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Ignatius IV (Hazim) of Antioch

2012-12-05T13:31:07Z

Arbible: Departure of Ignatius IV (Hazim) of Antioch (Dec. 5, 2012)

[[Image:Ignatius Hazim.jpg|right|thumb|250px|Patr. Ignatius IV (Hazim) of Antioch]]
His Beatitude Patriarch '''Ignatius IV (Hazim) of Antioch and all the East''' (b. 1921) was the [[primate]] of the [[autocephaly|autocephalous]] [[Church of Antioch|Orthodox Patriarchate of Antioch]] until his departure on [[December 5]], 2012.

==Life==
Ignatius was born in 1921 in the village of Mhardey (Mhardeh) near Hama in Syria. He is the son of a pious Arab Orthodox family and from an early age was attracted to service within the Church. While studying in Beirut, Lebanon, for a literature degree, he entered the service of the local Orthodox [[diocese]], first by becoming an [[acolyte]], then a [[deacon]]. In 1945 he went to Paris where he graduated from the [[St. Sergius Orthodox Theological Institute (Paris, France)|St. Sergius Orthodox Theological Institute]]. From his time in France onwards he has been moved not only by a desire to pass on the deposit of the faith, but also to take Orthodoxy out of its unhistorical ghetto by discovering in its [[Holy Tradition]] living answers to the problems of modern life. On his return to the Middle East, he founded the [[Balamand Orthodox Theological Seminary (Tripoli, Lebanon)|Balamand Orthodox Theological Seminary]] in Lebanon which he then served for many years as dean. As dean he sought to provide the Patriarchate with responsible leaders who had received a good spiritual and intellectual training and who were witnesses to an awakened and deeply personal faith.

While his native language is Arabic, he also speaks fluent English and French. He was one of the founders of the active Orthodox Youth Movement of Lebanon and Syria in 1942, through which he helped to organise and lead a renewal of Church life in the Patriarchate of Antioch. The movement worked at the heart of the Church helping ordinary believers to rediscover the personal and communal meaning of the Eucharist through a practice of frequent [[Communion]] which had become extremely rare. Following on from this in 1953 he helped to found [[Syndesmos]], the world fellowship of Orthodox Youth and Theological Schools.

He was consecrated to the episcopacy in 1961 and elected [[Metropolitan]] of Lattakia in Syria in 1970. His style as metropolitan broke with the former tradition of episcopal grandeur and he inaugurated an authentic practice of frequent [[Eucharist|communion]]. On [[July 2]], 1979, under the name of Ignatius IV, he became the Orthodox Patriarch of Antioch, the third ranking hierarch of the Orthodox Church after the Patriarchs of Constantinople and Alexandria. After his election as Patriarch he said:

:I know that I will be judged if I do not carry the Church and each one of you in my heart. It is not possible for me to address you as if I were different from you. No difference separates us. I am an integral part of you; I am in you and I ask you to be in me. For the Lord comes, and the Spirit descends on the brothers gathered, united in communion, as they manifest a diversity of charisms in the unity of the Spirit.

As patriarch he has sought to give a new dynamism to the [[Holy Synod]] and seen it name [[bishop]]s who are close to the people and who are motivated to develop the Church's ecclesial and spiritual life, detached from political factions.

His Beatitude Patriarch Ignatius IV of Antioch fell asleep in the Lord on the morning of December 5, 2012, following a stroke on the day before. He was 92 years old.

== Link ==
* [http://www.orthodoxia.be/Z-Nouvelles_2012/Deces_Ignace_Antioche.html Décès du Patriarche Ignace d'Antioche]

{{start box}}
{{succession|
before=?|
title=Metropolitan of Lattakia|
years=1971-1979|
after=[[John (Mansour) of Lattakia|John (Mansour)]]|}}
{{succession|
before=[[Elias IV (Muawad) of Antioch|Elias IV (Muawad)]]|
title=[[List of Patriarchs of Antioch|Patriarch of Antioch]]|
years=1979-2012|
after=vacant|}}
{{end box}}

[[Category:Bishops]]
[[Category:20th-21st-century bishops]]
[[Category:Patriarchs of Antioch]]

[[ar:اغناطيوس الرابع هزيم]]
[[es:Ignacio IV (Hazim) de Antioquía]]
[[fr:Ignace IV (Hazim) d'Antioche]]
[[ro:Ignatie IV (Hazim) al Antiohiei]]

Moses the Black

2012-12-05T11:26:07Z

Arbible: /* Life and martyrdom */ Matt 26:52 not 26:25

{{Oriental}}
The power of repentance has transformed this infidel slave, '''St. Moses the Black''' (330-405 A.D.), who was a murderer, adulterer and robber into a great Desert Father, teacher, comforter, and [[priest]], who wrote rules for the [[monks]], and a [[martyr]]-saint whose name continues to be mentioned on the [[altar]] and in our prayers.

His [[feast day]] is on [[August 28]].

== Life and martyrdom ==
[[Image:Stmoses.gif|thumb|Classic Coptic icon of 'The Strong St. Moses the Black']] On 24 [http://www.geocities.com/remenkimi/monthsnames.htm Baounah (Paoni - Coptic month)], St. Moses the Black, whose life story is remarkable, was martyred. This saint took the Kingdom of Heaven by force, exactly as our Lord Jesus Christ said: "The Kingdom of Heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it by force." (Matthew 11:12). In his early life, St. Moses was a slave to people who worshiped the sun. He was a mighty man who loved to eat and drink excessively. He killed, robbed and committed all evil. No one could stand up before him, or challenge him. On many occasions, he lifted up his eyes to look to the sun and to talk to it saying, "O Sun!! if you are God, let me know it." Then he said, "And you O God whom I do not know, let me know you." One day, he heard someone saying to him, "The monks of Wadi El-Natroun know the real God. Go to them and they will tell you." Instantly, he rose up, girded his sword and went to the wilderness of Shehet (Skete). He met St. Esidorous (Isidore) the priest, who was frightened when he saw him, because of his appearance. St. Moses comforted him by saying that he came to the monks so that they might let him know the real God. St. Esidorous took him to St. [[Macarius the Great]], who preached to him, taught him the faith and baptized him. He accepted St. Moses as a monk and taught him to live in the wilderness. St. Moses dashed in many [[worship]]s, and fought a spiritual fight, which was greater than that fought by many saints. However, the Devil fought him intensively with his old habits of excessive eating, drinking, and fornication. He informed St. Esidorous about everything which came upon him in his fight with the Enemy. He comforted him and taught him how to overcome the snares of the Devil. It was told about him, that when the elders of the Monastery slept, he used to go round to their cells and take their water pots and fill them with water, which he brought from a well at a far distance from the monastery. After many years in spiritual struggle, the Devil envied him, and struck him with a sore on his foot which made him sick and bed-ridden. When he knew that this was from the Devil, he increased in his asceticism and worship, until his body became as a burnt wood. God looked to his patience, healed his illness, and removed all his pains. The blessing of the Lord came upon him. After a while, he became the Father and the spiritual guide of 500 brothers, who elected him to be [[ordination|ordained]] a priest. When he came before the [[Patriarch]] to be ordained, the Patriarch wanted to test him by asking the elders, "Who brought this black here? Cast him out." He obeyed, and left saying to himself, "It is good what they have done to you, O black colored one. The Patriarch, however, called him back and ordained him a priest, and said to him, Moses, all of you now has become white."

One day, he went with some elders to St. Macarius the Great, who said to them, "I see among you one to whom belong the crown of martyrdom." St. Moses answered him, "Probably it is me, for it is written: 'For all they that take with the sword, shall perish with the sword.'" (Matt. 26:52). After they returned to the [[monastery]], it did not take long until the Berbers attacked the monastery. He told the brethren, "Whoever wants to escape, let him escape." They asked him, "And you O father, why do you not also escape?" He replied that he had waited for this day for long time. The Berbers entered the monastery and killed him with seven other brothers. One of the brethren was hiding, and saw the angel of the Lord, with a crown in his hand standing by and waiting for him. He went out from his hiding place to the Berbers and he was also martyred.

His body is now located at Virgin Mary's Coptic Orthodox Monastery of El-Baramous in Egypt.

== Source ==
[http://www.copticchurch.net/synaxarium/10_24.html#1 Coptic Orthodox Synaxarium (Book of Saints)]

== External links ==
* http://www.stantonymonastery.org/saintmoses/
* http://www.catholic-forum.com/saints/saintm34.htm
* [http://www.comeandseeicons.com/m/sgp16.htm Icon and Troparion of St. Moses the Ethiopian]
* [http://www.comeandseeicons.com/m/cap19.htm Icon of Holy Abba Moses the Strong]
* Great [[Synaxarion|Synaxaristes]]: {{el icon}} ''[http://www.synaxarion.gr/gr/sid/476/sxsaintinfo.aspx Ὁ Ὅσιος Μωϋσῆς ὁ Αἰθίοπας].'' 28 Αυγούστου. ΜΕΓΑΣ ΣΥΝΑΞΑΡΙΣΤΗΣ.

[[Category:Desert Fathers]]
[[Category:Martyrs]]
[[Category:Saints]]
[[Category:Byzantine Saints]]
[[Category:Egyptian Saints]]
[[Category:5th-century saints]]

Theodore II (Sobhi Baki Soleiman) of Alexandria

2012-11-23T20:51:13Z

Arbible: * [http://www.patriarchate.org/documents/his-all-holiness-on-the-enthronement-of-the-new-coptic-pope Letter of the Ecumenical Patriarch on the Occasion of the Enthronement of His Holiness Pope Tawadros II]

: ''For the [[Eastern Orthodox Church|Eastern Orthodox]] [[Pope]] with the same name and title, see [[Theodoros II (Choreftakis) of Alexandria]].''

'''Pope Theodoros II''' (in Arabic: ‏البابا تواضروس الثاني) is the 118th [[Coptic Orthodox Church|Coptic]] Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of the [[See]] of St. Mark since he took office on [[November 18]], 2012, a fortnight after being selected.

[[File:TheodoreIIofAlexandria(CopticPope118).JPG‎]]

==Early life==
Pope Theodore was born Wagih Sobhi Baki Soleiman (in Arabic: وجيه صبحى باقى سليمان) on [[November 4]], 1952 in the region of Mansoura, Egypt. He studied at the University of Alexandria, where he received a degree in pharmacy in 1975. He then managed a state-owned pharmaceutical factory, when he entered the [[monastery]] of St. Pishoy in Wadi El-Natrun to study theology for two years. He was [[ordination|ordained]] a [[priest]] in 1989.

==Views and issues==
Theodoros has stated that the 2011 Egyptian revolution was a turning point in the Coptic Church's relations with its youth. Amongst his first tasks is the issue of Egypt's changing political landscape, given the new constitution and more independent-minded congregates who seek their demands outside the church in dealing with the state.

==Papal selection==
The papal selection process began several weeks before the November 4, 2012 selection. About 2,400 clergymen and others shortlisted three candidates: Bishop Theodoros, Bishop Raphael, a former aide to the previous Pope, Pope Shenouda III, and Father Raphael Ava Mina, a [[monk]] in St. Mina's monastery near Alexandria, and the [[disciple]] of the [[List of Coptic Orthodox Popes of Alexandria|116th Pope]], Pope Cyril VI. The process faced controversy as many congregates sought a greater say in the process. The three were considered consensus candidates as they were not involved in church disputes and were neither too conservative nor too liberal.

The ceremony to choose the pope from the three consensus candidates was held at Cairo's St. Mark's Cathedral at about noon and featured a marked police presence. Prior to the selection, Metropolitan Pachomius of Behira, [[locum tenens]] of the Church, sealed the [[chalice]] with the names with red wax and put it upon the [[altar]] as he led Mass. He then told the congregation: "We will pray that God will choose the good shepherd." Following a moment of silence, a blindfolded boy then picked Theodoros' name from the chalice. The thousands of congregates in attendance then erupted in ovation, tears or prayer. In reaction Theodoros II said, from the monastery at Wadi El-Natrun: "[We] will start by organising the house from within. It is a responsibility. Most important is...that the church, as an institution, serves the community."

==Sources and external links==
* ''[http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-20192922 Bishop Tawadros new pope of Egypt's Coptic Christians].'' BBC News. 4 November 2012 Last updated at 05:09 ET.
* [http://www.cbc.ca/news/world/story/2012/11/04/egypt-coptic-church-pope.html Egypt's Coptic church chooses new pope]. CBC News (AP). Nov 4, 2012 6:25 AM ET. (Pope Tawadros II picked from shortlist of 3 names drawn from chalice).
* Yasmine Saleh. ''[http://life.nationalpost.com/2012/11/04/blindfolded-child-chooses-new-pope-for-egypts-copts/ Blindfolded child chooses new pope for Egypt’s Copts].'' National Post (Reuters). Nov 4, 2012 12:14 PM ET.
* ''[http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5gL6_hhsHl64TcrdvHzoEpQQN2hAA?docId=db5495183e99403aa6bd1c43d3a0cabb Egypt's Copts choose new pope for uncertain times]]'', By AYA BATRAWY, Associated Press – Nov 4, 2012.
* ''[http://www.egyptindependent.com/news/tawadros-ii-118th-pope-coptic-church Tawadros II: The 118th pope of the Coptic Church ]]'', Egypt Independent (Al-Masry Al-Yom), Nov 4, 2012.
* ''[http://www.leparisien.fr/societe/l-eveque-tawadros-nouveau-patriarche-copte-d-egypte-04-11-2012-2291077.php L'évêque Tawadros, nouveau patriarche copte d'Egypte]'' (in French). Le Parisien. Nov 4, 2012.
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=4Wx8dQHUzQA YouTube video: Words and gift of the Greek Orthodox Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria to the new Coptic Pope of Alexandria, Cairo, Nov 18, 2012] (His Beatitude's name is also ''Theodoros II'', same as that of the new Coptic Orthodox Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria)
* [http://www.patriarchate.org/documents/his-all-holiness-on-the-enthronement-of-the-new-coptic-pope Letter of the Ecumenical Patriarch on the Occasion of the Enthronement of His Holiness Pope Tawadros II]
* [http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/benedict_xvi/messages/pont-messages/2012/documents/hf_ben-xvi_mes_20121105_coptic-orthodox-church_en.html Message Of His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI To His Holiness Anba Tawadros, Pope-Elect Of Alexandria And Patriarch Of The See Of Saint Mark (Vatican, Nov 18, 202)]
* [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pope_Theodoros_II_of_Alexandria English Wikipedia].

{{start box}}
{{succession|
before=[[Shenouda III (Gayyid) of Alexandria|Shenouda III]]|
title=[[Church of Alexandria (Coptic)|Pope of Alexandria (Coptic)]]|
years=2012- (incumbent)|
after=-}}
{{end box}}

[[Category:Bishops]]
[[Category:20th-21st-century bishops]]
[[Category:Non-Chalcedonian Bishops]]

[[ar:تواضروس الثاني (صبحى باقى سليمان) السكندري]]

Theodore II (Sobhi Baki Soleiman) of Alexandria

2012-11-21T10:28:52Z

Arbible: /* Sources and external links */

{{cleanup}}

: ''For the [[Eastern Orthodox Church|Eastern Orthodox]] Pope with the same name and title, see [[Theodoros II (Choreftakis) of Alexandria]].''

'''Pope Theodoros II''' (in Arabic: ‏البابا تواضروس الثاني) is the 118th [[Coptic Orthodox Church|Coptic]] Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of the See of St. Mark since he took office on [[November 18]], 2012, a fortnight after being selected.

[[File:TheodoreIIofAlexandria(CopticPope118).JPG‎]]

==Early life==
Pope Theodore was born Wagih Sobhi Baki Soleiman (in Arabic: وجيه صبحى باقى سليمان) on [[November 4]], 1952 in the region of Mansoura, Egypt. He studied at the University of Alexandria, where he received a degree in pharmacy in 1975. He then managed a state-owned pharmaceutical factory, when he entered the monastery of St. Pishoy in Wadi El-Natrun to study theology for two years. He was ordained a priest in 1989.

==Views and issues==
Theodoros has stated that the 2011 Egyptian revolution was a turning point in the Coptic Church's relations with its youth. Amongst his first tasks is the issue of Egypt's changing political landscape, given the new constitution and more independent-minded congregates who seek their demands outside the church in dealing with the state.

==Papal selection==
The papal selection process began several weeks before the November 4, 2012 selection. About 2,400 clergymen and others shortlisted three candidates: Bishop Theodoros, Bishop Raphael, a former aide to the previous Pope, Pope Shenouda III, and Father Raphael Ava Mina, a monk in St. Mina's monastery near Alexandria, and the disciple of the [[List of Coptic Orthodox Popes of Alexandria|116th Pope]], Pope Cyril VI. The process faced controversy as many congregates sought a greater say in the process. The three were considered consensus candidates as they were not involved in church disputes and were neither too conservative nor too liberal.

The ceremony to choose the pope from the three consensus candidates was held at Cairo's St. Mark's Cathedral at about noon and featured a marked police presence. Prior to the selection, Metropolitan Pachomius of Behira, [[locum tenens]] of the Church, sealed the chalice with the names with red wax and put it upon the altar as he led Mass. He then told the congregation: "We will pray that God will choose the good shepherd." Following a moment of silence, a blindfolded boy then picked Theodoros' name from the chalice. The thousands of congregates in attendance then erupted in ovation, tears or prayer. In reaction Theodoros II said, from the monastery at Wadi El-Natrun: "[We] will start by organising the house from within. It is a responsibility. Most important is...that the church, as an institution, serves the community." Egyptian President Morsi congratulated Theodoros and called for Egyptian "unity" and "brotherly love" between Copts and the Muslim community.

==Sources and external links==
* ''[http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-20192922 Bishop Tawadros new pope of Egypt's Coptic Christians].'' BBC News. 4 November 2012 Last updated at 05:09 ET.
* [http://www.cbc.ca/news/world/story/2012/11/04/egypt-coptic-church-pope.html Egypt's Coptic church chooses new pope]. CBC News (AP). Nov 4, 2012 6:25 AM ET. (Pope Tawadros II picked from shortlist of 3 names drawn from chalice).
* Yasmine Saleh. ''[http://life.nationalpost.com/2012/11/04/blindfolded-child-chooses-new-pope-for-egypts-copts/ Blindfolded child chooses new pope for Egypt’s Copts].'' National Post (Reuters). Nov 4, 2012 12:14 PM ET.
* ''[http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5gL6_hhsHl64TcrdvHzoEpQQN2hAA?docId=db5495183e99403aa6bd1c43d3a0cabb Egypt's Copts choose new pope for uncertain times]]'', By AYA BATRAWY, Associated Press – Nov 4, 2012.
* ''[http://www.egyptindependent.com/news/tawadros-ii-118th-pope-coptic-church Tawadros II: The 118th pope of the Coptic Church ]]'', Egypt Independent (Al-Masry Al-Yom), Nov 4, 2012.
* ''[http://www.leparisien.fr/societe/l-eveque-tawadros-nouveau-patriarche-copte-d-egypte-04-11-2012-2291077.php L'évêque Tawadros, nouveau patriarche copte d'Egypte]'' (in French). Le Parisien. Nov 4, 2012.
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=4Wx8dQHUzQA YouTube video: Words and gift of the Greek Orthodox Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria to the new Coptic Pope of Alexandria, Cairo, Nov 18, 2012] (His Beatitude's name is also ''Theodoros II'', same as that of the new Coptic Orthodox Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria)
* [http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/benedict_xvi/messages/pont-messages/2012/documents/hf_ben-xvi_mes_20121105_coptic-orthodox-church_en.html Message Of His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI To His Holiness Anba Tawadros, Pope-Elect Of Alexandria And Patriarch Of The See Of Saint Mark (Vatican, Nov 18, 202)]
* [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pope_Theodoros_II_of_Alexandria English Wikipedia].

{{start box}}
{{succession|
before=[[Shenouda III (Gayyid) of Alexandria|Shenouda III]]|
title=[[Church of Alexandria (Coptic)|Pope of Alexandria (Coptic)]]|
years=2012- (incumbent)|
after=-}}
{{end box}}

[[Category:Bishops]]
[[Category:20th-21st-century bishops]]
[[Category:Non-Chalcedonian Bishops]]

[[ar:تواضروس الثاني (صبحى باقى سليمان) السكندري]]

Theodore II (Sobhi Baki Soleiman) of Alexandria

2012-11-21T10:27:08Z

Arbible: /* Sources and external links */

{{cleanup}}

: ''For the [[Eastern Orthodox Church|Eastern Orthodox]] Pope with the same name and title, see [[Theodoros II (Choreftakis) of Alexandria]].''

'''Pope Theodoros II''' (in Arabic: ‏البابا تواضروس الثاني) is the 118th [[Coptic Orthodox Church|Coptic]] Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of the See of St. Mark since he took office on [[November 18]], 2012, a fortnight after being selected.

[[File:TheodoreIIofAlexandria(CopticPope118).JPG‎]]

==Early life==
Pope Theodore was born Wagih Sobhi Baki Soleiman (in Arabic: وجيه صبحى باقى سليمان) on [[November 4]], 1952 in the region of Mansoura, Egypt. He studied at the University of Alexandria, where he received a degree in pharmacy in 1975. He then managed a state-owned pharmaceutical factory, when he entered the monastery of St. Pishoy in Wadi El-Natrun to study theology for two years. He was ordained a priest in 1989.

==Views and issues==
Theodoros has stated that the 2011 Egyptian revolution was a turning point in the Coptic Church's relations with its youth. Amongst his first tasks is the issue of Egypt's changing political landscape, given the new constitution and more independent-minded congregates who seek their demands outside the church in dealing with the state.

==Papal selection==
The papal selection process began several weeks before the November 4, 2012 selection. About 2,400 clergymen and others shortlisted three candidates: Bishop Theodoros, Bishop Raphael, a former aide to the previous Pope, Pope Shenouda III, and Father Raphael Ava Mina, a monk in St. Mina's monastery near Alexandria, and the disciple of the [[List of Coptic Orthodox Popes of Alexandria|116th Pope]], Pope Cyril VI. The process faced controversy as many congregates sought a greater say in the process. The three were considered consensus candidates as they were not involved in church disputes and were neither too conservative nor too liberal.

The ceremony to choose the pope from the three consensus candidates was held at Cairo's St. Mark's Cathedral at about noon and featured a marked police presence. Prior to the selection, Metropolitan Pachomius of Behira, [[locum tenens]] of the Church, sealed the chalice with the names with red wax and put it upon the altar as he led Mass. He then told the congregation: "We will pray that God will choose the good shepherd." Following a moment of silence, a blindfolded boy then picked Theodoros' name from the chalice. The thousands of congregates in attendance then erupted in ovation, tears or prayer. In reaction Theodoros II said, from the monastery at Wadi El-Natrun: "[We] will start by organising the house from within. It is a responsibility. Most important is...that the church, as an institution, serves the community." Egyptian President Morsi congratulated Theodoros and called for Egyptian "unity" and "brotherly love" between Copts and the Muslim community.

==Sources and external links==
* ''[http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-20192922 Bishop Tawadros new pope of Egypt's Coptic Christians].'' BBC News. 4 November 2012 Last updated at 05:09 ET.
* [http://www.cbc.ca/news/world/story/2012/11/04/egypt-coptic-church-pope.html Egypt's Coptic church chooses new pope]. CBC News (AP). Nov 4, 2012 6:25 AM ET. (Pope Tawadros II picked from shortlist of 3 names drawn from chalice).
* Yasmine Saleh. ''[http://life.nationalpost.com/2012/11/04/blindfolded-child-chooses-new-pope-for-egypts-copts/ Blindfolded child chooses new pope for Egypt’s Copts].'' National Post (Reuters). Nov 4, 2012 12:14 PM ET.
* ''[http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5gL6_hhsHl64TcrdvHzoEpQQN2hAA?docId=db5495183e99403aa6bd1c43d3a0cabb Egypt's Copts choose new pope for uncertain times]]'', By AYA BATRAWY, Associated Press – Nov 4, 2012.
* ''[http://www.egyptindependent.com/news/tawadros-ii-118th-pope-coptic-church Tawadros II: The 118th pope of the Coptic Church ]]'', Egypt Independent (Al-Masry Al-Yom), Nov 4, 2012.
* ''[http://www.leparisien.fr/societe/l-eveque-tawadros-nouveau-patriarche-copte-d-egypte-04-11-2012-2291077.php L'évêque Tawadros, nouveau patriarche copte d'Egypte]'' (in French). Le Parisien. Nov 4, 2012.
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=4Wx8dQHUzQA YouTube video: Words and gift of the Greek Orthodox Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria to the new Coptic Pope of Alexandria, Cairo, Nov 18, 2012] (His Beatitude's name is the same as that of the new Coptic Orthodox Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria, Theodoros II)
* [http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/benedict_xvi/messages/pont-messages/2012/documents/hf_ben-xvi_mes_20121105_coptic-orthodox-church_en.html Message Of His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI To His Holiness Anba Tawadros, Pope-Elect Of Alexandria And Patriarch Of The See Of Saint Mark (Vatican, Nov 18, 202)]
* [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pope_Theodoros_II_of_Alexandria English Wikipedia].

{{start box}}
{{succession|
before=[[Shenouda III (Gayyid) of Alexandria|Shenouda III]]|
title=[[Church of Alexandria (Coptic)|Pope of Alexandria (Coptic)]]|
years=2012- (incumbent)|
after=-}}
{{end box}}

[[Category:Bishops]]
[[Category:20th-21st-century bishops]]
[[Category:Non-Chalcedonian Bishops]]

[[ar:تواضروس الثاني (صبحى باقى سليمان) السكندري]]

Theodore II (Sobhi Baki Soleiman) of Alexandria

2012-11-21T10:26:39Z

Arbible: /* Sources and external links */

{{cleanup}}

: ''For the [[Eastern Orthodox Church|Eastern Orthodox]] Pope with the same name and title, see [[Theodoros II (Choreftakis) of Alexandria]].''

'''Pope Theodoros II''' (in Arabic: ‏البابا تواضروس الثاني) is the 118th [[Coptic Orthodox Church|Coptic]] Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of the See of St. Mark since he took office on [[November 18]], 2012, a fortnight after being selected.

[[File:TheodoreIIofAlexandria(CopticPope118).JPG‎]]

==Early life==
Pope Theodore was born Wagih Sobhi Baki Soleiman (in Arabic: وجيه صبحى باقى سليمان) on [[November 4]], 1952 in the region of Mansoura, Egypt. He studied at the University of Alexandria, where he received a degree in pharmacy in 1975. He then managed a state-owned pharmaceutical factory, when he entered the monastery of St. Pishoy in Wadi El-Natrun to study theology for two years. He was ordained a priest in 1989.

==Views and issues==
Theodoros has stated that the 2011 Egyptian revolution was a turning point in the Coptic Church's relations with its youth. Amongst his first tasks is the issue of Egypt's changing political landscape, given the new constitution and more independent-minded congregates who seek their demands outside the church in dealing with the state.

==Papal selection==
The papal selection process began several weeks before the November 4, 2012 selection. About 2,400 clergymen and others shortlisted three candidates: Bishop Theodoros, Bishop Raphael, a former aide to the previous Pope, Pope Shenouda III, and Father Raphael Ava Mina, a monk in St. Mina's monastery near Alexandria, and the disciple of the [[List of Coptic Orthodox Popes of Alexandria|116th Pope]], Pope Cyril VI. The process faced controversy as many congregates sought a greater say in the process. The three were considered consensus candidates as they were not involved in church disputes and were neither too conservative nor too liberal.

The ceremony to choose the pope from the three consensus candidates was held at Cairo's St. Mark's Cathedral at about noon and featured a marked police presence. Prior to the selection, Metropolitan Pachomius of Behira, [[locum tenens]] of the Church, sealed the chalice with the names with red wax and put it upon the altar as he led Mass. He then told the congregation: "We will pray that God will choose the good shepherd." Following a moment of silence, a blindfolded boy then picked Theodoros' name from the chalice. The thousands of congregates in attendance then erupted in ovation, tears or prayer. In reaction Theodoros II said, from the monastery at Wadi El-Natrun: "[We] will start by organising the house from within. It is a responsibility. Most important is...that the church, as an institution, serves the community." Egyptian President Morsi congratulated Theodoros and called for Egyptian "unity" and "brotherly love" between Copts and the Muslim community.

==Sources and external links==
* ''[http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-20192922 Bishop Tawadros new pope of Egypt's Coptic Christians].'' BBC News. 4 November 2012 Last updated at 05:09 ET.
* [http://www.cbc.ca/news/world/story/2012/11/04/egypt-coptic-church-pope.html Egypt's Coptic church chooses new pope]. CBC News (AP). Nov 4, 2012 6:25 AM ET. (Pope Tawadros II picked from shortlist of 3 names drawn from chalice).
* Yasmine Saleh. ''[http://life.nationalpost.com/2012/11/04/blindfolded-child-chooses-new-pope-for-egypts-copts/ Blindfolded child chooses new pope for Egypt’s Copts].'' National Post (Reuters). Nov 4, 2012 12:14 PM ET.
* ''[http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5gL6_hhsHl64TcrdvHzoEpQQN2hAA?docId=db5495183e99403aa6bd1c43d3a0cabb Egypt's Copts choose new pope for uncertain times]]'', By AYA BATRAWY, Associated Press – Nov 4, 2012.
* ''[http://www.egyptindependent.com/news/tawadros-ii-118th-pope-coptic-church Tawadros II: The 118th pope of the Coptic Church ]]'', Egypt Independent (Al-Masry Al-Yom), Nov 4, 2012.
* ''[http://www.leparisien.fr/societe/l-eveque-tawadros-nouveau-patriarche-copte-d-egypte-04-11-2012-2291077.php L'évêque Tawadros, nouveau patriarche copte d'Egypte]'' (in French). Le Parisien. Nov 4, 2012.
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=4Wx8dQHUzQA YouTube video: Words and gift of the Greek Orthodox Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria to the new Coptic Pope of Alexandria, Cairo, Nov 18, 2012] (His Beatitude's name is the same as that of the new Coptic Orthodox Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria, Theodoros II)
* [http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/benedict_xvi/messages/pont-messages/2012/documents/hf_ben-xvi_mes_20121105_coptic-orthodox-church_en.html Message Of His Holiness Pope Benedict Xvi To His Holiness Anba Tawadros, Pope-Elect Of Alexandria And Patriarch Of The See Of Saint Mark (Vatican, Nov 18, 202)]
* [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pope_Theodoros_II_of_Alexandria English Wikipedia].

{{start box}}
{{succession|
before=[[Shenouda III (Gayyid) of Alexandria|Shenouda III]]|
title=[[Church of Alexandria (Coptic)|Pope of Alexandria (Coptic)]]|
years=2012- (incumbent)|
after=-}}
{{end box}}

[[Category:Bishops]]
[[Category:20th-21st-century bishops]]
[[Category:Non-Chalcedonian Bishops]]

[[ar:تواضروس الثاني (صبحى باقى سليمان) السكندري]]

Theodore II (Sobhi Baki Soleiman) of Alexandria

2012-11-21T10:21:28Z

Arbible: /* Sources and external links */

{{cleanup}}

: ''For the [[Eastern Orthodox Church|Eastern Orthodox]] Pope with the same name and title, see [[Theodoros II (Choreftakis) of Alexandria]].''

'''Pope Theodoros II''' (in Arabic: ‏البابا تواضروس الثاني) is the 118th [[Coptic Orthodox Church|Coptic]] Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of the See of St. Mark since he took office on [[November 18]], 2012, a fortnight after being selected.

[[File:TheodoreIIofAlexandria(CopticPope118).JPG‎]]

==Early life==
Pope Theodore was born Wagih Sobhi Baki Soleiman (in Arabic: وجيه صبحى باقى سليمان) on [[November 4]], 1952 in the region of Mansoura, Egypt. He studied at the University of Alexandria, where he received a degree in pharmacy in 1975. He then managed a state-owned pharmaceutical factory, when he entered the monastery of St. Pishoy in Wadi El-Natrun to study theology for two years. He was ordained a priest in 1989.

==Views and issues==
Theodoros has stated that the 2011 Egyptian revolution was a turning point in the Coptic Church's relations with its youth. Amongst his first tasks is the issue of Egypt's changing political landscape, given the new constitution and more independent-minded congregates who seek their demands outside the church in dealing with the state.

==Papal selection==
The papal selection process began several weeks before the November 4, 2012 selection. About 2,400 clergymen and others shortlisted three candidates: Bishop Theodoros, Bishop Raphael, a former aide to the previous Pope, Pope Shenouda III, and Father Raphael Ava Mina, a monk in St. Mina's monastery near Alexandria, and the disciple of the [[List of Coptic Orthodox Popes of Alexandria|116th Pope]], Pope Cyril VI. The process faced controversy as many congregates sought a greater say in the process. The three were considered consensus candidates as they were not involved in church disputes and were neither too conservative nor too liberal.

The ceremony to choose the pope from the three consensus candidates was held at Cairo's St. Mark's Cathedral at about noon and featured a marked police presence. Prior to the selection, Metropolitan Pachomius of Behira, [[locum tenens]] of the Church, sealed the chalice with the names with red wax and put it upon the altar as he led Mass. He then told the congregation: "We will pray that God will choose the good shepherd." Following a moment of silence, a blindfolded boy then picked Theodoros' name from the chalice. The thousands of congregates in attendance then erupted in ovation, tears or prayer. In reaction Theodoros II said, from the monastery at Wadi El-Natrun: "[We] will start by organising the house from within. It is a responsibility. Most important is...that the church, as an institution, serves the community." Egyptian President Morsi congratulated Theodoros and called for Egyptian "unity" and "brotherly love" between Copts and the Muslim community.

==Sources and external links==
* ''[http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-20192922 Bishop Tawadros new pope of Egypt's Coptic Christians].'' BBC News. 4 November 2012 Last updated at 05:09 ET.
* [http://www.cbc.ca/news/world/story/2012/11/04/egypt-coptic-church-pope.html Egypt's Coptic church chooses new pope]. CBC News (AP). Nov 4, 2012 6:25 AM ET. (Pope Tawadros II picked from shortlist of 3 names drawn from chalice).
* Yasmine Saleh. ''[http://life.nationalpost.com/2012/11/04/blindfolded-child-chooses-new-pope-for-egypts-copts/ Blindfolded child chooses new pope for Egypt’s Copts].'' National Post (Reuters). Nov 4, 2012 12:14 PM ET.
* ''[http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5gL6_hhsHl64TcrdvHzoEpQQN2hAA?docId=db5495183e99403aa6bd1c43d3a0cabb Egypt's Copts choose new pope for uncertain times]]'', By AYA BATRAWY, Associated Press – Nov 4, 2012.
* ''[http://www.egyptindependent.com/news/tawadros-ii-118th-pope-coptic-church Tawadros II: The 118th pope of the Coptic Church ]]'', Egypt Independent (Al-Masry Al-Yom), Nov 4, 2012.
* ''[http://www.leparisien.fr/societe/l-eveque-tawadros-nouveau-patriarche-copte-d-egypte-04-11-2012-2291077.php L'évêque Tawadros, nouveau patriarche copte d'Egypte]'' (in French). Le Parisien. Nov 4, 2012.
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=4Wx8dQHUzQA YouTube video: Words and gift of the Greek Orthodox Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria to the new Coptic Pope of Alexandria, Cairo, Nov 18, 2012] (His Beatitude's name is the same as that of the new Coptic Orthodox Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria, Theodoros II)
* [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pope_Theodoros_II_of_Alexandria English Wikipedia].

{{start box}}
{{succession|
before=[[Shenouda III (Gayyid) of Alexandria|Shenouda III]]|
title=[[Church of Alexandria (Coptic)|Pope of Alexandria (Coptic)]]|
years=2012- (incumbent)|
after=-}}
{{end box}}

[[Category:Bishops]]
[[Category:20th-21st-century bishops]]
[[Category:Non-Chalcedonian Bishops]]

[[ar:تواضروس الثاني (صبحى باقى سليمان) السكندري]]

Theodore II (Sobhi Baki Soleiman) of Alexandria

2012-11-21T10:14:41Z

Arbible: /* Sources and external links */

{{cleanup}}

: ''For the [[Eastern Orthodox Church|Eastern Orthodox]] Pope with the same name and title, see [[Theodoros II (Choreftakis) of Alexandria]].''

'''Pope Theodoros II''' (in Arabic: ‏البابا تواضروس الثاني) is the 118th [[Coptic Orthodox Church|Coptic]] Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of the See of St. Mark since he took office on [[November 18]], 2012, a fortnight after being selected.

[[File:TheodoreIIofAlexandria(CopticPope118).JPG‎]]

==Early life==
Pope Theodore was born Wagih Sobhi Baki Soleiman (in Arabic: وجيه صبحى باقى سليمان) on [[November 4]], 1952 in the region of Mansoura, Egypt. He studied at the University of Alexandria, where he received a degree in pharmacy in 1975. He then managed a state-owned pharmaceutical factory, when he entered the monastery of St. Pishoy in Wadi El-Natrun to study theology for two years. He was ordained a priest in 1989.

==Views and issues==
Theodoros has stated that the 2011 Egyptian revolution was a turning point in the Coptic Church's relations with its youth. Amongst his first tasks is the issue of Egypt's changing political landscape, given the new constitution and more independent-minded congregates who seek their demands outside the church in dealing with the state.

