Latest news with #Tawadros
Watani
13-07-2025
- General
- Watani
Pope inaugurates 5th world service week for Coptic youth worldwide
On 12 July, Pope Tawadros II inaugurated the fifth Service Week for Coptic Orthodox Youth from around the world. The event was held at Karma House in Ikingi Maryut. The opening ceremony included a documentary showcasing the history of the Logos youth gatherings from 2018 until 2025. The young men and women then engaged in discussions with the Pope, tackling topics related to voluntary service, the work of the apostles, and comparisons between past and present. Pope Tawadros spoke about the theme of the Service Weeks, 'GPS,' and offered a new spiritual reflections on its meaning: -G for Glory -P for Power -S for Sky At the conclusion of the event, and in a touching gesture, the young people celebrated the 37th anniversary of the Pope's' monastic vows, which coincides with the end of July. World Service Week for Youth of the Coptic Orthodox Church is the fifth such week organised for young people following the Logos Gatherings of 2018 and 2022. A total of 80 young men and women from around the world are taking part. The week is held under the patronage of the HIGH Office for Service Weeks, and the theme of this year's event is 'Discipleship.' Joyous 'Back to Roots' for Coptic Diaspora young Logos Coptic Youth Forum: 'See for yourselves' Comments comments Tags: 5th World Service Week for Coptic youth worldwide 2025
Watani
09-06-2025
- Politics
- Watani
Coptic Synod in June 2025 assembly
On 5 June 2025, the Holy Synod of the Coptic Orthodox Church held its general assembly session at the conclusion of its regular convention for the year 2025. The general assembly is traditionally held every year around the date of the Feast of the Pentecost, in a nod to the ministry and service of the Apostles which started following their acceptance of the Holy Spirit on the day of the Pentecost, and extends through the Church to this day. Pope Tawadros II presided over the session which was attended by 112 Synod members out of a total of 139. The session began with Pope Tawadros reading a passage from the Book of Revelation (2:1–7), focusing on five phrases from the text: 'I know your works' (v. 2): This refers to the works directed toward souls, which we perform as shepherds with a pure heart and good conscience—acts of love and mercy. 'Nevertheless I have this against you' (v. 4): A call for self-examination and conscience searching, delivered to us gently by God so we may become alerted to ourselves. 'To him who overcomes' (v. 7): An invitation to spiritual struggle against inner inclinations. Our life on earth is a time of testing in which we must overcome. 'He who has an ear, let him hear' (v. 7): Refers to the ear of the heart, by which we hear and obey. Blessed is he who obeys the commandments of the Holy Bible. 'What the Spirit says to the churches' (v. 7): This refers to spiritual leadership. The Synod committee rapporteurs presented the Synod with the recommendations of each committee. These recommendations were discussed thoroughly, and after the discussion of each committee's report, the final content of the recommendation was agreed upon by consensus. The Synodal Committee for Public Relations recommended developing curricula for all Church services to alert all members of the congregation to the importance and necessity of active participation in national community service and volunteer work, with a view to consolidating the spirit of citizenship while highlighting the societal role of the Copts. The Synodal Committee for Media and Information recommended the formation of a mini-committee to develop a vision for spreading sound ecclesiastical thought on the Internet, and increasing the familiarity of the congregation and Church servants with Internet technology and artificial intelligence AI. This should be invested in preparing interesting and attractive sermons and Sunday School lessons. The Synodal Committee for Ecumenical Relations recommended that the Coptic Orthodox Church should seek to address the dispute between the Syriac-Indian Orthodox Church and the Indian Orthodox Church. With this in sight, a meeting is scheduled to be held in Cairo where Pope Tawadros will urge discussion of the differences in order to preserve the unity of the Oriental Orthodox Churches family. The Coptic Orthodox Church is following with concern the predicament of the Monastery of St Catherine in Sinai and appreciates the Egyptian State's position in not harming the monastery or the monastic life in there. The Synodal Committee for [Social] Care and Service recommended running a development programme for innovators and athletes from among persons with disabilities, with an exchange of experiences between dioceses. it also recommended necessarily running meetings for the families of prisoners, and helping released prisoners in all dioceses find jobs. It was also recommended that welfare and development offices should be formed and activated in each diocese, and that coordination