Keraza Nos 11,12 - Friday 23 March 2001 Meeting of the heads of Oriental Orthodox Churches in the Middle East For the fourth time, the three patriarchs of the Coptic, Syrian and Armenian Churches: Pope Shenouda III, Mor Ignatius Zakka I and Catholicos Aram I. They all gathered at St Mark Coptic Center in Nasr City on Friday 15 and Saturday 16 March 2001. Members of the standing committee that is preparing for the meetings of the patriarchs also attended the meetings. This committee includes Metropolitan Bishoy and Bishop Moussa from the Coptic Church, Mor George Saliba from the Syrian Church and Bishop Siboeh Sarkessian and Archmandrite Narik Alimazian from the Armenian Church. Coptic Bishops Serapion, Joannes, Anthony and Suriel attended the meeting beside some Syrian and Armenian monks. Mr Gerges Saleh the co-director of MECC Middle East Council of Churches also attended the meeting. The meetings discussed the following issues: 1. The celebrations of 17 centuries for the declaration of Christianity as official religion of Armenia shall take place in the period 25-27 May 2001. The three patriarchs shall take part of the celebrations. 2. Theological Dialogs that took place between our churches and the Byzantine church and also with the Anglicans and our relations to the Catholic and Protestant Reformed Churches. 3. The relation of Orthodox (in general) to the WCC the World Council of Churches. 4. The three patriarchs congratulated Mr Gerges Saleh who was recently appointed as co-director of MECC Middle East Council of Churches. 5. The council discussed the sub-committee topic: o It welcomed Metropolitan Bishoy as coordinator for the "Committee of Theological Institutes" an Mr Gerges Saleh his deputy along with the foundation of a new departement for "Oriental Orthodox Studies" in our institutes. o The council welcomed choosing Archmandrite Narik Alimazian coordinator for the "Committee of the Youth" and Fr Mashduts Shopanian his deputy. o The council also welcomed choosing Metropolitan Mor George Saliba coordinator for the "Committee of Publications" and Prior Elia Habib Bahi his deputy. 6. The council also discussed the exchange of knowledge between churches that including newsletters, cassette and video tapes to recognize the church life in different churches. 7. The Three Patriarchs confirmed that peace in the Middle East should be just and to put and end to the Israeli occupation of the West Bank, Jerusalem, Gaza, the Gulan heights and the farms of Shabaa along with respect to international agreements and return of refugees. The council also called the world to lift pressures on Iraq that causes suffering to children, ill people and elderly. During their meeting, the three patriarchs decided to come back in Cairo next November to celebrate the 30th enthronement anniversary of Pope Shenouda. It is worth to note that Mor Zakka Eiwass has arrived Cairo in the evening of Saturday 10 March accompanied by Fr Elia his secretary. Bishops Moussa, Joannes and Raphael as well as Fr Jeremiah Ava-Mina, Mr Gerges Saleh and a delegation from the Syrian Church in Egypt received them at the airport. On Sunday 11 March 2001 morning, HH celebrated the mass at Virgin Mary Syrian Church in Cairo. The mass was attended too by Bishops Moussa and Joannes and Fr Jeremia Ava-Mina, the Chorus of the Theological Seminary and church heads in Egypt. On the next day, Pope Shenouda accompanied by Metropolitan Bishoy, Bishop Ruweis and Fr Jeremiah Ava-Mina, they paid a visit to Mor Ignatius. The whole party then, drove on to El-Hayah Hospital where they visited Abune Philoppos I the Patriarch of Eritrea who is there under treatment. Abune Philoppos had arrived Egypt in the evening of Friday 9 March 2001 accompanied by Bishop Kyrellos the Eritrean and HH deacon. Bishop Joannes and a responsible at the Eritrean Embassy have received them at the airport. From where, he went directly to El-Hayah Hospital in Heliopolis for treatment. On Thursday 14 March 2001, Catholicos Aram arrived at Cairo airport where Bishops Serapion, Joannes, Suriel and His Excellency the Armenian Ambassador in Egypt received him. He drove to St Mark Center where he was received by deacons and laymen. In the evening, Pope Shenouda came to welcome HH and they had a nice theological chat. Youth Convention for Youngsters from Paris and the Netherlands In the period 16-18 February 2001 a convention was organized for youngsters from the churches of "Paroisse de l'Archange Michel et de Saint Georges" in Paris and churches in Amsterdam, Eindhoven and Utrecht in the Netherlands. Around 100 (15-18 years old) youngsters gathered at the cultural center behind Virgin Mary Church (Amsterdam) with their priests (Heg. Moussa Anba-Bishoy-Paris, Heg Arsenios El-Baramosy-Amsterdam, Fr Youssef Mansour-Eindhoven and Fr Raphael Helmy-Utrecht) The convention was opened by a lecture given by Heg Moussa about "Life of Communion" after which all priests participated in the discussion and answered questions that were presented by the attendants. On Friday warm up and introduction activities helped youngsters become acquainted to each other. They all participated in the Agpia (Horologion) and Tasbeha (Vigil) Offices. On Saturday morning, they all went to St mark Church in Lahay where they spent the