Keraza Nos 19, 20 - Dated Friday 8 June 2001 Keraza Nos 19, 20 - Dated Friday 8 June 2001 Consecration of four new bishops Dioceses of Beni-Sweif and Minya Towns: Pope Shenouda received nominations to 3 general bishops to become diocesians bishops: 1. Bishop Gabriel for the diocese of Beni-Sweif and affliated areas. 2. Bishop Stephanos for the diocese of Beba and El-Fashn 3. Bishop Georgius for the diocese of Matai and affiliated areas. On Pentecost day eve, those three bishops were transformed to diocesan bishops. A Papal Decree No 20/30 appointed Heg Moussa el-suriany Papal Delegate for the diocese of Beni-Mazar. Another decree No 21/30 appointed Heg Ezra Anba-Bishoy Papal delegate for the diocese of Magaga & Edwa. Diocese of Khartum: The Pope had received a unanimous nomination of Heg Elia El-Antony Bishop for Khartoum Diocese of Ismailia: The Pope had received a nomination of Heg Seraphim El-Baramosy Bishop for Ismailia. Diocese of South Sinai: The Pope had received a nomination of Heg Appollo El-Baramosy Bishop for South Sinai Our congratulations to those three fathers who were consecrated on this Pentecost Day and congratulations to their dioceses. A new General Bishop: Pope Shenouda consecrated a new General Bishop to assist HH in Cairo who is Bishop Martyros. This latter was consecrated with the three bishops mentioned above. Papal Delegate for Arish and North Sinai: Pope Shenouda delegated Heg Kozman Ava-Mina to be Papal Delegate in Arish and North Sinai. The Pope had previous meetings with Priests of Beni-Sweif and Ismailia. Other meetings took place with people from South Sinai and Bishop Isodorus. Pentecost The Pentecost Day has become an important day in our Coptic church to consecrate new bishops who are successors of the holy apostles. On Sunday 3 July 2001, St Mark Cathedral was packed with 10 thousands faithful: airplanes from Sudan, 12 buses from Ismailia, and crowds from Beni-Sweif, Beba, Matai, Sinai and Cairo. All have come to celebrate the consecration of their new bishops. Outside the cathedral, wide banners and decorations supported and congratulated the new bishops. The cathedral from the inside and outside revealed a clear sense of feast and celebration. The Eve of that day, more than 70 metropolitan and bishop and the Pope had gathered to celebrate their new fellows in the Coptic Holy Synod. The Pope and church fathers processed to the cathedral among the hymns of the Theological Seminary Choir. The Evening offering of incense took place and surrounded by deacons and candlelight, the new delegates for bishopric marched through the cathedral among the crowds who burst into applause and ululation. Then they stood before the altar and took the oath On a table before the sanctuary, the burnus of each ordinand was displayed and each of the bishops present now blessed these vestments before the ordinands in turn approached HH who blessed them and clothed each of them with the Episcopal burnus. Then the Pope called Bishops of Beni-Sweif, Beba and Matai in their new names and positions. The next morning, being the Feast of Pentecost, the four ordinands were led into the cathedral and consecrated to the order of bishop among the joy of the crowds. After the liturgy, the ordinands were invested with the black Episcopal turban and vestment. The Pope put the gospel on the heads saying the Lords words: "as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you.. Receive ye the Holy Ghost: Whose soever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whose soever sins ye retain, they are retained." John 20:22-23 and handed them their staff of office. The whole cathedral packed with crowds burst into a big applause and ecstatic ululation. It was a Feast Day indeed! Word of Pope Shenouda III to the Armenian Church in it's jubilee day My beloved brethren, I have the pleasure to be part of the celebrations of the sister Armenian Orthodox Church, your joys are also ours and your feasts are our feasts. In this happy occasion we celebrate 17 centuries for the declaration of Christianity as official religion for our country and we take the chance to meditate your glorious history. Hail to the old Armenian people, church and fathers. Hail to this apostolic church that was founded at the first century by two of our Lord's apostles: Thaddeus and Bartholomew. Hail to this old church that Jusebius of Cesarae wrote about some of its early bishops in his book "History of the Church" that he published at the fourth century. In the mid third century, correspondence was exchanged between Mahrogan Bishop of Armenia and Dionesius of Alexandria. Hail to St Gregory the Illuminator, the first Catholicos of the church in the fourth century. This great confessor who suffered a lot in the name of our Lord and had been cast into an oubliette for 13 years until he was released