should be encouraged between them and the Development Partners Committee of the Coptic Orthodox Church. The necessity of raising awareness of the dangers of illegal migration was stressed, as was the setting up of programmes for building gender identity among children, with a focus on training priests, parents and Church servants on prevention and sound psychological and physical education on that score. The committee also recommended that the computers and modern technology should be made mainstream in Coptic hospitals, for the benefit the hospitals and patients. Preparations are underway, the Committee stressed, for the project of the General Secretariat of Coptic Hospitals in Cairo, similar to that of the Coptic hospitals in Alexandria. The Synodal Committee for the family recommended that the 'Groom and bride's pledge' should be carefully read before the marriage ceremony, and that the recently enacted law of the rights of the elderly should be studied to make maximum benefit of it. The Synodal Committee for Faith and Teaching recommended that work on the catechism of the Coptic Orthodox Church should continue. The Synodal Committee for Rituals recommended that a feast of Zacchaeus the tax collector who is commemorated on 3 Hathor, 13 November, should be added to the Church feasts and his story should be included in the Coptic Synaxarium on that date. The Synodal Committee for Diocese Affairs recommended that a meeting should be held among the clerical councils for family affairs and Fr Sergius Serguis, deputy-general of the patriarchate in Cairo, to discuss engagement and marriage contacts. The Synodal Committee for Monasticism and Monasteries recommended that monks should be encouraged to conduct serious academic studies on theology and doctrine. It also recommended issuing a non-periodical publication that would present research papers and articles, and that it would be edited by the various Coptic monasteries in turn. The Synodal Committee for Diaspora Affairs recommended to continue encouraging trips by service organisations in the Diaspora to the Mother Church in Egypt, with a view to providing services and development projects to dioceses and churches in Egypt. It also recommended holding regular on-line meetings between the Pope and Coptic Orthodox dioceses in North America and Europe which should be divided into sectors according to the number of churches; these meetings are to be held at the level of priests, Church servants, youth and, if possible families. Church servants and young people should be familiarised with the use of AI wisely and perceptively, and cautioned against providing inaccurate theological or doctrinal content. The Holy Synod concluded with approving the revival of monastic life, and officially recognised the monastery of the Archangel Michael in the Eastern Mountain of Girga, Sohag some 500km south of Cairo, as a thriving functioning monastery. The Synod also decided to add the event of a joint liturgy held by the Patriarchs of the three Oriental Orthodox Churches in the Middle East—commemorating the 17th centenary of the First Ecumenical Council of Nicaea—to the Synaxarium on the 10 Bashans, 19 May. Finally, the Synod issued a welcoming statement regarding the Coptic Orthodox Church's hosting of the Sixth International Conference of the World Council of Churches, marking the 17th centenary of the Council of Nicaea. The Synod elected Anba Yu'annis, Bishop of Assiut, as the new Secretary of the Holy Synod of the Coptic Orthodox Church. Additionally, three of bishops were elected as Assistant Secretaries: Anba Stephanous, Bishop of Biba and al-Fashn; Anna Markos, Bishop of Damietta, Kafr El-Sheikh, and al-Barari, and Abbot of the Monastery of Saint Demiana in al-Barari; and Anba Marc, Bishop of Paris and Northern France. The elections were conducted by secret ballot; Anna Yu'annis and the Assistant Secretaries, won by overwhelming majority. Pope Tawadros and the Synod members extended their heartfelt thanks to Anba Danial, Metropolitan of Maadi, and his Assistant Secretaries, whose term of service concluded according to the Synod's laws. Comments comments Tags: Coptic Orthodox Holy Synod June 2025Nader Shukry
Watani
09-06-2025
- General
- Watani
Nine principles for nine new bishops
On 1 June 2025, the Feast of the Entry of the Holy Family into Egypt, Pope Tawadros completed the consecration of eight new bishops, and installed one on Coptic dioceses and monasteries in need of pastoral care, some because their previous bishops passed away. Three dioceses in place of one The consecration ceremony began during incense Vespers service on Saturday 31 May, and was complete during Mass on Sunday 1 June—the Mass celebrating the Holy Family Feast—at St Mark's Cathedral in Abassiya, Cairo. The Pope announced that the Diocese of Beheira, Matrouh, and the Five Western Cities (Pentapolis), whose previous Metropolitan Anba Pachomius passed away on 30 March 2025 following 54 years of service, would be divided into three separate dioceses: The Diocese of Beheira and its