Keraza Nos 41, 42 - Friday 7 December 2001 Keraza Nos 41, 42 - Friday 7 December 2001 ------------------------------------------------------------------ Miscellaneous News ------------------------------------------------------------------ At the Papal Residence Chapel in Alexandria, Pope Shenouda received HG Bishop Demetrius the abbot and Fr Mina Avva-Mina the prior of St Mena Monastery in Mariut who were accompanied by a number of monks. Pope Shenouda cooked the spices and anointed the tube containing the relics of the saint because of the saints martyrdom feast (24 November). This occasion was also attended by HG Bishop Joannes and Fr Sherubim El-Bachomy the prior of the Patriarchate in Alexadnria. On Monday 26th November 2001, Pope Shenouda paid a visit to Adv. Faruk Seif El-Nasr the Egyptian Minister of Justice to ask about his health. HH was accompanied by HG Bishop Joannes and Adv. Melek Mina. The Bishopric of Youth held a wide gathering for migrant youngsters at St Mark Old Cathedral in Ezbekia Cairo. This was attended by some 1000 person from both sexes. Words were given by bishops Isaiah, Moussa and Raphael and six church choirs presented spiritual songs before the day was concluded by price distribution to Church Student Hostel supervisors, best students and committees ministering migrant youngsters at the Bishopric of Youth. This ministry is affiliated to the Bishopric of youth under the care of Fr Antonios Fakhry. The Youth Committee of the Oriental Orthodox Churches in the Middle East gathered at St Mark Centre Nasr City with the attendance of Metropolitan George Saliba (Syrian Orthodox), Bishop Moussa (Coptic Orthodox) and Archmandrite Narig Alimanzian (Armenian Orthodox). This meeting took place in order to study the recommendations of the Preparatory Committee that gathered last October 2001 under the auspices of the Armenian church in Lebanon and that was attended by Fr Luka Bassilious and Deacon Ayman Karam from our church. This committee shall report to HH Pope Shenouda, HH Patriarch MorZakka and Catholicos Aram in order empower the spirit of communion and exchange experience, programmes, books and periodicals between our three churches. This year, the last Sunday of the Month of Kiahk coincides with the eve of Coptic Christmas (Sunday 28 Kiahk 1719 Martyrs  6 January 2002). In order to respect the 4-Sunday Kiahk lectionery lectures before Christmas, the readings of the fifth Sunday of Hathor shall be substituted by the 1st Sunday of Kiahk as follows: * 1st Sunday: 30 Hathor (9 December 2001) * 2nd Sunday: 7 Kiahk (16 December 2001) * 3rd Sunday: 14 Kiahk (23 December 2001) * 4th Sunday: 21 Kiahk (30 December 2001) * Christmas Eve shall be 4-6 January 2002 May the Lord bless the world, our country and church with the blessing of those days. Dr Youssef Mansour In the period 21-24 November 2001, the Family Convention was held for the diocese of South USA in Destine Florida. This convention was organised by Bishops Ruweis and Youssef and a number priests. It was attended by 400 person that were split into four groups each having a separate schedule. The theme of the convention was Family, Faith and Fulfilment. ------------------------------------------------------------------ The Committee of Orthodox Participation at the WCC World Council of Churches ------------------------------------------------------------------ In the period 14-21 November 2001, the committee (60 members half of which are Orthodox) gathered in Berek Fordo in Hungary under the auspices of the Reformed Church in Hungary. That was the third meeting following the meetings in Switzerland and Egypt. The Coptic church is represented there by HE Metropolitan Bishoy who was also elected head for the section responsible of the reformulation the decision-making mechanism in the charter of the WCC and its internal system. The meeting was headed by Metropolitan Christomos of Ephesus (Patriarchate of Constantinople) on the Orthodox side and Reverend Koppe of Germany on the Protestant side. The committee worked in five different groups studying: * Decision Making * Common