to heal King Trdat of his incurable illness. This latter received faith in Christ as well as the whole royal family and Christianity was declared official religion in Armenia in 301 AD. Hail to the Armenian church that was the first country to declare Christianity as official religion twelve years before the Milan Declaration of Emperor Constantine. Hail to the church that held the orthodox faith and believes in the words of St Cyril the Great:"Mia fusis to Qeou Logou sesarkwmenh". Hail to the church that endured martyrdom and persecutions in all times: 1. In early centuries at the hands of Romans 2. In the era of St Gregory the illuminator 3. Series of persecutions forced the throne of the catholicosate to move in different towns many times. 4. A Genocide led by the Turks led to the massacre of more than 2 million Armenians in the East. 5. Another communist persecution included ethnic purification. Hail to that church that spread in Armenia, in Celicia in the Middle East, in Jerusalem, Istanbul and immigration countries to America, Canada, South America and Australia [they that were scattered abroad went every where preaching the word]. Hail to St Mesrop the Archmandrite and hermit who put the alphabet of the Armenian Church and led his monks to translate many of the fathers' writings. Hail to the Armenian Church that translated the Bible in the first third of the 4th century. This translation that is considered one of the oldest and finest in the whole world. Hail to the church in the person of its saint Krikor Narikatsi the great hermit and writer, philosopher and poet of the Armenian church and genius in the number of his compositions. Hail to the Armenian church that kept its identity and nationality and strongly merged with its people that it expresses the Armenian people. Hail to the Armenian church, one of the conservative Oriental Orthodox Churches that kept over centuries traditions, language, hymns and respect for the sayings of early fathers and held strong to its faith. Hail to the role it plays as member in ATIME (Association of Theological Institutes in the Middle East) in the Theological Seminary in Bekfayia. Hail to the Armenian Church for the role it plays at the WCC World Council of Churches, MECC Middle East Council of Churches and different Ecumenical councils in various countries. Hail to the church in the person of its emminent leader Catholicos Aram I who was appointed twice as moderator for the WCC World Council of Churches and his effective role in adjusting the direction of the council and its relation to Orthodox. Hail to the renewal Movement that HH is conducting in the church and his various publications through the MECC Middle East Council of Churches Hail to the union that took place between the Armenian church and its sister Syrian and Coptic churches in the Middle East and the great role that HH MorZakka Eiwass and Catholicos Aram played in constructing it, setting its system, charter and keeping it alive in one heart, thought and church policy. Hail to the Armenian church for witnessing to our Christ in Celicia and immigration countries. We ask the Lord for its success in building the Kingdom of Heaven. We recommend for the care of youngsters since their early childhood. And as I always said a church with no youth is a church with no future. May the Lord be with ye all and put His hand for the building of His kingdom. Miscellaneous Church News * A presidential Decree No 139/2001 was issued licensing the construction of a church and monastery of St George in Khatatba Area, Governorate of Menofia and affiliated buildings. We thank President Hosny Mubarak and congratulate Bishop Pemwa. * HH Abune Phillippos I the Patriarch of Eritrea accompanied Pope Shenouda in a trip to Lebanon where they attended the celebrations of 17 centuries for the declaration of Christianity as official religion in Armenia. Bishop Salama the Eritrean accompanied them also. Abune Phillippos gave a word in the Plenary Session as head of a sister Orthodox Church, his word was translated into English by his deacon Habte Negash. ON Sunday, HH returned to Cairo to return back to Eritrea on Thursday. Pope Shenouda visited HH before his flight and sent Metropolitan Bishoy and Bishop Joannes to greet HH at the airport. * On Thursday 31 May 2001 morning, Pope Shenouda ordained Deacon Isaac Azmy priest for the Diocese of Los Angeles in the name Fr Isaac Boules at St Antonios Chapel at the Papal Residence in Cairo. A number of bishops and priests co-officiated at the ordination office and Liturgy. * In the period 21-23 May 2001, Bishop Suriel held a seminar for priests in his diocese who came from Melbourne, Canberra, Adelaide, Perth and New Zealand. The Seminar Theme was "Caring for Youth" and was published afterwards in a book. ------------------------------------