity Feast: -------------- At the Nativity Mass celebration, participated with HH their graces Abba Timotheos, Ruweis, Boutros, Joannes, Gabriel, Heg Moussa El-Suriany, Fr Mina Ava-Mina and priests of the churches of Anba Ruweis. The mass was concluded around 3:00 am The Mass On Air: --------------- Upon an advise of Mr President Hosni Mubarak, the Nativity Feast Mass at St Mark Cathedral was diffused On Air on the Egyptian TV and the Satellite Channel (Nile SAT) to our children in immigration countries. We thank him for this fine touch. Nativity Feast Mass in Alexandria: --------------------------------- HH Pope Shenouda delegated HG Abba Raphael the General Bishop to celebrate the Nativity Mass at St Mark Great Cathedral in Alexandria and receive the officials and other personalities who came to congratulate. Congratulating our Moslem brethren for the Bayram: ------------------------------------------------- HH delegated their Graces Abba Moussa and Abba Gabriel along with Fr Mina Ava-Mina, Dr Tharwat Bassili (delegate of the GCC General Congregational Council), Advisor Wasfy Nashed (member of GCC) to congratulate Dr Mohamed Sayed Tantawy the Grand Cheikh of Al-Azhar Mosque, Dr Hamdy Zaqzuq the Minister of Endownments and Dr Nasr Farid Wassel the Mufti of Egypt, on the occasion of the Bayram. On Sunday 17 January 99, they paid a visit and presented congratulations in the name of HH Pope Shenouda in an ambience of love and affection. The trip of HG Abba Ruweis: -------------------------- On 16 January 99, HG Abba Ruweis travels to USA, from there he travels to Toronto to celebrate Epiphany on 18 January evening. He celebrates the Eve of St Demyana Feast then in her church (close to Mississauga) and remains till 7 February visiting the churches of Toronto. He celebrates the Eve of St Paul Feast in his church (London, Ontario) and flies back to Cairo on 14 February to land on midnight 15 February in Cairo airport. Pope Shenouda's week: -------------------- On Thursday 7 January 99, in Cairo, HH received those who came to congratulate on the occasion of the Nativity Feast. The same evening, he drove onto St Bishoy Monastery to receive those who came to congratulate him there, mainly the bishops and monks from St Mina Monastery (Mariut). On Friday 8, he returned to Cairo to attend the Iftar of the Ministry of Endowments. The same night, he traveled to Alexandria to arrive there just before midnight. The next morning, HH received congratulations of the priests in Alexandria and attended the Iftar organized by the Patriarchate in Alexandria. There he received His Excellency Mohamed Abdel-Salam Mahgub, the mayor of Alexandria, the President of the University and professors. After the Iftar, he drove onto St Bishoy Monastery to receive there, the next morning (10 January) some 300 monk from Virgin Mary (Syrian), St Bishoy and El-Baramos monasteries along with their abbots. They all came to congratulate him on the feast. He gave them a spiritual word, answered their questions and distributed gifts. On the same day (Sunday 10 January), at 10:00 o'clock, HH traveled to Cairo to supervise the preparations for the Iftar meal held at the Patriarchate in Cairo. The latter was held on Monday 11 January 1999. In the evening of Tuesday 12 January, he prepared himself for his trip to USA and Canada. On Wednesday 13 January, he gave his weekly lecture at St Mark Cathedral. The next morning, accompanied by HG Abba Joannes he left for London UK. >From there, on Friday 15 January 99, he takes the concord to USA. The Iftar at the Cathedral: -------------------------- [Picture] This is a picture of the main table at the Iftar meal held at the Patriarchate on Monday 11 January 99. On the right side of HH we see, the Egyptian Prime Minister Dr Kamal Ganzury, the Grand Sheikh of Al-Azhar Dr Tantawy, the head of the Parliament Dr Fathy Sorur and Dr Sofi Abu-Taleb the Ex-Head of the Parliament. On the left hand of HH we see: the Head of the Egyptian Senate Prof Dr Mostafa Kamal Helmy, the Ex-Prime Minister Prof Dr Ali Lotfy. On Tuesday 5 January 99, accompanied by HG Abba Joannes and Abba Gabriel, HH Pope Shenouda drove onto Prince Theodore Convent (Haret El-Rum) to visit the convent and see the new piece of land they bought. [Picture] HH is seen in the picture with Tamav Edrosis, the mother superior