affiliated regions, the Diocese of Burg al-Arab and Amriya, and the Diocese of Matrouh and the the Five Western Cities. During his lifetime, Metropolitan Pachomius had founded and headed the Monastery of Saint Macarious the Alexandrite in Gabal (Mount) al-Qalali in Beheira; the Pope installed a new Abbot there. Calling them by name The consecration rite started with a procession of the candidates for episcopacy marching among the congregation, for the public to become familiar with them. The episcopal vow was then read, following which Pope Tawadros completed the installation of Anba Ilarion as Bishop of Beheira and its affiliated regions. The Pope said of Anba Ilarion: 'He has been a general bishop for ten years, serving in Cairo and Alexandria. He is well known for his ecclesiastical and spiritual leadership.' The Pope and the attending metropolitans and bishops then blessed the episcopal vestments of the new bishops in the name of the Holy Trinity, and he formally announced the names and titles of the eight new bishops: Fr Ghabrial al-Muharraqi was named Anba Pachomius, Bishop and Abbot of the Monastery of Saint Macarius the Alexandrite in Gabal al-Qalali. Fr Andrawes al-Suriani became Anba Karass, Bishop of Matrouh and the Five Western Cities. Fr Theophan Ava Mina was called Anba Mina, Bishop of the Diocese of Burg al-Arab and Amriya. Fr Danial El-Georgy became Anba Boqtor, Bishop of the Diocese of Deir Muwwas and Dalga in Minya, succeeding Anba Aghapius who passed away in February 2025. Fr Dioscorus al-Antouny was called Bishop Dioscorus of Southern Germany and Abbot of the Monastery of Saint Anthony in Kröffelbach, in place of Bishop Mishael who passed away in August 2023. Fr Ologious al-Baramosi became Bishop-General for the Churches in Ain Shams, Matariyya, and Helmiyet al-Zeitoun in Cairo, under the name Bishop Ologius. Fr Yakobos Anba Bishoy was made Bishop-General for the Churches in Hadayeq al-Qubba, al-Wayli, Abassiya, and Manshiyet al-Sadr, under the name Bishop Athanasius. Fr Ignatius al- Suriani was made Assistant Bishop to Metropolitan Sharobeem of the Diocese of Qena, under the name of Bishop Ignatius. Nominated and examined Participating in the prayers were 102 metropolitans and bishops, the General Deputies of the Patriarchates in Cairo and Alexandria, and a number of monks from the monasteries of Saint Anthony in Kröffelbach and Saint Macarius the Alexandrite in Gabal al-Qalali, as well as members of the clergy and congregation from the various dioceses and monasteries receiving the new bishops. Pope Tawadros said: 'This is indeed a joyful day… Recently, we lost the blessed bishops: Metropolitan Pachomius, Bishop Aghapius, and Bishop Mishael. In order to find candidates to fill their places, we held meetings and consultations with clergy councils and asked the abbots of monasteries to nominate two monks from each monastery. With prayer, we received several nominations. 'The Secretariat of the Holy Synod interviewed the nominees and conducted spiritual, ecclesiastical, psychological, and social assessments. After consensus was reached on specific names, I met with them, we talked and discussed the regions most suitable for them to serve in according to their abilities. 'We then sent the draft list to the Holy Synod members to share their feedback within three days. The final official list was announced two weeks ago. After that, the nominees attended a five-day course in Church management conducted by the team from the Coptic Institute for Church Administration and Development (COPTICAD)'. Extension to the Apostles The following day, Sunday 1 June the Feast of the Entry of the Holy Family into Egypt, the consecration and installation rite was completed during Mass, with participation of 110 metropolitans and bishops. Once the Praxis was read, the procession of the eight new bishops entered the cathedral to the deacon choir's joyous chant 'Ti Galeeli Aa' of the Holy Family Feast. The congregation cheered and ululated in joy. Pope Tawadros laid his hands on the new bishops in a rite signifying the transfer of spiritual authority and the calling of the Holy Spirit. He explained that episcopal ordination takes place following the reading of the day's chapter from the Praxis, the book that cites the lives of the saints and martyrs, in confirmation that the work of new bishops is an extension of that of the apostles who Jesus sent to preach the word; the ordination of priests, on the other hand, takes place following the Prayer of Reconciliation, given that they primarily act as men of prayer and intercession for the congregation. The Pope then called each of the new bishops by his episcopal name three times, blessing them in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, while the metropolitans and bishops laid their hands on them. Nine principles In the Mass sermon, the Pope chose to speak of nine principles the new bishops should follow, and not only them but all bishops, priests, monks and the laity. First, he said, is that Christ is the owner and leader of the Church; 'we are compliant tools in His hands. 