==Papal selection==
The papal selection process began several weeks before the November 4, 2012 selection. About 2,400 clergymen and others shortlisted three candidates: Bishop Theodoros, Bishop Raphael, a former aide to the previous Pope, Pope Shenouda III, and Father Raphael Ava Mina, a monk in St. Mina's monastery near Alexandria, and the disciple of the [[List of Coptic Orthodox Popes of Alexandria|116th Pope]], Pope Cyril VI. The process faced controversy as many congregates sought a greater say in the process. The three were considered consensus candidates as they were not involved in church disputes and were neither too conservative nor too liberal.

The ceremony to choose the pope from the three consensus candidates was held at Cairo's St. Mark's Cathedral at about noon and featured a marked police presence. Prior to the selection, Metropolitan Pachomius of Behira, [[locum tenens]] of the Church, sealed the chalice with the names with red wax and put it upon the altar as he led Mass. He then told the congregation: "We will pray that God will choose the good shepherd." Following a moment of silence, a blindfolded boy then picked Theodoros' name from the chalice. The thousands of congregates in attendance then erupted in ovation, tears or prayer. In reaction Theodoros II said, from the monastery at Wadi El-Natrun: "[We] will start by organising the house from within. It is a responsibility. Most important is...that the church, as an institution, serves the community." Egyptian President Morsi congratulated Theodoros and called for Egyptian "unity" and "brotherly love" between Copts and the Muslim community.

==Sources and external links==
* ''[http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-20192922 Bishop Tawadros new pope of Egypt's Coptic Christians].'' BBC News. 4 November 2012 Last updated at 05:09 ET.
* [http://www.cbc.ca/news/world/story/2012/11/04/egypt-coptic-church-pope.html Egypt's Coptic church chooses new pope]. CBC News (AP). Nov 4, 2012 6:25 AM ET. (Pope Tawadros II picked from shortlist of 3 names drawn from chalice).
* Yasmine Saleh. ''[http://life.nationalpost.com/2012/11/04/blindfolded-child-chooses-new-pope-for-egypts-copts/ Blindfolded child chooses new pope for Egypt’s Copts].'' National Post (Reuters). Nov 4, 2012 12:14 PM ET.
* ''[http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5gL6_hhsHl64TcrdvHzoEpQQN2hAA?docId=db5495183e99403aa6bd1c43d3a0cabb Egypt's Copts choose new pope for uncertain times]]'', By AYA BATRAWY, Associated Press – Nov 4, 2012.
* ''[http://www.egyptindependent.com/news/tawadros-ii-118th-pope-coptic-church Tawadros II: The 118th pope of the Coptic Church ]]'', Egypt Independent (Al-Masry Al-Yom), Nov 4, 2012.
* ''[http://www.leparisien.fr/societe/l-eveque-tawadros-nouveau-patriarche-copte-d-egypte-04-11-2012-2291077.php L'évêque Tawadros, nouveau patriarche copte d'Egypte]'' (in French). Le Parisien. Nov 4, 2012.
* [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pope_Theodoros_II_of_Alexandria English Wikipedia].

{{start box}}
{{succession|
before=[[Shenouda III (Gayyid) of Alexandria|Shenouda III]]|
title=[[Church of Alexandria (Coptic)|Pope of Alexandria (Coptic)]]|
years=2012- (incumbent)|
after=-}}
{{end box}}

[[Category:Bishops]]
[[Category:20th-21st-century bishops]]
[[Category:Non-Chalcedonian Bishops]]

[[ar:تواضروس الثاني (صبحى باقى سليمان) السكندري]]

Theodore II (Sobhi Baki Soleiman) of Alexandria

2012-11-21T10:09:34Z

Arbible: /* Sources and external links */

{{cleanup}}

: ''For the [[Eastern Orthodox Church|Eastern Orthodox]] Pope with the same name and title, see [[Theodoros II (Choreftakis) of Alexandria]].''

'''Pope Theodoros II''' (in Arabic: ‏البابا تواضروس الثاني) is the 118th [[Coptic Orthodox Church|Coptic]] Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of the See of St. Mark since he took office on [[November 18]], 2012, a fortnight after being selected.

[[File:TheodoreIIofAlexandria(CopticPope118).JPG‎]]

==Early life==
Pope Theodore was born Wagih Sobhi Baki Soleiman (in Arabic: وجيه صبحى باقى سليمان) on [[November 4]], 1952 in the region of Mansoura, Egypt. He studied at the University of Alexandria, where he received a degree in pharmacy in 1975. He then managed a state-owned pharmaceutical factory, when he entered the monastery of St. Pishoy in Wadi El-Natrun to study theology for two years. He was ordained a priest in 1989.

==Views and issues==
Theodoros has stated that the 2011 Egyptian revolution was a turning point in the Coptic Church's relations with its youth. Amongst his first tasks is the issue of Egypt's changing political landscape, given the new constitution and more independent-minded congregates who seek their demands outside the church in dealing with the state.

==Papal selection==
The papal selection process began several weeks before the November 4, 2012 selection. About 2,400 clergymen and others shortlisted three candidates: Bishop Theodoros, Bishop Raphael, a former aide to the previous Pope, Pope Shenouda III, and Father Raphael Ava Mina, a monk in St. Mina's monastery near Alexandria, and the disciple of the [[List of Coptic Orthodox Popes of Alexandria|116th Pope]], Pope Cyril VI. The process faced controversy as many congregates sought a greater say in the process. The three were considered consensus candidates as they were not involved in church disputes and were neither too conservative nor too liberal.

The ceremony to choose the pope from the three consensus candidates was held at Cairo's St. Mark's Cathedral at about noon and featured a marked police presence. Prior to the selection, Metropolitan Pachomius of Behira, [[locum tenens]] of the Church, sealed the chalice with the names with red wax and put it upon the altar as he led Mass. He then told the congregation: "We will pray that God will choose the good shepherd." Following a moment of silence, a blindfolded boy then picked Theodoros' name from the chalice. The thousands of congregates in attendance then erupted in ovation, tears or prayer. In reaction Theodoros II said, from the monastery at Wadi El-Natrun: "[We] will start by organising the house from within. It is a responsibility. Most important is...that the church, as an institution, serves the community." Egyptian President Morsi congratulated Theodoros and called for Egyptian "unity" and "brotherly love" between Copts and the Muslim community.

==Sources and external links==
* ''[http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-20192922 Bishop Tawadros new pope of Egypt's Coptic Christians].'' BBC News. 4 November 2012 Last updated at 05:09 ET.
* [http://www.cbc.ca/news/world/story/2012/11/04/egypt-coptic-church-pope.html Egypt's Coptic church chooses new pope]. CBC News (AP). Nov 4, 2012 6:25 AM ET. (Pope Tawadros II picked from shortlist of 3 names drawn from chalice).
* Yasmine Saleh. ''[http://life.nationalpost.com/2012/11/04/blindfolded-child-chooses-new-pope-for-egypts-copts/ Blindfolded child chooses new pope for Egypt’s Copts].'' National Post (Reuters). Nov 4, 2012 12:14 PM ET.
* ''[http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5gL6_hhsHl64TcrdvHzoEpQQN2hAA?docId=db5495183e99403aa6bd1c43d3a0cabb Egypt's Copts choose new pope for uncertain times]]'', By AYA BATRAWY, Associated Press – Nov 4, 2012.
* ''[http://www.egyptindependent.com/news/tawadros-ii-118th-pope-coptic-church Tawadros II: The 118th pope of the Coptic Church ]]'', Egypt Independent (Al-Masry Al-Yom), Nov 4, 2012.
* ''[http://www.leparisien.fr/societe/l-eveque-tawadros-nouveau-patriarche-copte-d-egypte-04-11-2012-2291077.php L'évêque Tawadros, nouveau patriarche copte d'Egypte]'' (in French). Le Parisien. Nov 4, 2012.

{{start box}}
{{succession|
before=[[Shenouda III (Gayyid) of Alexandria|Shenouda III]]|
title=[[Church of Alexandria (Coptic)|Pope of Alexandria (Coptic)]]|
years=2012- (incumbent)|
after=-}}
{{end box}}

[[Category:Bishops]]
[[Category:20th-21st-century bishops]]
[[Category:Non-Chalcedonian Bishops]]

[[ar:تواضروس الثاني (صبحى باقى سليمان) السكندري]]

Theodore II (Sobhi Baki Soleiman) of Alexandria

2012-11-21T10:08:11Z

Arbible:

{{cleanup}}

: ''For the [[Eastern Orthodox Church|Eastern Orthodox]] Pope with the same name and title, see [[Theodoros II (Choreftakis) of Alexandria]].''

'''Pope Theodoros II''' (in Arabic: ‏البابا تواضروس الثاني) is the 118th [[Coptic Orthodox Church|Coptic]] Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of the See of St. Mark since he took office on [[November 18]], 2012, a fortnight after being selected.

[[File:TheodoreIIofAlexandria(CopticPope118).JPG‎]]

==Early life==
Pope Theodore was born Wagih Sobhi Baki Soleiman (in Arabic: وجيه صبحى باقى سليمان) on [[November 4]], 1952 in the region of Mansoura, Egypt. He studied at the University of Alexandria, where he received a degree in pharmacy in 1975. He then managed a state-owned pharmaceutical factory, when he entered the monastery of St. Pishoy in Wadi El-Natrun to study theology for two years. He was ordained a priest in 1989.

==Views and issues==
Theodoros has stated that the 2011 Egyptian revolution was a turning point in the Coptic Church's relations with its youth. Amongst his first tasks is the issue of Egypt's changing political landscape, given the new constitution and more independent-minded congregates who seek their demands outside the church in dealing with the state.

==Papal selection==
The papal selection process began several weeks before the November 4, 2012 selection. About 2,400 clergymen and others shortlisted three candidates: Bishop Theodoros, Bishop Raphael, a former aide to the previous Pope, Pope Shenouda III, and Father Raphael Ava Mina, a monk in St. Mina's monastery near Alexandria, and the disciple of the [[List of Coptic Orthodox Popes of Alexandria|116th Pope]], Pope Cyril VI. The process faced controversy as many congregates sought a greater say in the process. The three were considered consensus candidates as they were not involved in church disputes and were neither too conservative nor too liberal.

The ceremony to choose the pope from the three consensus candidates was held at Cairo's St. Mark's Cathedral at about noon and featured a marked police presence. Prior to the selection, Metropolitan Pachomius of Behira, [[locum tenens]] of the Church, sealed the chalice with the names with red wax and put it upon the altar as he led Mass. He then told the congregation: "We will pray that God will choose the good shepherd." Following a moment of silence, a blindfolded boy then picked Theodoros' name from the chalice. The thousands of congregates in attendance then erupted in ovation, tears or prayer. In reaction Theodoros II said, from the monastery at Wadi El-Natrun: "[We] will start by organising the house from within. It is a responsibility. Most important is...that the church, as an institution, serves the community." Egyptian President Morsi congratulated Theodoros and called for Egyptian "unity" and "brotherly love" between Copts and the Muslim community.

==Sources and external links==
* ''[http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-20192922 Bishop Tawadros new pope of Egypt's Coptic Christians].'' BBC News. 4 November 2012 Last updated at 05:09 ET.
* [http://www.cbc.ca/news/world/story/2012/11/04/egypt-coptic-church-pope.html Egypt's Coptic church chooses new pope]. CBC News (AP). Nov 4, 2012 6:25 AM ET. (Pope Tawadros II picked from shortlist of 3 names drawn from chalice).
* Yasmine Saleh. ''[http://life.nationalpost.com/2012/11/04/blindfolded-child-chooses-new-pope-for-egypts-copts/ Blindfolded child chooses new pope for Egypt’s Copts].'' National Post (Reuters). Nov 4, 2012 12:14 PM ET.
* ''[http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5gL6_hhsHl64TcrdvHzoEpQQN2hAA?docId=db5495183e99403aa6bd1c43d3a0cabb Egypt's Copts choose new pope for uncertain times]]'', By AYA BATRAWY, Associated Press – Nov 4, 2012.
* ''[http://www.egyptindependent.com/news/tawadros-ii-118th-pope-coptic-church Tawadros II: The 118th pope of the Coptic Church ]]'', Egypt Independent (Al-Masry Al-Yom), Nov 4, 2012.
* ''[[http://www.leparisien.fr/societe/l-eveque-tawadros-nouveau-patriarche-copte-d-egypte-04-11-2012-2291077.php L'évêque Tawadros, nouveau patriarche copte d'Egypte]]'' (in French). Le Parisien. Nov 4, 2012.

{{start box}}
{{succession|
before=[[Shenouda III (Gayyid) of Alexandria|Shenouda III]]|
title=[[Church of Alexandria (Coptic)|Pope of Alexandria (Coptic)]]|
years=2012- (incumbent)|
after=-}}
{{end box}}

[[Category:Bishops]]
[[Category:20th-21st-century bishops]]
[[Category:Non-Chalcedonian Bishops]]

[[ar:تواضروس الثاني (صبحى باقى سليمان) السكندري]]

Theodore II (Sobhi Baki Soleiman) of Alexandria

2012-11-21T09:57:26Z

Arbible: /* Papal selection */

{{cleanup}}

: ''For the [[Eastern Orthodox Church|Eastern Orthodox]] Pope with the same name and title, see [[Theodoros II (Choreftakis) of Alexandria]].''

'''Pope Theodoros II''' (in Arabic: ‏البابا تواضروس الثاني) is the 118th [[Coptic Orthodox Church|Coptic]] Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of the See of St. Mark since he took office on 18 November 2012, a fortnight after being selected.<ref>{{cite news|title=Bishop Tawadros new pope of Egypt's Coptic Christians|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-20192922|accessdate=4 November 2012|newspaper=BBC News|date=4 November 2012}}</ref>

[[File:TheodoreIIofAlexandria(CopticPope118).JPG‎]]

==Early life==
Pope Theodore was born Wagih Sobhi Baki Soleiman (in Arabic: وجيه صبحى باقى سليمان) on 4 November 1952 in the region of Mansoura, Egypt.<ref name="Le Parisien"/> He studied at the University of Alexandria, where he received a degree in pharmacy in 1975.<ref name="EI">{{cite web | url=http://www.egyptindependent.com/news/tawadros-ii-118th-pope-coptic-church | title=Tawadros II: The 118th pope of the Coptic Church | publisher=Egypt Independent | date=4 November 2012| accessdate=5 November 2012| archiveurl=http://www.webcitation.org/6BxDmi1Pm|archivedate=5 November 2012|deadurl=no}}</ref> He then managed a state-owned pharmaceutical factory, when he entered the monastery of St. Pishoy in Wadi El-Natrun to study theology for two years. He was ordained a priest in 1989.<ref name="ap">{{cite news|title=Egypt's Copts choose new pope for uncertain times|url=http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5gL6_hhsHl64TcrdvHzoEpQQN2hAA?docId=db5495183e99403aa6bd1c43d3a0cabb|accessdate=4 November 2012|newspaper=The Associated Press|date=4 November 2012}}</ref>

==Views and issues==
Theodoros has stated that the 2011 Egyptian revolution was a turning point in the Coptic Church's relations with its youth. Amongst his first tasks is the issue of Egypt's changing political landscape, given the new constitution and more independent-minded congregates who seek their demands outside the church in dealing with the state.<ref name="ap"/>

==Papal selection==
The papal selection process began several weeks before the 4 November selection. About 2,400 clergymen and others shortlisted three candidates: Bishop Theodoros, Bishop Raphael, a former aide to the previous Pope, Pope Shenouda III, and Father Raphael Ava Mina, a monk in St. Mina's monastery near Alexandria, and the disciple of the [[List of Coptic Orthodox Popes of Alexandria|116th Pope]], Pope Cyril VI. The process faced controversy as many congregates sought a greater say in the process. The three were considered consensus candidates as they were not involved in church disputes and were neither too conservative nor too liberal.

The ceremony to choose the pope from the three consensus candidates was held at Cairo's St. Mark's Cathedral at about noon and featured a marked police presence. Prior to the selection, Metropolitan Pachomius of Behira, [[locum tenens]] of the Church, sealed the chalice with the names with red wax and put it upon the altar as he led Mass. He then told the congregation: "We will pray that God will choose the good shepherd." Following a moment of silence, a blindfolded boy then picked Theodoros' name from the chalice. The thousands of congregates in attendance then erupted in ovation, tears or prayer. In reaction Theodoros II said, from the monastery at Wadi El-Natrun: "[We] will start by organising the house from within. It is a responsibility. Most important is...that the church, as an institution, serves the community." Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi congratulated Theodoros and called for Egyptian "unity" and "brotherly love" between Copts and the Muslim community.<ref name="ap"/>

==References==
<references />

==Sources==
* ''[http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-20192922 Bishop Tawadros new pope of Egypt's Coptic Christians].'' BBC News. 4 November 2012 Last updated at 05:09 ET.

==External Links==
* [http://www.cbc.ca/news/world/story/2012/11/04/egypt-coptic-church-pope.html Egypt's Coptic church chooses new pope]. CBC News (AP). Nov 4, 2012 6:25 AM ET. (Pope Tawadros II picked from shortlist of 3 names drawn from chalice).
* Yasmine Saleh. ''[http://life.nationalpost.com/2012/11/04/blindfolded-child-chooses-new-pope-for-egypts-copts/ Blindfolded child chooses new pope for Egypt’s Copts].'' National Post (Reuters). Nov 4, 2012 12:14 PM ET.

{{start box}}
{{succession|
before=[[Shenouda III (Gayyid) of Alexandria|Shenouda III]]|
title=[[Church of Alexandria (Coptic)|Pope of Alexandria (Coptic)]]|
years=2012- (incumbent)|
after=-}}
{{end box}}

[[Category:Bishops]]
[[Category:20th-21st-century bishops]]
[[Category:Non-Chalcedonian Bishops]]

[[ar:تواضروس الثاني (صبحى باقى سليمان) السكندري]]

Theodore II (Sobhi Baki Soleiman) of Alexandria

2012-11-21T09:56:45Z

Arbible: /* Papal selection */

{{cleanup}}

: ''For the [[Eastern Orthodox Church|Eastern Orthodox]] Pope with the same name and title, see [[Theodoros II (Choreftakis) of Alexandria]].''

'''Pope Theodoros II''' (in Arabic: ‏البابا تواضروس الثاني) is the 118th [[Coptic Orthodox Church|Coptic]] Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of the See of St. Mark since he took office on 18 November 2012, a fortnight after being selected.<ref>{{cite news|title=Bishop Tawadros new pope of Egypt's Coptic Christians|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-20192922|accessdate=4 November 2012|newspaper=BBC News|date=4 November 2012}}</ref>

[[File:TheodoreIIofAlexandria(CopticPope118).JPG‎]]

==Early life==
Pope Theodore was born Wagih Sobhi Baki Soleiman (in Arabic: وجيه صبحى باقى سليمان) on 4 November 1952 in the region of Mansoura, Egypt.<ref name="Le Parisien"/> He studied at the University of Alexandria, where he received a degree in pharmacy in 1975.<ref name="EI">{{cite web | url=http://www.egyptindependent.com/news/tawadros-ii-118th-pope-coptic-church | title=Tawadros II: The 118th pope of the Coptic Church | publisher=Egypt Independent | date=4 November 2012| accessdate=5 November 2012| archiveurl=http://www.webcitation.org/6BxDmi1Pm|archivedate=5 November 2012|deadurl=no}}</ref> He then managed a state-owned pharmaceutical factory, when he entered the monastery of St. Pishoy in Wadi El-Natrun to study theology for two years. He was ordained a priest in 1989.<ref name="ap">{{cite news|title=Egypt's Copts choose new pope for uncertain times|url=http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5gL6_hhsHl64TcrdvHzoEpQQN2hAA?docId=db5495183e99403aa6bd1c43d3a0cabb|accessdate=4 November 2012|newspaper=The Associated Press|date=4 November 2012}}</ref>

==Views and issues==
Theodoros has stated that the 2011 Egyptian revolution was a turning point in the Coptic Church's relations with its youth. Amongst his first tasks is the issue of Egypt's changing political landscape, given the new constitution and more independent-minded congregates who seek their demands outside the church in dealing with the state.<ref name="ap"/>

==Papal selection==
The papal selection process began several weeks before the 4 November selection. About 2,400 clergymen and others shortlisted three candidates: Bishop Theodoros, Bishop Raphael, a former aide to the previous Pope, Pope Shenouda III, and Father Raphael Ava Mina, a monk in St. Mina's monastery near Alexandria, and the disciple of the [[List of Coptic Orthodox Popes of Alexandria|116th Pope]], Pope Cyril VI. The process faced controversy as many congregates sought a greater say in the process. The three were considered consensus candidates as they were not involved in church disputes and were neither too conservative nor too liberal.

The ceremony to choose the pope from the three consensus candidates was held at Cairo's [[Saint Mark's Coptic Orthodox Cathedral, Cairo|St. Mark's Cathedral]] at about noon and featured a marked police presence. Prior to the selection, Metropolitan Pachomius of Behira, [[locum tenens]] of the Church, sealed the chalice with the names with red wax and put it upon the altar as he led Mass. He then told the congregation: "We will pray that God will choose the good shepherd." Following a moment of silence, a blindfolded boy then picked Theodoros' name from the chalice. The thousands of congregates in attendance then erupted in ovation, tears or prayer. In reaction Theodoros II said, from the monastery at Wadi El-Natrun: "[We] will start by organising the house from within. It is a responsibility. Most important is...that the church, as an institution, serves the community." Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi congratulated Theodoros and called for Egyptian "unity" and "brotherly love" between Copts and the Muslim community.<ref name="ap"/>

==References==
<references />

==Sources==
* ''[http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-20192922 Bishop Tawadros new pope of Egypt's Coptic Christians].'' BBC News. 4 November 2012 Last updated at 05:09 ET.

==External Links==
* [http://www.cbc.ca/news/world/story/2012/11/04/egypt-coptic-church-pope.html Egypt's Coptic church chooses new pope]. CBC News (AP). Nov 4, 2012 6:25 AM ET. (Pope Tawadros II picked from shortlist of 3 names drawn from chalice).
* Yasmine Saleh. ''[http://life.nationalpost.com/2012/11/04/blindfolded-child-chooses-new-pope-for-egypts-copts/ Blindfolded child chooses new pope for Egypt’s Copts].'' National Post (Reuters). Nov 4, 2012 12:14 PM ET.

{{start box}}
{{succession|
before=[[Shenouda III (Gayyid) of Alexandria|Shenouda III]]|
title=[[Church of Alexandria (Coptic)|Pope of Alexandria (Coptic)]]|
years=2012- (incumbent)|
after=-}}
{{end box}}

[[Category:Bishops]]
[[Category:20th-21st-century bishops]]
[[Category:Non-Chalcedonian Bishops]]

[[ar:تواضروس الثاني (صبحى باقى سليمان) السكندري]]

Theodore II (Sobhi Baki Soleiman) of Alexandria

2012-11-21T09:54:08Z

Arbible: /* Early life */

{{cleanup}}

: ''For the [[Eastern Orthodox Church|Eastern Orthodox]] Pope with the same name and title, see [[Theodoros II (Choreftakis) of Alexandria]].''

'''Pope Theodoros II''' (in Arabic: ‏البابا تواضروس الثاني) is the 118th [[Coptic Orthodox Church|Coptic]] Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of the See of St. Mark since he took office on 18 November 2012, a fortnight after being selected.<ref>{{cite news|title=Bishop Tawadros new pope of Egypt's Coptic Christians|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-20192922|accessdate=4 November 2012|newspaper=BBC News|date=4 November 2012}}</ref>

[[File:TheodoreIIofAlexandria(CopticPope118).JPG‎]]

==Early life==
Pope Theodore was born Wagih Sobhi Baki Soleiman (in Arabic: وجيه صبحى باقى سليمان) on 4 November 1952 in the region of Mansoura, Egypt.<ref name="Le Parisien"/> He studied at the University of Alexandria, where he received a degree in pharmacy in 1975.<ref name="EI">{{cite web | url=http://www.egyptindependent.com/news/tawadros-ii-118th-pope-coptic-church | title=Tawadros II: The 118th pope of the Coptic Church | publisher=Egypt Independent | date=4 November 2012| accessdate=5 November 2012| archiveurl=http://www.webcitation.org/6BxDmi1Pm|archivedate=5 November 2012|deadurl=no}}</ref> He then managed a state-owned pharmaceutical factory, when he entered the monastery of St. Pishoy in Wadi El-Natrun to study theology for two years. He was ordained a priest in 1989.<ref name="ap">{{cite news|title=Egypt's Copts choose new pope for uncertain times|url=http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5gL6_hhsHl64TcrdvHzoEpQQN2hAA?docId=db5495183e99403aa6bd1c43d3a0cabb|accessdate=4 November 2012|newspaper=The Associated Press|date=4 November 2012}}</ref>

==Views and issues==
Theodoros has stated that the 2011 Egyptian revolution was a turning point in the Coptic Church's relations with its youth. Amongst his first tasks is the issue of Egypt's changing political landscape, given the new constitution and more independent-minded congregates who seek their demands outside the church in dealing with the state.<ref name="ap"/>

==Papal selection==
{{Refimprove section|date=November 2012}}
The papal selection process began several weeks before the 4 November selection. About 2,400 clergymen and others shortlisted three candidates: Bishop Theodoros, Bishop Raphael, a former aide to the previous Pope, [[Pope Shenouda III]], and Father Raphael Ava Mina, a monk in a monastery near Alexandria, and the disciple of the [[List of Coptic Orthodox Popes of Alexandria|116th Pope]], [[Pope Cyril VI of Alexandria|Pope Cyril VI]]. The process faced controversy as many congregants sought a greater say in the process. The three were considered consensus candidates as they were not involved in church disputes and were neither too conservative nor too liberal.

The ceremony to choose the pope from the three consensus candidates was held at Cairo's [[Saint Mark's Coptic Orthodox Cathedral, Cairo|St. Mark's Cathedral]] at about noon and featured a marked police presence. Prior to the selection, [[Metropolitan Pachomius of Behira|Metropolitan Pachomios]], [[locum tenens]] of the Church, sealed the chalice with the names with red wax and put it upon the altar as he led [[Divine Liturgy#Oriental Orthodoxy|Mass]]. He then told the congregation: "We will pray that God will choose the good shepherd." Following a moment of silence, a blindfolded boy then picked Theodoros' name from the chalice. The thousands of congregants in attendance then erupted in ovation, tears or prayer. In reaction Theodoros II said, from the monastery at Wadi Natrun: "[We] will start by organising the house from within. It is a responsibility. Most important is...that the church, as an institution, serves the community." Egyptian President [[Mohamed Morsi]] congratulated Theodoros and called for Egyptian "unity" and "brotherly love" between Copts and the Muslim community.<ref name="ap"/>

==References==
<references />

==Sources==
* ''[http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-20192922 Bishop Tawadros new pope of Egypt's Coptic Christians].'' BBC News. 4 November 2012 Last updated at 05:09 ET.

==External Links==
* [http://www.cbc.ca/news/world/story/2012/11/04/egypt-coptic-church-pope.html Egypt's Coptic church chooses new pope]. CBC News (AP). Nov 4, 2012 6:25 AM ET. (Pope Tawadros II picked from shortlist of 3 names drawn from chalice).
* Yasmine Saleh. ''[http://life.nationalpost.com/2012/11/04/blindfolded-child-chooses-new-pope-for-egypts-copts/ Blindfolded child chooses new pope for Egypt’s Copts].'' National Post (Reuters). Nov 4, 2012 12:14 PM ET.

{{start box}}
{{succession|
before=[[Shenouda III (Gayyid) of Alexandria|Shenouda III]]|
title=[[Church of Alexandria (Coptic)|Pope of Alexandria (Coptic)]]|
years=2012- (incumbent)|
after=-}}
{{end box}}

[[Category:Bishops]]
[[Category:20th-21st-century bishops]]
[[Category:Non-Chalcedonian Bishops]]

[[ar:تواضروس الثاني (صبحى باقى سليمان) السكندري]]

Theodore II (Sobhi Baki Soleiman) of Alexandria

2012-11-21T09:53:52Z

Arbible: /* Views and issues */

{{cleanup}}

: ''For the [[Eastern Orthodox Church|Eastern Orthodox]] Pope with the same name and title, see [[Theodoros II (Choreftakis) of Alexandria]].''

'''Pope Theodoros II''' (in Arabic: ‏البابا تواضروس الثاني) is the 118th [[Coptic Orthodox Church|Coptic]] Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of the See of St. Mark since he took office on 18 November 2012, a fortnight after being selected.<ref>{{cite news|title=Bishop Tawadros new pope of Egypt's Coptic Christians|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-20192922|accessdate=4 November 2012|newspaper=BBC News|date=4 November 2012}}</ref>

[[File:TheodoreIIofAlexandria(CopticPope118).JPG‎]]

==Early life==
Pope Theodore was born Wagih Sobhi Baki Soleiman (in Arabic: وجيه صبحى باقى سليمان) on 4 November 1952 in the region of Mansoura, Egypt.<ref name="Le Parisien"/> He studied at the University of Alexandria, where he received a degree in pharmacy in 1975.<ref name="EI">{{cite web | url=http://www.egyptindependent.com/news/tawadros-ii-118th-pope-coptic-church | title=Tawadros II: The 118th pope of the Coptic Church | publisher=Egypt Independent | date=4 November 2012| accessdate=5 November 2012| archiveurl=http://www.webcitation.org/6BxDmi1Pm|archivedate=5 November 2012|deadurl=no}}</ref> He then managed a state-owned pharmaceutical factory, when he entered the monastery of St. Pishoy in Wadi El-Natrun to study [[theology]] for two years. He was ordained a priest in 1989.<ref name="ap">{{cite news|title=Egypt's Copts choose new pope for uncertain times|url=http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5gL6_hhsHl64TcrdvHzoEpQQN2hAA?docId=db5495183e99403aa6bd1c43d3a0cabb|accessdate=4 November 2012|newspaper=The Associated Press|date=4 November 2012}}</ref>

==Views and issues==
Theodoros has stated that the 2011 Egyptian revolution was a turning point in the Coptic Church's relations with its youth. Amongst his first tasks is the issue of Egypt's changing political landscape, given the new constitution and more independent-minded congregates who seek their demands outside the church in dealing with the state.<ref name="ap"/>

==Papal selection==
{{Refimprove section|date=November 2012}}
The papal selection process began several weeks before the 4 November selection. About 2,400 clergymen and others shortlisted three candidates: Bishop Theodoros, Bishop Raphael, a former aide to the previous Pope, [[Pope Shenouda III]], and Father Raphael Ava Mina, a monk in a monastery near Alexandria, and the disciple of the [[List of Coptic Orthodox Popes of Alexandria|116th Pope]], [[Pope Cyril VI of Alexandria|Pope Cyril VI]]. The process faced controversy as many congregants sought a greater say in the process. The three were considered consensus candidates as they were not involved in church disputes and were neither too conservative nor too liberal.

The ceremony to choose the pope from the three consensus candidates was held at Cairo's [[Saint Mark's Coptic Orthodox Cathedral, Cairo|St. Mark's Cathedral]] at about noon and featured a marked police presence. Prior to the selection, [[Metropolitan Pachomius of Behira|Metropolitan Pachomios]], [[locum tenens]] of the Church, sealed the chalice with the names with red wax and put it upon the altar as he led [[Divine Liturgy#Oriental Orthodoxy|Mass]]. He then told the congregation: "We will pray that God will choose the good shepherd." Following a moment of silence, a blindfolded boy then picked Theodoros' name from the chalice. The thousands of congregants in attendance then erupted in ovation, tears or prayer. In reaction Theodoros II said, from the monastery at Wadi Natrun: "[We] will start by organising the house from within. It is a responsibility. Most important is...that the church, as an institution, serves the community." Egyptian President [[Mohamed Morsi]] congratulated Theodoros and called for Egyptian "unity" and "brotherly love" between Copts and the Muslim community.<ref name="ap"/>

==References==
<references />

==Sources==
* ''[http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-20192922 Bishop Tawadros new pope of Egypt's Coptic Christians].'' BBC News. 4 November 2012 Last updated at 05:09 ET.

==External Links==
* [http://www.cbc.ca/news/world/story/2012/11/04/egypt-coptic-church-pope.html Egypt's Coptic church chooses new pope]. CBC News (AP). Nov 4, 2012 6:25 AM ET. (Pope Tawadros II picked from shortlist of 3 names drawn from chalice).
* Yasmine Saleh. ''[http://life.nationalpost.com/2012/11/04/blindfolded-child-chooses-new-pope-for-egypts-copts/ Blindfolded child chooses new pope for Egypt’s Copts].'' National Post (Reuters). Nov 4, 2012 12:14 PM ET.

{{start box}}
{{succession|
before=[[Shenouda III (Gayyid) of Alexandria|Shenouda III]]|
title=[[Church of Alexandria (Coptic)|Pope of Alexandria (Coptic)]]|
years=2012- (incumbent)|
after=-}}
{{end box}}

[[Category:Bishops]]
[[Category:20th-21st-century bishops]]
[[Category:Non-Chalcedonian Bishops]]

[[ar:تواضروس الثاني (صبحى باقى سليمان) السكندري]]

Theodore II (Sobhi Baki Soleiman) of Alexandria

2012-11-21T09:52:52Z

Arbible: /* Early life */

{{cleanup}}

: ''For the [[Eastern Orthodox Church|Eastern Orthodox]] Pope with the same name and title, see [[Theodoros II (Choreftakis) of Alexandria]].''

'''Pope Theodoros II''' (in Arabic: ‏البابا تواضروس الثاني) is the 118th [[Coptic Orthodox Church|Coptic]] Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of the See of St. Mark since he took office on 18 November 2012, a fortnight after being selected.<ref>{{cite news|title=Bishop Tawadros new pope of Egypt's Coptic Christians|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-20192922|accessdate=4 November 2012|newspaper=BBC News|date=4 November 2012}}</ref>

[[File:TheodoreIIofAlexandria(CopticPope118).JPG‎]]

==Early life==
Pope Theodore was born Wagih Sobhi Baki Soleiman (in Arabic: وجيه صبحى باقى سليمان) on 4 November 1952 in the region of Mansoura, Egypt.<ref name="Le Parisien"/> He studied at the University of Alexandria, where he received a degree in pharmacy in 1975.<ref name="EI">{{cite web | url=http://www.egyptindependent.com/news/tawadros-ii-118th-pope-coptic-church | title=Tawadros II: The 118th pope of the Coptic Church | publisher=Egypt Independent | date=4 November 2012| accessdate=5 November 2012| archiveurl=http://www.webcitation.org/6BxDmi1Pm|archivedate=5 November 2012|deadurl=no}}</ref> He then managed a state-owned pharmaceutical factory, when he entered the monastery of St. Pishoy in Wadi El-Natrun to study [[theology]] for two years. He was ordained a priest in 1989.<ref name="ap">{{cite news|title=Egypt's Copts choose new pope for uncertain times|url=http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5gL6_hhsHl64TcrdvHzoEpQQN2hAA?docId=db5495183e99403aa6bd1c43d3a0cabb|accessdate=4 November 2012|newspaper=The Associated Press|date=4 November 2012}}</ref>

==Views and issues==
Theodoros has stated that the [[2011 Egyptian revolution]] was a turning point in the Coptic Church's relations with its youth. Amongst his first tasks is the issue of Egypt's changing political landscape, given the new [[Constitution of Egypt|constitution]] and more independent-minded congregants who seek their demands outside the church in dealing with the state.<ref name="ap"/>

==Papal selection==
{{Refimprove section|date=November 2012}}
The papal selection process began several weeks before the 4 November selection. About 2,400 clergymen and others shortlisted three candidates: Bishop Theodoros, Bishop Raphael, a former aide to the previous Pope, [[Pope Shenouda III]], and Father Raphael Ava Mina, a monk in a monastery near Alexandria, and the disciple of the [[List of Coptic Orthodox Popes of Alexandria|116th Pope]], [[Pope Cyril VI of Alexandria|Pope Cyril VI]]. The process faced controversy as many congregants sought a greater say in the process. The three were considered consensus candidates as they were not involved in church disputes and were neither too conservative nor too liberal.

The ceremony to choose the pope from the three consensus candidates was held at Cairo's [[Saint Mark's Coptic Orthodox Cathedral, Cairo|St. Mark's Cathedral]] at about noon and featured a marked police presence. Prior to the selection, [[Metropolitan Pachomius of Behira|Metropolitan Pachomios]], [[locum tenens]] of the Church, sealed the chalice with the names with red wax and put it upon the altar as he led [[Divine Liturgy#Oriental Orthodoxy|Mass]]. He then told the congregation: "We will pray that God will choose the good shepherd." Following a moment of silence, a blindfolded boy then picked Theodoros' name from the chalice. The thousands of congregants in attendance then erupted in ovation, tears or prayer. In reaction Theodoros II said, from the monastery at Wadi Natrun: "[We] will start by organising the house from within. It is a responsibility. Most important is...that the church, as an institution, serves the community." Egyptian President [[Mohamed Morsi]] congratulated Theodoros and called for Egyptian "unity" and "brotherly love" between Copts and the Muslim community.<ref name="ap"/>

==References==
<references />

==Sources==
* ''[http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-20192922 Bishop Tawadros new pope of Egypt's Coptic Christians].'' BBC News. 4 November 2012 Last updated at 05:09 ET.

==External Links==
* [http://www.cbc.ca/news/world/story/2012/11/04/egypt-coptic-church-pope.html Egypt's Coptic church chooses new pope]. CBC News (AP). Nov 4, 2012 6:25 AM ET. (Pope Tawadros II picked from shortlist of 3 names drawn from chalice).
* Yasmine Saleh. ''[http://life.nationalpost.com/2012/11/04/blindfolded-child-chooses-new-pope-for-egypts-copts/ Blindfolded child chooses new pope for Egypt’s Copts].'' National Post (Reuters). Nov 4, 2012 12:14 PM ET.