whole day after which they returned to Amsterdam for the evening Raising of Incense. On Sunday the convention was concluded by celebrating a liturgy at Archangel Michael and St Antonios Church in Eindhoven followed by a party. All attendants felt happy for this occasion and felt the blessing of meeting with the Lord in a life of communion and unity in the church the sacred body of Christ. Metropolitan Bishoy's Journey to Sydney Australia On 18 Feb 2001 Metropolitan Bishoy inaugurated a new Theological Seminary in Melbourne and lectured there. Priests in NSW delegated HH to choose whomever he thinks best. Therefore, Pope Shenouda sent Metropolitan Bishoy to Sydney to ask priests, deacons and laymen about their ideas for a new bishop for them. Metropolitan Bishoy had sent an invitation to members of the General Coptic Church Council of NSW and representatives of churches in Brisbane Queensland and Gold Coast. The council includes priests, churches' council members, Sunday School & Theological Seminary Representatives as well as Coptic members of the State Council. Before the meeting, HE gave a word to the priests about the Adventist Heresies and then he asked them about their ideas. The meeting took place at St Mark Church in Sydney on Saturday 24 February 2001 at 16:00. As deputy of Pope Shenouda, Metropolitan Bishoy headed the meeting that lasted for more than two hours. The attendants thanked Pope Shenouda for his care and asked that their recommendation would be Bishop Raphael one of the general bishops of Youth. If this seems difficult, they would accept any monk HH would find suitable for the diocese. The same day, Metropolitan Bishoy visited St Demyana & St Athanasios Church where he officiated the Evening Raising of Incense and lectured both in English and Arabic. The next day, HE celebrated the liturgy at St George Church in Sydney before visiting consequently The Apostles and St Abanub Church in Black Town, Archangel Michael & St Bishoy at Monte Detroit, Virgin Mary St Pachomius & St Shenouda in Caraway to know their recommendations of new priests. Application Forms were distributed to parishioners and then collected with their opinions. The results were as follows: 1- Deacon Ihab Barsoum (Computer Engineer) for St Abanub Church 2- Deacon Medhat Yassa (Engineer and MA in Business Administration) for Archangel Michael Church 3- Deacon Moheb Sherubim (B.Sc. of Science and Diploma in Business Administration) Since no canonical problems existed concerning the nominated candidates, the whole thing was transferred to Pope Shenouda who asked them to come to Egypt as early as possible in order to spend Easter (after the 40 days) in their churches. They arrived Egypt on 5 March 2001 and they were ordained priests in the morning of Wednesday 7 March 2001 at St Antonios Chapel at the Papal Residence in Cairo. Pope Shenouda accompanied by Metropolitan Bishoy and Bishops Moussa, Joannes, Damian and Suriel headed the ordination office. After which, they drove on to St Bishoy Monastery to spend their ordination 40 days. On Monday 5 March 2001 morning, Metropolitan Bishoy visited Virgin Mary church and the Coptic College affiliated to it where 600 boy and girl pupils (Kindergarten to Grade 12) are enrolled. He visited the new buildings after the inauguration and met with the pupils and answered many questions. In the evening, HE lectured at the Theological Seminary about the "Second Advent of Christ, its signs and unknown timing" On the next day, Tuesday 6 March, HE flew back to Cairo accompanied by Bishops Paula and Suriel. They were received by the Pope who listened to their reports about ministry in Australia and its needs. The Pope accepted the founding of a new Coptic church in Perth to minister 100 families living in the area adjacent to Monte Detroit that have currently a church ministering 800 families. Bishop Taudros' Journey to Libya, Malta, Sweden and Germany Due to the illness of Bishop Pachomius and his need to rest, Bishop Taudros took his place in the annual visit he usually pays to Libya and Malta in the period 11-25 January 2001. HG visited Coptic churches in Tripoli, Benghazi, Mesrata and Baydaa which are ministered by three priests. He also met with the deputy of the Egyptian Ambassador in Tripoli, the Maltese Ambassador in Tripoli (Dr Richard Vela), the Catholic Bishop Giovanni Martinelli, a responsible at the Islamic Evangelism "Daawa" in Tripoli, the Egyptian Consul General in Benghazi (Mr Fouad Selim) and the family of the Consulate, Director of Ceremonies and responsible of Endowments "Awkaf" and the Catholic Bishop in Benghazi Selvester. In the period 15-17 January, HG visited the Island of Malta where he celebrated a liturgy with Copts living there. Since there is no Coptic churches there, HG met with Mr George Dublazin (Responsible of Ceremonies at the Maltese Ministry of Exterior), Mr Paul Misfud (Mayor of the Capital Valita) and Archbishop of Malta Msgr. Anato Depa Scola. HG met too with the Egyptian Ambassador in Malta Mr Yehia El-Ramlawy. In all those meetings, HG was opening the subject of allocating a church for the ministry of the Copts living in Malta and amounting to more than 30 families. They promised to allocate a church very soon by God's grace. Following an invitation from the Church