of the convent, Maitre Fayek Fahim (HH personal lawyer), HG Abba Joannes, Abba Gabriel and Fr Mina Ava-Mina. On Monday 11 January 99 evening, following a health crisis, Tamav Iriny, the Mother Superior of St Mercurius Convent (Old Cairo) was rushed in the hospital (El-Hayat Medical Center). Getting those news, HH, accompanied by HG Abba Joannes and Abba Gabriel, drove onto the hospital where HG Abba Ruweis and some nuns were visiting. He prayed for her and left the hospital. HE Abba Bishoy: -------------- He arrives to Syria, one week before the arrival of Pope Shenouda. He participates with the standing committee arranging the meeting of the Heads of the Oriental Orthodox Churches: Coptic, Syrian and Armenian. HH Patriarch Petrus VII: ----------------------- On Wednesday 6 January 99 at 17:00, Pope Shenouda received HH Patriarch Petrus VII of the Greek Orthodox with metropolitans. They came to congratulate him on the occasion of the Nativity Feast. Patriarch Petrus VII signed the united Christian Personal Statute Project. HG Bishop Karas, the Abbot of St Antonios Monastery (California): ---------------------------------------------------------------- We thank the Lord who gave him strenght to return to his monastery in the desert of California for the first time since his illness. He celebrated two masses there: one for the occasion of the New Year and the other for the Nativity Feast. We ask the Lord to keep him safe and heal him that the monastery rejoices with him, specially St Antonios Church after it was rebuilt. St Mark Church (Detroit): ------------------------ HH delegated Fr Mina Adel to help in the celebrations of Nativity and Epiphany after the departure of Heg Rouphael. In his trip there, HH shall visit them to pay condolence. Coptic Icon Restoration and Documentation Project: ------------------------------------------------- On the scale of the whole Coptic church, a new project of restoration and documentation of Coptic icons began along with training on caring, maintenance, restoration and history writing. This project began under the care of Pope Shenouda in the name of ICS (Institute of Coptic Studies) and under the supervision of ARCE (American Research Center in Egypt) and ACF (development departement at the Dutch Embassy) under the supervision of the Egyptian Higher Council of Antiquities. The project covers all Coptic Churches and Monasteries having icons. Many Egyptian and foreign specialists are participating in this project in the frame of maintaining this old Coptic tradition. The journey of Three nuns to Syria: ---------------------------------- On 8 January 1999, at St Bishoy Monastery, Pope Shenouda received HE Metropolitan Bishoy accompanied by 3 nuns of St Demyana Convent. They came to take the blessing of HH before traveling to Syria where they shall complete some icon paintings begun last year and learn some Syriac language. They shall be accomodated at the Monastery of the Syrian Orthodox Patriarchate in Maaret Sednaya. FOR OUR CHILDREN ABROAD ----------------------- How shall your children know in the future that they are Copts if Coptic hymns and Coptic language disappear from your churches where you sing all in your local languages?! =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Book Review =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Two books of Pope Shenouda were translated into English by Mrs Ramza Bassilious in Australia: 1- The spiritual means 2- The Spiritual Man Two new books were published in English for Pope Shenouda: 1- The Heresy of Jehovah's Witnesses .... It is a series of articles previously published in the English El-Keraza magazine. They have been translated by Fr Angelos Anba-Bishoy. 