Keraza No 45,46 dated Friday 22 December 2000
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            Pastoral Care for the region of Beni-Sweif
El-Keraza No 45,46 dated Friday 22 December 2000
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In a meeting of Pope Shenouda with bishops and senior priests the
following was decided:

1- This very large region is composed of 12 governmental division and
includes 113 church, 175 priest and 113 village and farm. For it's
pastoral good it was decided that the diocese would be split into
five dioceses.

It was already ministered by three bishops: the late Metropolitan
Athanasios assisted by both Bishops Gabriel and Stephanos who were
not enough due to the spread of ministry. Therefore 5 bishops would
be necessary for the 5 new dioceses:

2- The five new diocese are:
- El-Wasta, Nasser Bush, Beni-Sweif and Ahnasia
- Beba, Samesta and El-Fashn
- Magaga, Edwa and surrounding areas
- Beni-Mazar and surrounding areas
- Matay and some of the villages of Samalut

It is worth to be noted that:
3- The villages of Atfih including the monastery of Maimun, Borombul
and El-Kharman would be directly affiliated to the Patriarchate.

4- The village of Bush would be pastoraly affiliated to the diocese
of Beni-Sweif except the Monasteries of St Anthony and St Paul
which are affiliated respectively to the monasteries. The city of
Bush (Nasser) needs a church to serve it under the care of the bishop
of Beni-Sweif. The land already exists and is ready.

5- The village El-Manahra in the Diocese of Matay is a financial
source for the whole region. Therefore the Pope would care to put
a special financial system for it granting an equal distribution
for the income on all dioceses and not only Matay.

6- The Pope received nominations to Bishop Gabriel as bishop for
Beni-Sweif in it's new form.

7- Other nominations arrived concerning Bishop Stephanos for Beba
and surrounding areas (Fashn and Samesta)

8- The Pope is studying possibilities to consecrate bishops for
the remaining three dioceses and shall discuss the issue with the
inhabitants upon completion of his study.

9- The Pope gave orders to prepare a residence (bishopric) in vacant
newly established bishoprics and to arrange for a car,
transportation and communication means.

The preparation is now taking place and Pope Shenouda appointed
Bishop Gabriel to supervise this execution.

10- The Pope asked too to receive a report about the Saints Feasts
in those five bishoprics

11- The Pope is also awaiting a global report about the activities
run by the "Daughters of Mary" in different parts of the country.

We ask grace and blessing from the Lord for this work.

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President Saddam Hussein of Irak issued a presidential decree
No 1503/8 to donate a piece of land (Section 11 Farm of Hamdy)
for the Coptic Orthodox Church to build a church. The piece
of land is 3000 sq meters. The president also donated the sum
of 50 million Irakian Dinar (US$30,000) for the construction
of the church.

Metropolitan Abraham sent us copies of the presidential decree
signed by Mr Ahmed Hussein Khodeir Head of the Divan and a copy
of the attached cheque.

Our best thanks for President Saddam
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