{{start box}}
{{succession|
before=[[Shenouda III (Gayyid) of Alexandria|Shenouda III]]|
title=[[Church of Alexandria (Coptic)|Pope of Alexandria (Coptic)]]|
years=2012- (incumbent)|
after=-}}
{{end box}}

[[Category:Bishops]]
[[Category:20th-21st-century bishops]]
[[Category:Non-Chalcedonian Bishops]]

[[ar:تواضروس الثاني (صبحى باقى سليمان) السكندري]]

Theodore II (Sobhi Baki Soleiman) of Alexandria

2012-11-21T09:51:52Z

Arbible:

{{cleanup}}

: ''For the [[Eastern Orthodox Church|Eastern Orthodox]] Pope with the same name and title, see [[Theodoros II (Choreftakis) of Alexandria]].''

'''Pope Theodoros II''' (in Arabic: ‏البابا تواضروس الثاني) is the 118th [[Coptic Orthodox Church|Coptic]] Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of the See of St. Mark since he took office on 18 November 2012, a fortnight after being selected.<ref>{{cite news|title=Bishop Tawadros new pope of Egypt's Coptic Christians|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-20192922|accessdate=4 November 2012|newspaper=BBC News|date=4 November 2012}}</ref>

[[File:TheodoreIIofAlexandria(CopticPope118).JPG‎]]

==Early life==
Pope Theodore was born Wagih Sobhi Baki Soleiman (in Arabic: وجيه صبحى باقى سليمان) on 4 November 1952 in the region of Mansoura, Egypt.<ref name="Le Parisien"/> He studied at the [[University of Alexandria]], where he received a degree in [[pharmacy]] in 1975.<ref name="EI">{{cite web | url=http://www.egyptindependent.com/news/tawadros-ii-118th-pope-coptic-church | title=Tawadros II: The 118th pope of the Coptic Church | publisher=Egypt Independent | date=4 November 2012| accessdate=5 November 2012| archiveurl=http://www.webcitation.org/6BxDmi1Pm|archivedate=5 November 2012|deadurl=no}}</ref> He then managed a state-owned pharmaceutical factory, when he entered the monastery of [[St. Pishoy]] in [[Wadi Natrun]] to study [[theology]] for two years. He was ordained a priest in 1989.<ref name="ap">{{cite news|title=Egypt's Copts choose new pope for uncertain times|url=http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5gL6_hhsHl64TcrdvHzoEpQQN2hAA?docId=db5495183e99403aa6bd1c43d3a0cabb|accessdate=4 November 2012|newspaper=The Associated Press|date=4 November 2012}}</ref>

==Views and issues==
Theodoros has stated that the [[2011 Egyptian revolution]] was a turning point in the Coptic Church's relations with its youth. Amongst his first tasks is the issue of Egypt's changing political landscape, given the new [[Constitution of Egypt|constitution]] and more independent-minded congregants who seek their demands outside the church in dealing with the state.<ref name="ap"/>

==Papal selection==
{{Refimprove section|date=November 2012}}
The papal selection process began several weeks before the 4 November selection. About 2,400 clergymen and others shortlisted three candidates: Bishop Theodoros, Bishop Raphael, a former aide to the previous Pope, [[Pope Shenouda III]], and Father Raphael Ava Mina, a monk in a monastery near Alexandria, and the disciple of the [[List of Coptic Orthodox Popes of Alexandria|116th Pope]], [[Pope Cyril VI of Alexandria|Pope Cyril VI]]. The process faced controversy as many congregants sought a greater say in the process. The three were considered consensus candidates as they were not involved in church disputes and were neither too conservative nor too liberal.

The ceremony to choose the pope from the three consensus candidates was held at Cairo's [[Saint Mark's Coptic Orthodox Cathedral, Cairo|St. Mark's Cathedral]] at about noon and featured a marked police presence. Prior to the selection, [[Metropolitan Pachomius of Behira|Metropolitan Pachomios]], [[locum tenens]] of the Church, sealed the chalice with the names with red wax and put it upon the altar as he led [[Divine Liturgy#Oriental Orthodoxy|Mass]]. He then told the congregation: "We will pray that God will choose the good shepherd." Following a moment of silence, a blindfolded boy then picked Theodoros' name from the chalice. The thousands of congregants in attendance then erupted in ovation, tears or prayer. In reaction Theodoros II said, from the monastery at Wadi Natrun: "[We] will start by organising the house from within. It is a responsibility. Most important is...that the church, as an institution, serves the community." Egyptian President [[Mohamed Morsi]] congratulated Theodoros and called for Egyptian "unity" and "brotherly love" between Copts and the Muslim community.<ref name="ap"/>

==References==
<references />

==Sources==
* ''[http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-20192922 Bishop Tawadros new pope of Egypt's Coptic Christians].'' BBC News. 4 November 2012 Last updated at 05:09 ET.

==External Links==
* [http://www.cbc.ca/news/world/story/2012/11/04/egypt-coptic-church-pope.html Egypt's Coptic church chooses new pope]. CBC News (AP). Nov 4, 2012 6:25 AM ET. (Pope Tawadros II picked from shortlist of 3 names drawn from chalice).
* Yasmine Saleh. ''[http://life.nationalpost.com/2012/11/04/blindfolded-child-chooses-new-pope-for-egypts-copts/ Blindfolded child chooses new pope for Egypt’s Copts].'' National Post (Reuters). Nov 4, 2012 12:14 PM ET.

{{start box}}
{{succession|
before=[[Shenouda III (Gayyid) of Alexandria|Shenouda III]]|
title=[[Church of Alexandria (Coptic)|Pope of Alexandria (Coptic)]]|
years=2012- (incumbent)|
after=-}}
{{end box}}

[[Category:Bishops]]
[[Category:20th-21st-century bishops]]
[[Category:Non-Chalcedonian Bishops]]

[[ar:تواضروس الثاني (صبحى باقى سليمان) السكندري]]

Theodore II (Sobhi Baki Soleiman) of Alexandria

2012-11-21T09:47:06Z

Arbible:

{{cleanup}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2012}}
{{Infobox Christian leader
| type = Coptic Pope
| honorific-prefix = His Holiness
| name = Pope Tawadros II
| native_name =Tawadros II {{Coptic|Ⲡⲁⲡⲁ Ⲁⲃⲃⲁ Ⲑⲉόⲇⲱⲣⲟⲥ}} البابا تواضروس التانى
| honorific-suffix =
| title = [[Pope of the Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria]]
| image = Pope_Tawadros_II_in_papal_clothes_enthronement.jpg
| caption =
| enthroned = 18 November 2012<ref name="ap"/>
| ended =
| predecessor = [[Pope Shenouda III of Alexandria|Pope Shenouda III]]
| monastic tonsure =
| ordination = 1989<ref name="ap"/>
| consecration = 15 June 1997{{or|date=November 2012}}
| other_post =
| birth_name = Wagih Subhi Baqi Sulayman وجيه صبحى باقى سليمان
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1952|11|04}}<ref name="Le Parisien">{{cite web|url=http://www.leparisien.fr/societe/l-eveque-tawadros-nouveau-patriarche-copte-d-egypte-04-11-2012-2291077.php|title=L'évêque Tawadros, nouveau patriarche copte d'Egypte|publisher=[[Le Parisien]]|date=4 November 2012|accessdate=5 November 2012|language=French}}</ref>
| birth_place = [[Mansoura, Egypt|Mansoura]], [[Kingdom of Egypt]]<ref name="Le Parisien"/>
| death_place =
| buried =
| nationality = [[Egypt]]ian
| religion = [[Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria]]
| residence = [[Seat of the Coptic Orthodox Pope of Alexandria|Coptic Orthodox Patriarchal Residence]]{{or|date=November 2012}}
| parents =
| spouse =
| children =
| alma_mater =
| signature =
}}
: ''For the [[Eastern Orthodox Church|Eastern Orthodox]] Pope with the same name and title, see [[Theodoros II (Choreftakis) of Alexandria]].''

'''Pope Theodoros II''' ([[Coptic language|Coptic]]: {{Coptic|Ⲡⲁⲡⲁ Ⲁⲃⲃⲁ Ⲑⲉόⲇⲱⲣⲟⲥ}} {{lang-ar|‏البابا تواضروس الثاني}} is the 118th [[Coptic Christianity|Coptic]] [[Coptic Pope|Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of the See of St. Mark]] since he took office on 18 November 2012, a [[fortnight]] after being selected.<ref>{{cite news|title=Bishop Tawadros new pope of Egypt's Coptic Christians|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-20192922|accessdate=4 November 2012|newspaper=BBC News|date=4 November 2012}}</ref>

[[File:TheodoreIIofAlexandria(CopticPope118).JPG‎]]

==Early life==
{{Expand section|more details|date=November 2012}}
Pope Theodore was born Waǧīh Ṣubḥī Bāqī Sulaymān (وجيه صبحى باقى سليمان) on 4 November 1952 in the region of [[Mansoura, Egypt]].<ref name="Le Parisien"/> He studied at the [[University of Alexandria]], where he received a degree in [[pharmacy]] in 1975.<ref name="EI">{{cite web | url=http://www.egyptindependent.com/news/tawadros-ii-118th-pope-coptic-church | title=Tawadros II: The 118th pope of the Coptic Church | publisher=Egypt Independent | date=4 November 2012| accessdate=5 November 2012| archiveurl=http://www.webcitation.org/6BxDmi1Pm|archivedate=5 November 2012|deadurl=no}}</ref> He then managed a state-owned pharmaceutical factory, when he entered the monastery of [[St. Pishoy]] in [[Wadi Natrun]] to study [[theology]] for two years. He was ordained a priest in 1989.<ref name="ap">{{cite news|title=Egypt's Copts choose new pope for uncertain times|url=http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5gL6_hhsHl64TcrdvHzoEpQQN2hAA?docId=db5495183e99403aa6bd1c43d3a0cabb|accessdate=4 November 2012|newspaper=The Associated Press|date=4 November 2012}}</ref>

==Views and issues==
Theodoros has stated that the [[2011 Egyptian revolution]] was a turning point in the Coptic Church's relations with its youth. Amongst his first tasks is the issue of Egypt's changing political landscape, given the new [[Constitution of Egypt|constitution]] and more independent-minded congregants who seek their demands outside the church in dealing with the state.<ref name="ap"/>

==Papal selection==
{{Refimprove section|date=November 2012}}
The papal selection process began several weeks before the 4 November selection. About 2,400 clergymen and others shortlisted three candidates: Bishop Theodoros, Bishop Raphael, a former aide to the previous Pope, [[Pope Shenouda III]], and Father Raphael Ava Mina, a monk in a monastery near Alexandria, and the disciple of the [[List of Coptic Orthodox Popes of Alexandria|116th Pope]], [[Pope Cyril VI of Alexandria|Pope Cyril VI]]. The process faced controversy as many congregants sought a greater say in the process. The three were considered consensus candidates as they were not involved in church disputes and were neither too conservative nor too liberal.

The ceremony to choose the pope from the three consensus candidates was held at Cairo's [[Saint Mark's Coptic Orthodox Cathedral, Cairo|St. Mark's Cathedral]] at about noon and featured a marked police presence. Prior to the selection, [[Metropolitan Pachomius of Behira|Metropolitan Pachomios]], [[locum tenens]] of the Church, sealed the chalice with the names with red wax and put it upon the altar as he led [[Divine Liturgy#Oriental Orthodoxy|Mass]]. He then told the congregation: "We will pray that God will choose the good shepherd." Following a moment of silence, a blindfolded boy then picked Theodoros' name from the chalice. The thousands of congregants in attendance then erupted in ovation, tears or prayer. In reaction Theodoros II said, from the monastery at Wadi Natrun: "[We] will start by organising the house from within. It is a responsibility. Most important is...that the church, as an institution, serves the community." Egyptian President [[Mohamed Morsi]] congratulated Theodoros and called for Egyptian "unity" and "brotherly love" between Copts and the Muslim community.<ref name="ap"/>

==References==
<references />

==Sources==
* ''[http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-20192922 Bishop Tawadros new pope of Egypt's Coptic Christians].'' BBC News. 4 November 2012 Last updated at 05:09 ET.

==External Links==
* [http://www.cbc.ca/news/world/story/2012/11/04/egypt-coptic-church-pope.html Egypt's Coptic church chooses new pope]. CBC News (AP). Nov 4, 2012 6:25 AM ET. (Pope Tawadros II picked from shortlist of 3 names drawn from chalice).
* Yasmine Saleh. ''[http://life.nationalpost.com/2012/11/04/blindfolded-child-chooses-new-pope-for-egypts-copts/ Blindfolded child chooses new pope for Egypt’s Copts].'' National Post (Reuters). Nov 4, 2012 12:14 PM ET.

{{start box}}
{{succession|
before=[[Shenouda III (Gayyid) of Alexandria|Shenouda III]]|
title=[[Church of Alexandria (Coptic)|Pope of Alexandria (Coptic)]]|
years=2012- (incumbent)|
after=-}}
{{end box}}

[[Category:Bishops]]
[[Category:20th-21st-century bishops]]
[[Category:Non-Chalcedonian Bishops]]

[[ar:تواضروس الثاني (صبحى باقى سليمان) السكندري]]

Theodore II (Sobhi Baki Soleiman) of Alexandria

2012-11-21T09:45:40Z

Arbible:

{{cleanup}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2012}}
{{Infobox Christian leader
| type = Coptic Pope
| honorific-prefix = His Holiness
| name = Pope Tawadros II
| native_name =Tawadros II {{Coptic|Ⲡⲁⲡⲁ Ⲁⲃⲃⲁ Ⲑⲉόⲇⲱⲣⲟⲥ}} البابا تواضروس التانى
| honorific-suffix =
| title = [[Pope of the Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria]]
| image = Pope_Tawadros_II_in_papal_clothes_enthronement.jpg
| caption =
| enthroned = 18 November 2012<ref name="ap"/>
| ended =
| predecessor = [[Pope Shenouda III of Alexandria|Pope Shenouda III]]
| monastic tonsure =
| ordination = 1989<ref name="ap"/>
| consecration = 15 June 1997{{or|date=November 2012}}
| other_post =
| birth_name = Wagih Subhi Baqi Sulayman وجيه صبحى باقى سليمان
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1952|11|04}}<ref name="Le Parisien">{{cite web|url=http://www.leparisien.fr/societe/l-eveque-tawadros-nouveau-patriarche-copte-d-egypte-04-11-2012-2291077.php|title=L'évêque Tawadros, nouveau patriarche copte d'Egypte|publisher=[[Le Parisien]]|date=4 November 2012|accessdate=5 November 2012|language=French}}</ref>
| birth_place = [[Mansoura, Egypt|Mansoura]], [[Kingdom of Egypt]]<ref name="Le Parisien"/>
| death_place =
| buried =
| nationality = [[Egypt]]ian
| religion = [[Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria]]
| residence = [[Seat of the Coptic Orthodox Pope of Alexandria|Coptic Orthodox Patriarchal Residence]]{{or|date=November 2012}}
| parents =
| spouse =
| children =
| alma_mater =
| signature =
}}
: ''For the [[Eastern Orthodox Church|Eastern Orthodox]] Pope with the same name and title, see [[Theodoros II (Choreftakis) of Alexandria]].''

'''Pope Theodoros II''' ([[Coptic language|Coptic]]: {{Coptic|Ⲡⲁⲡⲁ Ⲁⲃⲃⲁ Ⲑⲉόⲇⲱⲣⲟⲥ}} {{lang-ar|‏البابا تواضروس الثاني}} is the 118th [[Coptic Christianity|Coptic]] [[Coptic Pope|Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of the See of St. Mark]] since he took office on 18 November 2012, a [[fortnight]] after being selected.<ref>{{cite news|title=Bishop Tawadros new pope of Egypt's Coptic Christians|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-20192922|accessdate=4 November 2012|newspaper=BBC News|date=4 November 2012}}</ref>

[[File:TheodoreIIofAlexandria(CopticPope118).JPG‎]]

==Early life==
{{Expand section|more details|date=November 2012}}
Pope Theodore was born Waǧīh Ṣubḥī Bāqī Sulaymān (وجيه صبحى باقى سليمان) on 4 November 1952 in the region of [[Mansoura, Egypt]].<ref name="Le Parisien"/> He studied at the [[University of Alexandria]], where he received a degree in [[pharmacy]] in 1975.<ref name="EI">{{cite web | url=http://www.egyptindependent.com/news/tawadros-ii-118th-pope-coptic-church | title=Tawadros II: The 118th pope of the Coptic Church | publisher=Egypt Independent | date=4 November 2012| accessdate=5 November 2012| archiveurl=http://www.webcitation.org/6BxDmi1Pm|archivedate=5 November 2012|deadurl=no}}</ref> He then managed a state-owned pharmaceutical factory, when he entered the monastery of [[St. Pishoy]] in [[Wadi Natrun]] to study [[theology]] for two years. He was ordained a priest in 1989.<ref name="ap">{{cite news|title=Egypt's Copts choose new pope for uncertain times|url=http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5gL6_hhsHl64TcrdvHzoEpQQN2hAA?docId=db5495183e99403aa6bd1c43d3a0cabb|accessdate=4 November 2012|newspaper=The Associated Press|date=4 November 2012}}</ref>

==Views and issues==
Theodoros has stated that the [[2011 Egyptian revolution]] was a turning point in the Coptic Church's relations with its youth. Amongst his first tasks is the issue of Egypt's changing political landscape, given the new [[Constitution of Egypt|constitution]] and more independent-minded congregants who seek their demands outside the church in dealing with the state.<ref name="ap"/>

==Papal selection==
{{Refimprove section|date=November 2012}}
The papal selection process began several weeks before the 4 November selection. About 2,400 clergymen and others shortlisted three candidates: Bishop Theodoros, Bishop Raphael, a former aide to the previous Pope, [[Pope Shenouda III]], and Father Raphael Ava Mina, a monk in a monastery near Alexandria, and the disciple of the [[List of Coptic Orthodox Popes of Alexandria|116th Pope]], [[Pope Cyril VI of Alexandria|Pope Cyril VI]]. The process faced controversy as many congregants sought a greater say in the process. The three were considered consensus candidates as they were not involved in church disputes and were neither too conservative nor too liberal.

The ceremony to choose the pope from the three consensus candidates was held at Cairo's [[Saint Mark's Coptic Orthodox Cathedral, Cairo|St. Mark's Cathedral]] at about noon and featured a marked police presence. Prior to the selection, [[Metropolitan Pachomius of Behira|Metropolitan Pachomios]], [[locum tenens]] of the Church, sealed the chalice with the names with red wax and put it upon the altar as he led [[Divine Liturgy#Oriental Orthodoxy|Mass]]. He then told the congregation: "We will pray that God will choose the good shepherd." Following a moment of silence, a blindfolded boy then picked Theodoros' name from the chalice. The thousands of congregants in attendance then erupted in ovation, tears or prayer. In reaction Theodoros II said, from the monastery at Wadi Natrun: "[We] will start by organising the house from within. It is a responsibility. Most important is...that the church, as an institution, serves the community." Egyptian President [[Mohamed Morsi]] congratulated Theodoros and called for Egyptian "unity" and "brotherly love" between Copts and the Muslim community.<ref name="ap"/>

==References==
<references />

{{s-start}}
{{s-rel|or}}
{{s-bef|before=[[Pope Shenouda III of Alexandria|Shenouda III]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[List of Coptic Orthodox Popes of Alexandria|Coptic Pope]]|years=2012–present}}
{{s-inc}}
{{s-end}}

{{start box}}
{{succession|
before=[[Shenouda III (Gayyid) of Alexandria|Shenouda III]]|
title=[[Church of Alexandria (Coptic)|Pope of Alexandria (Coptic)]]|
years=2012- (incumbent)|
after=-}}
{{end box}}

==Sources==
* ''[http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-20192922 Bishop Tawadros new pope of Egypt's Coptic Christians].'' BBC News. 4 November 2012 Last updated at 05:09 ET.

==External Links==
* [http://www.cbc.ca/news/world/story/2012/11/04/egypt-coptic-church-pope.html Egypt's Coptic church chooses new pope]. CBC News (AP). Nov 4, 2012 6:25 AM ET. (Pope Tawadros II picked from shortlist of 3 names drawn from chalice).
* Yasmine Saleh. ''[http://life.nationalpost.com/2012/11/04/blindfolded-child-chooses-new-pope-for-egypts-copts/ Blindfolded child chooses new pope for Egypt’s Copts].'' National Post (Reuters). Nov 4, 2012 12:14 PM ET.

[[Category:Bishops]]
[[Category:20th-21st-century bishops]]
[[Category:Non-Chalcedonian Bishops]]

[[ar:تواضروس الثاني (صبحى باقى سليمان) السكندري]]

Theodore II (Sobhi Baki Soleiman) of Alexandria

2012-11-21T09:39:59Z

Arbible:

{{cleanup}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2012}}
{{Infobox Christian leader
| type = Coptic Pope
| honorific-prefix = His Holiness
| name = Pope Tawadros II
| native_name =Tawadros II {{Coptic|Ⲡⲁⲡⲁ Ⲁⲃⲃⲁ Ⲑⲉόⲇⲱⲣⲟⲥ}} البابا تواضروس التانى
| honorific-suffix =
| title = [[Pope of the Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria]]
| image = Pope_Tawadros_II_in_papal_clothes_enthronement.jpg
| caption =
| enthroned = 18 November 2012<ref name="ap"/>
| ended =
| predecessor = [[Pope Shenouda III of Alexandria|Pope Shenouda III]]
| monastic tonsure =
| ordination = 1989<ref name="ap"/>
| consecration = 15 June 1997{{or|date=November 2012}}
| other_post =
| birth_name = Wagih Subhi Baqi Sulayman وجيه صبحى باقى سليمان
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1952|11|04}}<ref name="Le Parisien">{{cite web|url=http://www.leparisien.fr/societe/l-eveque-tawadros-nouveau-patriarche-copte-d-egypte-04-11-2012-2291077.php|title=L'évêque Tawadros, nouveau patriarche copte d'Egypte|publisher=[[Le Parisien]]|date=4 November 2012|accessdate=5 November 2012|language=French}}</ref>
| birth_place = [[Mansoura, Egypt|Mansoura]], [[Kingdom of Egypt]]<ref name="Le Parisien"/>
| death_place =
| buried =
| nationality = [[Egypt]]ian
| religion = [[Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria]]
| residence = [[Seat of the Coptic Orthodox Pope of Alexandria|Coptic Orthodox Patriarchal Residence]]{{or|date=November 2012}}
| parents =
| spouse =
| children =
| alma_mater =
| signature =
}}
: ''For the [[Eastern Orthodox Church|Eastern Orthodox]] Pope with the same name and title, see [[Theodoros II (Choreftakis) of Alexandria]].''

'''Pope Theodoros II''' ([[Coptic language|Coptic]]: {{Coptic|Ⲡⲁⲡⲁ Ⲁⲃⲃⲁ Ⲑⲉόⲇⲱⲣⲟⲥ}} {{lang-ar|‏البابا تواضروس الثاني}} is the 118th [[Coptic Christianity|Coptic]] [[Coptic Pope|Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of the See of St. Mark]] since he took office on 18 November 2012, a [[fortnight]] after being selected.<ref>{{cite news|title=Bishop Tawadros new pope of Egypt's Coptic Christians|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-20192922|accessdate=4 November 2012|newspaper=BBC News|date=4 November 2012}}</ref>

[[File:TheodoreIIofAlexandria(CopticPope118).JPG‎]]

==Early life==
{{Expand section|more details|date=November 2012}}
Pope Theodore was born Waǧīh Ṣubḥī Bāqī Sulaymān (وجيه صبحى باقى سليمان) on 4 November 1952 in the region of [[Mansoura, Egypt]].<ref name="Le Parisien"/> He studied at the [[University of Alexandria]], where he received a degree in [[pharmacy]] in 1975.<ref name="EI">{{cite web | url=http://www.egyptindependent.com/news/tawadros-ii-118th-pope-coptic-church | title=Tawadros II: The 118th pope of the Coptic Church | publisher=Egypt Independent | date=4 November 2012| accessdate=5 November 2012| archiveurl=http://www.webcitation.org/6BxDmi1Pm|archivedate=5 November 2012|deadurl=no}}</ref> He then managed a state-owned pharmaceutical factory, when he entered the monastery of [[St. Pishoy]] in [[Wadi Natrun]] to study [[theology]] for two years. He was ordained a priest in 1989.<ref name="ap">{{cite news|title=Egypt's Copts choose new pope for uncertain times|url=http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5gL6_hhsHl64TcrdvHzoEpQQN2hAA?docId=db5495183e99403aa6bd1c43d3a0cabb|accessdate=4 November 2012|newspaper=The Associated Press|date=4 November 2012}}</ref>

==Views and issues==
Theodoros has stated that the [[2011 Egyptian revolution]] was a turning point in the Coptic Church's relations with its youth. Amongst his first tasks is the issue of Egypt's changing political landscape, given the new [[Constitution of Egypt|constitution]] and more independent-minded congregants who seek their demands outside the church in dealing with the state.<ref name="ap"/>

==Papal selection==
{{Refimprove section|date=November 2012}}
The papal selection process began several weeks before the 4 November selection. About 2,400 clergymen and others shortlisted three candidates: Bishop Theodoros, Bishop Raphael, a former aide to the previous Pope, [[Pope Shenouda III]], and Father Raphael Ava Mina, a monk in a monastery near Alexandria, and the disciple of the [[List of Coptic Orthodox Popes of Alexandria|116th Pope]], [[Pope Cyril VI of Alexandria|Pope Cyril VI]]. The process faced controversy as many congregants sought a greater say in the process. The three were considered consensus candidates as they were not involved in church disputes and were neither too conservative nor too liberal.

The ceremony to choose the pope from the three consensus candidates was held at Cairo's [[Saint Mark's Coptic Orthodox Cathedral, Cairo|St. Mark's Cathedral]] at about noon and featured a marked police presence. Prior to the selection, [[Metropolitan Pachomius of Behira|Metropolitan Pachomios]], [[locum tenens]] of the Church, sealed the chalice with the names with red wax and put it upon the altar as he led [[Divine Liturgy#Oriental Orthodoxy|Mass]]. He then told the congregation: "We will pray that God will choose the good shepherd." Following a moment of silence, a blindfolded boy then picked Theodoros' name from the chalice. The thousands of congregants in attendance then erupted in ovation, tears or prayer. In reaction Theodoros II said, from the monastery at Wadi Natrun: "[We] will start by organising the house from within. It is a responsibility. Most important is...that the church, as an institution, serves the community." Egyptian President [[Mohamed Morsi]] congratulated Theodoros and called for Egyptian "unity" and "brotherly love" between Copts and the Muslim community.<ref name="ap"/>

==References==
<references />

{{s-start}}
{{s-rel|or}}
{{s-bef|before=[[Pope Shenouda III of Alexandria|Shenouda III]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[List of Coptic Orthodox Popes of Alexandria|Coptic Pope]]|years=2012–present}}
{{s-inc}}
{{s-end}}

{{Coptic Popes}}
{{Patriarchs of Alexandria}}

{{Persondata 
| NAME = Theodoros II of Alexandria, Pope
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES = Tawadros
| SHORT DESCRIPTION = Pope of the Coptic Orthodox Church
| DATE OF BIRTH = 4 November 1952
| PLACE OF BIRTH = Mansoura, [[Kingdom of Egypt]]
| DATE OF DEATH =
| PLACE OF DEATH =
}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Theodoros II of Alexandria, Pope}}
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:1952 births]]
[[Category:People from Dakahlia Governorate]]
[[Category:Egyptian pharmacists]]
[[Category:Oriental Orthodox monks]]
[[Category:Alexandria University alumni]]
[[Category:Popes of the Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria]]

[[ar:تواضروس الثاني (صبحى باقى سليمان) السكندري]]

Theodore II (Sobhi Baki Soleiman) of Alexandria

2012-11-21T09:39:27Z

Arbible:

{{cleanup}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2012}}
{{Infobox Christian leader
| type = Coptic Pope
| honorific-prefix = His Holiness
| name = Pope Tawadros II
| native_name =Tawadros II {{Coptic|Ⲡⲁⲡⲁ Ⲁⲃⲃⲁ Ⲑⲉόⲇⲱⲣⲟⲥ}} البابا تواضروس التانى
| honorific-suffix =
| title = [[Pope of the Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria]]
| image = Pope_Tawadros_II_in_papal_clothes_enthronement.jpg
| caption =
| enthroned = 18 November 2012<ref name="ap"/>
| ended =
| predecessor = [[Pope Shenouda III of Alexandria|Pope Shenouda III]]
| monastic tonsure =
| ordination = 1989<ref name="ap"/>
| consecration = 15 June 1997{{or|date=November 2012}}
| other_post =
| birth_name = Wagih Subhi Baqi Sulayman وجيه صبحى باقى سليمان
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1952|11|04}}<ref name="Le Parisien">{{cite web|url=http://www.leparisien.fr/societe/l-eveque-tawadros-nouveau-patriarche-copte-d-egypte-04-11-2012-2291077.php|title=L'évêque Tawadros, nouveau patriarche copte d'Egypte|publisher=[[Le Parisien]]|date=4 November 2012|accessdate=5 November 2012|language=French}}</ref>
| birth_place = [[Mansoura, Egypt|Mansoura]], [[Kingdom of Egypt]]<ref name="Le Parisien"/>
| death_place =
| buried =
| nationality = [[Egypt]]ian
| religion = [[Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria]]
| residence = [[Seat of the Coptic Orthodox Pope of Alexandria|Coptic Orthodox Patriarchal Residence]]{{or|date=November 2012}}
| parents =
| spouse =
| children =
| alma_mater =
| signature =
}}
: ''For the [[Eastern Orthodox Church|Eastern Orthodox]] Pope with the same name and title, see [[Theodoros II (Choreftakis) of Alexandria]].''

'''Pope Theodoros II''' ([[Coptic language|Coptic]]: {{Coptic|Ⲡⲁⲡⲁ Ⲁⲃⲃⲁ Ⲑⲉόⲇⲱⲣⲟⲥ}} {{lang-ar|‏البابا تواضروس الثاني}} is the 118th [[Coptic Christianity|Coptic]] [[Coptic Pope|Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of the See of St. Mark]] since he took office on 18 November 2012, a [[fortnight]] after being selected.<ref>{{cite news|title=Bishop Tawadros new pope of Egypt's Coptic Christians|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-20192922|accessdate=4 November 2012|newspaper=BBC News|date=4 November 2012}}</ref>

[[ملف:TheodoreIIofAlexandria(CopticPope118).JPG‎]]

==Early life==
{{Expand section|more details|date=November 2012}}
Pope Theodore was born Waǧīh Ṣubḥī Bāqī Sulaymān (وجيه صبحى باقى سليمان) on 4 November 1952 in the region of [[Mansoura, Egypt]].<ref name="Le Parisien"/> He studied at the [[University of Alexandria]], where he received a degree in [[pharmacy]] in 1975.<ref name="EI">{{cite web | url=http://www.egyptindependent.com/news/tawadros-ii-118th-pope-coptic-church | title=Tawadros II: The 118th pope of the Coptic Church | publisher=Egypt Independent | date=4 November 2012| accessdate=5 November 2012| archiveurl=http://www.webcitation.org/6BxDmi1Pm|archivedate=5 November 2012|deadurl=no}}</ref> He then managed a state-owned pharmaceutical factory, when he entered the monastery of [[St. Pishoy]] in [[Wadi Natrun]] to study [[theology]] for two years. He was ordained a priest in 1989.<ref name="ap">{{cite news|title=Egypt's Copts choose new pope for uncertain times|url=http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5gL6_hhsHl64TcrdvHzoEpQQN2hAA?docId=db5495183e99403aa6bd1c43d3a0cabb|accessdate=4 November 2012|newspaper=The Associated Press|date=4 November 2012}}</ref>

==Views and issues==
Theodoros has stated that the [[2011 Egyptian revolution]] was a turning point in the Coptic Church's relations with its youth. Amongst his first tasks is the issue of Egypt's changing political landscape, given the new [[Constitution of Egypt|constitution]] and more independent-minded congregants who seek their demands outside the church in dealing with the state.<ref name="ap"/>

==Papal selection==
{{Refimprove section|date=November 2012}}
The papal selection process began several weeks before the 4 November selection. About 2,400 clergymen and others shortlisted three candidates: Bishop Theodoros, Bishop Raphael, a former aide to the previous Pope, [[Pope Shenouda III]], and Father Raphael Ava Mina, a monk in a monastery near Alexandria, and the disciple of the [[List of Coptic Orthodox Popes of Alexandria|116th Pope]], [[Pope Cyril VI of Alexandria|Pope Cyril VI]]. The process faced controversy as many congregants sought a greater say in the process. The three were considered consensus candidates as they were not involved in church disputes and were neither too conservative nor too liberal.

The ceremony to choose the pope from the three consensus candidates was held at Cairo's [[Saint Mark's Coptic Orthodox Cathedral, Cairo|St. Mark's Cathedral]] at about noon and featured a marked police presence. Prior to the selection, [[Metropolitan Pachomius of Behira|Metropolitan Pachomios]], [[locum tenens]] of the Church, sealed the chalice with the names with red wax and put it upon the altar as he led [[Divine Liturgy#Oriental Orthodoxy|Mass]]. He then told the congregation: "We will pray that God will choose the good shepherd." Following a moment of silence, a blindfolded boy then picked Theodoros' name from the chalice. The thousands of congregants in attendance then erupted in ovation, tears or prayer. In reaction Theodoros II said, from the monastery at Wadi Natrun: "[We] will start by organising the house from within. It is a responsibility. Most important is...that the church, as an institution, serves the community." Egyptian President [[Mohamed Morsi]] congratulated Theodoros and called for Egyptian "unity" and "brotherly love" between Copts and the Muslim community.<ref name="ap"/>

==References==
<references />

{{s-start}}
{{s-rel|or}}
{{s-bef|before=[[Pope Shenouda III of Alexandria|Shenouda III]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[List of Coptic Orthodox Popes of Alexandria|Coptic Pope]]|years=2012–present}}
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{{s-end}}

{{Coptic Popes}}
{{Patriarchs of Alexandria}}

{{Persondata 
| NAME = Theodoros II of Alexandria, Pope
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES = Tawadros
| SHORT DESCRIPTION = Pope of the Coptic Orthodox Church
| DATE OF BIRTH = 4 November 1952
| PLACE OF BIRTH = Mansoura, [[Kingdom of Egypt]]
| DATE OF DEATH =
| PLACE OF DEATH =
}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Theodoros II of Alexandria, Pope}}
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:1952 births]]
[[Category:People from Dakahlia Governorate]]
[[Category:Egyptian pharmacists]]
[[Category:Oriental Orthodox monks]]
[[Category:Alexandria University alumni]]
[[Category:Popes of the Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria]]

[[ar:تواضروس الثاني (صبحى باقى سليمان) السكندري]]

Theodore II (Sobhi Baki Soleiman) of Alexandria

2012-11-05T08:38:52Z

Arbible:

{{stub}}
[[File:TheodoreIIofAlexandria(CopticPope118).JPG‎]]

His Holiness Pope Theodore II (or ''Tawadrous II'' in Arabic; born: Wagih Sobhi Baki Soleiman on 4 November 1952) is the 118th Coptic Orthodox Pope of Alexandria (chosen on 4 November 2012).

== Sources ==
" [http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-20192922 BBC News]

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{{succession|
before=[[Shenouda III (Gayyid) of Alexandria|Shenouda III]]|
title=[[Church of Alexandria (Coptic)|Pope of Alexandria (Coptic)]]|
years=2012- (incumbent)|
after=-}}
{{end box}}

[[Category:Bishops]]
[[Category:20th-21st-century bishops]]
[[Category:Non-Chalcedonian Bishops]]
[[ar:البابا تواضروس الثاني (الكنيسة القبطية الأرثوذكسية)]]

Theodore II (Sobhi Baki Soleiman) of Alexandria

2012-11-05T08:35:37Z

Arbible:

{{stub}}
[[File:TheodoreIIofAlexandria(CopticPope118).JPG‎]]

His Holiness Pope Theodore II (or ''Tawadrous II'' in Arabic; born: Wagih Sobhi Baki Soleiman on 4 November 1952) is the 118th Coptic Orthodox Pope of Alexandria (chosen on 4 November 2012).

== Sources ==
" [http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-20192922 BBC News]

[[Category:Bishops]]
[[Category:20th-21st-century bishops]]
[[Category:Non-Chalcedonian Bishops]]
[[ar:البابا تواضروس الثاني (الكنيسة القبطية الأرثوذكسية)]]

Theodore II (Sobhi Baki Soleiman) of Alexandria

2012-11-05T08:32:47Z

Arbible: Created page with "{{stub}} File:TheodoreIIofAlexandria(CopticPope118).JPG‎ His Holiness Pope Theodore II (born: Wagih Sobhi Baki Soleiman on 4 November 1952) is the 118th Coptic Orthodox..."

{{stub}}
[[File:TheodoreIIofAlexandria(CopticPope118).JPG‎]]

His Holiness Pope Theodore II (born: Wagih Sobhi Baki Soleiman on 4 November 1952) is the 118th Coptic Orthodox Pope of Alexandria (chosen on 4 November 2012).