'Second: the bishop is ordained for the people; he must be perpetually present among them. 'Third: Humbleness is the protector of the gift of grace you received. The episcopacy is the crown jewel of clerical work. But in the Church, we do not believe in upward elevation, the uppermost position is when we bow down and wash feet. Only then will you feel how small you are before God's abundant gifts that work through your humbleness. 'Fourth: Never ignore your spiritual life, because if you lose yourself you lose everything. Never forget that you are first and foremost a monk [who had given up the world for the love of Christ. Don't let your new responsibilities drag you away from God. 'Fifth: Fill your congregation with spiritual, ecclesiastical, social and mental nourishment. Our people call us Abouna, literally Father; they are the reason this Church has flourished throughout centuries, they expect of us to help them to be full. Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for Christ, for they shall be filled. 'Sixth: Walk away from the love of money. It is a deadly sin, 'No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. 'You cannot serve both God and money'(Matt 6: 24). Money is only a means of service, and God sends it to His people. 'Seventh: Do not talk of wizardry, dreams, devil's magic, or suchlike. Not in your sermons, nor in reply to questions. 'Eighth: Know that God does everything in its perfect timing. Don't be impatient, it will only make you weary. 'Ninth: 'Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world.' (James 1: 27). Let your door be always open to the needy, and guard yourself from the evils in this world.' Receiving the staff Once Mass was over, the new bishops marched in a procession in the church to the Resurrection hymn 'Christos Anesti' and back to Pope Tawadros to be handed by him the staff of the episcopacy. Watani International 4 June 2025 Comments comments
Egypt Today
20-04-2025
- Politics
- Egypt Today
On Easter, President prays for Egypt to remain a beacon of tolerance, coexistence
A file photo of Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi and Pope Tawadros at Christmas celebrations – Presidency CAIRO – 20 April 2025: President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi extended his heartfelt congratulations and best wishes to Egyptian Copts as they mark Easter Sunday, praying for continued tolerance across the nation. 'I wish you a happy holiday filled with goodness and blessings, and may your families enjoy happiness and joy,' the president said in a message on his social media accounts. 'I pray that Allah preserves Egypt and its people, keeping it a beacon of tolerance and coexistence among all its citizens.' He also prayed that 'the values of love and peace flourish, uniting us under the banner of one homeland.' 'Happy Easter to you all.' As Egyptian Copts celebrate Easter, Head of Egypt's Coptic Orthodox Church Pope Tawadros II led the Easter mass at Saturday night at the St Mark's Coptic Orthodox Cathedral in Cairo's Abbasiya district. A representative of President Sisi attended the mass, alongside various ministers, high-level state officials, diplomats, public figures, and media professionals, joining hundreds of Christian worshippers.
Egypt Independent
20-04-2025
- Politics
- Egypt Independent
‘May God Almighty keep our country safe in such a world of evil': Pope Tawadros at Easter mass
CAIRO, April 19 (MENA) – Pope Tawadros II of Alexandria and Patriarch of Saint Mark Diocese said he is always praying for abundant love and unity among all the people of Egypt, and for an end to all conflicts and wars wherever they are. 'May God Almighty keep our country safe in such a world of evil,' the pontiff added in a sermon on Saturday while leading the Easter Mass at St. Mark Coptic Orthodox Cathedral in Cairo's Abbasiya district. Pope Tawadros thanked Grand Imam of Al-Azhar Shikeh Ahmed El Tayyeb, former Interim President Adly Mansour, Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouli, as well as the speakers of the House of Representatives and the Senate for their Easter greetings. He also thanked all ministers, provincial governors, heads of national councils, leaders of political parties, heads of universities and judicial bodies, as well as members of the police and armed forces, diplomats, representatives of media outlets, and public figures for their Easter greetings and good wishes. Earlier today, Pope Tawadros led the Easter Mass, in the presence of a presidential representative and a great host of ministers, senior statesmen, diplomats, and public and media figures. The pontiff is expected to receive well-wishers on Easter tomorrow morning at the papal headquarters in Abbasiya. During a phone call with the top church figure yesterday, the grand Imam of Al-Azhar extended Easter greetings to the pontiff and all Christian brothers, noting that these occasions offer a great opportunity to renew the bonds of brotherhood, love, and harmony among all Egyptians. (MENA)
