Keraza Nos 33, 34 dated Friday 12 October 2001
                         Keraza Nos 33, 34 dated Friday 12 October 2001
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                       Laying the Foundation Stone of
                    a Coptic Church in the Mount of Tur
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     On Tuesday 2 October, Pope Shenouda took a small private airplane
     to Sinai in order to lay the foundation stone for the first Coptic
     Church in this area. He was accompanied by Bishops Arsenios,
     Moussa, Paula, Isodorus and Apollo as well as Fr Pefnutios the
     prior of the Paramos Monastery, Fr Mina Avva-Mina and Mr Osiris a
     Coptic business man from Sharm El-Sheikh.

     They were received at the airport by General Mustafa Afify the
     Governor of South Sinai and the Head of Security there and several
     religious and state responsibles, dignitaries, press and TV. They
     all drove on to the piece of land, where they were received by
     Greek Orthodox Metropolitan Damianos of Sinai, indigenous people
     of Tur and head Bedouins of South Sinai.

     Several words were given by Bishop Apollo of South-Sinai, Sheikh
     Eid Metwally Shatla of the Endowments and the Governor General
     Mustafa Afifi. Pope Shenouda concluded with a word and distributed
     souvenirs. The Governor presented HH with the Armor of the
     Governorate and both laid the foundation stone. A prayer was said
     before all drove to Magdolina Village to have lunch. At 17:00,
     Pope Shenouda and his accompanying party returned back to Cairo.

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                             Miscellaneous News
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     We were touched by the painful accident where our son Adel Karas
     was victim in Los Angeles. He was killed by sinners hands in his
     working place. The American Ambassador to Egypt Mr David Welch
     visited us on Monday 24 September 2001 morning and relayed his
     deep apology and condolences and confirmed that they are chasing
     the criminals. Our deep condolences for his family. May the Lord
     grant his soul piece in the paradise of joy.

     The three newly consecrated bishops shall be shortly enthroned in
     their dioceses as follows:

        * Saturday 13 October 2001 Bishop Athanasios - Virgin Mary
          Cathedral Diocese of Beni Mazar & Bahnasa
        * Saturday 20 October 2001 Bishop Agathon - St George Cathedral
          Diocese of Magaga & Adwa
        * Saturday 27 October 2001 Bishop Kosman - Virgin Mary &
          Archangel Michael Cathedral Diocese of North Sinai in Arish

     A new book is under printing for HH Pope Shenouda in Arabic
     language. The book entotled "Spiritual meditations in the parables
     of Christ". The book interprets 15 parable of Christ from the four
     gospels from different sides.

     Following the directions of Pope Shenouda, HE Metropolitan Bishoy
     flew to Rome on Wednesday 3 October 2001 evening to meet with
     Cardinal Casper Head of the Christian Unity Office in the Vatican
     on Thursday 4 October 2001 morning. This is to prepare for the
     Official Theological Dialogue between the Catholic Church and the
     Oriental Orthodox Family. He shall also explain the Coptic
     Orthodox view of Assyrian Churches which have currently dialogue
     with the church of Rome. On the same day, Abba Bishoy flew back to
     Cairo. It is worth to note that this trip to the Vatican was
     prepared by Bishop Barnabas who received HE at the airport and
     accompanied him during the visit.

     On Friday 5 October 2001, Bishops Antonios-Marcos and Boules had a
     general clergy meeting in Johannesburg concerning the Coptic
     missions in Africa. Attended the meeting, Heg Youhanna Ramzy
     (Abidjan - Capital of Cote D'Ivoire), Fr Morcos Iskander (Harare -
     Zimbabwe), Fr Samuel Salah (Namibia), Fr Moussa Makram (Nairobi -
     Kenya), Fr Youhanna Banub (Lusaka Zambia) and Fr Hedra Isaac
     (Johannesburg). Attended the meeting too Sister Verena (Masino
     Kenya). The meeting included a study of Missionary Work, exchange
     of experience and answering questions. A similar meeting shall be
     held for the African priests of the Coptic Church. Those meetings
     proved to have a positive impact on the coordination and unity of
     work.

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