== Sources ==
" [http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-20192922 BBC News]

[[Category:Bishops]]
[[Category:20th-21st-century bishops]]
[[Category:Non-Chalcedonian Bishops]]
[[ar:البابا تواضروس الثاني (الكنيسة القبطية الأرثوذكسية)]]

Shenouda III (Gayyid) of Alexandria

2012-11-05T08:25:49Z

Arbible: /* Books by HH Pope Shenouda III (in English) */

{{Oriental}}[[Image:HH_Pope_Shenouda_III.jpg|thumb|250px|His Holiness Pope Shenouda III]]
His Holiness '''Pope Shenouda III (Gayyid)''' was the 117th [[Church of Alexandria (Coptic)|Coptic Orthodox]] Pope of Alexandria (1971-2012). He died on [[March 17]], 2012.

==A Brief Biography of His Holiness Pope Shenouda III==
His Holiness was born on [[August 3]], 1923 in the city of Assiut in Upper Egypt; he was given the name of Nazir Gayed. He obtained his Bachelor of Arts degree in History in 1947 from the University of Cairo. Mr. Gayed was very active in his church and served as a Sunday School teacher, first at Saint Anthony's Church in Shoubra and then at Saint Mary's Church in Mahmasha. He worked as a high school English and Social Studies teacher in Cairo by day, and attended classes at the Coptic Theological Seminary by night. Upon graduation from the seminary in 1949, he was chosen to teach New Testament Studies. He was appointed in 1953 as a teacher in the Monastic School.

From his youth, His Holiness enjoyed writing very much, especially poems; he is a remarkably literate man as evidenced by the over 100 books that have been written by him. For many years, he was the Editor-in-Chief of the Sunday School Magazine. At the same time, he followed his post-graduate studies at the Seminary of Archeology.

On [[July 18]], 1954, Mr. Gayed was led to the monastic life at [http://www.st-mary-mons.org/ "El-Suryan" Monastery] in the western desert of Egypt; he was given the name of Father Antonyos El-Suryaani. For six years, from 1956 to 1962, he lived a life of solitude in a cave about seven miles away from the monastery, dedicating all his time to meditation, prayer, and asceticism. He was among the candidates nominated for the papal throne in 1956, but [[Cyril_VI_%28Atta%29_of_Alexandria|Pope Cyril VI]] was the one ultimately chosen for the post.

In 1962, he was ordained by the late Pope Cyril VI as Bishop of Ecclesiastical (Religious) Education and was named President of the Coptic Theological Seminary; he was given the name of Bishop Shenouda on [[September 30]], 1962. Continuing from his literary past, Bishop Shenouda published the first issue of "El-Keraza" magazine in Arabic in 1965, and remains the Editor-in-Chief to this day. Bishop Shenouda was suspended in 1966 by Pope Kyrillos VI.[http://www.coptichistory.org/new_page_1494.htm], [http://www.zeitun-eg.net/members_contrib/DrGeorgeHBebawi16Nov06.doc] This was essentially the result of Bishop Shenouda's (and students') enthusiastic 'campaigns for change' that used rather strong words, e.g., supporting people's right to choose their bishops and priests, a principle he later applied when he became pope after the repose of Pope Kyrillos VI. This "conflict" between Pope Kyrillos VI and Anba Shenouda seems to have later been resolved.

On [[November 14]], 1971, His Holiness was enthroned as Pope Shenouda III, the 117th Pope of Alexandria, and successor of the see of St. Mark. Some argue that the choice of Pope Shenouda III as Pope (and Bishop) of the City of Alexandria is not canonical (against Nicea Canon 15 and other Church councils/canons), because His Holiness was already bishop (with another [[episcopate]]) in the 1960s.[http://www.rezgar.com/debat/show.art.asp?t=0&userID=981&aid=80855], [http://groups.yahoo.com/group/arbible/message/35806], [http://groups.yahoo.com/group/arbible/message/35814], [http://www.zeitun-eg.net/members_contrib/FrBishoyKamelBayan.zip], [http://groups.yahoo.com/group/arbible/message/35816], and p.30 onward in [http://web.archive.org/web/20031007020943/http://home.ptd.net/~yanney/The_Transfigured_Cross.pdf] However, there are also modern day examples from other Churches of patriarchs who were previously bishops before their election as patriarchs, e.g., [[Theophilus_III_%28Giannopoulos%29_of_Jerusalem|[1]]], [[Bartholomew_I_%28Archontonis%29_of_Constantinople|[2]]].

==Early Life==
His Holiness Pope Shenouda III was born the youngest of eight children (five sisters and two brothers) on [[August 3]], 1923 in the Upper Egyptian province of Assiut, and was named Nazeer Gayed. His mother passed away shortly after his birth. By the age of sixteen, Nazeer began service in the Sunday School of St. Anthony's Church in Shoubra, Cairo, where he also went to school.

In 1943, Nazeer entered the University of Cairo and completed a Bachelor of Arts in English and History while he spent his summer vacations at the Monastery of St. Mary (Souryan). Although at this time only graduate students were admitted to the evening classes at the Coptic Theological Seminary, Dean Archdeacon Habib Guirguis admitted Nazeer while he was still in his final year of undergraduate study.

After graduation from the University of Cairo in 1947, Nazeer completed his military service and began work as a teacher of English and History. Meanwhile, he completed his Bachelor of Theology and the Dean appointed him as lecturer in the Old and New Testaments. In 1950 Nazeer resigned from his secular employment to take a full-time lecturing position. In 1953, he was appointed a lecturer at the Monastic College in Helwan.

Nazeer and other servants labored for several years to establish a strong Sunday School and youth group at St. Anthony's Church in Shoubra. his service produced hundreds of devoted servants who began establishing youth groups in neighboring parishes.

==Monastic Life==
[[Image:Photo.PopeShenoudaIIIAndBishopsTheophilosTadros.jpg|thumb|HH Pope Shenouda III (Center, with open book)]] The road to monasticism was a natural consequence of the desire from his early years to consecrate his life to Christ. "...I found in monasticism," Pope Shenouda once said, "a life of complete freedom and clarification." he joined the Souryan Monastery in Wadi El-Natroun and, a year later, he was ordained a priest, taking the name Fr. Antonyos (Anthony) El-Souryani. In 1959, [[Cyril_VI_%28Atta%29_of_Alexandria|His Holiness Pope Kyrillos VI]] appointed Fr. Antonyos as his personal secretary.

On [[September 30]], 1962, Pope Kyrillos VI ordained Fr. Antonyos as Bishop Shenouda, the first bishop for Christian Education. He became the President and Dean of the Theological Seminary, and by late 1969 the enrollment of full-time students doubled and the enrollment of part-time students increased 10 times its original number. Under his presidency, women were admitted to the College and several were appointed lecturers. His Grace's efforts were recognized in 1969 when he was elected President of the Association of Middle East Theological Colleges.

==Enthronement as Pope of Alexandria==
On [[March 9]], 1971, His Holiness Pope Kyrillos (Cyril) VI departed in peace. The Holy Synod met on [[March 22]] to plan for the election of the new Patriarch. Among the final three candidates was Bishop Shenouda. On [[October 31]], 1971, the altar ballot was conducted during the divine Liturgy on the Feast of Saint Reweis. At the end of the Liturgy, His Eminence Metropolitan Antonyos, laid his hands on a young boy who was then blindfolded and told to choose one of the three pieces of paper from the box. The ballot box had been taken from the altar and placed on an elevated table. As the congregation prayed the Lord's Prayer and the words "Lord Have Mercy," the boy chose one of the pieces of paper and gave it to Metropolitan Antonyos, who then joyfully declared God's chosen shepherd for His church as His Grace Bishop Shenouda, Bishop of Education.

On [[November 14]], 1971, in Saint Mark's Cathedral in Cairo, His Holiness Pope Shenouda III was enthroned as 117th Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of the See of Saint Mark. His Holiness became the first patriarch of Alexandria since the fifth century to have been Dean of the Theological Seminary. He continues to lecture at the branches of the Seminary in Cairo, Alexandria, and abroad and at the Higher Institute of Coptic Studies. To meet the expanding ministry of Christian education, His Holiness established other branches of the seminary in Egypt, as well as three graduate institues: Biblical Studies, Hymnology, and Coptic Language. On [[November 29]], 1993, he officially opened the Institute of Pastoral Care. For his erudition in theology and scripture, His Holiness has been awarded four honorary Doctoral Degrees in Theology, three from American Universities and one from a German University.

His Holiness' edifying and spiritually uplifting sermons have won international acclaim; in 1978 the Browning Institute awarded him the prize for the best Christian preacher in the world. His Holiness is also the author of more than eighty books on a variety of subjects, and over the past 20 years, he has been the Editor-in-Chief of the Church's official magazine, EL-KERAZA.

==Pastoral Activities==
His Holiness ordained more than seventy bishops, established general bishoprics, including the first Bishopric of Youth, more than four hundred priests, and countless deacons for Cairo, Alexandra and the Churches abroad. This extended the pastoral care to every city, village and family all over the See of St. Mark. His Holiness continually holds meetings and seminars with the clergy to discuss any pastoral problems or needs.

His Holiness also gives special attention to the service of women in the Coptic Orthodox Church. "We felt a great need of the work of women and we wanted women to have a certain order and service in the Church, not only to have girls as Sunday School teachers who give a part of their time whenever they can, but we want girls and women to give their whole life to God and serve the church." His Holiness says.

Despite his many responsibilities, His Holiness usually manages to spend three days a week in the monastery. His love of monasticism has led to a monastic revival in the Coptic Church. He has ordained hundreds of monks and nuns and renovated and reestablished many monasteries and convents. He is the first Pope to establish Coptic monasteries outside of Egypt, which presently number eight.

As a Bishop for Christian Education, His Grace has overseen the education of Sunday School Curriculum, and during his papacy, has continued to hold meetings for Sunday School teachers to establish a Sunday School curriculum for the churches abroad.

==The Exile and Efforts of National Unity ==
During the early years of his enthronement, His Holiness Pope Shenouda had an amicable relationship with the late Egyptian President Anwar El-Sadat. However, during his presidency, violent Islamic fundamentalist groups increased all over Egypt, especially in the Universities. They started to attack the Copts, vandalize their businesses, and burn their churches, which led Pope Shenouda to protest to the government against this repeated violence. In spring 1981, Pope Shenouda refused to hold any public Church celebrations of Easter and didn't receive that year the President's delegates who are regularly sent to greet the Church and Coptic Christians on such occasions (this particular move by Pope Shenouda III was very embarrassing to President Sadat, both nationally and internationally). Sadat reacted by issuing a presidential decree to exile His Holiness to the Monastery of St. Bishoy, imprison eight bishops, twenty-four priest, leading Coptic lay figures, and ban “El-Keraza" magazine and “Watany" newspaper.

(Another major difference between Sadat and Pope Shenouda III is the attitude of the latter regarding the normalization of the relations between Egypt and Israel and His Holiness' very prominent Arab nationalist zeal. In fact, there is currently (as of 2006) a papal decree issued by Pope Shenouda III that anathematizes any Copt who dares to visit the Christian holy places in Jerusalem and Israel.[http://www.copticpope.org/downloads/audio/kods_trip.zip] According to that decree, such Copts are automatically banned from receiving Holy Communion in the Coptic Orthodox Church, with no route or mechanism being offered to them for repentance and lifting of this ban. Pope Shenouda III has repeatedly declared that Christians must only visit Jerusalem hand in hand with their Muslim brothers after the conflict with Israel is resolved to the satisfaction of all parties. Because of this, many Copts, especially in the diaspora, have accused the pope of mixing religion (ban on receiving Holy Communion if one visits Jerusalem for pilgrimage) with politics (the Arab-Israeli conflict), and consider this papal decree unjustified.)

Despite having to spend forty months away from his flock, His Holiness continued to care for his church. He saw the exile as an opportunity for spiritual retreat and wrote sixteen books during that time.

A month after his decree, Sadat was assassinated by the same fundamentalist groups. After much effort from His Holiness’ children inside and outside the Coptic Orthodox Church, and after three and a half years, the succeeding Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, released Pope Shenouda from exile. Accompanied by many bishops, His Holiness returned to St. Mark’s Cathedral in Cairo, where more than ten thousand people filled the Cathedral to receive the Pope.

His Holiness, after praying the Prayer of thanksgiving, greeted the flock with these words: “I have no residence except in your hearts, which are full of love. I have never been away from your hearts, not even for a twinkle of an eye." He went on to say “I would like to do my best to deepen love, peace and reconciliation between the Church and the State, between the Church and our Muslim citizens. We are like organs in the one body, which is Egypt."

His Holiness works tirelessly to improve relations between the Christians and Muslims in Egypt, in order to establish a peaceful social environment and to dispel sectarian divisions. The Pope and the president of Egypt, Hosni Mubarak, are in good relations, as well as with the moderate Muslims in Egypt.

==Ecumenical Relations==
[[Image:With%20Pope%20John%20Paul%20II.gif|thumb|With HH the late Pope John Paul II in Cairo (2000)]] His Holiness Pope Shenouda is well known for his deep commitment to Christian unity. In an address he gave at an ecumenical forum during the International Week of Prayer for Christian Unity held at Saint Mark's cathedral in Cairo in 1974, His Holiness declared that: "The whole Christian world is anxious to see the Church unite. Christian people, being fed up with divisions and dispersion, are pushing their Church leaders to do something about Church unity and I am sure that the Holy Spirit is inspiring us." He has emphasized that Christian unity must be founded upon a unity of Faith and not upon a unity of jurisdiction.

Before his enthronement, Bishop Shenouda attended the first unofficial ecumenical consultation between theologians of the Oriental Orthodox and the Roman Catholic Churches, in Vienna in September 1971. The agreed statement included the words: "We believe that our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, is God the Son incarnate; perfect in His divinity and perfect in His humanity. His divinity was not separated from His humanity for a single moment, not for the twinkling of an eye. His humanity is one with His divinity without commixture, without confusion, without division, without separation. We in our common faith in the one Lord Jesus Christ regard His mystery inexhaustible and ineffable and for the human mind never fully comprehensible or expressible." (From the Communique of the first nonofficial ecumenical consultation between theologians of the Oriental Orthodox and the Roman Catholic Churches, in 1971).

[[Image:With_Pope_John_Paul_II-2.jpg|thumb|Another photo with HH the late Pope John Paul II in Cairo (2000)]] In May 1973, His Holiness Pope Shenouda III paid a cordial visit to His Holiness, the late Pope Paul VI in Rome. This was the first meeting between an Alexandrine and Roman Pontiff since the time of the great schism of 451 AD. Both Popes signed a common Declaration, containing, amongst other things, a confession of common Faith in the mystery of the Word Incarnate. In welcoming His Holiness to Rome, the late Pope Paul VI said, "You are indeed the head of a church whose origin goes back to the Evangelist Mark and which had in Saint Athanasius...the invincible defender of our common Nicene faith, that is, faith in the divinity of our Lord Jesus Christ."

In response, His Holiness Pope Shenouda said, "We have to declare that between us there are many points of agreement in the principles of faith. As for points of difference, there is no doubt that after fifteen centuries of study, examination, and controversy, we are at much nearer grounds of agreement than our ancestors of the fifth and sixth centuries. We are all more ready and more intense in our desire to reach solutions for differences and attain simpler expressions of our common faith."

Following this historic encounter, a joint Commission was established to explore the road to full intercommunion between the two Apostolic Churches. See [http://www.prounione.urbe.it/dia-int/oo-rc_copt/doc/e_oo-rc_copt_1973.html Pope Paul VI and Pope Shenouda III's Common Declaration]and [http://www.prounione.urbe.it/dia-int/oo-rc_copt/e_oo-rc_copt-info.html other joint meetings/reports].

In June 1989, His Holiness opened the conference of the International Commission for Inter-Orthodox theological Dialogue. A part of the agreed statement said: "When we speak of the one composite (synthetos) hypostasis of our Lord Jesus Christ, we do not say that in Him a divine hypostasis and a human hypostasis came together. It is that the one eternal hypostasis of the Second Person of the Trinity has assumed our created human nature in that act of uniting it with His own uncreated divine nature, to form an inseparably and unconfusedly united real divine-human being, the natures being distinguished from each other contemplation (theoria) only....We agree in condemning the Nestorian and the Eutychian heresies. We neither separate nor divide the human nature in Christ from His divine nature, nor do we think that the former was absorbed in the latter and thus ceased to exist" ([http://www.metroplit-bishoy.org/files/Dialogues/Byzantine/ORIENT1.DOC First Agreed Statement with the Byzantine Family of Orthodoxy in 1989]). See also [http://www.metroplit-bishoy.org/Byzantine.htm Dialogue With the Byzantine Family of Orthodoxy]and [http://www.metroplit-bishoy.org/files/Dialogues/Byzantine/ORIENT4.DOC Latest Agreed Statement (With the Ecumenical Patriarchate)].

Until now, His Holiness initiates and closely monitors theological dialogue with the Eastern Orthodox, Roman Catholic, Anglican, Swedish Lutheran, and the World Alliance of Reformed Churches. His Holiness also served as one of the Presidents of the World Council of Churches and the Middle East Council of Churches.

See also [http://www.metroplit-bishoy.org/3Patriarchs.htm Meetings of Oriental Orthodox Churches], [http://www.metroplit-bishoy.org/dialogue.htm Dialogues With Other Churches]and [http://www.coptic.net/public/news/2001-04-06.txt Report About Relations With the Russian Orthodox Church].

==The Coptic Church All Over the World==
[[Image:PopeShenoudaInHonolulu.jpg|thumb|His Holiness Pope Shenouda III (center) pictured with Fr. Nicholas V. Gamvas, Proistamenos and Gregory Malick, Protopsalti during his visit to Honolulu to consecrate St. Mark's Coptic Orthodox Church]] When His Holiness Pope Shenouda III was enthroned, there were only seven Coptic churches outside of Egypt: two each in Canada, the United States of America, Australia, and one in England. Due mainly to the efforts and encouragement of His Holiness, today there are more than 300 churches outside of Egypt, of which more than 100 are in the United States. There are two theological seminaries in the U.S., and a monastery in California. In addition, His Holiness was the first Pope to ordain Bishops for the Dioceses of North America. Bishop Karas was ordained for the Monastery of St. Antony's in California, Bishop Serapion for the Diocese in Los Angeles, Southern California, and Hawaii, and Bishop Youssef for the Southern United States. There are 24 churches in Canada, and the city of Toronto houses a large Coptic Cultural Center. In Australia and New Zealand, there are currently 28 churches, a theological college, two secondary schools, a primary school, two monasteries and a nursing home, plus two churches in Fiji. In Europe, there are currently over 50 churches. There are six churches and a large Coptic cathedral in Great Britain, including a large Coptic Center in Birmingham and another one in Stevenage. There are churches in Ireland, Scotland, and Wales. There are nine churches in Germany and a monastery in Frankfurt. There are six churches in France, four in Austria, four churches and a monastery in Italy, two in Holland, two in Switzerland, and one church each in Belgium, Denmark, Greece, and Sweden. In November 1991, the first Coptic Churches were established in South America, with a church in São Paulo, Brazil and in Argentina, and more recently churches have also been established in Bolivia and Mexico. Priests have also been ordained for churches in the Caribbean, including Bermuda, the Virgin Islands, and the West Indies.

As head of the oldest Church in Africa, His Holiness Pope Shenouda III has been very keen to extend the Apostolic mission of St. Mark across all of Africa. There are now 33 Coptic Churches among more than 12 African tribes in nine African countries, including Kenya, Zaire, [[Zimbabwe]], Namibia, and South Africa. Nairobi is also the center of the new Diocese in Kenya.

The Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahido Church (EOTC) has strong historical ties with the Coptic Orthodox Church. The two churches have been linked by very intimate relations since the early centuries of Christianity, as both are children of St. Mark the Apostle. In 1994, upon request of the EOTC, they gained Autocephaly (independence)from the Coptic Church. Both Churches still belong to the See of St. Mark and both confess one Orthodox Doctrine.

Eritrea, upon gaining independence from Ethiopia, received pastoral care from His Holiness Pope Shenouda by his ordination of Eritrean Bishops to form the Holy Synod for the Eritrian Orthodox Church.

==The Papal Visits==
[[Image:PopeShenoudaInUK2004.jpg|thumb|With HG Rowan Williams, [[Archbishop of Canterbury]], in the UK (2004)]]His Holiness has made dozens of pastoral visits outside of Egypt. The most extensive tour took place from August to December 1989, when he made an historic 112 day visit to all the Coptic Churches in Europe, the United States, Canada and Australia. During his trip, His Holiness laid foundation stones of new Churches, consecrated most of the altars in the churches, baptized hundreds of children, ordained hundreds of deacons, delivered many lectures at theological seminaries and universities, opened a theological seminary in New Jersey and in Los Angeles, and conducted numerous spiritual meetings.

In the United States, the mayor of Jersey City hoisted the Coptic Church flag side by side with the American flag at City Hall during the Papal visit. The US House of Representatives invited His Holiness to open a congressional session with prayer. His Holiness also met with former US President George Bush and requested that "he give a big push" to peace in the Middle East. In a previous visit, His Holiness met with former US President Jimmy Carter. Afterwards His Holiness and Carter became good friends.

More recently, Pope Shenouda III underwent spinal surgery at Cleveland Clinic in Cleveland, Ohio, USA, on 22 October 2006.[http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=104&STORY=/www/story/10-24-2006/0004458455&EDATE=] Pope Shenouda III has since then fully recovered, and celebrated the 35th anniversary of His Holiness' enthronement as Pope of Alexandria on 14 November 2006 in Egypt, among thousands of faithful who flocked to congratulate His Holiness on this occasion ([http://groups.yahoo.com/group/arbible/message/35800 videos]).

==Theological disputes and the 2007 Coptic Church crisis==
These have recently come to the attention of the mainstream secular newsmedia in Egypt (see, for example, [http://www.dailystaregypt.com/article.aspx?ArticleID=5787 this Egyptian newspaper article in English published on [[February 23]], 2007]). More recently a book entitled [http://www.light-n-life.com/shopping/order_product.asp?ProductNum=OZAC100 ''Orthodoxy: A Creed for Today'' (1972)] by the Very Rev. Fr. [[Anthony M. Coniaris]] has been banned by the Holy Synod of the Coptic Church presided by Pope Shenouda III on [[May 26]], 2007, as it discusses the Orthodox concept of [[theosis]], which was considered to be against Pope Shenouda's teachings.[http://www.copticpope.org/keraza351920/page1.jpg] Wikipedia has further details about the subject.[http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Pope_Shenouda_III_of_Alexandria&oldid=132559251#Theological_disputes] Some learned observers have attributed Pope Shenouda's decades-long theological disputes with different Coptic theologians (like the late Father [[Matta El-Meskeen]]) to personal and ecclesiastico-political motives, rather than to any genuine doctrinal flaws or deviations from Orthodoxy in the writings of these theologians.

See also the 2007 conflict of the Coptic Church with the Catholic and Protestant Churches in Egypt: [[Bishoy_%28Nicola%29_of_Damietta#A_.22controversial.22_figure]].

==Main sources==
* [http://st-takla.org/Pope-1.html H. H. Pope Shenouda III page] at http://St-Takla.org (including sermons, video lectues by Pope Shenouda)
* [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pope_Shenouda_III_of_Alexandria Pope Shenouda III of Alexandria - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia]

==Books by HH Pope Shenouda III (in English)==
*[http://www.copticpope.org Official site] where ''EL-KERAZA Church Magazine'' is available in English
*[http://www.copticchurch.org/Texts/Spirituals/Natofchr.pdf The Nature of Christ] (PDF)
*[http://www.copticchurch.net/topics/pope/#books Online Books]
*[http://www.coptnet.com/Pope.htm Some of the Books of H.H. Pope Shenouda III]
*[http://www.copticchurch.org/spiritual_books.htm Spiritual Books]

{{start box}}
{{succession|
before=[[Cyril VI (Atta) of Alexandria|Cyril VI]]|
title=[[Church of Alexandria (Coptic)|Pope of Alexandria (Coptic)]]|
years=1971-2012|
after=[[Theodore II (Sobhi Baki Soleiman) of Alexandria]]|Theodore II}}
{{end box}}

[[Category:Bishops]]
[[Category:20th-21st-century bishops]]
[[Category:Non-Chalcedonian Bishops]]

[[ar:شنودة الثالث (جيد) السكندري]]

Shenouda III (Gayyid) of Alexandria

2012-11-05T08:24:37Z

Arbible: /* Books by HH Pope Shenouda III (in English) */

{{Oriental}}[[Image:HH_Pope_Shenouda_III.jpg|thumb|250px|His Holiness Pope Shenouda III]]
His Holiness '''Pope Shenouda III (Gayyid)''' was the 117th [[Church of Alexandria (Coptic)|Coptic Orthodox]] Pope of Alexandria (1971-2012). He died on [[March 17]], 2012.

==A Brief Biography of His Holiness Pope Shenouda III==
His Holiness was born on [[August 3]], 1923 in the city of Assiut in Upper Egypt; he was given the name of Nazir Gayed. He obtained his Bachelor of Arts degree in History in 1947 from the University of Cairo. Mr. Gayed was very active in his church and served as a Sunday School teacher, first at Saint Anthony's Church in Shoubra and then at Saint Mary's Church in Mahmasha. He worked as a high school English and Social Studies teacher in Cairo by day, and attended classes at the Coptic Theological Seminary by night. Upon graduation from the seminary in 1949, he was chosen to teach New Testament Studies. He was appointed in 1953 as a teacher in the Monastic School.

From his youth, His Holiness enjoyed writing very much, especially poems; he is a remarkably literate man as evidenced by the over 100 books that have been written by him. For many years, he was the Editor-in-Chief of the Sunday School Magazine. At the same time, he followed his post-graduate studies at the Seminary of Archeology.

On [[July 18]], 1954, Mr. Gayed was led to the monastic life at [http://www.st-mary-mons.org/ "El-Suryan" Monastery] in the western desert of Egypt; he was given the name of Father Antonyos El-Suryaani. For six years, from 1956 to 1962, he lived a life of solitude in a cave about seven miles away from the monastery, dedicating all his time to meditation, prayer, and asceticism. He was among the candidates nominated for the papal throne in 1956, but [[Cyril_VI_%28Atta%29_of_Alexandria|Pope Cyril VI]] was the one ultimately chosen for the post.

In 1962, he was ordained by the late Pope Cyril VI as Bishop of Ecclesiastical (Religious) Education and was named President of the Coptic Theological Seminary; he was given the name of Bishop Shenouda on [[September 30]], 1962. Continuing from his literary past, Bishop Shenouda published the first issue of "El-Keraza" magazine in Arabic in 1965, and remains the Editor-in-Chief to this day. Bishop Shenouda was suspended in 1966 by Pope Kyrillos VI.[http://www.coptichistory.org/new_page_1494.htm], [http://www.zeitun-eg.net/members_contrib/DrGeorgeHBebawi16Nov06.doc] This was essentially the result of Bishop Shenouda's (and students') enthusiastic 'campaigns for change' that used rather strong words, e.g., supporting people's right to choose their bishops and priests, a principle he later applied when he became pope after the repose of Pope Kyrillos VI. This "conflict" between Pope Kyrillos VI and Anba Shenouda seems to have later been resolved.

On [[November 14]], 1971, His Holiness was enthroned as Pope Shenouda III, the 117th Pope of Alexandria, and successor of the see of St. Mark. Some argue that the choice of Pope Shenouda III as Pope (and Bishop) of the City of Alexandria is not canonical (against Nicea Canon 15 and other Church councils/canons), because His Holiness was already bishop (with another [[episcopate]]) in the 1960s.[http://www.rezgar.com/debat/show.art.asp?t=0&userID=981&aid=80855], [http://groups.yahoo.com/group/arbible/message/35806], [http://groups.yahoo.com/group/arbible/message/35814], [http://www.zeitun-eg.net/members_contrib/FrBishoyKamelBayan.zip], [http://groups.yahoo.com/group/arbible/message/35816], and p.30 onward in [http://web.archive.org/web/20031007020943/http://home.ptd.net/~yanney/The_Transfigured_Cross.pdf] However, there are also modern day examples from other Churches of patriarchs who were previously bishops before their election as patriarchs, e.g., [[Theophilus_III_%28Giannopoulos%29_of_Jerusalem|[1]]], [[Bartholomew_I_%28Archontonis%29_of_Constantinople|[2]]].

==Early Life==
His Holiness Pope Shenouda III was born the youngest of eight children (five sisters and two brothers) on [[August 3]], 1923 in the Upper Egyptian province of Assiut, and was named Nazeer Gayed. His mother passed away shortly after his birth. By the age of sixteen, Nazeer began service in the Sunday School of St. Anthony's Church in Shoubra, Cairo, where he also went to school.

In 1943, Nazeer entered the University of Cairo and completed a Bachelor of Arts in English and History while he spent his summer vacations at the Monastery of St. Mary (Souryan). Although at this time only graduate students were admitted to the evening classes at the Coptic Theological Seminary, Dean Archdeacon Habib Guirguis admitted Nazeer while he was still in his final year of undergraduate study.

After graduation from the University of Cairo in 1947, Nazeer completed his military service and began work as a teacher of English and History. Meanwhile, he completed his Bachelor of Theology and the Dean appointed him as lecturer in the Old and New Testaments. In 1950 Nazeer resigned from his secular employment to take a full-time lecturing position. In 1953, he was appointed a lecturer at the Monastic College in Helwan.

Nazeer and other servants labored for several years to establish a strong Sunday School and youth group at St. Anthony's Church in Shoubra. his service produced hundreds of devoted servants who began establishing youth groups in neighboring parishes.

==Monastic Life==
[[Image:Photo.PopeShenoudaIIIAndBishopsTheophilosTadros.jpg|thumb|HH Pope Shenouda III (Center, with open book)]] The road to monasticism was a natural consequence of the desire from his early years to consecrate his life to Christ. "...I found in monasticism," Pope Shenouda once said, "a life of complete freedom and clarification." he joined the Souryan Monastery in Wadi El-Natroun and, a year later, he was ordained a priest, taking the name Fr. Antonyos (Anthony) El-Souryani. In 1959, [[Cyril_VI_%28Atta%29_of_Alexandria|His Holiness Pope Kyrillos VI]] appointed Fr. Antonyos as his personal secretary.

On [[September 30]], 1962, Pope Kyrillos VI ordained Fr. Antonyos as Bishop Shenouda, the first bishop for Christian Education. He became the President and Dean of the Theological Seminary, and by late 1969 the enrollment of full-time students doubled and the enrollment of part-time students increased 10 times its original number. Under his presidency, women were admitted to the College and several were appointed lecturers. His Grace's efforts were recognized in 1969 when he was elected President of the Association of Middle East Theological Colleges.

==Enthronement as Pope of Alexandria==
On [[March 9]], 1971, His Holiness Pope Kyrillos (Cyril) VI departed in peace. The Holy Synod met on [[March 22]] to plan for the election of the new Patriarch. Among the final three candidates was Bishop Shenouda. On [[October 31]], 1971, the altar ballot was conducted during the divine Liturgy on the Feast of Saint Reweis. At the end of the Liturgy, His Eminence Metropolitan Antonyos, laid his hands on a young boy who was then blindfolded and told to choose one of the three pieces of paper from the box. The ballot box had been taken from the altar and placed on an elevated table. As the congregation prayed the Lord's Prayer and the words "Lord Have Mercy," the boy chose one of the pieces of paper and gave it to Metropolitan Antonyos, who then joyfully declared God's chosen shepherd for His church as His Grace Bishop Shenouda, Bishop of Education.

On [[November 14]], 1971, in Saint Mark's Cathedral in Cairo, His Holiness Pope Shenouda III was enthroned as 117th Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of the See of Saint Mark. His Holiness became the first patriarch of Alexandria since the fifth century to have been Dean of the Theological Seminary. He continues to lecture at the branches of the Seminary in Cairo, Alexandria, and abroad and at the Higher Institute of Coptic Studies. To meet the expanding ministry of Christian education, His Holiness established other branches of the seminary in Egypt, as well as three graduate institues: Biblical Studies, Hymnology, and Coptic Language. On [[November 29]], 1993, he officially opened the Institute of Pastoral Care. For his erudition in theology and scripture, His Holiness has been awarded four honorary Doctoral Degrees in Theology, three from American Universities and one from a German University.

His Holiness' edifying and spiritually uplifting sermons have won international acclaim; in 1978 the Browning Institute awarded him the prize for the best Christian preacher in the world. His Holiness is also the author of more than eighty books on a variety of subjects, and over the past 20 years, he has been the Editor-in-Chief of the Church's official magazine, EL-KERAZA.

==Pastoral Activities==
His Holiness ordained more than seventy bishops, established general bishoprics, including the first Bishopric of Youth, more than four hundred priests, and countless deacons for Cairo, Alexandra and the Churches abroad. This extended the pastoral care to every city, village and family all over the See of St. Mark. His Holiness continually holds meetings and seminars with the clergy to discuss any pastoral problems or needs.

His Holiness also gives special attention to the service of women in the Coptic Orthodox Church. "We felt a great need of the work of women and we wanted women to have a certain order and service in the Church, not only to have girls as Sunday School teachers who give a part of their time whenever they can, but we want girls and women to give their whole life to God and serve the church." His Holiness says.

Despite his many responsibilities, His Holiness usually manages to spend three days a week in the monastery. His love of monasticism has led to a monastic revival in the Coptic Church. He has ordained hundreds of monks and nuns and renovated and reestablished many monasteries and convents. He is the first Pope to establish Coptic monasteries outside of Egypt, which presently number eight.

As a Bishop for Christian Education, His Grace has overseen the education of Sunday School Curriculum, and during his papacy, has continued to hold meetings for Sunday School teachers to establish a Sunday School curriculum for the churches abroad.

==The Exile and Efforts of National Unity ==
During the early years of his enthronement, His Holiness Pope Shenouda had an amicable relationship with the late Egyptian President Anwar El-Sadat. However, during his presidency, violent Islamic fundamentalist groups increased all over Egypt, especially in the Universities. They started to attack the Copts, vandalize their businesses, and burn their churches, which led Pope Shenouda to protest to the government against this repeated violence. In spring 1981, Pope Shenouda refused to hold any public Church celebrations of Easter and didn't receive that year the President's delegates who are regularly sent to greet the Church and Coptic Christians on such occasions (this particular move by Pope Shenouda III was very embarrassing to President Sadat, both nationally and internationally). Sadat reacted by issuing a presidential decree to exile His Holiness to the Monastery of St. Bishoy, imprison eight bishops, twenty-four priest, leading Coptic lay figures, and ban “El-Keraza" magazine and “Watany" newspaper.

(Another major difference between Sadat and Pope Shenouda III is the attitude of the latter regarding the normalization of the relations between Egypt and Israel and His Holiness' very prominent Arab nationalist zeal. In fact, there is currently (as of 2006) a papal decree issued by Pope Shenouda III that anathematizes any Copt who dares to visit the Christian holy places in Jerusalem and Israel.[http://www.copticpope.org/downloads/audio/kods_trip.zip] According to that decree, such Copts are automatically banned from receiving Holy Communion in the Coptic Orthodox Church, with no route or mechanism being offered to them for repentance and lifting of this ban. Pope Shenouda III has repeatedly declared that Christians must only visit Jerusalem hand in hand with their Muslim brothers after the conflict with Israel is resolved to the satisfaction of all parties. Because of this, many Copts, especially in the diaspora, have accused the pope of mixing religion (ban on receiving Holy Communion if one visits Jerusalem for pilgrimage) with politics (the Arab-Israeli conflict), and consider this papal decree unjustified.)

Despite having to spend forty months away from his flock, His Holiness continued to care for his church. He saw the exile as an opportunity for spiritual retreat and wrote sixteen books during that time.

A month after his decree, Sadat was assassinated by the same fundamentalist groups. After much effort from His Holiness’ children inside and outside the Coptic Orthodox Church, and after three and a half years, the succeeding Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, released Pope Shenouda from exile. Accompanied by many bishops, His Holiness returned to St. Mark’s Cathedral in Cairo, where more than ten thousand people filled the Cathedral to receive the Pope.

His Holiness, after praying the Prayer of thanksgiving, greeted the flock with these words: “I have no residence except in your hearts, which are full of love. I have never been away from your hearts, not even for a twinkle of an eye." He went on to say “I would like to do my best to deepen love, peace and reconciliation between the Church and the State, between the Church and our Muslim citizens. We are like organs in the one body, which is Egypt."

His Holiness works tirelessly to improve relations between the Christians and Muslims in Egypt, in order to establish a peaceful social environment and to dispel sectarian divisions. The Pope and the president of Egypt, Hosni Mubarak, are in good relations, as well as with the moderate Muslims in Egypt.

==Ecumenical Relations==
[[Image:With%20Pope%20John%20Paul%20II.gif|thumb|With HH the late Pope John Paul II in Cairo (2000)]] His Holiness Pope Shenouda is well known for his deep commitment to Christian unity. In an address he gave at an ecumenical forum during the International Week of Prayer for Christian Unity held at Saint Mark's cathedral in Cairo in 1974, His Holiness declared that: "The whole Christian world is anxious to see the Church unite. Christian people, being fed up with divisions and dispersion, are pushing their Church leaders to do something about Church unity and I am sure that the Holy Spirit is inspiring us." He has emphasized that Christian unity must be founded upon a unity of Faith and not upon a unity of jurisdiction.

Before his enthronement, Bishop Shenouda attended the first unofficial ecumenical consultation between theologians of the Oriental Orthodox and the Roman Catholic Churches, in Vienna in September 1971. The agreed statement included the words: "We believe that our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, is God the Son incarnate; perfect in His divinity and perfect in His humanity. His divinity was not separated from His humanity for a single moment, not for the twinkling of an eye. His humanity is one with His divinity without commixture, without confusion, without division, without separation. We in our common faith in the one Lord Jesus Christ regard His mystery inexhaustible and ineffable and for the human mind never fully comprehensible or expressible." (From the Communique of the first nonofficial ecumenical consultation between theologians of the Oriental Orthodox and the Roman Catholic Churches, in 1971).

