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.: 23,24 I | X Date: Friday 30 June 2000 <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<< -- + -- >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Y | O Read in this issue: ------------------ - Annual Meeting of the Holy Synod .................................... - HG Bishop Gabriel.................................................... - Eritrean priests and deacons visiting the diocese of Behera ......... - Miscellaneous News .................................................. - The Holy Synod suspends the episcopal ministry of Bishop Amonios .... =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Annual Meeting of the Holy Synod =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= According to it's annual habit, the holy synod gathered on Satuday 18 June 2000, eve of Pentcost. The number of metropolitans and bishops who gathered is the biggest in our generation since long time of church history. More than 80 metropolitans and bishops attended the meeting. After praying the thanksgiving, Pope Shenouda presented the studies and recommendations which have been prepared by Synodal committees. The most important things were the news and decisions of meetings of the three patriarchs of Oriental Orthodox Churches. There were also recommendations from the Committee of Faith concerning the advance of other denominations in Egypt. The synod presented the faults included in the "Applied Interpretation of the Bible" and the Sabatian and Adventist missionaries and publications. It also presented recomendations concerning monasteries and monks. Among the most important decisions of the session was also the unanimous decision of the suspension of Bishop Amonios of Luxor from the episcopal ministry. =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= HG Bishop Gabriel =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Born 23 Apr 1959 Sep 1982 Bachelor of Medicine and surgery, Faculty of Medicine Assiut University then he worked for 7 years in Minya 6 Nov 92 Consecrated monk in St Bishoy Monastery 18 Jul 95 Ordained priest 3 Sep 95 Served the Coptic church in Hannover (Germany) and Zurich (Switzerland) 17 Jun 00 consecrated general bishop. The first bishop for Austria and the German speaking section of Switzerland. He speaks german fluently and is considered the 10th Coptic bishop for Europe. After his consecration, he went to the monastery and then back to Cairo to fulfill the necessary documents for his residence in Austria. =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Eritrean priests and deacons visiting the diocese of Behera =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Following an invitation of HE Metropolitan Pachomius of Behera, an Eritrean delegation visited Damanhur on Thursday and Friday 8 & 9 June 2000. They were received at by priests and deacons at the diocese resthouse (Vineyard House). Then Metropolitan Pachomius gave a lecture about Episcopal Work and Fr Andrews Iskander talked about the Life of Ministry. On Friday morning, at St Athanasios Cathedral (Damanhur), they celebrated the mass in the Eritrian order in the Gaze language with an interpretation done by the monk Pigimi Anba-Bishoy. After the mass they were offered with souvenirs (mobile altar full sets). Then they took an agape meal together. Bishop Taodros talked about the (Human Needs) and then they left leaving a beautiful picture of Unity. =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Miscellaneous News =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= [Picture] Fr Shenouda Halim, our priest in Amman and Baghdad receives a flowers' gerb from the Irakian Minister of Endowments who came to congratulate for the feast. HE Metropolitan Abraham of Jerusalem celebrated the graduation of a new group from St Anthony College. [Picture] In the picture is for HE with the teaching staff and students. This college was founded on 1947. Our best greetings for all graduates. Both on Monday and Tuesday 5 & 6, representatives of the Oriental Orthodox churches met with representatives of the Catholic Church. The meeting took place in one of the Catholic Retreat Houses. The Coptic church was represented by HG Bishop David, Heg. Athanasios Farag, Heg. Yacoub Ghali and Heg. Daoud Bibawy. The discussions were about problems faced by the church in our age and youth problems and solutions. It was agreed that our children in Catholic schools would be dealt with in equality with Catholic students concerning fees and others and that they wouldn't be forced to receive the Eucharist and that it wouldn't influence them. It was agreed that the coming meeting would take place the same time in the coming year. Publications of our church in Paris: ----------------------------------- We knew from Heg Moussa Anba-Bishoy in Parroisse de l'Archange Michel that: The Coptic church there published 2 CDs: a. "Mon Eglise" for Computers it includes Coptic Church Hymns in French. Where both the music and lyrics are inscribed. b. "L'ecole du Dimanche" Sound CD for children church songs. The CD was recorded from the voice of the church children. 26 books for children to color and 6 church saints biographies. Booklets and brochures by HG Bishop Moussa of the Youth are now being translated to serve children in Preparatory and Secondary age. A Church Lectionnary was published in French. Each month in one book after revision of verses and comparison to the Bible translation. A committee was formed aiming to spread church publications to all francophone churches in the diaspora (eg. Canada, Zaire, Congo, Belgium, Geneva) and all our churches and monasteries in France. Presidential Decree for a church in El-Salam: -------------------------------------------- On 4 June 2000, a presidential decree No 259 was issued to allow building a church in Ardel-Berka, El-Salam Cairo. We thank the president and the ministry of Interior. =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= The Holy Synod suspends the episcopal ministry of Bishop Amonios =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= The Holy Synod dealt with long complaints of people over many years with patience at times and synodal decisions at other times in order to adjust the position which the Diocese of Luxor, Esna and Armant took seperaely from the rest of the See. The synodal committee of Diocesian Affairs studied the problems and faced Abba Amonios with them many times. Finally recommendations were presented by 60 metropolitan and bishop to suspend his ministry. On Saturday 17 June 2000, the Holy Synod had his annual meeting with some 80 metropolitans and bishops with Pope Shenouda as chairman. They approved the recommendation of the committee: Suspension of Bishop Amonios from the Episcopal Ministry and that he returns to his monastery and not to go to the diocese of Luxor. A delegate of the Pope shall temporarily minister the diocese. On Monday 19 June 2000, HG Bishop Amonios drove onto his cell at St Bishoy Monastery. A committee of: Bishops Hedra of Assuan, Paula of Tanta, Biemen of Kus and Joannes the secretary of the Pope was asked to receive the charge of the diocese of Luxor Affairs and take necessary decisions. =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=