Keraza Nos 15,16 - Friday 27 April 2001 Keraza Nos 15,16 - Friday 27 April 2001 Miscellaneous News On Monday 2 April 2001, accompanied by his secretariat, Pope Shenouda paid a visit to HH Abune Philippos Patriarch of Eritrea and Fr Pijimi the Eritrean at El-Hayah Hospital in Heliopolis. Abune Philippos had left the bed and continued his therapy. Abune Philippos left the hospital completely on Monday 9 April 2001 to St Mark Center in Nasr City where he stayed. On Lazarus Saturday (7 April 2001), Pope Shenouda ordained 4 nuns at St Theodore Convent in the names of Iriny, Ruth, Maxima and Macrina. After the ordination, Pope Shenouda visited the adjacent church (Virgin Mary Church) where he inaugurated the new Library. He had a glance at the books and had an extensive meeting with parishioners with whom he talked about the pastoral care for the area and enjoyed some choir singing. Following his yearly habit, Pope Shenouda spent the Holy Week in seclusion at the Papal Residence at St Bishoy Monastery. On Palm Sunday, he celebrated the liturgy at St Bishoy Monastery with Bishop Sarabamon the Abbot of the Monastery, Bishop Joannes and the monastery congregation. On Tuesday he celebrated the Third Hour at the nearby Baramos Monastery, the Sixth Hour at St Bishoy Monastery again and the Eleventh Hour at the adjacent Virgin Mary Syrian Monastery. From there, he drove to Alexandria in the North where he prayed at St Mark Great Cathedral, then at St George Church (Sporting) where he gave a homily before heading back to St Bishoy Monastery to sepend both Thursday and Friday. Then he returned to Cairo to head Easter celebrations and congratulations along with HH Abune Philippos Patriarch of Eritrea, Coptic Bishops, clergy and the seminary choir at St Mark Cathedral in Cairo. On Thursday 5 April 2001 morning, Pope Shenouda received HH Patriarch Petros VII of the Greek Orthodox Church in Alexandria who entered the Papal Residence along the Coptic chanting of the Theological Seminary Choir. A mutual agreement between both churches was signed. This meeting was attended by Metropolitan Bishoy, Bishops Rweis and Joannes, Fr Mina Avva-Mina and Mr Gerges Saleh. In the period 17-18 April 2001, the Committees of the Holy Synod of the Coptic Church gathered at the Papal Residence at St Bishoy Monastery: * The "Care & Ministry Committee" decided to conduct a convention for clergy and stewards about the importance of Visits and Pastoral Ministry. It listened to a report of Bishop Raphael about the conventions of the Christian Religion Education in Egyptian schools and the Ministry of Prisons in Cairo and other governorates. * The "Rites Committee" studied a proposed Fraction Prayer for the Annunciation Feast and recommended that processing with both the Icons of Resurrection and Ascension would be performed from the Ascension Feast till Penticost on Sundays and all days' Liturgies inside the altar. Only in the Morning Offering of Incense of Pentcost will it be processed in the altar and the throughout the whole church. * The "Education, Faith and Legislation Committee" decided to conduct a seminar next September in El-Azab Monastery (Fayum) to study means to face the Protestant and Adventist Activities. * The "Inter-Church Relations Committee" discussed the Theological Dialog with the Anglican Church and relations to the Russian Orthodox Church. The text of the agreement signed by hierarchs with the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Alexandria was read. On the occasion of the Silver Jubilee of the re-installation of the Diocese of Malawy Ensena and Eshmunin, the diocese is about to issue a book. The Bishopric is collecting old or recent information and resources, notes about the late Bishop Biemen former bishop of the diocese or departed priests and deacons. In case you can help please send to the diocese Post Box 13 Malawy or email: demet10@link.net On Thursday 19 April 2001 Pope Shenouda traveled to London UK where he meets with the clergy and gives a word to Coptic Youngsters. From there he flies on Saturday 21 April 2001 to Chicago USA to consecrate St Mark Church and lay the foundation stone of the church building in Milwaukee. HH shall also give a lecture in an Anglican University near Milwaukee before visiting Cleveland. From there he flies to Los Angeles to consecrate the new building of St Mark Church (our oldest church in the USA). HH shall also pay a visit to HG Bishop Karas the Abbot of St Anthony Monastery California and receives nominations of priests. On Tuesday 8 May 2001 (St Mark Feast), HH shall fly back to Cairo to give his weekly lecture at St Mark Cathedral on Wednesday 9 May 2001. Obituary We are sorry to learn about the sudden departure of His Eminence Metropolitan Philippos of Dakahlia. On Monday 2 April 2001, while in his way to attend the meeting of the Coptic Church Endowment Organization he departed suddenly having 76 years. His Eminence was consecrated to the order of the bishopric on 1969 and spent 32 years in the diocese where he was loved by all people before which he spent some years as abbot for St Anthony Monastery. His departure left a big scar in the soul of many people that Archangel Michael Cathedral hardly contained the crowds who came to attend the funeral. The funeral was headed by the Pope and some 30 Metropolitans and Bishops as well as the mayor of Dakahlia, representatives of the Ministry of Interior and Security heads in the governorate. Before his departure, HE had written a book entitled "Diocese of Dakahlia Past and Present". The book appeared in the market two days after his departure. It is 350 pp of big size with nice old picture. The book tells about old diocese onsite and the history of Dakahlia Dioceses, famous figures that appeared there, martyrs, renewal and constructions, ordinations and the most famous visits that took place to the diocese. The book also contains the names and photos of clergy and their ordinations' dates and many other things. --------------------------