[[Image:With_Pope_John_Paul_II-2.jpg|thumb|Another photo with HH the late Pope John Paul II in Cairo (2000)]] In May 1973, His Holiness Pope Shenouda III paid a cordial visit to His Holiness, the late Pope Paul VI in Rome. This was the first meeting between an Alexandrine and Roman Pontiff since the time of the great schism of 451 AD. Both Popes signed a common Declaration, containing, amongst other things, a confession of common Faith in the mystery of the Word Incarnate. In welcoming His Holiness to Rome, the late Pope Paul VI said, "You are indeed the head of a church whose origin goes back to the Evangelist Mark and which had in Saint Athanasius...the invincible defender of our common Nicene faith, that is, faith in the divinity of our Lord Jesus Christ."

In response, His Holiness Pope Shenouda said, "We have to declare that between us there are many points of agreement in the principles of faith. As for points of difference, there is no doubt that after fifteen centuries of study, examination, and controversy, we are at much nearer grounds of agreement than our ancestors of the fifth and sixth centuries. We are all more ready and more intense in our desire to reach solutions for differences and attain simpler expressions of our common faith."

Following this historic encounter, a joint Commission was established to explore the road to full intercommunion between the two Apostolic Churches. See [http://www.prounione.urbe.it/dia-int/oo-rc_copt/doc/e_oo-rc_copt_1973.html Pope Paul VI and Pope Shenouda III's Common Declaration]and [http://www.prounione.urbe.it/dia-int/oo-rc_copt/e_oo-rc_copt-info.html other joint meetings/reports].

In June 1989, His Holiness opened the conference of the International Commission for Inter-Orthodox theological Dialogue. A part of the agreed statement said: "When we speak of the one composite (synthetos) hypostasis of our Lord Jesus Christ, we do not say that in Him a divine hypostasis and a human hypostasis came together. It is that the one eternal hypostasis of the Second Person of the Trinity has assumed our created human nature in that act of uniting it with His own uncreated divine nature, to form an inseparably and unconfusedly united real divine-human being, the natures being distinguished from each other contemplation (theoria) only....We agree in condemning the Nestorian and the Eutychian heresies. We neither separate nor divide the human nature in Christ from His divine nature, nor do we think that the former was absorbed in the latter and thus ceased to exist" ([http://www.metroplit-bishoy.org/files/Dialogues/Byzantine/ORIENT1.DOC First Agreed Statement with the Byzantine Family of Orthodoxy in 1989]). See also [http://www.metroplit-bishoy.org/Byzantine.htm Dialogue With the Byzantine Family of Orthodoxy]and [http://www.metroplit-bishoy.org/files/Dialogues/Byzantine/ORIENT4.DOC Latest Agreed Statement (With the Ecumenical Patriarchate)].

Until now, His Holiness initiates and closely monitors theological dialogue with the Eastern Orthodox, Roman Catholic, Anglican, Swedish Lutheran, and the World Alliance of Reformed Churches. His Holiness also served as one of the Presidents of the World Council of Churches and the Middle East Council of Churches.

See also [http://www.metroplit-bishoy.org/3Patriarchs.htm Meetings of Oriental Orthodox Churches], [http://www.metroplit-bishoy.org/dialogue.htm Dialogues With Other Churches]and [http://www.coptic.net/public/news/2001-04-06.txt Report About Relations With the Russian Orthodox Church].

==The Coptic Church All Over the World==
[[Image:PopeShenoudaInHonolulu.jpg|thumb|His Holiness Pope Shenouda III (center) pictured with Fr. Nicholas V. Gamvas, Proistamenos and Gregory Malick, Protopsalti during his visit to Honolulu to consecrate St. Mark's Coptic Orthodox Church]] When His Holiness Pope Shenouda III was enthroned, there were only seven Coptic churches outside of Egypt: two each in Canada, the United States of America, Australia, and one in England. Due mainly to the efforts and encouragement of His Holiness, today there are more than 300 churches outside of Egypt, of which more than 100 are in the United States. There are two theological seminaries in the U.S., and a monastery in California. In addition, His Holiness was the first Pope to ordain Bishops for the Dioceses of North America. Bishop Karas was ordained for the Monastery of St. Antony's in California, Bishop Serapion for the Diocese in Los Angeles, Southern California, and Hawaii, and Bishop Youssef for the Southern United States. There are 24 churches in Canada, and the city of Toronto houses a large Coptic Cultural Center. In Australia and New Zealand, there are currently 28 churches, a theological college, two secondary schools, a primary school, two monasteries and a nursing home, plus two churches in Fiji. In Europe, there are currently over 50 churches. There are six churches and a large Coptic cathedral in Great Britain, including a large Coptic Center in Birmingham and another one in Stevenage. There are churches in Ireland, Scotland, and Wales. There are nine churches in Germany and a monastery in Frankfurt. There are six churches in France, four in Austria, four churches and a monastery in Italy, two in Holland, two in Switzerland, and one church each in Belgium, Denmark, Greece, and Sweden. In November 1991, the first Coptic Churches were established in South America, with a church in São Paulo, Brazil and in Argentina, and more recently churches have also been established in Bolivia and Mexico. Priests have also been ordained for churches in the Caribbean, including Bermuda, the Virgin Islands, and the West Indies.

As head of the oldest Church in Africa, His Holiness Pope Shenouda III has been very keen to extend the Apostolic mission of St. Mark across all of Africa. There are now 33 Coptic Churches among more than 12 African tribes in nine African countries, including Kenya, Zaire, [[Zimbabwe]], Namibia, and South Africa. Nairobi is also the center of the new Diocese in Kenya.

The Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahido Church (EOTC) has strong historical ties with the Coptic Orthodox Church. The two churches have been linked by very intimate relations since the early centuries of Christianity, as both are children of St. Mark the Apostle. In 1994, upon request of the EOTC, they gained Autocephaly (independence)from the Coptic Church. Both Churches still belong to the See of St. Mark and both confess one Orthodox Doctrine.

Eritrea, upon gaining independence from Ethiopia, received pastoral care from His Holiness Pope Shenouda by his ordination of Eritrean Bishops to form the Holy Synod for the Eritrian Orthodox Church.

==The Papal Visits==
[[Image:PopeShenoudaInUK2004.jpg|thumb|With HG Rowan Williams, [[Archbishop of Canterbury]], in the UK (2004)]]His Holiness has made dozens of pastoral visits outside of Egypt. The most extensive tour took place from August to December 1989, when he made an historic 112 day visit to all the Coptic Churches in Europe, the United States, Canada and Australia. During his trip, His Holiness laid foundation stones of new Churches, consecrated most of the altars in the churches, baptized hundreds of children, ordained hundreds of deacons, delivered many lectures at theological seminaries and universities, opened a theological seminary in New Jersey and in Los Angeles, and conducted numerous spiritual meetings.

In the United States, the mayor of Jersey City hoisted the Coptic Church flag side by side with the American flag at City Hall during the Papal visit. The US House of Representatives invited His Holiness to open a congressional session with prayer. His Holiness also met with former US President George Bush and requested that "he give a big push" to peace in the Middle East. In a previous visit, His Holiness met with former US President Jimmy Carter. Afterwards His Holiness and Carter became good friends.

More recently, Pope Shenouda III underwent spinal surgery at Cleveland Clinic in Cleveland, Ohio, USA, on 22 October 2006.[http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=104&STORY=/www/story/10-24-2006/0004458455&EDATE=] Pope Shenouda III has since then fully recovered, and celebrated the 35th anniversary of His Holiness' enthronement as Pope of Alexandria on 14 November 2006 in Egypt, among thousands of faithful who flocked to congratulate His Holiness on this occasion ([http://groups.yahoo.com/group/arbible/message/35800 videos]).

==Theological disputes and the 2007 Coptic Church crisis==
These have recently come to the attention of the mainstream secular newsmedia in Egypt (see, for example, [http://www.dailystaregypt.com/article.aspx?ArticleID=5787 this Egyptian newspaper article in English published on [[February 23]], 2007]). More recently a book entitled [http://www.light-n-life.com/shopping/order_product.asp?ProductNum=OZAC100 ''Orthodoxy: A Creed for Today'' (1972)] by the Very Rev. Fr. [[Anthony M. Coniaris]] has been banned by the Holy Synod of the Coptic Church presided by Pope Shenouda III on [[May 26]], 2007, as it discusses the Orthodox concept of [[theosis]], which was considered to be against Pope Shenouda's teachings.[http://www.copticpope.org/keraza351920/page1.jpg] Wikipedia has further details about the subject.[http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Pope_Shenouda_III_of_Alexandria&oldid=132559251#Theological_disputes] Some learned observers have attributed Pope Shenouda's decades-long theological disputes with different Coptic theologians (like the late Father [[Matta El-Meskeen]]) to personal and ecclesiastico-political motives, rather than to any genuine doctrinal flaws or deviations from Orthodoxy in the writings of these theologians.

See also the 2007 conflict of the Coptic Church with the Catholic and Protestant Churches in Egypt: [[Bishoy_%28Nicola%29_of_Damietta#A_.22controversial.22_figure]].

==Main sources==
* [http://st-takla.org/Pope-1.html H. H. Pope Shenouda III page] at http://St-Takla.org (including sermons, video lectues by Pope Shenouda)
* [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pope_Shenouda_III_of_Alexandria Pope Shenouda III of Alexandria - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia]

==Books by HH Pope Shenouda III (in English)==
*[http://www.copticpope.org Official site] where ''EL-KERAZA Church Magazine'' is available in English
*[http://www.copticchurch.org/Texts/Spirituals/Natofchr.pdf The Nature of Christ] (PDF)
*[http://www.copticchurch.net/topics/pope/#books Online Books]
*[http://www.coptnet.com/Pope.htm Some of the Books of H.H. Pope Shenouda III]
*[http://www.copticchurch.org/spiritual_books.htm Spiritual Books]

{{start box}}
{{succession|
before=[[Cyril VI (Atta) of Alexandria|Cyril VI]]|
title=[[Church of Alexandria (Coptic)|Pope of Alexandria (Coptic)]]|
years=1971-2012|
after=[[Theodoros II (Sobhi Baki Soleiman) of Alexandria]]|Theodore II}}
{{end box}}

[[Category:Bishops]]
[[Category:20th-21st-century bishops]]
[[Category:Non-Chalcedonian Bishops]]

[[ar:شنودة الثالث (جيد) السكندري]]

Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church

2012-08-16T15:43:02Z

Arbible: /* Recent History */ Patriarch Abune P'awlos left our vanishing world on 15 August 2012, aged 76 years

{{cleanup}}
{{orientalchurches}}
The '''Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church''' (in Amharic: ''Yäityop'ya ortodoks täwahedo bétäkrestyan'') is an [[Oriental Orthodox]] church in Ethiopia that was part of the [[Church of Alexandria (Coptic)|Coptic Church]] until 1959, when it was granted its own [[Patriarch]] by [[List of Coptic Popes|Coptic Pope]] Cyril VI. The only pre-colonial Christian church of [[Orthodoxy in Sub-Saharan Africa|Sub-Saharan Africa]], it claims a membership of close to 36 million people worldwide, and is thus the largest of all Oriental Orthodox churches. Its current head is His Holiness Abune P'awlos (born 1935, elected 1992), Patriarch of Addis Ababa and All Ethiopia.

==Origins==
''Tewahedo'' (Ge'ez ''tawāhidō'', modern pronunciation ''tewāhidō'') is a Ge'ez word meaning "being made one"; it is related to the Arabic word توحيد ''tawhid'', meaning "monotheism," or more literally "unification." This refers to the [[Oriental Orthodoxy|Oriental Orthodox]] belief in the one single unique [[Christology|Nature of Christ]] (i.e., a belief that a complete, natural union of the Divine and Human Natures into One is self-evident in order to accomplish the divine salvation of humankind), as opposed to the "two Natures of Christ" belief (unmixed, separated Divine and Human Natures, called the [[Hypostatic Union]]) promoted by today's [[Roman Catholic Church|Roman Catholic]] and Eastern Orthodox churches. According to the Catholic Encyclopedia article on the [[Henoticon]] [http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/07218b.htm]: the [[Patriarch]]s of Alexandria, Antioch, and Jerusalem, and many others, all refused to accept the "two natures" doctrine decreed by the Byzantine Emperor [[Marcian]]'s [[Council of Chalcedon]] in 451, thus separating them from the Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox, who themselves separated from one another later in the [[Great Schism]] (1054). The Oriental Orthodox Churches, which today include the [[Church of Alexandria (Coptic)|Coptic Orthodox Church]], the [[Church of Armenia|Armenian Apostolic Church]], the [[Church of Antioch (Syriac)|Syriac Orthodox Church]], the [[Church of India|Malankara Orthodox Church]] of India, the Ethiopian Orthodox Church, and the [[Church of Eritrea|Eritrean Orthodox Tewahedo Church]], are referred to as "Non-Chalcedonian", and, sometimes by outsiders as "[[Monophysitism|monophysite]]" (meaning "One Nature", in reference to Christ; a rough translation of the name ''Tewahido''). However, these Churches themselves describe their [[Christology]] as [[Miaphysitism|Miaphysite]].

The Church of Ethiopia claims its origins from [[Philip the Evangelist]] ([[Acts of the Apostles|Acts]] 8). It became the established church of the Ethiopian Axumite Kingdom under king Ezana in the 4th century through the efforts of a Syrian Greek named [[Frumentius of Axum|Frumentius]], known in Ethiopia as ''Abba Selama, Kesaté Birhan'' ("Father of Peace, Revealer of Light"). As a boy, Frumentius had been shipwrecked with his brother Aedesius on the Eritrean coast. The brothers managed to be brought to the royal court, where they rose to positions of influence and converted Emperor Ezana to Christianity, causing him to be baptized. Ezana sent Frumentius to Alexandria to ask the Patriarch, St. [[Athanasius the Great|Athanasius]], to appoint a bishop for Ethiopia. Athanasius appointed Frumentius himself, who returned to Ethiopia as Bishop with the name of ''Abune Selama''. For centuries afterward, the Coptic Patriarch of Alexandria always named a Copt (''an Egyptian'') to be ''[[Abuna]]'' or Archbishop of the Ethiopian Church.

==Jesuit interim==
Little else is known of church history down to the period of Jesuit influence, which broke the connection with Egypt. Union with the [[Church of Alexandria (Coptic)|Coptic Church]] continued after the Arab conquest in Egypt.

Abu Saleh records in the 12th century that the patriarch always sent letters twice a year to the kings of Abyssinia (Ethiopia) and Nubia, until Al Hakim stopped the practice. Cyril, 67th patriarch, sent Severus as bishop, with orders to put down [[polygamy]] and to enforce observance of canonical consecration for all churches. These examples show the close relations of the two [[church]]es concurrent with the Middle Ages. But early in the 16th century the church was brought under the influence of a Portuguese mission.

In 1439, in the reign of Zera Ya'iqob, a religious discussion between Abba Giyorgis and a French visitor had led to the dispatch of an embassy from Ethiopia to the [[Church of Rome|Vatican]]; but the initiative in the [[Roman Catholic Church|Roman Catholic]] missions to Ethiopia was taken, not by Rome, but by Portugal, as an incident in the struggle with the [[Muslim]] Ottoman Empire and Sultanate of Adal for the command of the trade route to India by the Red Sea.

In 1507 Matthew, or Matewos, an Armenian, had been sent as Ethiopian envoy to Portugal to ask aid against Adal. In 1520 an embassy under Dom Rodrigo de Lima landed in Ethiopia (by which time Adal had been remobilized under Ahmad ibn Ibrihim al-Ghazi). An interesting account of the Portuguese mission, which remained for several years, was written by Francisco Alvarez, the chaplain.

Later, Ignatius Loyola wished to essay the task of conversion, but was forbidden. Instead, the [[pope]] sent out Joao Nunez Barreto as patriarch of the East Indies, with Andre de Oviedo as bishop; and from Goa envoys went to Ethiopia, followed by Oviedo himself, to secure the king's adherence to Rome. After repeated failures some measure of success was achieved under Emperor Susniyos, but not until 1624 did the emperor make a formal submission to the Pope of Rome. Susniyos made Roman Catholicism the official religion of the state, but was met with heavy resistance by his nobles and subjects and eventually had to abdicate in 1632 in favor of his son, St. Fasiledes, who promptly restored Orthodoxy and the union of the Church of Ethiopia with Alexandria. He then expelled the Jesuits in 1633 and, in 1665, Fasilides ordered that all Jesuit books (the 'books of the Franks') be burned.

==Recent History==
The Coptic and Ethiopian Orthodox Churches reached an agreement on [[July 13]], 1948, that led to [[autocephaly]] for the Church of Ethiopia. Five [[bishop]]s were immediately consecrated by the [[Coptic Patriarch of Alexandria]], empowered to elect a new patriarch for their church. It was also agreed that the successor to Archbishop Abuna Qerilos IV, a Copt, would have the power to consecrate new bishops. This promotion was completed when Coptic Pope Yosab of Alexandria consecrated an Ethiopian-born bishop, Abune Basilyos, on [[January 14]], 1951. Then in 1959 Pope [[Cyril VI of Alexandria]] enthroned Abune Basilyos as the first Patriarch of Ethiopia.

Patriarch Abune Basilyos died in 1971 and was succeeded that year by Patriarch Abune Tewoflos. With the fall of Emperor Haile Silase in 1974 the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahido Church was disestablished as the state church. The new Marxist government began nationalizing property (including land) owned by the Church and in 1976 Abune Tewoflos was arrested by the Communist Derg regime. He was secretly executed later that year. The government subsequently ordered the Church to elect a new patriarch and a simple monk from the countryside, Abune [[Tekle Haimanot II]], was enthroned. The Coptic Orthodox Church refused to recognize the election and enthronement of Abune Tekle Haimanot on the grounds that the Holy Synod of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church had not removed Abune Tewoflos and that the government had not publicly acknowledged his death, and that he was thus still the legitimate patriarch of Ethiopia. Formal relations between the two churches were stopped, although they remained in communion with each other, and were resumed on July 13, 2007<ref>[http://www.cathcil.org/v04/doc/English/visitseng.htm#11 "Common Declaration" of Pope Shenoudah III, Catholicos Aram I, and Patriarch Paulos - News and Media of the Armenian Orthodox Church, 22 July 2007]</ref>

[[Image:AnastasiosAndPaulos.JPG|350px|thumb|Archbishop Anastasios of Albania visits with Abune P'awlos at the 2008 Central Committee meeting of the World Council of Churches]]
Patriarch Abune Tekle Haimanot proved to be much less accommodating to the Derg regime than it had expected, and so when the patriarch died in 1988 a new patriarch with closer ties to the regime was sought. Archbishop Abune Merqoriyos of Gonder, a member of the Derg-era Ethiopian Parliament, was therefore elected and enthroned as patriarch. Following the fall of the Derg regime in 1991 and the coming to power of the Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF), Patriarch Abune Merqoriyos abdicated under governmental pressure and was replaced by the new government's candidate, Abune P'awlos. Patriarch Abune P'awlos left our vanishing world after a short illness on 15 August 2012, aged 76 years.

Following the enthronement of Abune P'awlos, Abune Merqoriyos fled abroad, first to Kenya and later to the United States, and announced that his abdication had been forced and that he was therefore the legitimate Patriarch of Ethiopia. Several other archbishops also went into exile in 1992 and together with Abune Merqoriyos and an Ethiopian Orthodox archbishop in the Caribbean formed the Holy Synod in Exile of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church. This Synod in Exile is recognized by a number of Ethiopian Orthodox churches in Kenya, North America, Western Europe, and Australia that do not recognize the legitimacy of Abune P'awlos' election as patriarch.

After Eritrea became an independent country the Coptic Orthodox Church granted autocephaly to the [[Eritrea|Eritrean Orthodox Tewahedo Church]] with the reluctant approval of its mother, the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahido Church. Unliek the Church of Ethiopia, the Church of Eritrea is only in practice partially autocephalous due to the nature of the agreement on communion between it and the Coptic Orthodox Church.

As of 2005 there are many Ethiopian Orthodox churches located throughout the United States and other countries to which Ethiopians have migrated. Roughly 40% of Ethiopia, around 35 million people, are members of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church.

==Distinctive traits==
===Biblical canon===
The Canon of the Tewahedo Church is looser than for most other traditional Christian groups. The Ethiopian "narrow" Old Testament Canon includes the books found in the Septuagint accepted by the Orthodox plus [[Book of Enoch|Enoch]], [[Book of Jubilees|Jubilees]], [[I Esdras|1 Esdras]] and [[II Esdras|2 Esdras]], 3 books of Maccabees, and [[Psalm]] 151. However, their three books of the Maccabees are identical in title only, and quite different in content from those of the other Christian churches which include them. The order of the other books is somewhat different from other groups', as well. This Church also has a "broader canon" that includes more books.

===Language===
The divine services of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church are celebrated primarily in the Ge'ez language, which has been the language of the Church at least since the arrival of the [[Nine Saints]] ([[Abba P'entelewon]], [[Abba Gerima]] (Issac or Yisihaq), [[Abba Zemika'el Aregawi]], [[Abba Aftse]], [[Abba Guba]], [[Abba Alef]], [[Abba Yem'ata]], [[Abba Liqanos]], and [[Abba Sehma]]), who fled persecution by the East Roman emperors after the Council of Chalcedon in 451. The [[Septuagint]] version of the Old Testament was translated into Ge'ez around the time of the Nine Saints. Services are also occasionally served in Amharic or English in the Ethiopian Diaspora and in Amharic at St. Stephen's Church in Addis Abeba, Ethiopia. [[Sermon]]s are delivered in the local languages of the Church's faithful, which include Amharic, Gambela, Gurage, Oromo, Sidama, and Tigrayan.

===Architecture===
There are many [[Monolithic church|monolithic churches]] in Ethiopia, most famously the twelve churches at Lalibela. After these, two main types of architecture are found—one [[basilica]]n, the other native. The Church of Our Lady Mary of Zion at Axum is basilican, though the early basilicas are nearly all in ruin. These examples show the influence of those architects who, in the 6th century, built the basilicas at Sanaá and elsewhere in the Arabian Peninsula. There are two forms of native churches -- one square or oblong, traditionally found in Tigray; the other circular, traditionally found in Amhara and Shewa (though either style may be found elsewhere). The square type may be due to basilican influence, the circular is an adaptation of the native hut. In both forms, the sanctuary is square and stands clear in the center and the arrangements are based on Jewish tradition. Walls and ceilings are adorned with frescoes. A courtyard, circular or rectangular, surrounds the body of the church. Modern Ethiopian churches may incorporate the basilican or native styles, and use contemporary construction techniques and materials. In rural areas, the church and outer court are often thatched with mud-built walls.

===Ark of the Covenant===
The Ethiopian church claims that one of its churches, Our Lady Mary of Zion (''Maryam Tsiyon''), is host to the original [[Ark of the Covenant]] that [[Moses]] carried with the Israelites during the [[Exodus]]. However, outsiders (and women, be they insiders or not) are not allowed into the building where the Ark is located, ostensibly due to dangerous biblical warnings. As a result, international scholars doubt that the real Ark is truly there, although a case has been put forward by controversial popular writer Graham Hancock in his book ''The Sign and the Seal''.

Throughout Ethiopia, Orthodox churches are not considered churches until the local bishop gives them a ''[[tabot]]'', a replica of the tablets in the original Ark of the Covenant. The tabot is six inches (15 cm) square and made from alabaster, marble, or wood (acacia). It is always kept in ornate coverings to hide it from public view. In an elaborate procession, the tabot is carried around the outside of the church amid joyful song and dance on the feast day of that particular church's namesake and also on the great Feast of T'imqet, known as [[Epiphany]] or [[Theophany]].

===Similarities to Judaism===
The Church of Ethiopia places a heavier emphasis on Old Testament teachings than one might find in the Western churches and its followers adhere to certain practices that one only finds in Orthodox or Conservative [[Judaism]]. Ethiopian Christians, like some other Eastern Christians, traditionally follow dietary rules that are similar to Jewish kashrut, specifically with regard to how an animal is slaughtered. Similarly, pork is prohibited, though unlike kashrut, Ethiopian cuisine does mix dairy products with meat. Women are prohibited from entering the church during their period and, like married Orthodox Jewish women, are expected to cover their hair with a large scarf (or ''net'ela'') while in church.

As with Orthodox [[synagogue]]s, men and women are seated separately in Ethiopian Orthodox churches, with men on the left and women on the right (when facing the altar). However, women covering their heads and separation of the sexes in church is common to many [[Oriental Orthodox]], [[Eastern Orthodox]] and [[Roman Catholic Church|Catholic]] Christians and not unique to Judaism. Ethiopian Orthodox worshipers remove their shoes when entering a church, in accordance with [[Exodus]] 3:5 (in which [[Moses]], while viewing the [[burning bush]], is commanded to remove his shoes while standing on holy ground). Furthermore, both the [[Sabbath]] (Saturday), and the [[Lord's Day]] (Sunday) are observed as holy, although more emphasis, because of the [[Resurrection]], is laid upon the Sunday.

==References==
<references/>

==Source==
* [[Wikipedia:Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church]]

==External links==
*[http://www.ethiopianorthodox.org/english/indexenglish.htm General Information (1)]
*[http://www.eotc.faithweb.com/ General Information (2)]
*[http://www.eotcholysynod.org/ Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahido Church in Exile] (Official Website)
*[http://www.angelfire.com/ny3/ethiochurch/ History of the Church]
*[http://www.tewahedo.org/ Tewahedo Songs & Records]
*[http://www.tewahedo.ch/ Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church in Switzerland]
*[http://pro.netnation.com/~national/azmariam/html/ Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church in Phoenix]
*[http://www.cnewa.org/ecc-bodypg-us.aspx?eccpageID=7 CNEWA - Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church] by Ronald Roberson, a Roman Catholic priest and scholar
*[http://www.tadias.com/?p=2452 History of Ethiopian Church Presence in Jerusalem]. Tadias Magazine, New York, August 16, 2008.

==Further Reading==
* Prof. Dr. Edward Ullendorff (British Academy). ''[http://books.google.ca/books?id=Y0YDve-kiK0C&printsec=frontcover&source=gbs_navlinks_s Ethiopia and the Bible].'' Oxford University Press, 1968. 173 pp. ISBN 9780197260760

{{OrthodoxyinAfrica}}
[[Category:Jurisdictions|Ethiopia]]
[[Category:Oriental Orthodox|Ethiopia]]
[[Category: Orthodoxy in Africa]]

[[ar:كنيسة التوحيد الأرثوذكسية الإثيوبية]]
[[fr:Église d'Éthiopie]]

Shenouda III (Gayyid) of Alexandria

2012-03-17T19:34:09Z

Arbible: Pope Shenouda III departed our world on 17 March 2012

{{Oriental}}[[Image:HH_Pope_Shenouda_III.jpg|thumb|250px|His Holiness Pope Shenouda III]]
His Holiness '''Pope Shenouda III (Gayyid)''' is the 117th [[Church of Alexandria (Coptic)|Coptic Orthodox]] Pope of Alexandria. He departed our vanishing world on 17 March 2012.

==A Brief Biography of His Holiness Pope Shenouda III==
His Holiness was born on [[August 3]], 1923 in the city of Assiut in Upper Egypt; he was given the name of Nazir Gayed. He obtained his Bachelor of Arts degree in History in 1947 from the University of Cairo. Mr. Gayed was very active in his church and served as a Sunday School teacher, first at Saint Anthony's Church in Shoubra and then at Saint Mary's Church in Mahmasha. He worked as a high school English and Social Studies teacher in Cairo by day, and attended classes at the Coptic Theological Seminary by night. Upon graduation from the seminary in 1949, he was chosen to teach New Testament Studies. He was appointed in 1953 as a teacher in the Monastic School.

From his youth, His Holiness enjoyed writing very much, especially poems; he is a remarkably literate man as evidenced by the over 100 books that have been written by him. For many years, he was the Editor-in-Chief of the Sunday School Magazine. At the same time, he followed his post-graduate studies at the Seminary of Archeology.

On [[July 18]], 1954, Mr. Gayed was led to the monastic life at [http://www.st-mary-mons.org/ "El-Suryan" Monastery] in the western desert of Egypt; he was given the name of Father Antonyos El-Suryaani. For six years, from 1956 to 1962, he lived a life of solitude in a cave about seven miles away from the monastery, dedicating all his time to meditation, prayer, and asceticism. He was among the candidates nominated for the papal throne in 1956, but [[Cyril_VI_%28Atta%29_of_Alexandria|Pope Cyril VI]] was the one ultimately chosen for the post.

In 1962, he was ordained by the late Pope Cyril VI as Bishop of Ecclesiastical (Religious) Education and was named President of the Coptic Theological Seminary; he was given the name of Bishop Shenouda on September 30, 1962. Continuing from his literary past, Bishop Shenouda published the first issue of "El-Keraza" magazine in Arabic in 1965, and remains the Editor-in-Chief to this day. Bishop Shenouda was suspended in 1966 by Pope Kyrillos VI.[http://www.coptichistory.org/new_page_1494.htm], [http://www.zeitun-eg.net/members_contrib/DrGeorgeHBebawi16Nov06.doc] This was essentially the result of Bishop Shenouda's (and students') enthusiastic 'campaigns for change' that used rather strong words, e.g., supporting people's right to choose their bishops and priests, a principle he later applied when he became pope after the repose of Pope Kyrillos VI. This "conflict" between Pope Kyrillos VI and Anba Shenouda seems to have later been resolved.

On [[November 14]], 1971, His Holiness was enthroned as Pope Shenouda III, the 117th Pope of Alexandria, and successor of the see of St. Mark. Some argue that the choice of Pope Shenouda III as Pope (and Bishop) of the City of Alexandria is not canonical (against Nicea Canon 15 and other Church councils/canons), because His Holiness was already bishop (with another [[episcopate]]) in the 1960s.[http://www.rezgar.com/debat/show.art.asp?t=0&userID=981&aid=80855], [http://groups.yahoo.com/group/arbible/message/35806], [http://groups.yahoo.com/group/arbible/message/35814], [http://www.zeitun-eg.net/members_contrib/FrBishoyKamelBayan.zip], [http://groups.yahoo.com/group/arbible/message/35816], and p.30 onward in [http://web.archive.org/web/20031007020943/http://home.ptd.net/~yanney/The_Transfigured_Cross.pdf] However, there are also modern day examples from other Churches of patriarchs who were previously bishops before their election as patriarchs, e.g., [[Theophilus_III_%28Giannopoulos%29_of_Jerusalem|[1]]], [[Bartholomew_I_%28Archontonis%29_of_Constantinople|[2]]].

==Early Life==
His Holiness Pope Shenouda III was born the youngest of eight children (five sisters and two brothers) on [[August 3]], 1923 in the Upper Egyptian province of Assiut, and was named Nazeer Gayed. His mother passed away shortly after his birth. By the age of sixteen, Nazeer began service in the Sunday School of St. Anthony's Church in Shoubra, Cairo, where he also went to school.

In 1943, Nazeer entered the University of Cairo and completed a Bachelor of Arts in English and History while he spent his summer vacations at the Monastery of St. Mary (Souryan). Although at this time only graduate students were admitted to the evening classes at the Coptic Theological Seminary, Dean Archdeacon Habib Guirguis admitted Nazeer while he was still in his final year of undergraduate study.

After graduation from the University of Cairo in 1947, Nazeer completed his military service and began work as a teacher of English and History. Meanwhile, he completed his Bachelor of Theology and the Dean appointed him as lecturer in the Old and New Testaments. In 1950 Nazeer resigned from his secular employment to take a full-time lecturing position. In 1953, he was appointed a lecturer at the Monastic College in Helwan.

Nazeer and other servants labored for several years to establish a strong Sunday School and youth group at St. Anthony's Church in Shoubra. his service produced hundreds of devoted servants who began establishing youth groups in neighboring parishes.

==Monastic Life==
[[Image:Photo.PopeShenoudaIIIAndBishopsTheophilosTadros.jpg|thumb|HH Pope Shenouda III (Center, with open book)]] The road to monasticism was a natural consequence of the desire from his early years to consecrate his life to Christ. "...I found in monasticism," Pope Shenouda once said, "a life of complete freedom and clarification." he joined the Souryan Monastery in Wadi El-Natroun and, a year later, he was ordained a priest, taking the name Fr. Antonyos (Anthony) El-Souryani. In 1959, [[Cyril_VI_%28Atta%29_of_Alexandria|His Holiness Pope Kyrillos VI]] appointed Fr. Antonyos as his personal secretary.

On [[September 30]], 1962, Pope Kyrillos VI ordained Fr. Antonyos as Bishop Shenouda, the first bishop for Christian Education. He became the President and Dean of the Theological Seminary, and by late 1969 the enrollment of full-time students doubled and the enrollment of part-time students increased 10 times its original number. Under his presidency, women were admitted to the College and several were appointed lecturers. His Grace's efforts were recognized in 1969 when he was elected President of the Association of Middle East Theological Colleges.

==Enthronement as Pope of Alexandria==
On [[March 9]], 1971, His Holiness Pope Kyrillos (Cyril) VI departed in peace. The Holy Synod met on [[March 22]] to plan for the election of the new Patriarch. Among the final three candidates was Bishop Shenouda. On October 31, 1971, the altar ballot was conducted during the divine Liturgy on the Feast of Saint Reweis. At the end of the Liturgy, His Eminence Metropolitan Antonyos, laid his hands on a young boy who was then blindfolded and told to choose one of the three pieces of paper from the box. The ballot box had been taken from the altar and placed on an elevated table. As the congregation prayed the Lord's Prayer and the words "Lord Have Mercy," the boy chose one of the pieces of paper and gave it to Metropolitan Antonyos, who then joyfully declared God's chosen shepherd for His church as His Grace Bishop Shenouda, Bishop of Education.

On [[November 14]], 1971, in Saint Mark's Cathedral in Cairo, His Holiness Pope Shenouda III was enthroned as 117th Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of the See of Saint Mark. His Holiness became the first patriarch of Alexandria since the fifth century to have been Dean of the Theological Seminary. He continues to lecture at the branches of the Seminary in Cairo, Alexandria, and abroad and at the Higher Institute of Coptic Studies. To meet the expanding ministry of Christian education, His Holiness established other branches of the seminary in Egypt, as well as three graduate institues: Biblical Studies, Hymnology, and Coptic Language. On [[November 29]], 1993, he officially opened the Institute of Pastoral Care. For his erudition in theology and scripture, His Holiness has been awarded four honorary Doctoral Degrees in Theology, three from American Universities and one from a German University.

His Holiness' edifying and spiritually uplifting sermons have won international acclaim; in 1978 the Browning Institute awarded him the prize for the best Christian preacher in the world. His Holiness is also the author of more than eighty books on a variety of subjects, and over the past 20 years, he has been the Editor-in-Chief of the Church's official magazine, EL-KERAZA.

==Pastoral Activities==
His Holiness ordained more than seventy bishops, established general bishoprics, including the first Bishopric of Youth, more than four hundred priests, and countless deacons for Cairo, Alexandra and the Churches abroad. This extended the pastoral care to every city, village and family all over the See of St. Mark. His Holiness continually holds meetings and seminars with the clergy to discuss any pastoral problems or needs.

His Holiness also gives special attention to the service of women in the Coptic Orthodox Church. "We felt a great need of the work of women and we wanted women to have a certain order and service in the Church, not only to have girls as Sunday School teachers who give a part of their time whenever they can, but we want girls and women to give their whole life to God and serve the church." His Holiness says.

Despite his many responsibilities, His Holiness usually manages to spend three days a week in the monastery. His love of monasticism has led to a monastic revival in the Coptic Church. He has ordained hundreds of monks and nuns and renovated and reestablished many monasteries and convents. He is the first Pope to establish Coptic monasteries outside of Egypt, which presently number eight.

As a Bishop for Christian Education, His Grace has overseen the education of Sunday School Curriculum, and during his papacy, has continued to hold meetings for Sunday School teachers to establish a Sunday School curriculum for the churches abroad.

==The Exile and Efforts of National Unity ==
During the early years of his enthronement, His Holiness Pope Shenouda had an amicable relationship with the late Egyptian President Anwar El-Sadat. However, during his presidency, violent Islamic fundamentalist groups increased all over Egypt, especially in the Universities. They started to attack the Copts, vandalize their businesses, and burn their churches, which led Pope Shenouda to protest to the government against this repeated violence. In spring 1981, Pope Shenouda refused to hold any public Church celebrations of Easter and didn't receive that year the President's delegates who are regularly sent to greet the Church and Coptic Christians on such occasions (this particular move by Pope Shenouda III was very embarrassing to President Sadat, both nationally and internationally). Sadat reacted by issuing a presidential decree to exile His Holiness to the Monastery of St. Bishoy, imprison eight bishops, twenty-four priest, leading Coptic lay figures, and ban “El-Keraza" magazine and “Watany" newspaper.

(Another major difference between Sadat and Pope Shenouda III is the attitude of the latter regarding the normalization of the relations between Egypt and Israel and His Holiness' very prominent Arab nationalist zeal. In fact, there is currently (as of 2006) a papal decree issued by Pope Shenouda III that anathematizes any Copt who dares to visit the Christian holy places in Jerusalem and Israel.[http://www.copticpope.org/downloads/audio/kods_trip.zip] According to that decree, such Copts are automatically banned from receiving Holy Communion in the Coptic Orthodox Church, with no route or mechanism being offered to them for repentance and lifting of this ban. Pope Shenouda III has repeatedly declared that Christians must only visit Jerusalem hand in hand with their Muslim brothers after the conflict with Israel is resolved to the satisfaction of all parties. Because of this, many Copts, especially in the diaspora, have accused the pope of mixing religion (ban on receiving Holy Communion if one visits Jerusalem for pilgrimage) with politics (the Arab-Israeli conflict), and consider this papal decree unjustified.)