2- The Ordination of Women and Homosexuality ... Those are talks given by Pope Shenouda to English Priests both in Birmingham and Kensington-London. =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Obituary =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= - On the Nativity Feast Day (7 January 1999), Mrs Suzanna Antoun Ibrahim Khalil departed from our vanishing world. She is the mother of HE Abba Daniel the Metropolitan of Khartoum and the South. At the funeral, both their graces Abba Daniel and Abba Sarabamon (Bishop of Atbara and Om-Dorman) prayed on her body in Khartoum. May the Lord grant her soul rest in the paradise of joy and condolence to her family. =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Endnotes: -------- 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 used in both the Eritrean and the Ethiopian Orthodox churches as title for the Patriarch, metropolitans and bishops. The latter is sometimes spelled Abune. Assyrian: The Assyrian 'church' is centered in Syria, it holds to the heresy of Nestorius and Theodore of Mopsuestia which was condemned by all christians in the Council of Ephesus in the 4th century in and was recently refused in the 9 October '98 Lebanon MECC session to be part of the council 'which includes all christian denominations'. It is important to make the difference between it and the Church of Antioch 'Syrian Orthodox' which is an Oriental Orthodox church having Mar Ignatius Zakka Eiwass as Patriarch. Awkaf : Endowments BLESS : Bishopric of Public Ecumenical and Social services. 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. DC : District of Columbia, Capital of the United States of America. Dcn : Deacon, for full deacons. Eskeem : Belt in the form of a cross worn by monks who spent many years and reached a high degree of monasticism. HE : His Eminence, title for Metropolitans. Heg. or Hg. : Hegumen, prior priest. HG : His Grace, title for Bishops. HH : His Holiness, title for Popes and Patriarchs. Holy Synod: Presided by the Pope, the synod gathers all Coptic Orthodox Metropolitans and Bishops + the 2 Patriarchates' priors in Cairo and Alexandria. Kalamun : A Mount in the Governorate of El-Minya. In the fourth century the spiritual children of St Antony occupied it. In the 7th century St Samuel the Confessor built a monastery there following a vision and promise he had of Virgin Mary of keeping and defending the monks there. Till today, a monastic life is flourishing there despite of the very difficult natural aspects of the place in St Samuel the Confessor mon. Kolonsoa: A head cover black tissue worn by Coptic monks and nuns as well as bishops and the Pope. It is decorated by 6 crosses of both the right and left side of the head representing the 12 apostles seperated by a line in the middle and one cross on the back representing Christ. According to tradition an angel appeared St Anthony in that dress. Koskam : A Mount in the governorate of Assiut in the middle of Egypt. Following the tradition it is the last place in the south that the Holy Family reached in the 1st century after which it returned to Israel. Nowadays, Virgin Mary Burnt Monastery (Moharak) stands there with a flourishing monastic life. LA : Los Angeles, California USA Mayamer: in singular (Meimar) Syrianic word designating biography of a saint. MECC : Middle East Council of Churches (Headquarter in Cyprus) Mulid : popular events combining piety, fun and commerce. People sing, dance, eat and pray together. Coptic Mulids now changed to spiritual seasons for celebrating and praying. NJ : New Jersey NY : New York Pastoral Staff: Staff in the hand of Popes, Patriarchs, metropolitans and diocesian bishops as they are sheperds to the flock of Christ. 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. In the same way we have priors of Dioceses, they assit the bishop in managing the Diocese affairs. 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. Sayedna: Arabic word "Our Master" used to address the Pope, metropolitans and bishops. Servant: Volunteer steward in the Coptic church activities, sometimes used to designate Sunday school teachers. 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. Wadie El-Natroun: An ancient valley laying in the desert between Cairo and Alexandria. Ancient Egyptians used to extract the Natrun salt used for embalment from there. In the 4th century monasticism flourished in the desert near to this valley with thousands of Egyptian, Oriental and European monks and many monasteries. Only in four of those old monasteries monastic life survived to our modern age. St Macare Monastery, Virgin Mary (Syrian) mon., Virgin Mary (Baramos) mon. and St Bishoy Monastery. The latter includes a Papal residence where Pope Shenouda spends half of each week in solitude. WCC : World Council of Churches was founded in 23 August 1948 in Amsterdam (current Headquarter in Geneva Switzerland). =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=