Prayers * Ecclesiology * Ethics * Membership Concerning Decision-making at the WCC, it was agreed that decisions should be taken anonymously especially in matters concerning Education, Faith and Ethics. This was done in order to secure the Orthodox attendance because Orthodox represent only 25% of members in WCC Committees, sections and meetings. Decisions would no longer be based on vote to reflect the Protestant tendencies and ignore the Orthodox traditions of both Orthodox churches. It was also noticed that it would be possible to make all necessary adjustments in order to reach unanimous agreement on subjects. One decision report shall be issued with all decisions taken at meetings. Members shall be able to include positions of both parts in the same report or mention the different position of any minority in the core text of the same report or simply postpone the decision on a special subject or agree unanimously on Not taking a decision. It shall also be the right of any church family or church group (through its spokesman) to use its right to objection in order to stop the issuance of a decision till a unanimous agreement is reached. The decision shall also be considered unanimous in case this minority accepted to let the decision pass after extensive discussions and it may not record its position in the decision report text. In order not to freeze the work of WCC, it was agreed that it is possible to switch from the Unanimous Voting System to the normal vote on the condition that 5% of the attendance ask for that and 95% accept it. This rate secures the acceptance of a minimum of 80% of Orthodox on this exception. It was also agreed that a standing committee should be formed. Half of which is Orthodox and the other half from other churches of WCC. Its role should be to supervise the WCC agenda and topics to be discussed. And it shall study the Orthodox participation problems over the following years. The committee shall meet next May in Finland in order to discuss pending topics and finalise its report to be presented to the WCC Central Committee Meeting. The translator found some more details on http://www.wcc-coe.org/wcc/news/press/99/42pre.html ------------------------------------------------------------------ Canonised Coptic Monasteries ------------------------------------------------------------------ A. Monasteries that existed on 1971: 1. Virgin Mary Monastery Baramos (in Wadi El-Natrun) 2. St Macarius Monastery (in Wadi El-Natrun) 3. St Bishoy Monastery (in Wadi El-Natrun) 4. Virgin Mary Syrian Monastery (in Wadi El-Natrun) 5. St Paul Monastery in the Eastern Desert (The Red Sea) 6. St Anthony Monastery in the Eastern Desert (The Red Sea) 7. Virgin Mary Monastery (Muharaq) in the Mount of Qusqam in Qussia 8. St Samuel the Confessor Monastery in the Mount of Qalamun in Maghagha 9. St Mina of Wonders Monastery in Mariut. B. Monasteries that were canonised at the time of Pope Shenouda: 1. St Pachomius Monastery in Hager Edfu (Canonised by the Holy Synod on 26 March 1980) 2. St George Monastery Rozaikat (Canonised by the Holy Synod on 1st June 1985) 3. Virgin Mary Monastery in Akhmim (Canonised by the Holy Synod on 6th June 1987) 4. St Anthony Monastery in California (Canonised by the Holy Synod on 5th June 1993) 5. St George Khatatba (Canonised by the Holy Synod on 13th April 1995) 6. St Shenouda the Archmandrite Monastery in Sohag (Canonised by the Holy Synod on 14th June 1997) 7. Monastery of Sts Anthony and Moses the Black in Khartoum (Canonised by the Holy Synod on 14th June 1997) 8. St Pachomius Monastery El-Shayeb at Luxor (Canonised by the Holy Synod on 6th June 1998) 9. St Shenouda the Archmandrite Monastery in Milan Italy (Canonised by the Holy Synod on 6th June 1998) 10. St Antonios Monastery in Jerusalem (Canonised by the Holy Synod on 29th May 1999) 11. Archangel Gabriel Monastery in the Mount of Naqlun at the desert of Fayoum (Canonised by the Holy Synod on 29th May 1999) 12. St Mina of Wonders Monastery in Abnub (Canonised by the Holy Synod on 2nd June 2001). ------------------------------------------------------------------