Despite having to spend forty months away from his flock, His Holiness continued to care for his church. He saw the exile as an opportunity for spiritual retreat and wrote sixteen books during that time.

A month after his decree, Sadat was assassinated by the same fundamentalist groups. After much effort from His Holiness’ children inside and outside the Coptic Orthodox Church, and after three and a half years, the succeeding Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, released Pope Shenouda from exile. Accompanied by many bishops, His Holiness returned to St. Mark’s Cathedral in Cairo, where more than ten thousand people filled the Cathedral to receive the Pope.

His Holiness, after praying the Prayer of thanksgiving, greeted the flock with these words: “I have no residence except in your hearts, which are full of love. I have never been away from your hearts, not even for a twinkle of an eye." He went on to say “I would like to do my best to deepen love, peace and reconciliation between the Church and the State, between the Church and our Muslim citizens. We are like organs in the one body, which is Egypt."

His Holiness works tirelessly to improve relations between the Christians and Muslims in Egypt, in order to establish a peaceful social environment and to dispel sectarian divisions. The Pope and the president of Egypt, Hosni Mubarak, are in good relations, as well as with the moderate Muslims in Egypt.

==Ecumenical Relations==
[[Image:With%20Pope%20John%20Paul%20II.gif|thumb|With HH the late Pope John Paul II in Cairo (2000)]] His Holiness Pope Shenouda is well known for his deep commitment to Christian unity. In an address he gave at an ecumenical forum during the International Week of Prayer for Christian Unity held at Saint Mark's cathedral in Cairo in 1974, His Holiness declared that: "The whole Christian world is anxious to see the Church unite. Christian people, being fed up with divisions and dispersion, are pushing their Church leaders to do something about Church unity and I am sure that the Holy Spirit is inspiring us." He has emphasized that Christian unity must be founded upon a unity of Faith and not upon a unity of jurisdiction.

Before his enthronement, Bishop Shenouda attended the first unofficial ecumenical consultation between theologians of the Oriental Orthodox and the Roman Catholic Churches, in Vienna in September 1971. The agreed statement included the words: "We believe that our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, is God the Son incarnate; perfect in His divinity and perfect in His humanity. His divinity was not separated from His humanity for a single moment, not for the twinkling of an eye. His humanity is one with His divinity without commixture, without confusion, without division, without separation. We in our common faith in the one Lord Jesus Christ regard His mystery inexhaustible and ineffable and for the human mind never fully comprehensible or expressible." (From the Communique of the first nonofficial ecumenical consultation between theologians of the Oriental Orthodox and the Roman Catholic Churches, in 1971).

[[Image:With_Pope_John_Paul_II-2.jpg|thumb|Another photo with HH the late Pope John Paul II in Cairo (2000)]] In May 1973, His Holiness Pope Shenouda III paid a cordial visit to His Holiness, the late Pope Paul VI in Rome. This was the first meeting between an Alexandrine and Roman Pontiff since the time of the great schism of 451 AD. Both Popes signed a common Declaration, containing, amongst other things, a confession of common Faith in the mystery of the Word Incarnate. In welcoming His Holiness to Rome, the late Pope Paul VI said, "You are indeed the head of a church whose origin goes back to the Evangelist Mark and which had in Saint Athanasius...the invincible defender of our common Nicene faith, that is, faith in the divinity of our Lord Jesus Christ."

In response, His Holiness Pope Shenouda said, "We have to declare that between us there are many points of agreement in the principles of faith. As for points of difference, there is no doubt that after fifteen centuries of study, examination, and controversy, we are at much nearer grounds of agreement than our ancestors of the fifth and sixth centuries. We are all more ready and more intense in our desire to reach solutions for differences and attain simpler expressions of our common faith."

Following this historic encounter, a joint Commission was established to explore the road to full intercommunion between the two Apostolic Churches. See [http://www.prounione.urbe.it/dia-int/oo-rc_copt/doc/e_oo-rc_copt_1973.html Pope Paul VI and Pope Shenouda III's Common Declaration]and [http://www.prounione.urbe.it/dia-int/oo-rc_copt/e_oo-rc_copt-info.html other joint meetings/reports].

In June 1989, His Holiness opened the conference of the International Commission for Inter-Orthodox theological Dialogue. A part of the agreed statement said: "When we speak of the one composite (synthetos) hypostasis of our Lord Jesus Christ, we do not say that in Him a divine hypostasis and a human hypostasis came together. It is that the one eternal hypostasis of the Second Person of the Trinity has assumed our created human nature in that act of uniting it with His own uncreated divine nature, to form an inseparably and unconfusedly united real divine-human being, the natures being distinguished from each other contemplation (theoria) only....We agree in condemning the Nestorian and the Eutychian heresies. We neither separate nor divide the human nature in Christ from His divine nature, nor do we think that the former was absorbed in the latter and thus ceased to exist" ([http://www.metroplit-bishoy.org/files/Dialogues/Byzantine/ORIENT1.DOC First Agreed Statement with the Byzantine Family of Orthodoxy in 1989]). See also [http://www.metroplit-bishoy.org/Byzantine.htm Dialogue With the Byzantine Family of Orthodoxy]and [http://www.metroplit-bishoy.org/files/Dialogues/Byzantine/ORIENT4.DOC Latest Agreed Statement (With the Ecumenical Patriarchate)].

Until now, His Holiness initiates and closely monitors theological dialogue with the Eastern Orthodox, Roman Catholic, Anglican, Swedish Lutheran, and the World Alliance of Reformed Churches. His Holiness also served as one of the Presidents of the World Council of Churches and the Middle East Council of Churches.

See also [http://www.metroplit-bishoy.org/3Patriarchs.htm Meetings of Oriental Orthodox Churches], [http://www.metroplit-bishoy.org/dialogue.htm Dialogues With Other Churches]and [http://www.coptic.net/public/news/2001-04-06.txt Report About Relations With the Russian Orthodox Church].

==The Coptic Church All Over the World==
[[Image:PopeShenoudaInHonolulu.jpg|thumb|His Holiness Pope Shenouda III (center) pictured with Fr. Nicholas V. Gamvas, Proistamenos and Gregory Malick, Protopsalti during his visit to Honolulu to consecrate St. Mark's Coptic Orthodox Church]] When His Holiness Pope Shenouda III was enthroned, there were only seven Coptic churches outside of Egypt: two each in Canada, the United States of America, Australia, and one in England. Due mainly to the efforts and encouragement of His Holiness, today there are more than 300 churches outside of Egypt, of which more than 100 are in the United States. There are two theological seminaries in the U.S., and a monastery in California. In addition, His Holiness was the first Pope to ordain Bishops for the Dioceses of North America. Bishop Karas was ordained for the Monastery of St. Antony's in California, Bishop Serapion for the Diocese in Los Angeles, Southern California, and Hawaii, and Bishop Youssef for the Southern United States. There are 24 churches in Canada, and the city of Toronto houses a large Coptic Cultural Center. In Australia and New Zealand, there are currently 28 churches, a theological college, two secondary schools, a primary school, two monasteries and a nursing home, plus two churches in Fiji. In Europe, there are currently over 50 churches. There are six churches and a large Coptic cathedral in Great Britain, including a large Coptic Center in Birmingham and another one in Stevenage. There are churches in Ireland, Scotland, and Wales. There are nine churches in Germany and a monastery in Frankfurt. There are six churches in France, four in Austria, four churches and a monastery in Italy, two in Holland, two in Switzerland, and one church each in Belgium, Denmark, Greece, and Sweden. In November 1991, the first Coptic Churches were established in South America, with a church in São Paulo, Brazil and in Argentina, and more recently churches have also been established in Bolivia and Mexico. Priests have also been ordained for churches in the Caribbean, including Bermuda, the Virgin Islands, and the West Indies.

As head of the oldest Church in Africa, His Holiness Pope Shenouda III has been very keen to extend the Apostolic mission of St. Mark across all of Africa. There are now 33 Coptic Churches among more than 12 African tribes in nine African countries, including Kenya, Zaire, [[Zimbabwe]], Namibia, and South Africa. Nairobi is also the center of the new Diocese in Kenya.

The Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahido Church (EOTC) has strong historical ties with the Coptic Orthodox Church. The two churches have been linked by very intimate relations since the early centuries of Christianity, as both are children of St. Mark the Apostle. In 1994, upon request of the EOTC, they gained Autocephaly (independence)from the Coptic Church. Both Churches still belong to the See of St. Mark and both confess one Orthodox Doctrine.

Eritrea, upon gaining independence from Ethiopia, received pastoral care from His Holiness Pope Shenouda by his ordination of Eritrean Bishops to form the Holy Synod for the Eritrian Orthodox Church.

==The Papal Visits==
[[Image:PopeShenoudaInUK2004.jpg|thumb|With HG Rowan Williams, [[Archbishop of Canterbury]], in the UK (2004)]]His Holiness has made dozens of pastoral visits outside of Egypt. The most extensive tour took place from August to December 1989, when he made an historic 112 day visit to all the Coptic Churches in Europe, the United States, Canada and Australia. During his trip, His Holiness laid foundation stones of new Churches, consecrated most of the altars in the churches, baptized hundreds of children, ordained hundreds of deacons, delivered many lectures at theological seminaries and universities, opened a theological seminary in New Jersey and in Los Angeles, and conducted numerous spiritual meetings.

In the United States, the mayor of Jersey City hoisted the Coptic Church flag side by side with the American flag at City Hall during the Papal visit. The US House of Representatives invited His Holiness to open a congressional session with prayer. His Holiness also met with former US President George Bush and requested that "he give a big push" to peace in the Middle East. In a previous visit, His Holiness met with former US President Jimmy Carter. Afterwards His Holiness and Carter became good friends.

More recently, Pope Shenouda III underwent spinal surgery at Cleveland Clinic in Cleveland, Ohio, USA, on 22 October 2006.[http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=104&STORY=/www/story/10-24-2006/0004458455&EDATE=] Pope Shenouda III has since then fully recovered, and celebrated the 35th anniversary of His Holiness' enthronement as Pope of Alexandria on 14 November 2006 in Egypt, among thousands of faithful who flocked to congratulate His Holiness on this occasion ([http://groups.yahoo.com/group/arbible/message/35800 videos]).

==Theological disputes and the 2007 Coptic Church crisis==
These have recently come to the attention of the mainstream secular newsmedia in Egypt (see, for example, [http://www.dailystaregypt.com/article.aspx?ArticleID=5787 this Egyptian newspaper article in English published on 23 February 2007]). More recently a book entitled [http://www.light-n-life.com/shopping/order_product.asp?ProductNum=OZAC100 ''Orthodoxy: A Creed for Today'' (1972)] by the Very Rev. Fr. [[Anthony M. Coniaris]] has been banned by the Holy Synod of the Coptic Church presided by Pope Shenouda III on 26 May 2007, as it discusses the Orthodox concept of [[theosis]], which was considered to be against Pope Shenouda's teachings.[http://www.copticpope.org/keraza351920/page1.jpg] Wikipedia has further details about the subject.[http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Pope_Shenouda_III_of_Alexandria&oldid=132559251#Theological_disputes] Some learned observers have attributed Pope Shenouda's decades-long theological disputes with different Coptic theologians (like the late Father [[Matta El-Meskeen]]) to personal and ecclesiastico-political motives, rather than to any genuine doctrinal flaws or deviations from Orthodoxy in the writings of these theologians.

See also the 2007 conflict of the Coptic Church with the Catholic and Protestant Churches in Egypt: [[Bishoy_%28Nicola%29_of_Damietta#A_.22controversial.22_figure]].

==Main sources==
* [http://st-takla.org/Pope-1.html H. H. Pope Shenouda III page] at http://St-Takla.org (including sermons, video lectues by Pope Shenouda)
* [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pope_Shenouda_III_of_Alexandria Pope Shenouda III of Alexandria - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia]

==Books by HH Pope Shenouda III (in English)==
*[http://www.copticpope.org Official site] where ''EL-KERAZA Church Magazine'' is available in English
*[http://www.copticchurch.org/Texts/Spirituals/Natofchr.pdf The Nature of Christ] (PDF)
*[http://www.copticchurch.net/topics/pope/#books Online Books]
*[http://www.coptnet.com/Pope.htm Some of the Books of H.H. Pope Shenouda III]
*[http://www.copticchurch.org/spiritual_books.htm Spiritual Books]

{{start box}}
{{succession|
before=[[Cyril VI (Atta) of Alexandria|Cyril VI]]|
title=[[Church of Alexandria (Coptic)|Pope of Alexandria (Coptic)]]|
years=1971-2012|
after=—|}}
{{end box}}

[[Category:Bishops]]
[[Category:20th-21st-century bishops]]
[[Category:Non-Chalcedonian Bishops]]

[[ar:شنودة الثالث (جيد) السكندري]]

Shenouda III (Gayyid) of Alexandria

2012-03-17T19:33:00Z

Arbible: Pope Shenouda III departed our world on 17 March 2012

{{Oriental}}[[Image:HH_Pope_Shenouda_III.jpg|thumb|250px|His Holiness Pope Shenouda III]]
His Holiness '''Pope Shenouda III (Gayyid)''' is the [[Church of Alexandria (Coptic)|Coptic Orthodox]] Pope of Alexandria.

==A Brief Biography of His Holiness Pope Shenouda III==
His Holiness was born on [[August 3]], 1923 in the city of Assiut in Upper Egypt; he was given the name of Nazir Gayed. He obtained his Bachelor of Arts degree in History in 1947 from the University of Cairo. Mr. Gayed was very active in his church and served as a Sunday School teacher, first at Saint Anthony's Church in Shoubra and then at Saint Mary's Church in Mahmasha. He worked as a high school English and Social Studies teacher in Cairo by day, and attended classes at the Coptic Theological Seminary by night. Upon graduation from the seminary in 1949, he was chosen to teach New Testament Studies. He was appointed in 1953 as a teacher in the Monastic School.

From his youth, His Holiness enjoyed writing very much, especially poems; he is a remarkably literate man as evidenced by the over 100 books that have been written by him. For many years, he was the Editor-in-Chief of the Sunday School Magazine. At the same time, he followed his post-graduate studies at the Seminary of Archeology.

On [[July 18]], 1954, Mr. Gayed was led to the monastic life at [http://www.st-mary-mons.org/ "El-Suryan" Monastery] in the western desert of Egypt; he was given the name of Father Antonyos El-Suryaani. For six years, from 1956 to 1962, he lived a life of solitude in a cave about seven miles away from the monastery, dedicating all his time to meditation, prayer, and asceticism. He was among the candidates nominated for the papal throne in 1956, but [[Cyril_VI_%28Atta%29_of_Alexandria|Pope Cyril VI]] was the one ultimately chosen for the post.

In 1962, he was ordained by the late Pope Cyril VI as Bishop of Ecclesiastical (Religious) Education and was named President of the Coptic Theological Seminary; he was given the name of Bishop Shenouda on September 30, 1962. Continuing from his literary past, Bishop Shenouda published the first issue of "El-Keraza" magazine in Arabic in 1965, and remains the Editor-in-Chief to this day. Bishop Shenouda was suspended in 1966 by Pope Kyrillos VI.[http://www.coptichistory.org/new_page_1494.htm], [http://www.zeitun-eg.net/members_contrib/DrGeorgeHBebawi16Nov06.doc] This was essentially the result of Bishop Shenouda's (and students') enthusiastic 'campaigns for change' that used rather strong words, e.g., supporting people's right to choose their bishops and priests, a principle he later applied when he became pope after the repose of Pope Kyrillos VI. This "conflict" between Pope Kyrillos VI and Anba Shenouda seems to have later been resolved.

On [[November 14]], 1971, His Holiness was enthroned as Pope Shenouda III, the 117th Pope of Alexandria, and successor of the see of St. Mark. Some argue that the choice of Pope Shenouda III as Pope (and Bishop) of the City of Alexandria is not canonical (against Nicea Canon 15 and other Church councils/canons), because His Holiness was already bishop (with another [[episcopate]]) in the 1960s.[http://www.rezgar.com/debat/show.art.asp?t=0&userID=981&aid=80855], [http://groups.yahoo.com/group/arbible/message/35806], [http://groups.yahoo.com/group/arbible/message/35814], [http://www.zeitun-eg.net/members_contrib/FrBishoyKamelBayan.zip], [http://groups.yahoo.com/group/arbible/message/35816], and p.30 onward in [http://web.archive.org/web/20031007020943/http://home.ptd.net/~yanney/The_Transfigured_Cross.pdf] However, there are also modern day examples from other Churches of patriarchs who were previously bishops before their election as patriarchs, e.g., [[Theophilus_III_%28Giannopoulos%29_of_Jerusalem|[1]]], [[Bartholomew_I_%28Archontonis%29_of_Constantinople|[2]]].

==Early Life==
His Holiness Pope Shenouda III was born the youngest of eight children (five sisters and two brothers) on [[August 3]], 1923 in the Upper Egyptian province of Assiut, and was named Nazeer Gayed. His mother passed away shortly after his birth. By the age of sixteen, Nazeer began service in the Sunday School of St. Anthony's Church in Shoubra, Cairo, where he also went to school.

In 1943, Nazeer entered the University of Cairo and completed a Bachelor of Arts in English and History while he spent his summer vacations at the Monastery of St. Mary (Souryan). Although at this time only graduate students were admitted to the evening classes at the Coptic Theological Seminary, Dean Archdeacon Habib Guirguis admitted Nazeer while he was still in his final year of undergraduate study.

After graduation from the University of Cairo in 1947, Nazeer completed his military service and began work as a teacher of English and History. Meanwhile, he completed his Bachelor of Theology and the Dean appointed him as lecturer in the Old and New Testaments. In 1950 Nazeer resigned from his secular employment to take a full-time lecturing position. In 1953, he was appointed a lecturer at the Monastic College in Helwan.

Nazeer and other servants labored for several years to establish a strong Sunday School and youth group at St. Anthony's Church in Shoubra. his service produced hundreds of devoted servants who began establishing youth groups in neighboring parishes.

==Monastic Life==
[[Image:Photo.PopeShenoudaIIIAndBishopsTheophilosTadros.jpg|thumb|HH Pope Shenouda III (Center, with open book)]] The road to monasticism was a natural consequence of the desire from his early years to consecrate his life to Christ. "...I found in monasticism," Pope Shenouda once said, "a life of complete freedom and clarification." he joined the Souryan Monastery in Wadi El-Natroun and, a year later, he was ordained a priest, taking the name Fr. Antonyos (Anthony) El-Souryani. In 1959, [[Cyril_VI_%28Atta%29_of_Alexandria|His Holiness Pope Kyrillos VI]] appointed Fr. Antonyos as his personal secretary.

On [[September 30]], 1962, Pope Kyrillos VI ordained Fr. Antonyos as Bishop Shenouda, the first bishop for Christian Education. He became the President and Dean of the Theological Seminary, and by late 1969 the enrollment of full-time students doubled and the enrollment of part-time students increased 10 times its original number. Under his presidency, women were admitted to the College and several were appointed lecturers. His Grace's efforts were recognized in 1969 when he was elected President of the Association of Middle East Theological Colleges.

==Enthronement as Pope of Alexandria==
On [[March 9]], 1971, His Holiness Pope Kyrillos (Cyril) VI departed in peace. The Holy Synod met on [[March 22]] to plan for the election of the new Patriarch. Among the final three candidates was Bishop Shenouda. On October 31, 1971, the altar ballot was conducted during the divine Liturgy on the Feast of Saint Reweis. At the end of the Liturgy, His Eminence Metropolitan Antonyos, laid his hands on a young boy who was then blindfolded and told to choose one of the three pieces of paper from the box. The ballot box had been taken from the altar and placed on an elevated table. As the congregation prayed the Lord's Prayer and the words "Lord Have Mercy," the boy chose one of the pieces of paper and gave it to Metropolitan Antonyos, who then joyfully declared God's chosen shepherd for His church as His Grace Bishop Shenouda, Bishop of Education.

On [[November 14]], 1971, in Saint Mark's Cathedral in Cairo, His Holiness Pope Shenouda III was enthroned as 117th Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of the See of Saint Mark. His Holiness became the first patriarch of Alexandria since the fifth century to have been Dean of the Theological Seminary. He continues to lecture at the branches of the Seminary in Cairo, Alexandria, and abroad and at the Higher Institute of Coptic Studies. To meet the expanding ministry of Christian education, His Holiness established other branches of the seminary in Egypt, as well as three graduate institues: Biblical Studies, Hymnology, and Coptic Language. On [[November 29]], 1993, he officially opened the Institute of Pastoral Care. For his erudition in theology and scripture, His Holiness has been awarded four honorary Doctoral Degrees in Theology, three from American Universities and one from a German University.

His Holiness' edifying and spiritually uplifting sermons have won international acclaim; in 1978 the Browning Institute awarded him the prize for the best Christian preacher in the world. His Holiness is also the author of more than eighty books on a variety of subjects, and over the past 20 years, he has been the Editor-in-Chief of the Church's official magazine, EL-KERAZA.

==Pastoral Activities==
His Holiness ordained more than seventy bishops, established general bishoprics, including the first Bishopric of Youth, more than four hundred priests, and countless deacons for Cairo, Alexandra and the Churches abroad. This extended the pastoral care to every city, village and family all over the See of St. Mark. His Holiness continually holds meetings and seminars with the clergy to discuss any pastoral problems or needs.

His Holiness also gives special attention to the service of women in the Coptic Orthodox Church. "We felt a great need of the work of women and we wanted women to have a certain order and service in the Church, not only to have girls as Sunday School teachers who give a part of their time whenever they can, but we want girls and women to give their whole life to God and serve the church." His Holiness says.

Despite his many responsibilities, His Holiness usually manages to spend three days a week in the monastery. His love of monasticism has led to a monastic revival in the Coptic Church. He has ordained hundreds of monks and nuns and renovated and reestablished many monasteries and convents. He is the first Pope to establish Coptic monasteries outside of Egypt, which presently number eight.

As a Bishop for Christian Education, His Grace has overseen the education of Sunday School Curriculum, and during his papacy, has continued to hold meetings for Sunday School teachers to establish a Sunday School curriculum for the churches abroad.

==The Exile and Efforts of National Unity ==
During the early years of his enthronement, His Holiness Pope Shenouda had an amicable relationship with the late Egyptian President Anwar El-Sadat. However, during his presidency, violent Islamic fundamentalist groups increased all over Egypt, especially in the Universities. They started to attack the Copts, vandalize their businesses, and burn their churches, which led Pope Shenouda to protest to the government against this repeated violence. In spring 1981, Pope Shenouda refused to hold any public Church celebrations of Easter and didn't receive that year the President's delegates who are regularly sent to greet the Church and Coptic Christians on such occasions (this particular move by Pope Shenouda III was very embarrassing to President Sadat, both nationally and internationally). Sadat reacted by issuing a presidential decree to exile His Holiness to the Monastery of St. Bishoy, imprison eight bishops, twenty-four priest, leading Coptic lay figures, and ban “El-Keraza" magazine and “Watany" newspaper.

(Another major difference between Sadat and Pope Shenouda III is the attitude of the latter regarding the normalization of the relations between Egypt and Israel and His Holiness' very prominent Arab nationalist zeal. In fact, there is currently (as of 2006) a papal decree issued by Pope Shenouda III that anathematizes any Copt who dares to visit the Christian holy places in Jerusalem and Israel.[http://www.copticpope.org/downloads/audio/kods_trip.zip] According to that decree, such Copts are automatically banned from receiving Holy Communion in the Coptic Orthodox Church, with no route or mechanism being offered to them for repentance and lifting of this ban. Pope Shenouda III has repeatedly declared that Christians must only visit Jerusalem hand in hand with their Muslim brothers after the conflict with Israel is resolved to the satisfaction of all parties. Because of this, many Copts, especially in the diaspora, have accused the pope of mixing religion (ban on receiving Holy Communion if one visits Jerusalem for pilgrimage) with politics (the Arab-Israeli conflict), and consider this papal decree unjustified.)

Despite having to spend forty months away from his flock, His Holiness continued to care for his church. He saw the exile as an opportunity for spiritual retreat and wrote sixteen books during that time.

A month after his decree, Sadat was assassinated by the same fundamentalist groups. After much effort from His Holiness’ children inside and outside the Coptic Orthodox Church, and after three and a half years, the succeeding Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, released Pope Shenouda from exile. Accompanied by many bishops, His Holiness returned to St. Mark’s Cathedral in Cairo, where more than ten thousand people filled the Cathedral to receive the Pope.

His Holiness, after praying the Prayer of thanksgiving, greeted the flock with these words: “I have no residence except in your hearts, which are full of love. I have never been away from your hearts, not even for a twinkle of an eye." He went on to say “I would like to do my best to deepen love, peace and reconciliation between the Church and the State, between the Church and our Muslim citizens. We are like organs in the one body, which is Egypt."

His Holiness works tirelessly to improve relations between the Christians and Muslims in Egypt, in order to establish a peaceful social environment and to dispel sectarian divisions. The Pope and the president of Egypt, Hosni Mubarak, are in good relations, as well as with the moderate Muslims in Egypt.

==Ecumenical Relations==
[[Image:With%20Pope%20John%20Paul%20II.gif|thumb|With HH the late Pope John Paul II in Cairo (2000)]] His Holiness Pope Shenouda is well known for his deep commitment to Christian unity. In an address he gave at an ecumenical forum during the International Week of Prayer for Christian Unity held at Saint Mark's cathedral in Cairo in 1974, His Holiness declared that: "The whole Christian world is anxious to see the Church unite. Christian people, being fed up with divisions and dispersion, are pushing their Church leaders to do something about Church unity and I am sure that the Holy Spirit is inspiring us." He has emphasized that Christian unity must be founded upon a unity of Faith and not upon a unity of jurisdiction.

Before his enthronement, Bishop Shenouda attended the first unofficial ecumenical consultation between theologians of the Oriental Orthodox and the Roman Catholic Churches, in Vienna in September 1971. The agreed statement included the words: "We believe that our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, is God the Son incarnate; perfect in His divinity and perfect in His humanity. His divinity was not separated from His humanity for a single moment, not for the twinkling of an eye. His humanity is one with His divinity without commixture, without confusion, without division, without separation. We in our common faith in the one Lord Jesus Christ regard His mystery inexhaustible and ineffable and for the human mind never fully comprehensible or expressible." (From the Communique of the first nonofficial ecumenical consultation between theologians of the Oriental Orthodox and the Roman Catholic Churches, in 1971).

[[Image:With_Pope_John_Paul_II-2.jpg|thumb|Another photo with HH the late Pope John Paul II in Cairo (2000)]] In May 1973, His Holiness Pope Shenouda III paid a cordial visit to His Holiness, the late Pope Paul VI in Rome. This was the first meeting between an Alexandrine and Roman Pontiff since the time of the great schism of 451 AD. Both Popes signed a common Declaration, containing, amongst other things, a confession of common Faith in the mystery of the Word Incarnate. In welcoming His Holiness to Rome, the late Pope Paul VI said, "You are indeed the head of a church whose origin goes back to the Evangelist Mark and which had in Saint Athanasius...the invincible defender of our common Nicene faith, that is, faith in the divinity of our Lord Jesus Christ."

In response, His Holiness Pope Shenouda said, "We have to declare that between us there are many points of agreement in the principles of faith. As for points of difference, there is no doubt that after fifteen centuries of study, examination, and controversy, we are at much nearer grounds of agreement than our ancestors of the fifth and sixth centuries. We are all more ready and more intense in our desire to reach solutions for differences and attain simpler expressions of our common faith."

Following this historic encounter, a joint Commission was established to explore the road to full intercommunion between the two Apostolic Churches. See [http://www.prounione.urbe.it/dia-int/oo-rc_copt/doc/e_oo-rc_copt_1973.html Pope Paul VI and Pope Shenouda III's Common Declaration]and [http://www.prounione.urbe.it/dia-int/oo-rc_copt/e_oo-rc_copt-info.html other joint meetings/reports].

In June 1989, His Holiness opened the conference of the International Commission for Inter-Orthodox theological Dialogue. A part of the agreed statement said: "When we speak of the one composite (synthetos) hypostasis of our Lord Jesus Christ, we do not say that in Him a divine hypostasis and a human hypostasis came together. It is that the one eternal hypostasis of the Second Person of the Trinity has assumed our created human nature in that act of uniting it with His own uncreated divine nature, to form an inseparably and unconfusedly united real divine-human being, the natures being distinguished from each other contemplation (theoria) only....We agree in condemning the Nestorian and the Eutychian heresies. We neither separate nor divide the human nature in Christ from His divine nature, nor do we think that the former was absorbed in the latter and thus ceased to exist" ([http://www.metroplit-bishoy.org/files/Dialogues/Byzantine/ORIENT1.DOC First Agreed Statement with the Byzantine Family of Orthodoxy in 1989]). See also [http://www.metroplit-bishoy.org/Byzantine.htm Dialogue With the Byzantine Family of Orthodoxy]and [http://www.metroplit-bishoy.org/files/Dialogues/Byzantine/ORIENT4.DOC Latest Agreed Statement (With the Ecumenical Patriarchate)].

Until now, His Holiness initiates and closely monitors theological dialogue with the Eastern Orthodox, Roman Catholic, Anglican, Swedish Lutheran, and the World Alliance of Reformed Churches. His Holiness also served as one of the Presidents of the World Council of Churches and the Middle East Council of Churches.

See also [http://www.metroplit-bishoy.org/3Patriarchs.htm Meetings of Oriental Orthodox Churches], [http://www.metroplit-bishoy.org/dialogue.htm Dialogues With Other Churches]and [http://www.coptic.net/public/news/2001-04-06.txt Report About Relations With the Russian Orthodox Church].

==The Coptic Church All Over the World==
[[Image:PopeShenoudaInHonolulu.jpg|thumb|His Holiness Pope Shenouda III (center) pictured with Fr. Nicholas V. Gamvas, Proistamenos and Gregory Malick, Protopsalti during his visit to Honolulu to consecrate St. Mark's Coptic Orthodox Church]] When His Holiness Pope Shenouda III was enthroned, there were only seven Coptic churches outside of Egypt: two each in Canada, the United States of America, Australia, and one in England. Due mainly to the efforts and encouragement of His Holiness, today there are more than 300 churches outside of Egypt, of which more than 100 are in the United States. There are two theological seminaries in the U.S., and a monastery in California. In addition, His Holiness was the first Pope to ordain Bishops for the Dioceses of North America. Bishop Karas was ordained for the Monastery of St. Antony's in California, Bishop Serapion for the Diocese in Los Angeles, Southern California, and Hawaii, and Bishop Youssef for the Southern United States. There are 24 churches in Canada, and the city of Toronto houses a large Coptic Cultural Center. In Australia and New Zealand, there are currently 28 churches, a theological college, two secondary schools, a primary school, two monasteries and a nursing home, plus two churches in Fiji. In Europe, there are currently over 50 churches. There are six churches and a large Coptic cathedral in Great Britain, including a large Coptic Center in Birmingham and another one in Stevenage. There are churches in Ireland, Scotland, and Wales. There are nine churches in Germany and a monastery in Frankfurt. There are six churches in France, four in Austria, four churches and a monastery in Italy, two in Holland, two in Switzerland, and one church each in Belgium, Denmark, Greece, and Sweden. In November 1991, the first Coptic Churches were established in South America, with a church in São Paulo, Brazil and in Argentina, and more recently churches have also been established in Bolivia and Mexico. Priests have also been ordained for churches in the Caribbean, including Bermuda, the Virgin Islands, and the West Indies.

As head of the oldest Church in Africa, His Holiness Pope Shenouda III has been very keen to extend the Apostolic mission of St. Mark across all of Africa. There are now 33 Coptic Churches among more than 12 African tribes in nine African countries, including Kenya, Zaire, [[Zimbabwe]], Namibia, and South Africa. Nairobi is also the center of the new Diocese in Kenya.

The Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahido Church (EOTC) has strong historical ties with the Coptic Orthodox Church. The two churches have been linked by very intimate relations since the early centuries of Christianity, as both are children of St. Mark the Apostle. In 1994, upon request of the EOTC, they gained Autocephaly (independence)from the Coptic Church. Both Churches still belong to the See of St. Mark and both confess one Orthodox Doctrine.

Eritrea, upon gaining independence from Ethiopia, received pastoral care from His Holiness Pope Shenouda by his ordination of Eritrean Bishops to form the Holy Synod for the Eritrian Orthodox Church.

==The Papal Visits==
[[Image:PopeShenoudaInUK2004.jpg|thumb|With HG Rowan Williams, [[Archbishop of Canterbury]], in the UK (2004)]]His Holiness has made dozens of pastoral visits outside of Egypt. The most extensive tour took place from August to December 1989, when he made an historic 112 day visit to all the Coptic Churches in Europe, the United States, Canada and Australia. During his trip, His Holiness laid foundation stones of new Churches, consecrated most of the altars in the churches, baptized hundreds of children, ordained hundreds of deacons, delivered many lectures at theological seminaries and universities, opened a theological seminary in New Jersey and in Los Angeles, and conducted numerous spiritual meetings.

In the United States, the mayor of Jersey City hoisted the Coptic Church flag side by side with the American flag at City Hall during the Papal visit. The US House of Representatives invited His Holiness to open a congressional session with prayer. His Holiness also met with former US President George Bush and requested that "he give a big push" to peace in the Middle East. In a previous visit, His Holiness met with former US President Jimmy Carter. Afterwards His Holiness and Carter became good friends.

More recently, Pope Shenouda III underwent spinal surgery at Cleveland Clinic in Cleveland, Ohio, USA, on 22 October 2006.[http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=104&STORY=/www/story/10-24-2006/0004458455&EDATE=] Pope Shenouda III has since then fully recovered, and celebrated the 35th anniversary of His Holiness' enthronement as Pope of Alexandria on 14 November 2006 in Egypt, among thousands of faithful who flocked to congratulate His Holiness on this occasion ([http://groups.yahoo.com/group/arbible/message/35800 videos]).

==Theological disputes and the 2007 Coptic Church crisis==
These have recently come to the attention of the mainstream secular newsmedia in Egypt (see, for example, [http://www.dailystaregypt.com/article.aspx?ArticleID=5787 this Egyptian newspaper article in English published on 23 February 2007]). More recently a book entitled [http://www.light-n-life.com/shopping/order_product.asp?ProductNum=OZAC100 ''Orthodoxy: A Creed for Today'' (1972)] by the Very Rev. Fr. [[Anthony M. Coniaris]] has been banned by the Holy Synod of the Coptic Church presided by Pope Shenouda III on 26 May 2007, as it discusses the Orthodox concept of [[theosis]], which was considered to be against Pope Shenouda's teachings.[http://www.copticpope.org/keraza351920/page1.jpg] Wikipedia has further details about the subject.[http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Pope_Shenouda_III_of_Alexandria&oldid=132559251#Theological_disputes] Some learned observers have attributed Pope Shenouda's decades-long theological disputes with different Coptic theologians (like the late Father [[Matta El-Meskeen]]) to personal and ecclesiastico-political motives, rather than to any genuine doctrinal flaws or deviations from Orthodoxy in the writings of these theologians.

See also the 2007 conflict of the Coptic Church with the Catholic and Protestant Churches in Egypt: [[Bishoy_%28Nicola%29_of_Damietta#A_.22controversial.22_figure]].

==Main sources==
* [http://st-takla.org/Pope-1.html H. H. Pope Shenouda III page] at http://St-Takla.org (including sermons, video lectues by Pope Shenouda)
* [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pope_Shenouda_III_of_Alexandria Pope Shenouda III of Alexandria - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia]

==Books by HH Pope Shenouda III (in English)==
*[http://www.copticpope.org Official site] where ''EL-KERAZA Church Magazine'' is available in English
*[http://www.copticchurch.org/Texts/Spirituals/Natofchr.pdf The Nature of Christ] (PDF)
*[http://www.copticchurch.net/topics/pope/#books Online Books]
*[http://www.coptnet.com/Pope.htm Some of the Books of H.H. Pope Shenouda III]
*[http://www.copticchurch.org/spiritual_books.htm Spiritual Books]

{{start box}}
{{succession|
before=[[Cyril VI (Atta) of Alexandria|Cyril VI]]|
title=[[Church of Alexandria (Coptic)|Pope of Alexandria (Coptic)]]|
years=1971-2012|
after=—|}}
{{end box}}

[[Category:Bishops]]
[[Category:20th-21st-century bishops]]
[[Category:Non-Chalcedonian Bishops]]

[[ar:شنودة الثالث (جيد) السكندري]]

Origen

2011-11-10T22:06:08Z

Arbible: ar:أوريجانوس interwiki

{{cleanup}}
'''Origen of Alexandria''' was a Christian of the early third century who was the first [[theologian]] to formulate a systematic system. He lived in a turbulent period for the Christian Church, a period of Roman persecutions and loose doctrinal consensus. He was a [[priest]], [[ordination|ordained]] under controversial conditions {{citation}}. His writings were extensive, much of which is not extant. In later centuries some extreme views by followers were attributed to him and his name was brought under suspicion. He was [[anathema]]tized by the [[Fifth Ecumenical Council|Second Council of Constantinople]] in 553, specifically in its eleventh Canon:

:If anyone does not anathematize Arius, Eunomius, Macedonius, Apollinarius Nestorius, Eutyches and Origen, as well as their heretical books, and also all other heretics who have already been condemned and anathematized by the holy, catholic and apostolic church and by the four holy synods which have already been mentioned, and also all those who have thought or now think in the same way as the aforesaid heretics and who persist in their error even to death: let him be anathema.[http://www.piar.hu/councils/ecum05.htm]

However, some scholarly controversy exists over the authenticity of fifteen additional "Anathemas against Origen", which specifically spell out his erroneous doctrines. Disagreement exists over whether or not these specific canons were produced by the Ecumenical Council or by a Constantinopolitan Synod[http://www.ccel.org/fathers2/NPNF2-14/Npnf2-14-115.htm#P5629_1200405]. This has been misinterpreted from time to time as indicating that Origen and his doctrines were not anathematized and his doctrines not deemed heretical. Nevertheless, it is not the anathematization of Origen nor condemnation of his doctrines as heresy that is in question but the Ecumenical authenticity of fifteen ''additional'' anathemas pronounced against specific aspects of Origen's teachings.