of Sweden, Bishop Taudros to Sweden in the period 2-22 February 2001 where he visited several activities of the church of Sweden in a number of cities. He gave many lectures about the Coptic church, its history, present life, spirituality and ministry in the world. He paid visits also to Coptic Churches and families in Stockholm and Goetteborg and celebrated the liturgy there. IN his way to Sweden HG had stopped at Germany where he celebrated a liturgy at St Antonios Monastery and Coptic Center in Kroeffelbach (close to Frankfurt) on Tuesday 30 January 2001. Miscellaneous News On Thursday 8 March 2001, Pope Shenouda visited Virgin Mary and St Athanasios Cathedral at Nasr City, bishops Ruweis, Joannes and Anthony and Heg Moussa El-Suriany and Fr Jeremiah Ava-Mina accompanied him. The five priests of the church received them along with Dr Tharwat Bassili, members of the church committee, deacons and stewards. During this visit, HH consecrated the new baptistery and visited church activities including the affiliated chapel of Archangel Michael and St Antonios, Banquet Hall, Kindergarten, Library, "Pope Shenouda Lecture Hall", Elderly House, Sunday School Classes and the Church Council Meeting Room. The Pope congratulated them on the fascinating activities they are doing. The same morning, Pope Shenouda visited St George Church in Nozha where the two priests of the church, the church council, deacons and parishioners, received him. He consecrated there the new baptistery and visited the church activities. We learned from Fr Fouad Boules Sidhom the secretary of the Standing Committee of Prison Ministry that: The Committee of Pastoral care and ministry affiliated to the Coptic Holy Synod gathered under the blessings of Pope Shenouda and attendance of Metropolitan Pachomius. This semi-Annual meeting of the Standing Committee of Ministry of Prisons took place on Tuesday 13 February 2001 at El-Karma Center in Damanhur. Many words were given: (how to select and form servants for the prison?) while prof. Tharwat Isaac (Faculty of Fine Arts) talked about (dealing with thoughts torturing the prisonner). 46 priests, servants, deacons and deaconesses involved in this ministry attended the meeting. Fr Boules Fouad did the secretarial work of the meeting and the standing committee issued a CD having all previous meetings' lectures. On Friday 9 March 2001 evening, Pope Shenouda met with the Blind/Deaf community of Copts in Alexandria. He asked about their ideas of having a priest. Application forms were distributed including pictures of candidates and they were asked to check the picture of the person they prefer as priest. This resulted in the choice of the teacher Mr Maged Kamel Soliman serving in St George and St Anthony Church Moharam-Bey, Alexandria. His ordination should take place on Friday 23 March 2001 at the monastery of St Bishoy. Concerning the clarification of the Theological Agreement signed between the Oriental and the Byzantine Orthodox Families, HE Metropolitan Bishoy traveled to Moscow Russia to church leaders there to explain the agreement. He was accompanied by Metropolitan Mor Matta from the Syrian Orthodox Church and Archmandrite Narik from the Armenian Orthodox Church. In the dawn of Thursday 8 March 2001, Sister Efrosina one of the oldest nuns of St George Convent (Haret Zweila) departed in the Lord after years of struggle with illness. The funeral was officiated by Bishops Justus, Isodorus and Raphael along with a number of priests. We ask the Lord for the rest of her soul. In the morning of Thursday 1 March 2001, a party visited St Antonios Monastery at the Eastern Desert. The party included: Dr Gaballah Ali Gaballah head of the State Organization of Antiquities accompanied by General Nader head of the Projects Departement, Mr Farag, Mr Mahmoud Ali General Director of Antiquities' Inspection in Northern Egypt, deputy of the American Ambassador in Egypt (Mr Renau Harnich and his wife (the Ambassador was ill at the time), Mr Bill Pearson head of USAID Egypt, Mr Robert Springburg Director of the American Research Center in Egypt and American members from the Research Center and the USAID. They visited the monastery and were impressed by frescos and the marvelous restoration work that has taken place in the old church and the nice cooperation and team spirit between different partners at the restoration project. The abbot of the monastery Bishop Justus thanked them for the restoration and wished that the restoration of the whole monastery would be at this same high standard. The abbot of the monastery then entertained the party to lunch before both parties exchanged gifts. They signed the guest book and promised the visit the monastery again. Not in official visit but in a familial visit. On Tuesday 13 March 2001 morning, Pope Shenouda received a delegation of representatives from the Churche of England and Ireland: - Bishop Michael Langrish - Rev. Frederick George (Baptist) - Rev. Hywel Wyn Richard (Wales) - Mrs Gillian Kingegten - Mr Pavl Renshaaw They were accompanied by Archbishop Rev Mounir Hanna head of the Anglican Church in Egypt. The meeting was attended by Bishop Anthony and Mr Gerges Saleh the co-director of MECC. They all attended the Pope's Wednesday meeting. ------------------------------------