==Life==
Origen's full name was '''Origenes Adamantius'''. His dates of birth and death are not known exactly. He was born about 185, most probably in Alexandria. He was born into a Christian family. He is believed to have been educated by his father, Leonides. He used this education to revive and teach, as didaskalos, at the ‘'catechetical school in Alexandria'' in 203, under the jurisdiction of [[Demetrius of Alexandria|Demetrius]], the [[bishop]] of Alexandria. This was after his father died a [[martyr]] in 202 in the persecutions under Septimius Severus. Origen was then seventeen and apparently succeeded [[Clement of Alexandria]] who had been driven out of Alexandria by the persecutions.

In around 215 he went to Palestine where he was invited to preach by Alexander, bishop of Jerusalem, and Theoctistus, bishop of [[Caesarea]], even though he was not ordained. His teaching there was considered a breach of discipline by [[Demetrius of Alexandria|Demetrius]].

In 230, he was ordained a priest in Palestine by Bishops Alexander and Theoctistus. This was without the authority of Demetrius who subsequently expelled him from Alexandria. Following his expulsion he moved to Caesarea where he founded a school.

He died a martyr's death in the persecutions of 250, probably in 254, and most probably in Caesarea. It was claimed that he died in Tyre and that his sepulchre was behind the high altar of the cathedral there. The evidence for him moving to Tyr remains unclear.

==Works==
Origen wrote extensively. According to Epiphanius he produces some 6,000 works. In addition to some spurious efforts, his writings can be divided into four classes: [[text criticism]]; [[exegesis]]; systematic, practical, and apologetic theology; and letters. Of all these works his most important writing was the ‘'Hexapla'', a textual criticism that compared various translations of the [[Old Testament]]. However, only some portions of this work have come down to us. The full text is no longer extant.

==External links==
*The Philocalia of Origen (1911) pp. 1-237. English translation [http://www.tertullian.org/fathers/origen_philocalia_02_text.htm]
*A Coptic view [http://www.copticchurch.net/topics/patrology/schoolofalex2/]
*Origen: Wikipedia [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Origen]
*Origen of Alexandria [http://www.utm.edu/research/iep/o/origen.htm]
*The Catholic Encyclopedia [http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/11306b.htm]

[[Category:Priests]]
[[Category:Heretics]]
[[Category:Ante-Nicene Fathers]]

[[el:Ωριγένης]]
[[ro:Origen]]
[[ar:أوريجانوس]]

John (Maximovitch) the Wonderworker

2010-07-03T21:32:15Z

Arbible: * [http://www.orthodox.cn/multimedia/stjohn_en.htm Video: St John Maximovich's church in downtown Shanghai]

[[Image:John Maximovitch.jpg|right|thumb|200px||St. John Maximovitch]]
[[Image:John_mx.jpg|right|thumb|200px|Photo of St. John Maximovitch]]
[[Image:JohnMaximovitch.jpg|right|thumb|200px|Relics of the Saint, USA]]
Our father among the saints '''John (Maximovitch), Archbishop of Shanghai and San Francisco''' (1896-1966), was a [[diocese|diocesan]] [[bishop]] of the [[Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia]] (ROCOR) who served widely from China to France to the United States.

He departed this life on [[June 19]] ([[Julian Calendar|O.S.]]) / [[July 2]] ([[Revised Julian Calendar|N.S.]]), 1966, and was officially [[glorification|glorified]] by the Russian Orthodox Church Abroad on [[July 2]], 1994. His glorification was later recognized for universal veneration by the Patriarchate of Moscow on July 2, 2008.

==Life==
The future St. John was born on [[June 4]], 1896, in the southern Russian village (current day Ukraine) of Adamovka in Kharkiv province to pious aristocrats, Boris and Glafira Maximovitch. He was given the [[baptism]]al name of Michael. In his youth, Michael was sickly and had a poor appetite, but he displayed an intense religious interest. He was educated at the Poltava Military School (1907-14), Kharkiv Imperial University, from which he received a law degree (in 1918), and the University of Belgrade (where he completed his theological education in 1925).

He and his family fled their country as the Bolshevik revolutionaries descended on the country, emigrating to Yugoslavia. There, he enrolled in the Department of Theology of the University of Belgrade. He was [[tonsure]]d a [[monk]] in 1926 by [[Metropolitan]] [[Anthony (Khrapovitsky) of Kiev|Anthony (Khrapovitsky) of Kharkov]] (later the first [[primate]] of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia). Metr. Anthony later in 1926 [[ordination|ordained]] him hierodeacon. Bishop Gabriel of Chelyabinsk ordained him [[hieromonk]] on [[November 21]], 1926. Subsequent to his ordination he began an active life of teaching in a Serbian high school and serving, at the request of local Greeks and Macedonians, in the Greek language. With the growth of his popularity, the [[bishop]]s of the Russian Church Aboard resolved to elevate him to the [[episcopate]].

Hieromonk John was [[Consecration of a bishop|consecrate]]d [[bishop]] on [[May 28]], 1934, with Metr. Anthony serving as principal consecrator, after which he was assigned to the Diocese of Shanghai. Twelve years later he was named Archbishop of China. Upon his arrival in Shanghai, Bp. John began working to restore unity among the various Orthodox nationalities. In time, he worked to build a large [[cathedral]] [[church]] that was dedicated to ''Surety of Sinners [[Icon]] to the [[Mother of God]]'', with a bell tower and large [[parish]] house. Additionally, he inspired many activities: building of churches, hospitals, and orphanages among the Orthodox and Russians of Shanghai. He was intensely active, constantly praying and serving the daily cycle of services, while also visiting the sick with the [[Holy Gifts]]. He often would walk barefooted even in the coldest days. Yet to avoid the appearance of secular glory, he would pretend to act the fool.

With the end of World War II and the coming to power of the Communists in China, Bp. John led the exodus of his community from Shanghai in 1949. Initially, he helped some 5,000 refugees to a camp on the island of Tubabao in the Philippines, while he travelled successfully to Washington, D.C., to lobby to amending the law to allow these refugees to enter the United States. It was while on this trip that Bp. John took time to establish a [[parish]] in Washington dedicated to St. [[John the Forerunner]].

In 1951, Abp. John was assigned to the Archdiocese of Western Europe with his [[cathedra]] in Paris. During his time there, he also served as archpastor of the [[Orthodox Church of France]], whose restored [[Gallican Rite|Gallican liturgy]] he studied and then celebrated. He was the principal consecrator of the Orthodox Church of France's first modern bishop, [[Jean-Nectaire (Kovalevsky) of Saint-Denis]], and ordained to the priesthood the man who would become its second bishop, [[Germain (Bertrand-Hardy) of Saint-Denis]].

In 1962, Abp. John was assigned to the Diocese of San Francisco, succeeding his long time friend Abp. Tikhon. Abp. John's days in San Francisco were to prove sorrowful as he attempted to heal the great disunity in his community. He was able to bring peace such that the new cathedral, dedicated to the ''Joy of all Who Sorrow Icon of the Mother of God'', was completed.

He reposed during a visit to Seattle on [[July 2]], 1966, while accompanying a tour of the Kursk-Root Icon of the Mother of God. He was laid to rest in a crypt [[chapel]] under the main altar of the new cathedral.

{{start box}}
{{succession|
before=[[Victor (Svyatin) of Krasnodar and Kuban|Victor (Svyatin)]]|
title=Bishop of Shanghai|
years=1934-1949|
after=[[Symeon (Du) of Shanghai|Symeon (Du)]]}}
{{succession|
before=Nathanael (Lvov)|
title=Bishop of Western Europe (ROCOR)|
years=1951-1962|
after=Anthony (Bartosevich)}}
{{succession|
before=[[Tikhon (Troitsky) of San Francisco|Tikhon (Troitsky)]]|
title=Archbishop of San Francisco (ROCOR)|
years=1962-1966|
after=[[Anthony (Medvedev) of San Francisco|Anthony (Medvedev)]]}}
{{end box}}

==External links==
*[http://saintjohnwonderworker.org/ Saint John Maximovitch Eastern Orthodox Web Page]
*[http://www.fatheralexander.org/booklets/english/johnmx1.htm Life and miracles of St. John Maximovich] - By Bishop [[Alexander (Mileant) of Buenos Aires|Alexander (Mileant)]]
*[http://www.zeitun-eg.net/stcyril6/stjohnmaximovitch.exe St. John Maximovich: e-book for Windows® with Internet Explorer]
*[http://www.serfes.org/lives/stjohn.htm Life of St. John Maximovitch the Wonderworker - Compiled by Fr Demetrios Serfes]
*[http://www.stmaryofegypt.org/library/st_john_maximovich/on_veneration_of_the_theotokos.htm ''Orthodox Veneration of Mary, the Mother of God''], written by St. John the Wonderworker himself, published with a foreword by [[Seraphim Rose]].
*[http://www.stmaryofegypt.org/library/st%5Fjohn%5Fmaximovich/ Homilies and Other Writings of Saint John the Wonderworker of Shanghai and San Francisco].
*[http://orthodox.cn/saints/johnmaximovitch_en.htm St John the Wonderworker, Archbishop of Shanghai]
*[http://www.saintjohnwonderworker.org/akathist.htm Akathist to our Holy Hierarch John]
*[http://www.roca.org/OA/108/108e.htm Remembering Vladika John, By Hieromonk Peter Loukianoff]
*[http://saintjohnwonderworker.org/trial1.htm A Saint's Final Golgotha: The Trial of St. John Maximovitch in Public Court (1963)]
*[http://orthodoxinfo.com/ecumenism/decline.aspx The Decline of the Patriarchate of Constantinople (from St. John Maximovitch's report to the 1938 All-Diaspora Sobor of the ROCOR)]

===YouTube and Other Videos===
Note: Videos are ''not'' necessarily in English
*[http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=s--yoov4knI Images and voice over of Saint John (Maximovitch) of Shanghai and San Francisco]
*[http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=LkZ9w5R7hyk Canonizarea Sfântului Ioan Maximovici]
*[http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=GkfdJtsj75w PS Ambrozie despre Sf. Ioan Maximovici şi Vlădica Averchie]
* [http://www.orthodox.cn/multimedia/stjohn_en.htm Video: St John Maximovich's church in downtown Shanghai]

[[Category:Russian Saints]]
[[Category:American Saints]]
[[Category:Serbian Saints]]
[[Category:Bishops]]
[[Category:Bishops of Shanghai]]
[[Category:Bishops of San Francisco]]
[[Category:Orthodoxy in China]]
[[Category:Wonderworkers]]
[[Category:Modern Saints]]

[[ro:Ioan Maximovici]]

User talk:China

2010-05-09T11:29:46Z

Arbible: New page: {{subst:welcome}} --~~~~

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Aerial Toll-Houses

2010-04-24T20:18:21Z

Arbible: typo

{{cleanup|Needs a more balanced approach (much of the text assumes that this theory is universally held). Also needs a lot of style work.}}

The teaching of '''Aerial Toll-Houses''' regards the soul's journey after its departure from the body.

Dn. Andrew Werbiansky summarizes the theory (described in Fr. [[Seraphim Rose]]'s book ''The Soul After Death'') as follows: "following a person's death the soul leaves the body and is escorted to God by [[angel]]s. During this journey the soul passes through an aerial realm which is ruled by demons. The soul encounters these demons at various points referred to as "toll-houses" where the demons then attempt to accuse it of sin and, if possible, drag the soul into hell."<ref>[http://www.stlukeorthodox.com/html/evangelist/2000/deathtoll.htm Death and the Toll House Contraversy] by Deacon Andrew Werbiansky</ref>

According to teaching of the Church, every person has demons that attack him, and "shoot their arrows at them", as Church Fathers say, that "arrows" being thoughts that suggest committing sins. These demons write down every [[sin]] that they persuaded people to do, and even thoughts that people accepted and complied with, but did not, for what ever reason, actually actualize them. When a person repents for a sin, and confesses it in the Holy Mystery (/Sacrament) of Confession <ref>if there is an opportunity for that, if not, confession without a [[priest]] is sufficient, as in the case of the Good Thief</ref>, it is by God's Grace and Power erased from the demon's papers.

When the soul dies, on the third day it is carried by [[angels]] towards Heaven. On that way, they must go past 20 aerial toll-houses, which are huge groups of demons arranged according to specific kinds of sins. When a soul accompanied by angels gets to a toll-house, demons that tempted that soul during her life approach and accuse it for sins. The sins that are written on papers of demons have to be "payed for" by persons good deeds in life, such as prayer, fasting, asceticism, doing works of mercy, etc.

According to Hagiographies, and the accounts of [[saints]] that have passed the aerial toll-houses, and talked about it in their appearances to various holy man, the demon often accuse the soul of sins that they tempted her with, but it didn't comply with, of sins that she repented for, and in that cases one of the angels, the one which was the persons guardian angel, speaks for the person, saying that those are lies, and that payment is not necessary, taking the soul to the next toll-house.

If a person has sins for which he did not repent, and does not have enough good deeds to pay for them, the demons of the corresponding toll-house grab him, and take him to hell. The soul navigates the toll-houses in the following order:

* At the first aerial toll-house, the soul is questioned about sins of the tongue, such as empty words, dirty talk, insults, ridicule, singing worldly songs, too much or loud laughter, and similar sins.
* The second is the toll-house of lies, which includes not only ordinary lies, but also the breaking of oaths, the violation of vows given to God, taking God's name in vain, hiding sins during confession, and similar acts.
* The third is the toll-house of slander. It includes judging, humiliating, embarrassing, mocking, and laughing at people, and similar transgressions.
* The fourth is the toll-house of gluttony, which includes overeating, drunkenness, eating between meals, eating without prayer, not holding fasts, choosing tasty over plain food, eating when not hungry, and the like.
* The fifth is the toll-house of laziness, where the soul is held accountable for every day and hour spent in laziness, for neglecting to serve God and pray, for missing Church services, and also for not earning money through hard, honest labor, for not working as much as you are paid, and all similar sins.
* The sixth toll-house is the toll-house of theft, which includes stealing and robbery, whether small, big, light, violent, public, or hidden.
* The seventh is the toll-house of covetousness, including love of riches and goods, failure to give to charity, and similar acts.
* The eight is the toll-house of usury, loan-sharking, overpricing, and similar sins.
* The ninth is the toll-house of injustice- being unjust, especially in judicial affairs, accepting or giving bribes, dishonest trading and business, using false measures, and similar sins.
* The tenth is the toll-house of envy.
* The eleventh is the toll-house of pride- vanity, self-will, boasting, not honoring parents and civil authorities, insubordination, disobedience, and similar sins.
* The twelve is the toll-house of anger and rage.
* The thirteenth is the toll-house of remembering evil- hatred, holding a grudge, and revenge.
* The fourteenth is the toll-house of murder- not just plain murder, but also wounding, maiming, hitting, pushing, and generally injuring people.
* The fifteenth is the toll-house of magic- divination, conjuring demons, making poison, all superstitions, and associated acts.
* The sixteenth is the toll-house of lust- fornication, unclean thoughts, lustful looks, unchaste touches.
* The seventeenth is the toll-house of adultery.
* The eighteenth is the toll-house of sodomy: bestiality, homosexuality, incest, masturbation, and all other unnatural sins.
* The nineteenth is the toll-house of heresy: rejecting any part of Orthodox faith, wrongly interpreting it, apostasy, blasphemy, and all similar sins.
* The last, twentieth toll-house is the toll-house of unmercifulness: failing to show mercy and charity to people, and being cruel in any way.

==Controversy==
There is disagreement in certain circles regarding the status of this teaching within the Orthodox Church. Some, including [[Archbishop]] [[Lazar (Puhalo) of Ottawa]], consider this teaching controversial, even false (describing it as gnostic or of pagan origin). The traditional proponents of the teaching argue that it appears in the hymnology of the Church,<ref>January 27, The Recovery of the Holy Relics of our Father among the Saints John Chrysostom, Troparion 1, Ode 5 of Orthros: "Grant me to pass untroubled through the host of noetic satraps and the tyrannic battalion of the lower air in the hour of my departure..."</ref> <ref>Parakletike, Friday Vespers, Second Mode: "When my soul is about to be separated violently from the members of the body, then, O Bride of God, come to my aid; scatter the counsels of the fleshless enemies and shatter their millstones, by which they seek to devour me mercilessly; that, unhindered, I may pass through the rulers of darkness standing in the air."</ref> in stories of the lives of saints (for example, the Life of St. [[Anthony the Great]], written by [[Athanasius of Alexandria|St. Athanasius the Great]], the life of St. [[Basil the New]], and St. [[Theodora]]), in the homilies of St. [[Cyril of Alexandria]]<ref> St. [[Cyril of Alexandria]] ''Ephesi praedicata depoito Nestorio, ACO''.14(52.405D) as referenced by Lampe, G.W.H., ''A Patristic Greek Lexicon'', Oxford University Press, Oxford, 1961, p.1387</ref> in the Discourses of [[Abba Isaiah]],<ref>''The Twenty-nine Discourses of our Holy Father Isaiah,'' Volos, 1962, p. 37 (in Greek): "[Live] every day having death before your eyes, and concerning yourselves with how you will come out from the body, how you will pass by the powers of darkness what will meet you in the air, and how you will answer before God..."</ref> the [[Philokalia]], the [[Ladder of Divine Ascent]], and the [[Dogmatics of the Orthodox Church]] by Blessed [[Justin Popovich]]. Several contemporary Church figures speak about toll-houses.<ref>[http://orthodoxinfo.com/death/soul_taxing.aspx The Taxing of Souls] by Metropolitan Hierotheos (Vlachos)</ref> <ref>[http://orthodoxinfo.com/death/critic.aspx Answer to a Critic, Appendix III from The Soul After Death] by Father [[Seraphim Rose]] of Platina</ref> <ref>Vid. Ephraim, Elder, [http://www.amazon.com/Counsels-Holy-Mountain-Selected-Homilies/dp/0966700023 ''Counsels from the Holy Mountain,''] St. Anthony's Greek Orthodox Monastery, Arizona, 1999, pp. 436, 447.</ref> <ref>Cavarnos, Constantine, ''[http://www.amazon.com/Future-Life-According-Orthodox-Teaching/dp/0911165061 The Future Life According to Orthodox Teaching,]'' Center for Traditionalist Orthodox Studies, Etna, California, 1985, pp. 24-26.</ref> Secondly, not a single Church Father ever wrote even one sentence expressing doubt about this teaching (which is present in the Church sense at least fourth century). Thirdly, some of the greatest modern authorities of the Orthodox Church, such as St. Ignatius Brianchaninov<ref>A Word on Death, chapter "Aerial toll-houses"</ref> and St. [[Theophan the Recluse]],<ref>What is spiritual life, and how to obtain it, chapter "Perfect preparation for the Mystery of Repentance"</ref> insisted not only on the truthfulness, but on the necessity of this teaching in the spiritual life of a Christian.

Since the teaching of the tollhouses has been [http://www.orthodoxinfo.com/death/tollhouse_debate.aspx accredited by the [[Holy Synod]] of the [[ROCOR|Russian Church Abroad]]], it therefore may be considered an official teaching of the Orthodox Faith.

==Reference==
<references />

==See also==
*[[Purgatory]]

==External links==

===Wikipedia===
* http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aerial_toll-houses

===Discussion===
*[http://www.stlukeorthodox.com/html/evangelist/2000/deathtoll.htm Death and the Toll House Contraversy] by Dn. Andrew Werbiansky
*[http://www.orthodoxinfo.com/death/tollhouse_debate.aspx The Debate Over Aerial Toll-Houses] Extract from the Minutes of the Session of the Synod of Bishops of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia (1980)

===Support===
*[http://pages.prodigy.net/frjohnwhiteford/tollhouses.htm Evidence for the Tradition of the Toll Houses found in the Universally Received Tradition of the Church]
*[http://stmichaelacademy.org/theo/stjd.htm State of the Soul After Death According to the Teachings of Saint John Damascene] by Hieromonk Dionysios
*[http://www.orthodoxchristianbooks.com/articles/214/death-toll-houses/ Death and the Toll-Houses] by Vladimir Moss
*[http://www.orthodox.net/articles/life-after-death-john-maximovitch.html Life After Death] by St. [[John Maximovitch]]
*[http://www.orthodoxinfo.com/death/tollhouse_pomaz.aspx On the Question of the "Toll-Houses": Our War is not Against Flesh and Blood] by Fr. Michael Pomazansky
*[http://orthodoxinfo.com/death/soul_taxing.aspx The Taxing of Souls] by Metropolitan Hierotheos (Vlachos)
*[http://orthodoxinfo.com/death/critic.aspx Answer to a Critic (Deacon Lev Puhalo), Appendix III from The Soul After Death] by Father Seraphim Rose of Platina
*[http://www.pelagia.org/htm/b24.en.life_after_death.01.htm The Parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus About Life After Death. From Life After Death,] by Metropolitan [[Hierotheos (Vlachos) of Nafpaktos|Hierotheos (Vlachos)]]
*[http://audio.ancientfaith.com/illuminedheart/hopko_tolls.mp3 Illumined Heart Podcast Interview of Fr. Thomas Hopko]
*[http://audio.ancientfaith.com/postcards/pfg_2009-06-10.mp3 Fr. Seraphim Rose in Greece (Postcards From Greece Podcast, by Fr. Peter Heers)]

===Opposition===
*[http://constans_wright.tripod.com/notolls.html Against the Gnostic Story of the Judging Demons - the "Toll-Houses"]
*[http://www.rickross.com/reference/ephraim/ephraim11.html Two troubling teachings reported] by Archbishop Lazar Puhalo
*[http://www.new-ostrog.org/toll_main.html Regarding the Toll Houses] various articles by Archbishop Lazar, Fr. Michael Pomazansky, and others
*[http://www.orthodoxcanada.org/qa.html Questions and Answers: Archbishop Lazar Puhalo]

[[Category:Theology]]

Talk:St. Catherine's Monastery (Sinai)

2010-04-19T22:07:46Z

Arbible: /* In Church of ? */

I doubt that this is the oldest Christian monastery. Bulgarian researchers have claimed that the oldest monastery in [[Bulgaria]] and possibly in Europe is the [[St. Athanasius Monastery]] in the village of Zlatna Livada, near the town of Chirpan. It was reportedly established by St. [[Athanasius the Great]] himself in AD 344. You may read the following article (in Bulgarian): [http://liternet.bg/publish10/eshopova/manastiryt.htm]. --[[User:Vladko|Vladko]] 09:37, 26 Apr 2005 (CDT)

:How wonderful! I found another mention of it [http://www.balkanmediaacademy.bg/activity_en.htm here] (about half-way down the page, with pictures). --[[User:Magda|magda]] 09:58, 26 Apr 2005 (CDT)

== Burning Bush ==

I deleted what seemed to be stray, nonsensical words in the second paragraph. However, the entire quoted section is odd. The whole thing cannot be attributed to Egeria (as it refers to a mosaic dating from the 10th century). Plainly, the final two paragraphs are from other commentary included in the work cited. As it is, the quote is confusing. I don't have the resource at hand to correct it or to make more sense of it. Hopefully, whoever contributed it, or someone else with a copy of it, can help.

—[[User:Dcndavid|Dcn. David]] [[User_talk:Dcndavid|talk]] [[Special:Contributions/Dcndavid|contribs]] 19:04, September 28, 2006 (CDT)

:You're right, I think only the first paragraph comes from Egeria. The rest is additional description from another source, probably the John Wilkinson book. I've added a link to the complete English text of Egeria's work. The aforementioned paragraph comes from section 8. [[User:Gabriela|Gabriela]] 22:58, September 28, 2006 (CDT)

== Fatimid mosque ==

The mosque was built originally to cater for the local berber community. However it was found that the mirab within was not pointing to Makkah, and it could not be used. They refused to destroy something that was intended for the purpose of worship, and it remains sealed. {{unsigned|Eugene}}

==In Church of ?==
True, the monastery is in the nation of Egypt, but it is an autonomous church under the jurisdiction of the Church of Jerusalem! [[User:Wsk|Wsk]] 19:02, April 19, 2010 (UTC)
:: Yes, it is (according to some), but the Church of Jerusalem is not known as the Palestinian Church or Church of Palestine, although it cares for Palestinian Christians and some of its bishops are Palestinians. In Wikipedia, they say: "The exact administrative status of the church (St. Catherine's Monastery) within Eastern Orthodoxy is ambiguous: by some, including the church itself, [http://www.sinaimonastery.com/] it is considered autocephalous, by others an autonomous church under the jurisdiction of the Greek Orthodox Church of Jerusalem" citing: "Ware, Kallistos (Timothy) (1964). "Part I: History". The Orthodox Church. Penguin Books. http://www.fatheralexander.org/booklets/english/history_timothy_ware_1.htm. Retrieved 2007-07-14. Under Introduction Bishop Kallistos says that Sinai is "autocephalous"; under The twentieth century, Greeks and Arabs he states that "There is some disagreement about whether the monastery should be termed an 'autocephalous' or merely an 'autonomous' Church."
:: Moreover, the monks at this Greek Orthodox monastery are mostly Greek or from Eastern Europe.
:: In Christ, --[[User:Arbible|Arbible]] 22:06, April 19, 2010 (UTC)

Talk:St. Catherine's Monastery (Sinai)

2010-04-19T22:06:32Z

Arbible: /* In Church of ? */

I doubt that this is the oldest Christian monastery. Bulgarian researchers have claimed that the oldest monastery in [[Bulgaria]] and possibly in Europe is the [[St. Athanasius Monastery]] in the village of Zlatna Livada, near the town of Chirpan. It was reportedly established by St. [[Athanasius the Great]] himself in AD 344. You may read the following article (in Bulgarian): [http://liternet.bg/publish10/eshopova/manastiryt.htm]. --[[User:Vladko|Vladko]] 09:37, 26 Apr 2005 (CDT)

:How wonderful! I found another mention of it [http://www.balkanmediaacademy.bg/activity_en.htm here] (about half-way down the page, with pictures). --[[User:Magda|magda]] 09:58, 26 Apr 2005 (CDT)

== Burning Bush ==

I deleted what seemed to be stray, nonsensical words in the second paragraph. However, the entire quoted section is odd. The whole thing cannot be attributed to Egeria (as it refers to a mosaic dating from the 10th century). Plainly, the final two paragraphs are from other commentary included in the work cited. As it is, the quote is confusing. I don't have the resource at hand to correct it or to make more sense of it. Hopefully, whoever contributed it, or someone else with a copy of it, can help.

—[[User:Dcndavid|Dcn. David]] [[User_talk:Dcndavid|talk]] [[Special:Contributions/Dcndavid|contribs]] 19:04, September 28, 2006 (CDT)

:You're right, I think only the first paragraph comes from Egeria. The rest is additional description from another source, probably the John Wilkinson book. I've added a link to the complete English text of Egeria's work. The aforementioned paragraph comes from section 8. [[User:Gabriela|Gabriela]] 22:58, September 28, 2006 (CDT)

== Fatimid mosque ==

The mosque was built originally to cater for the local berber community. However it was found that the mirab within was not pointing to Makkah, and it could not be used. They refused to destroy something that was intended for the purpose of worship, and it remains sealed. {{unsigned|Eugene}}

==In Church of ?==
True, the monastery is in the nation of Egypt, but it is an autonomous church under the jurisdiction of the Church of Jerusalem! [[User:Wsk|Wsk]] 19:02, April 19, 2010 (UTC)
:: Yes, it is (according to some), but the Church of Jerusalem is not known as the Palestinian Church or Church of Palestine, although it cares for Palestinian Christians and some of its bishops are Palestinians. In Wikipedia, they say The exact administrative status of the church within Eastern Orthodoxy is ambiguous: by some, including the church itself, [http://www.sinaimonastery.com/] it is considered autocephalous, by others an autonomous church under the jurisdiction of the Greek Orthodox Church of Jerusalem." citing: Ware, Kallistos (Timothy) (1964). "Part I: History". The Orthodox Church. Penguin Books. http://www.fatheralexander.org/booklets/english/history_timothy_ware_1.htm. Retrieved 2007-07-14. Under Introduction Bishop Kallistos says that Sinai is "autocephalous"; under The twentieth century, Greeks and Arabs he states that "There is some disagreement about whether the monastery should be termed an 'autocephalous' or merely an 'autonomous' Church.
:: Moreover, the monks at this Greek Orthodox monastery are mostly Greek or from Eastern Europe.
:: In Christ, --[[User:Arbible|Arbible]] 22:06, April 19, 2010 (UTC)

St. Catherine's Monastery (Sinai)

2010-04-19T17:39:03Z

Arbible: This is an Egyptian monastery - not in Israel or Palestinian territories - Undo revision 92481 by Wsk (Talk)

[[Image:Sinai Monastery.jpg|right|thumb|300px|St. Catherine's Monastery, Sinai, Egypt]]
'''[[Catherine_of_Alexandria|St. Catherine]]'s Monastery''' is a [[monastery]] on the Sinai peninsula, at the foot of [[Mount Moses]] (Mount el-Deir) and [[Mount Sinai]], in Egypt. It was built at the site where [[Moses]] is believed to have seen the [[Burning Bush]], which is alive and on the grounds. Though it is commonly known as ''Saint Catherine's'', the actual name of the monastery is the '''''Monastery of the Transfiguration'''''. It is sometimes also known as the '''''Monastery of the Burning Bush'''''. It is one of the oldest Christian monasteries in the world.

==History==
Originally founded by the Emperor St. [[Justinian the Great]] in 527, the monastery has weathered numerous changes in the history of the region, including the invasion of [[Islam]], whose founder Mohammed himself guaranteed protection for the monastery. (The monastery still has possession of a written document from Mohammed to prove it.)

[[Image:Pantokrator of Sinai.jpg|left|frame|The [[Pantocrator]] of Sinai (7th c.)]]
In the 9th century, the site was associated with St. [[Catherine of Alexandria]] (whose [[relics]] were miraculously transported there) and it became a favourite site for [[pilgrimage]]s. Numerous ancient manuscripts have been preserved in the library, which is second only to the manuscript library of the Vatican. The collection consists of some 3,500 volumes in Greek, Coptic, Arabic, Armenian, Hebrew, Slavic, Syriac, Georgian and other languages.

A number of ancient [[icon]]s are also on the grounds, including the famous '''Pantokrator of Sinai''' (7th c.), pictured at left, and '''[[The Ladder of Divine Ascent]]''' (12th c.), an iconic representation of the [[The Ladder of Divine Ascent|book]] by that name by St. [[John Climacus]].

==Architecture==
The monastic church dates from the reign of St. [[Justinian]]. Its architect, Stephen of Aila, built a three-aisled, wood-roofed, basalt [[basilica]], with carved capitals on the nave columns which are derived from the Corinthian order. The variation in the capitals there seem to be a deliberate choice, rather than the result of using columns from other buildings (which can be seen in other structures). The basilica has five side chapels, and towers flank the west end of the church. The sacred [[Burning Bush|bush]] is left growing in the open beyond the east end of the building.

The monastery church has seen little essential change since the time of its imperial founder. Its great western portal is still closed by the original 1400 year old wooden door, which still functions perfectly on its first pins and hinges. The wood roof of the nave, also of 6th century construction, rests on beams that bear inscriptions honoring Justinian and his famous wife [[Theodora (wife of Justinian)|Theodora]]. These inscriptions had been reported by travelers as far back as the 18th century, but not until a 1958 expedition was a careful study made of them in relation to the church structure. The inscriptions mention "our most pious Emperor" Justinian and his "late Empress" Theodora. Theodora died in 548 and Justinian in 565, so that the church was completed between those years.

There are the remnants of a 10th or 11th century Fatimid mosque within the walls of the monastery, probably built to appease Muslim authorities of the time. Recent excavations within the mosque's walls have yielded evidence that the building predates its use as a mosque, however, as architectural and ornamental crosses and other Christian symbols have been found within.

There is also a small chapel called the Chapel of St. Tryphon which serves as an ossuary for the skulls of deceased monastics.

==The Church of Sinai==
The monastery, the nearby monastery at Raithu, and a handful of dependencies constitute the entire [[Church of Sinai]], an [[autonomy|autonomous]] Orthodox church headed by an [[archbishop]], who is also the [[abbot]] of St. Catherine's. The archbishop is traditionally consecrated by the Patriarch of the [[Church of Jerusalem]], though he is not the patriarch's subject.

==The Burning Bush==
[[Image:BurningBush.jpg|right|thumb|The Burning Bush]]In the Book of Exodus, Moses was forced to flee Egypt and came to live with Jethro. Moses, who shepherded Jethro's flocks, discovered the burning bush while tending the sheep.

Moses approached the bush, and discovered that the bush was on fire, but the flames did not consume it. [Exodus 3:2] God's spirit, in the bush, then declared "I am your father's God, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob." [Exodus 3:4, ''NIV''] God then commanded Moses to remove his sandals, as the land was considered holy.

God then ordered Moses to speak to Pharaoh, because He had "heard the people's cries". [Exodus 3:7] God promised that the Israelites, then enslaved by Pharaoh, would live in a land "flowing with milk and honey". [Exodus 3:9] When Moses expressed doubt that he would be believed, God gave Moses three "signs": his staff turned to a snake, his hand turned leprous (and was cured) and Moses was told that if they did not work, he would be able to turn water into blood. God then added that "He would be with him" (Moses), which finally encouraged him to demand the release of the Israelites.

[[Egeria]], a 4th century pilgrim from Spain, had this to say about the site:

:"We had to advance deep into the valley for there are many hermit cells and a shrine at the site of the Bush. The Bush is verdant to this day. This is the Bush of which I have spoken earlier, the one from which God in a flame of fire spoke to Moses. The Bush is in a very beautiful garden in front of the Church." (see ''Egeria's Travels'', ed. John Wilkinson (ISBN 0856687103)

The Chapel of the Burning Bush honors the Annunciation to the Holy Virgin. This is conveyed by "the Virgin of the Burning Bush," an icon that represents the Mother of God seated within the Burning Bush and holding her Son, with Moses worshiping barefooted on the left. A mosaic cross of the 10th century decorates the apse of the chapel.

The holy altar of the chapel stands not upon the sacred remains of martyrs, which is usual, but above the roots of the Burning Bush. The Bush flourishes several yards farther from he chapel where it was transplanted in order to build the Altar upon its roots. It is said that this is the only bush of its kind growing in the entire Sinai Peninsula, and that every attempt to transplant a branch of it to another place has been unsuccessful.

Pilgrims enter the chapel without shoes, in remembrance of the commandment of God to Moses, "Put off thy shoes from off thy feet, for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground."

== Basilica of Transfiguration and liturgy ==
The Basilica of Holy Transfiguration of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ is the biggest worship facility of this monastery and thus the center of its monastic life, where the liturgy is observed mainly. As built in the order of Emperor St. [[Justinian]], the wooden doors of the sanctuary are called "Justinian
Doors". Its apse is decorated with a huge mosaic of icon that represents [[Jesus Christ]] in his glorious [[transfiguration]], accompanied by two prophets and three disciples. On its [[iconostasis]], the royal door is not the place of the [[annunciation]] and it lacks four evangelists' representation either. Instead they accompany with the [[Theotokos]] on the left side of the door. The iconostasis includes also icons of martyrs, St. [[John the Forerunner]] with his beheaded head and St. [[Catherine of Alexandria]] attributed with a wheel whose relics are venerated within this basilica.

Pilgrims may join the liturgy, specially from 6 a.m., 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. The [[Divine Liturgy]] is held from 6 a.m. The language of liturgy is Greek.

==Sources==
*''The Blackwell Dictionary of Eastern Christianity'', p. 451
*[http://www.umich.edu/~kelseydb/Excavation/St_Catherine.html Monastery of St. Catherine at Mount Sinai]
*[http://www.touregypt.net/featurestories/catherines3.htm The Physical Components of the Monastery of Saint Catherine in the Sinai of Egypt] by John Watson
*[[Wikipedia:Saint Catherine's Monastery, Mount Sinai]]
*[[Wikipedia:Burning Bush]]

==More Images of St. Catherine's==
<gallery>
Image:Blachernitissa_MtSinai.jpg|Close up of Blachernitissa
Image:MtSinai_Ic_5images.jpg|Ancient icon with five images of the Theotokos and 36 images of Christ's miracles and passions
Image:MtSinai_Ic_5imagesCU.jpg|Close up of five images of the Theotokos
Image:Hagiosoritissa_MtSinai_5.jpg|Close up of Hagiosoritissa
Image:Sinai lithograph.jpg|19th century lithograph of Mt. Sinai and the monastery
Image:Santa_Catarina_Sinai_2003.JPG|The fortress walls of the monastery
Image:BurningBush2.jpg|Another picture of the Burning Bush
Image:FireExtinguisher.jpg|Burning Bush showing fire extinguisher
</gallery>

==External links==
* [http://www.sinaimonastery.com/ Official Website of the Holy Monastery of St. Catherine at Mount Sinai]
* [http://interoz.com/egypt/Catherines.htm Egypt Travel: St. Catherine's Monastery]
* [http://orlapubs.com/AR/R22.html Links to St. Catherine's Monastery]
* [http://weekly.ahram.org.eg/2002/567/tr3.htm A lily in the wilderness] - an article about the 1700th year anniversary celebration by Iason Athanasiadis
* [http://flickr.com/photos/piddysplace/tags/stcatherinesmonastery/ Gallery of Photos of St. Catherines (CC licensed)]
*[http://www.ccel.org/m/mcclure/etheria/etheria.htm Complete online text of Egeria's Travels]
*[http://www.world-heritage-tour.org/africa/eg/sainteCatherine/facingHill.html Panographies]

[[Category:Featured Articles]]
[[Category:Monasteries|Catherine]]

[[ro:Mănăstirea Sfânta Ecaterina (Sinai, Egipt)]]

OrthodoxWiki:Community Portal

2010-04-05T09:00:26Z

Arbible: Reverted edits by Chudson (Talk); changed back to last version by Stone18

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File talk:Monophysite.png

2009-12-18T19:13:55Z

Arbible: New page: I don't think this diagram is accurate. Eutyches said Christ's human nature was "dissolved like a drop of honey in the sea" with respect to his Divine nature. --~~~~

I don't think this diagram is accurate. Eutyches said Christ's human nature was "dissolved like a drop of honey in the sea" with respect to his Divine nature. --[[User:Arbible|Arbible]] 19:13, December 18, 2009 (UTC)

User talk:Peternicola

2009-12-17T09:42:30Z

Arbible: New page: Please observe the policy of this wiki in your edits. OrthodoxWiki is governed by what is called the Mainstream Chalcedonian Bias (MCB): http://orthodoxwiki.org/NPOV This is not the corre...

Please observe the policy of this wiki in your edits. OrthodoxWiki is governed by what is called the Mainstream Chalcedonian Bias (MCB): http://orthodoxwiki.org/NPOV
This is not the correct place to defend the history of the Coptic Orthodox Church. However, you are very welcome to post your own views on the articles' discussion pages.
--[[User:Arbible|Arbible]] 09:42, December 17, 2009 (UTC)

Dioscorus of Alexandria

2009-12-17T09:38:47Z

Arbible: Reverted edits by Peternicola (Talk); changed back to last version by Wsk

{{cleanup}}

'''Dioscorus I of Alexandria''' was the [[Patriarch of Alexandria]] (444-451).

==Controversy==
Dioscorus I of Alexandria is considered a [[saint]] by the [[Coptic]], [[Syriac Orthodox Church|Syriac]], and other [[Oriental Orthodox]] churches. He is generally considered a [[heretic]] by the [[Eastern Orthodox]], though some commentators like Anatolius and [[John S. Romanides]] think that Dioscorus was deposed at [[Council of Chalcedon|Chalcedon]] (451) not because of the faith, but for his grave administrative errors at the [[Robber Council of Ephesus]] (449), which included restoring [[Eutyches]] the heretic and the attack on [[Flavian the Confessor|Flavian]], and because he (Dioscorus) had excommunicated Pope [[Leo the Great|Leo I of Rome]], and also because at [[Chalcedon]] he refused to appear in front of the Council although he was summoned to it three times.<ref>[http://www.romanity.org/htm/rom.06.en.orthodox_and_oriental_orthodox_consultation.htm Orthodox and Oriental Orthodox Consultation: Leo of Rome's Support of Theodoret, Dioscorus of Alexandria's Support of Eutyches and the Lifting of the Anathemas] by John S. Romanides</ref>

His character and stance are subject to contravention between the Oriental Orthodox churches on one side and the Eastern Orthodox and [[Roman Catholic]] churches on the other.

The Oriental Orthodox churches are generally accused by other churches of accepting the [[Eutychianism|Eutychian doctrine]] of [[Monophysitism]]—this is denied by these churches as they consider Eutyches a heretic as the other churches but to have redeemed himself by retrieving this heresy in the Second Council of Ephesus,<ref>Story of the Coptic church by [[w:Iris Habib Elmasry|Iris Habib Elmasry]] Volume I</ref> but figures large in the differences between those churches and most other populous Christian churches, as well as in the civil strife and friction of the era and afterwards within the [[Eastern Roman Empire]].

Hence, in the mess typical of [[schism|schisms]], according to mainstream Christian sects, he was merely a [[Patriarch of Alexandria]] turned heretic, who in a preemptive power-play characteristic of megalomania attempted to excommunicate many other influential bishops in opposition to his belief in Monophysitism, including Leo. 

He was subsequently [[excommunication|excommunicated]] by Leo, most likely in very early 450 during the aftermath of the controversial [[Second Council of Ephesus]], which he was charged by the Emperor to preside over with the concurrence of Leo.

It was supposed to be the fourth [[ecumenical council]] and can only be described as in effect and bizarre in it's rubber stamping character wherein giants of the orthodox sects were slain ''in absentia'' by excommunication and which findings were all subsequently negated and annulled by Leo as well as the succeeding [[ecumenical council]] in 451, the [[Council of Chalcedon]] (Widely accepted as the Fourth Ecumenical Council, by most mainstream Christian Churches. In contrast, the Oriental Orthodox Churches listed above accept the Second Council of Ephesus as canonical, and do not accept the Council of Chalcedon, nor the [[Chalcedonian Creed]].)

The other person involved in this controversy apart from Dioscorus is Leo with each side considering the other person a heretic. The main factors behind this are still present and it is subject to discussion between the churches.<ref>[http://sor.cua.edu/Ecumenism/20000509oomtg3.html Syriac Orthodox Church]</ref>

In recent research it was suggested that both Leo and Dioscoros are Orthodox because they agree with St.[[Cyril of Alexandria]], especially with his Twelve Chapters, even though both had been considered heretical by the other side <ref>[http://www.romanity.org/htm/rom.06.en.orthodox_and_oriental_orthodox_consultation.htm Orthodox and Oriental Orthodox Consultation: Leo of Rome's Support of Theodoret, Dioscorus of Alexandria's Support of Eutyches and the Lifting of the Anathemas] by John S. Romanides</ref>.

In May 1973 After fifteen centuries, Pope [[Shenouda III (Gayyid) of Alexandria]] visited Pope [[Paul VI of Rome|Paul VI]] of Rome and declared a common faith in the nature of Christ, the issue which caused the schism of the church in the [[Council of Chalcedon]].<ref>[http://www.coptic.net/articles/MonophysitismReconsidered.txt Coptic.net Monophysitism Reconsidered]</ref> However, this is disputed, due to the fact that the main leaders of the Non-Chalcedonian schism specifically condemned St. Cyril's agreements with St. John of Antioch. For example, Timothy Ailouros (Dioscorus' disciple and successor, wrote: "Cyril... having excellently articulated the wise proclamation of Orthodoxy, showed himself to be fickle and is to be censured for teaching contrary doctrine: after previously proposing that we should speak of one nature of God the Word, he destroyed the dogma that he had formulated and is caught professing two Natures of Christ."<ref>Timothy Ailouros, "Epistles to Kalonymos," ''Patrologia Graeca'', Vol LXXXVI, Col. 276; quoted in The Non Chalcedonian Heretics, p. 13. See also [http://orthodoxinfo.com/ecumenism/mono_history.aspx "The History of the Persistant Monophysite Rejection of St. Cyril of Alexandria's Teaching on the Two Natures of Christ"]</ref>

A similar declaration was reached between the Oriental Orthodoxy churches and the Eastern Orthodoxy churches in the 1990s. In the summer of 2001, the Coptic Orthodox and Greek Orthodox Patriarchates of Alexandria agreed to mutually recognize baptisms performed in each other's churches<ref>[[Church of Alexandria (Coptic)#Council of Chalcedon]]</ref>.

==Early life==
Before being a Pope Dioscorus served as the dean of the [[Catechetical School of Alexandria]], and was the personal secretary of [[Cyril of Alexandria|Saint Cyril the Great, Patriarch of Alexandria]], whom he accompanied to the [[Third Ecumenical Council]] held at [[Ephesus]].

==Eutyches and Nestorius==
In his struggle against [[Nestorius]], St. [[Cyril of Alexandria|Cyril]] explained the union between the two natures of Christ (His Divinity and His Humanity) as "inward and real without any division, change, or confusion." He rejected the Antiochian theory of "indwelling," or "conjunction," or "close participation" as insufficient to reveal the real unification. He charged that their theory permitted the division of the two hypostasis of Christ just as Nestorius taught.

Thus the traditional Orthodox formula adopted by Cyril and Dioscorus was "one incarnate nature" which translated in Greek to ''[[Miaphysitism|mia-physis]]'' and not ''mono-physis''. They meant by ''mia'': one; not "single one", but "unity one"; "out of two natures"; as Dioscorus stated. He insisted on "the one nature" of Christ to assert Christ's oneness, as a tool to defend the Church's faith against Nestorianism. Thus Christ is at once God and man.

On the other hand the Antiochian formula was "two natures after the union" which is translated to ''dio physis''. This formula explained Christ as two natures; Son of God, and Son of Man, and that God did not suffer nor did He die.

St. Cyril himself accepted the Antiochian formula, in his agreements with St. John of Antioch:

:"With regard to the Evangelical and Apostolic expressions concerning the Lord, we know that men who are skilled in theology make some of them common to the one Person, while they divide others between the two Natures, ascribing those that are fitting to God to Divinity of Christ, and those that are lowly to His Humanity. On reading these sacred utterances of Yours, and finding that we ourselves think along the same lines—for there is one Lord, one Faith, one Baptism—we glorified God the Saviour of all"<ref>John Karmiris, ''Dogmatic and Creedal Statements of the Orthodox Church'', Vol. 1, Athens, 1960. p. 154, quoted in ''The Non-Chalcedonian Heretics'', p. 11</ref>

A struggle occurred between Eutyches and [[Theodoret]]. Eutyches was an [[archimandrite]] of a [[monastery]] in Constantinople. He defended the formula "one nature" against that of "two natures." He concluded that the Godhead absorbed the manhood of Christ. Theodoret accused Eutyches and Cyril, and published a long attack on them. The council of Constantinople was held in 448, and Eutyches was condemned and exiled.

Leo originally wrote to Eutyches praising his zeal in opposing the Nestorian dualism. But he later changed his mind; perhaps when he heard that the emperor wrote to Dioscorus calling him to a council to be held to discuss that matter. Leo, who was not part of the conflict between the Alexandrian and the Antiochian Christology, sent his famous Tome (letter) to Constantinople -- not to work for reconciliation of the parties, but to defame the Alexandrian theologians.

==Second Council of Ephesus==
Then Emperor Theodosius II convened the [[Second Council of Ephesus]] (called the "Robber Synod") in 449 and asked Dioscorus to exercise supreme authority over it as president. Eutyches was rehabilitated because he offered to repent and also because Leo wrote to Flavian saying that he should be kind to him, and to accept him if he repented.

==Council of Chalcedon==
Then on [[July 28]], 450, Emperor [[Theodosius II|Theodosius]] died and his sister [[Pulcheria the Empress|Pulcheria]] and her consort [[Marcian]] were declared emperors. Pulcheria supported Rome against Alexandria. She gathered signatures for the "Tome" of Leo to be introduced as the basic paper for a new council to be held at Chalcedon. At the same time, she decided not to let Rome hold supreme authority in the church. She refused Leo's demand to hold the council in Italy, but insisted that it would be held in the East. Although the [[council of Chalcedon]] is believed to have condemned Eutyches, the man with whom it really dealt was Dioscorus, for Eutyches was already in North Syria, where he had been exiled before the council met.

During the council, Dioscorus explained why they should retain the formula "one incarnate nature of God the Word" (a formula which had already been vindicated and defined at the [[Third Ecumenical Council|First Council of Ephesus]]). On hearing "one nature," some bishops in the council shouted, "Eutyches says these things also." Here Dioscorus clarified the Alexandrian view, saying, "We do not speak of confusion, neither of division, nor of change." Dioscorus tried to make his position clear: that he did not accept "two natures after the union," but he had no objection to "''from'' two natures after the union."

When the judges started the order of the acts of the Council, Paschasinus, the Roman delegate, said, "We have orders from Rome that Dioscorus should not have a place in this council. If this is violated he should be cast out." When the judges asked about what Dioscorus did, the Roman delegate replied, "He has dared to conduct a council without the authorization of the apostolic see in Rome, a thing which has never happened and which ought not to have happened."

It was the emperor's favor that the council had to draw out Alexandria and declare a new formula to bring the entire Church in the east under the leadership of Constantinople. They used Leo as a tool to accomplish their objective through his enmity to Alexandria, looking upon it as an obstacle in realizing his papal authority on the Church over the world.

The verdict of the commissioners was announced: Dioscorus of Alexandria, [[Juvenal of Jerusalem]], Thalassius of Caesarea, Eusebius of Ancyra, Eutathius of Berytus, and Basil of Seleucia—these were the men who had been responsible for the decisions of the second council of Ephesus, and should as such all be deposed. Thus the Patriarch of Alexandria was exiled to Gangra Island. In fact, Dioscorus was not condemned by name at Chalcedon because of his theological heresy, but specifically due to his canonical violations at the Robber Synod of Ephesus.

==New formula of faith==
Under strong pressure, the bishops of the council accepted a new formula of faith, so that Alexandria would not acquire theological precedence. Yet when the delegates attempted to impose the papal authority upon the universal church, silence turned into revolt. Leo announced, in his repeatedly angry letters, his resistance to the council because it regarded Rome and Constantinople as equal.

==Exile of Dioscorus==
After those incidents, a messenger from Constantinople arrived in Alexandria announcing the exile of the Patriarch Dioscorus, and the appointment of an Alexandrian priest named [[Proterius of Alexandria|Proterius]] as an imperial, i.e., alien/foreign/non-Egyptian, patriarch over Alexandria, with the approval of the emperor. He threatened whoever dared to show disobedience. The [[Melchite]] patriarch who was appointed by the emperor became surrounded by soldiers willing to punish those who might resist the imperial command.

In the year 457 Patriarch Dioscorus died in exile, and when the Copts heard that, they met with the clergymen and elected Timothy, the disciple of Dioscorus, to be the new Patriarch. This became a regular practice of the Coptic Church, who have not been reconciled to the Orthodox Patriarchates to this day.

Dioscorus I (died c. 454/457) in Asia Minor, [[September 11]], 454.<ref>[http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/05019a.htm Catholic Encyclopedia]</ref>

{{start box}}
{{succession|
before=[[Cyril of Alexandria|Cyril I]]|
title=[[Patriarch of Alexandria]]|
years=444-451|
after=Proterios (Chalcedonian succession) Timothy II ([[List of Coptic Popes|Non-Chalcedonian succession]])|}}
{{end box}}

==See also==
*[[List of Coptic Orthodox Popes of Alexandria]]
*[[Coptic Orthodox Church]]
*[[List of Patriarchs of Alexandria|Orthodox Patriarchs of Alexandria]]
*[[List of Coptic Popes|Coptic Popes]]

==References==
<references/>

==Source==
*[[w:Pope Dioscorus I of Alexandria&oldid=118470836|''Pope Dioscorus I of Alexandria'' at Wikipedia]]

==External links==
*[http://www.coptic.net Encyclopedia Coptica: The Christian Coptic Orthodox Church Of Egypt]
*[http://www.copticchurch.net/synaxarium/1_7.html#1 Lives of Saints :: Tout 7 — 1. The Departure of Dioscorus, 25th Pope of Alexandria.]
*[http://www.romanity.org/htm/rom.06.en.orthodox_and_oriental_orthodox_consultation.htm Orthodox and Oriental Orthodox Consultation]
*[http://orthodoxinfo.com/ecumenism/ea_mono.aspx The Monophysites (Non-Chalcedonians)]

[[Category:Egyptian Saints|Dioscorus, Pope of Alexandria]]
[[Category:Non-Chalcedonian Saints]]
[[Category:Patriarchs of Alexandria]]

[[ar:ديوسقورس الأول]]

Robber Council of Ephesus

2009-12-17T09:35:25Z

Arbible: Reverted edits by Peternicola (Talk); changed back to last version by Wsk

The '''Robber Council of Ephesus''' was convoked by Emperor [[Theodosius II]] on [[August 8]], 449 for the purpose of adjudicating the findings of the council of November 448 chaired by [[Flavian the Confessor|Flavian of Constantinople]] that had [[deposition|deposed]] and excommunicated the [[Archimandrite]] [[Eutyches]] for refusing to admit the two natures of Christ. The council, under the chair of [[Dioscorus of Alexandria]] and support of Emperor [[Theodosius II]], found in favor of Eutyches and deposed Flavian of Constantinople.

==History==
The fourth and fifth centuries witnessed an extensive period of controversies concerning the nature of Our Lord Jesus Christ, the Christological controversies. During this period a number of [[heresies]] were confronted including [[Arianism]], [[Nestorianism]], and [[Monophysitism]]. The disputes were argued amongst the hierarchs of the [[Church of Alexandria|Churches of Alexandria]], [[Church of Antioch|Antioch]], and [[Church of Constantinople|Constantinople]] in a number of councils ([[synod]]s) with the [[Church of Rome]] represented by legates. The controversies were greatly influenced by emperor in Constantinople who generally convened the councils.

===Prelude===
The [[First Ecumenical Council|first]] and [[Third Ecumenical Council|third]] ecumenical councils established that Arianism and Nestorianism were heresies and excommunicated the principals, Arian and Nestorius. The [[excommunication]] and exile of Nestorius was greatly influence by the Empress [[Pulcheria the Empress|Pulcheria]], the older sister of Emperor Theodosius II, In 441, Theodosius, under the influence of the eunuch Chrysaphius, was convinced to dismiss his sister. Theodosius then began to support the Monophysite error that was promoted by the [[archimandrite]] Eutyches and Dioscorus, an error that Christ not only had one personality but also only one nature.

Domnus, Patriarch of Antioch, was the first to note this error by Eutyches. In November 448, Flavian, the Patriarch of Constantinople, convened a council in Constantinople during which a formal accusation of Eutyches’ error was made against him by Eusebius, [[Bishop]] of Dorylaeum (Phrygia). After hearing Eutyches, the council deposed and excommunicated Eutyches for refusing to admit two natures in Christ after the incarnation.

Upon appeal by Eutyches to the sympathetic emperor and other bishops, including Dioscorus, Theodosius convoked, with the agreement of Pope [[Leo the Great|Leo of Rome]], a council to determine whether in the 448 council Flavian had justly deposed and excommunicated Eutyches

===Council===
The '''Second Council of Ephesus''', as this council is also called, was convened by Emperor Theodosius II under the presidency of Dioscorus. Extant records of sessions read and recorded at the [[Fourth Ecumenical Council|Council of Chalcedon]] in 451 and in a Syriac translation by a Monophysite monk provide a record of the council proceedings. The council was dominated by Theodosius, Dioscorus, and monophysitic supporters. Flavian and six bishops, who were present at the 448 council, were not allowed to sit as judges in the council. Dioscorus ignored the Roman legates and did not read the letter from Pope Leo, but he read a letter from Theodosius that directed the presence of a anti-Nestorian monk, Barsumas. Eutyches declared, after have been given the floor, that he held the faith of Nicene and Ephesus and that he was condemned by Flavian for a slip of the tongue, but he still stated the one nature of Christ. Attempts to present a case by the accuser of Eutyches, Bishop Eusebius of Dorylaeum, were refused, as well as by Flavian. Eutyches objected to attempts to read Leo’s letter, while a petition from Eutyches’ monastery, in his favor, was read. In the end Eutyches was declared orthodox and reinstated to his [[priest]]ly office.

Flavian was deposed and exiled, soon to die of ill-treatment, and was succeeded by Anatolius, a [[deacon]] loyal to Dioscurus. Eusebius was also deposed. The council under Dioscurus then continued on to depose many bishops who had opposed him.

===Aftermath===
When reports of the actions of the Dioscurus led council and the violent actions of his partisans reached Pope Leo he condemned the council and called it the ''Latrocinium'', a ''Robber Council'' and refused to recognize Anatolius as the lawful Bishop of Constantinople until he satisfactorily explained his belief. Theodosius, however, ignored the position of Leo. On [[July 28]], 450, the situation changed radically as Theodosius was killed in a horse accident and his sister Pulcheria returned to imperial power and married the general [[Marcian]], who became the new emperor. The empress and new emperor both opposed the teachings of Dioscurus and Eutyches. With the change in imperial leadership Anatolius and many other bishops now also condemned the teachings of Dioscurus and Eutyches. As a step to clarify the disputes Marician now called for a new council which was held in 451 in [[Chalcedon]].

==See also==
*[[Dioscorus of Alexandria]]
*[[Pope Saint Dioscorus I of Alexandria (Coptic POV)]]

==External links==
*[http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/05495a.htm Catholic Encyclopedia: Council of Ephesus]
*[http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/03555a.htm Catholic Encyclopedia: Council of Chalcedon]
*[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Second_Council_of_Ephesus Wikipedia: Second Council of Ephesus]

[[Category: Robber Councils]]

User talk:Orthodox1

2009-12-16T12:42:24Z

Arbible: /* Posting on talk pages */

Matthew 20:27
--[[User:Arbible|Arbible]] 21:01, December 15, 2009 (UTC)

== Posting on talk pages ==

Please sign all your posts on user talk pages. Please do not edit other users' talkpage posts that don't belong to you as author, except if you just want to add missing poster details (username/date). --[[User:Arbible|Arbible]] 12:42, December 16, 2009 (UTC)

User talk:Orthodox1

2009-12-16T12:42:06Z

Arbible: /* Posting on talk pages */ new section

User talk:Ghaly

2009-12-16T12:39:42Z

Arbible: Reverted edits by Orthodox1 (Talk); changed back to last version by Arbible

{{welcome}}

[[User:Gabriela|Gabriela]] 20:28, January 26, 2007 (PST)

== Coptic articles ==

Dear Ghaly,

You may wish to coordinate with [[User:Arbible|Arbible]] on these articles. He's an administrator here and essentially in charge of organizing articles on the Coptic church and other Oriental churches. —[[User:ASDamick|Fr. Andrew]] [[User_talk:ASDamick|talk]] [[Special:Contributions/ASDamick|contribs]] 15:45, March 29, 2007 (PDT)

== Re: Coptic articles ==

Many thanks, Ghaly. Your contributions are very welcome, especially at http://ar.orthodoxwiki.org/ (the Arabic version of OrthodoxWiki - still in its infancy, with only 86 articles so far, and we need much help), where I am glad you have started contributing new material. But before creating a new entry on the English or Arabic OrthodoxWiki, please:

* Make sure the entry does not already exist, especially on the English OrthodoxWiki where there are already dozens of Coptic entries!
* Follow OrthodoxWiki Style Manual, esp. in relation to importing articles from Wikipedia - see http://ar.orthodoxwiki.org/%D8%AF%D9%84%D9%8A%D9%84_%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A3%D8%B3%D9%84%D9%88%D8%A8#.D8.A5.D8.B3.D8.AA.D9.8A.D8.B1.D8.A7.D8.AF_.D9.85.D9.82.D8.A7.D9.84.D8.A7.D8.AA_.D9.85.D9.86_.D9.88.D9.8A.D9.83.D9.8A.D8.A8.D9.8A.D8.AF.D9.8A.D8.A7_.D8.A7.D9.84.D8.B9.D8.B1.D8.A8.D9.8A
* Oriental Orthodox articles should be labelled with the oriental template or قالب:أرثوذكسية لا خلقدونية.

I hope this helps.

God Bless. --[[User:Arbible|Arbible]] 07:34, March 30, 2007 (PDT)

----

Dear Ghaly,

Christ Is Risen! Thanks very much for your contributions. OrthodoxWiki is governed by what is called the Mainstream Chalcedonian Bias (MCB - http://orthodoxwiki.org/OrthodoxWiki:Style_Manual_%28Point_of_View%29 ).

Also if you look at the draft agreements signed so far by both families, e.g., Chambesy, Geneva, 1990, you will find that the terminology is Orthodox and Oriental Orthodox. In fact, the Orthodox family (Eastern) had objected to the use of the adjective 'Eastern', which didn't appear in the signed version (upon their request, and with the full approval of the Oriental Orthodox delegates - Source: Dr Joseph Faltas - see excerpt at http://orthodoxwiki.org/Image:1990_OO-EO_Agreement_Excerpts.jpg ). After all, both adjectives (Eastern and Oriental) are geographical and quite confusing, esp. their Arabic translation. Besides, many (Eastern) Orthodox Churches are not geographically Eastern (e.g., OCA).

Yours in Christ,
--[[User:Arbible|Arbible]] 08:58, April 13, 2007 (PDT)

User talk:Orthodox1

2009-12-15T21:01:42Z

Arbible: New page: Matthew 20:27 --~~~~

Matthew 20:27
--[[User:Arbible|Arbible]] 21:01, December 15, 2009 (UTC)

Holy Synod of Coptic Orthodox Church

2009-12-15T20:49:06Z

Arbible: Reverted edits by Orthodox1 (Talk); changed back to last version by Arbible

{{oriental}}
{{cleanup}}
'''The Holy Synod of the Coptic Orthodox Patriarchate of Alexandria''' is the highest authority in the Church of Alexandria (Coptic) and it formulates the rules and regulations regarding matters of church's organisation, faith, service's order.

The Synod is chaired by the Coptic (Oriental) [[Patriarch]] of Alexandria and the members are the Church's [[Metropolitan]]s, [[Bishop]]s, Chorbishops and the Patriarchal Vicar for Alexandria.

==Seniority in the Synod==
According to the Coptic Orthodox Church Traditions the Coptic Pope, being Coptic Bishop of Alexandria and being the Senior and Elder Bishop and the Metropolitan [[Archbishop]] of the Province and [[Primate]] of All Egypt, is the head of the Synod as a [[first among equals]]. The most senior position after the Pope was the Metropolitan of Pentapolis, but since its demise as a major Archiepiscopal [[Metropolis]] and now being held as a Titular [[See]] attached to another [[diocese]].

There is a special status of seniority of honor for the Metropolitan Archbishop of the Holy and Great City of Our Lord, Jerusalem, Holy Zion, Archbishop of the Holy Archdiocese of Jerusalem, All Palestine, [[Amman|Philadelphia of Jordan]] and All the Near East.

This great archdiocesan Metropolis is technically outside the Egyptian Province and was not originally counted within the jurisdiction of the Pope of Alexandria and it was created by Pope [[Pope Cyril III of Alexandria|Cyril III]] (1235-1243) in the thirteenth century, which, at that time, had caused a dispute between the [[Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria]] and the [[Syriac Orthodox Church]] of Antioch.<ref> History of the Coptic Church, [[Iris Habib Elmasry]] </ref>. This was a very rare incident between the two sister churches as in general their relationship is one of the strongest between any two sister churches. <ref> History of the Coptic Orthodox Church, [[Abouna Menassa Elkomos Youhanna]] 1923 </ref> .

It is important to note that the Coptic Orthodox Metropolitan of Jerusalem is the only Coptic Orthodox Metropolitan who is consecrated as a Metropolitan Archbishop without being consecrated a bishop first then elevated to the Metropolitan rank later as is the norm in all episcopal consecration according to the tradition of the Church of Alexandria. This has been the case since [[Pope Cyril III of Alexandria|Cyril III]] consecrated Metropolitan Basilius as the first Coptic Orthodox Metropolitan of Jerusalem and All the Near East.

Currently, and because of the fact that the seniority of the members is decided according to ranking rules depending on the rank in the Church (Metropolitans first, then Bishops (and Exarchs of the Throne), then [[Auxiliary bishop|Auxiliary Bishop]]s, then General Bishops, then Chorbishops and according to the date of consecration, the most senior position after the Pope is the oldest consecrated Metropolitan of the Throne, who is now the Metropolitan of the Holy [[Metropolis]] of Asyut (Lycopolis), (Hieracon) and (Apollonopolis Parva) (Consecrated in 1946).

Apart from the fact that, as in ancient tradition, after the Senior Hierarch of Pentapolis, came the [[hierarch]] of the Metropolis of (Lycopolis), (Hieracon) and (Apollonopolis Parva (Hypselis)|Apollonopolis Parva), which is Asyut.

It is to be noted that the most senior metropolitan in consecration is the candidate to become the [[Locum tenens]] in case of the death of the Pope until the election of the new Pope, and will be the one who enthrones the newly elected Pope along with the entire body of the Holy Synod.

This seniority ranking system does not diminish the importance and the greatness of the Metropolis of Jerusalem and All the Near East. It is to be noted that the archiepiscopal status of this great metropolis is given due to the Holy Apostolic Throne that it represent, being the Apostolic Throne of Jerusalem, although its Metropolitan Archbishop does not claim that title and is under the jurisdiction of the Throne of Alexandria.

==Gallery==
[http://st-takla.org/Gallery/Coptic-Holy-Synod/Holy-Synod_Al-Magma3-Al-Kokaddas_01.html A Gallery of the Coptic Holy Synod of Egypt (All Coptic Bishops)] '''(external link)'''

[http://www.theholysynod.copticpope.org/thumb.htm A Gallery of the Members of the Holy Synod of the Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria] In order of date of consecration in Arabic and English '''(external link)'''

=='''Primate and Pontiff'''==
'''Chairman of The Synod'''

1) His Holiness [[Shenouda III]] (Senouthius III)
*[[Patriarch of Alexandria|Pope and Lord Archbishop of the Great and Holy Metropolis of Alexandria]] (Rhakotis), that is in Alexandria and the metropolitan province of Greater Cairo comprising:
**Central Cairo and Heliopolis.
**El Mataria, Ain Shams and Ezbet El Nakhl
**Old Cairo (Babylon)
**East of the Railroad District in Cairo
**The Maadi District and Dar El Salam (Irininoupolis) in Cairo.
*[[Elder (religious)|Elder and Chief]] [[Metropolitan Archbishop]] of the Egyptian Province
*[[Primate (religion)|Primate]] of all Egypt, Pentapolis, Libya, Nubia and the Sudan.
*[[Patriarch of Alexandria|Patriarch of All Africa]] on the [[Mark the Evangelist|Holy Throne of St. Mark the Evangelist]], the [[Apostle|Holy Apostle]] and [[Martyr]].

=='''Metropolitans of the Throne'''==

2) His Eminence Mikhail (Michael), Elder Metropolitan of the Holy Metropolis of Asyut (Lycopolis), (Hieracon) and (Apollonopolis Parva) and Abbot of the [[Monastery of Saint Macarius the Great]], in Scetes, Lower Egypt.

3) His Eminence Abraham, Metropolitan of the Holy and Great City of Our Lord, Jerusalem, Holy Zion, Archbishop of the Holy Archdiocese of Jerusalem, All Palestine, Philadelphia of Jordan and All the Near East.

4) His Eminence Domadius (Dometius), Metropolitan of the Holy Metropolis of Giza (Memphis), (Busiris) and Atfih (Aphroditopolis).

5) His Eminence Pachomius, Metropolitan of the Holy Metropolis of Beheira (Thmuis and Hermopolis Parva), (Buto), Mariout (Mareotis), Marsa Matruh (Paraetonium), (Apis), Patriarchal Exarch of the Ancient [[Metropolis]] of Libya: (Livis, Marmarica, Darnis and Tripolitania) and Titular Metropolitan Archbishop of the Great and Ancient Metropolis of Pentapolis: (Cyrenaica), (Apollonia, Cyrenaica|Appollonia), (Ptolemais), (Berenice) and (Arsinoe).

6) His Eminence Pishoy (Pisoios), Metropolitan of the Holy Metropolis of Damietta (Thamiates), Kafr El Sheikh (Xois) and Belqas and General Secretary of the Holy Synod of the Throne.

7) His Eminence Marcos (Mark), Metropolitan of the Holy Metropolis of Toulon and All France, Primate of [[The French Coptic Orthodox Church]].

8) His Eminence Seraphim, Metropolitan of the Holy Metropolis of Glastonbury, and Primate of the [[British Orthodox Church]].

9) His Eminence Hedra, Metropolitan of the Holy Metropolis of Aswan (Syene and Elephantine) and (Kom Ombo) and Abbot of the Monastery of Saint Hedra.

10) His Eminence Wissa (Besa), Metropolitan of the Holy Metropolis of Al Balyanna (Abydos), Berdis, Awlad Tookh and its jurisdictions.

11) His Eminence Arsenius, Metropolitan of the Holy Metropolis of Al Minya (Theodosiopolis) and Abou Qurqas (Akoris) and (Hebenu).

=='''Bishops of the Throne'''==

12) His Grace Ammonius (Amon), Bishop of the Holy Diocese of Luxor (Karnak), Esna and Armant and Edfu (Thebes, Apollonopolis Parva, Maximianopolis, Latopolis, Hermonthis, Eileithyiaspolis and Apollonopolis Magna) (Relieved from Eparchial Shepherding).

13) His Grace Benyamin (Benjamin), Bishop of the Holy Diocese of Al Minufiyah (Prosopolis).

14) His Grace Pavnotius, Bishop of the Holy Diocese of Samallout & Taha El Aaameda.

15) His Grace Angelos, Bishop of the Holy Diocese of Al Sharqiyah (Fakus and Tanis) and 10th of Ramadan City.

16) His Grace Tadros (Theodoros), Bishop of the Holy Diocese of Port Said (Pelusium, Tahpanhes and Farama).

17) His Grace Ignatius, Bishop of the Holy Diocese of Suez (Clysma).

18) His Grace Yacobos (Jacob), Bishop of the Holy Diocese of Zaqaziq (Bubastis), (Busiris) and Menya Al Qamh (Sais)

19) His Grace Kyrillos (Cyril), Bishop of the Holy Diocese of Nag Hammâdi and Abu Tesht.

20) His Grace Boula (Paul), Bishop of the Holy Diocese of Tanta.

21) His Grace Morkos (Mark), Bishop of the Holy Diocese of Shubra el-Kheima.

22) His Grace Ashe’yia (Isaiah), Bishop of the Holy Diocese of Tahta & Guhena (Aphroditopolis and Hispis)

23) His Grace Fam, Bishop of the Holy Diocese of Tema.

24) His Grace Pissada, Bishop of the Holy Diocese of Akhmim (Panopolis), Saqualta and the Holy Monasteries of Mount Akhmim in Upper Egypt.

25) His Grace Andrawos (Andrew), Bishop of the Holy Diocese of Abu Tig, Sedfa & Ghanayem.

26) His Grace Missael, Bishop of the Holy Diocese of Birmingham, the Midlands and its Affiliated Regions, United Kingdom.

27) His Grace Abram, Bishop of the Holy Diocese of Al Fayyum (Crocodilopolis, Arsinoe) and Abbot of the Monastery of Archangel Gabriel in the Naqloun Mountain, Central Egypt.

28) His Grace Serapion, Bishop of the Holy Diocese of Los Angeles, Southern California and Hawaii, USA.

29) His Grace Demetrius, Bishop of the Holy Diocese of Mallawi, Ansena (Antinoopolis) and El Ashmunein ([[Hermopolis Magna]]).

30) His Grace Lukas (Luke), Bishop of the Holy Diocese of Abnoub and El Fatt’h.

31) His Grace Bakhoum (Pachomius), Bishop of the Holy Diocese of Sohag, El Mansha’a and El Maragha (Athribis and Ptolemais.

32) His Grace Barsoum (Parsoma), Bishop of the Holy Diocese of Dairout (Nekhen) and Sanabou (Hierancopolis).

33) His Grace Antonius (Anthony), Bishop of the Holy Diocese of Manfalout.

34) His Grace Picenti (Pisentios), Bishop of the Holy Diocese of Helwan and Al Maasara (Tura).

35) His Grace Kyrillos (Cyril), Bishop of the Holy Diocese of Milan and Northern Italy and Abbot of the Monastery of Saint Shenouda the Archimandrite in Milan.

36) His Grace Aghapius, Bishop the Holy Diocese of Deir Mouwas & Delga.

37) His Grace Thomas, Bishop of the Holy Diocese of El Quousseya & Mir.

38) His Grace Matthias, Bishop of the Holy Diocese of El-Mahalla El-Kubra and Samanoud (Sebennytos). (Resigned & Deposed)

39) His Grace Cheroubim (Cherubim), Bishop of the Holy Diocese of Qina, Qift (Coptos) and their jurisdictions.

40) His Grace Pimen, Bishop of the Holy Diocese of Naqada and Qous (Apollonopolis Parva).

41) His Grace Takla, Bishop of the Holy Diocese of Dishna and Dendera (Tentyra) and its jurisdictions.

42) His Grace Macarius, Bishop of the Eritrean Church in the USA. Member of the Eritrean Holy Synod.

43) His Grace Markos (Mark), Bishop of the Eritrean Church in the UK. Member of the Eritrean Holy Synod.

44) His Grace Theophilus, Bishop of the Holy Diocese of Hurghada, Kosseir and All the Red Sea (Apollonopolis), (Arsinoe), (Myos Hormos), (Philoteras) and (Berenice).

45) His Grace Maximus, Bishop of the Holy Diocese of Banha (Leontopolis) and Quouwaysena (Athribis).

46) His Grace Sarapamon (Serapis Amon), Bishop of the Holy Diocese of Atbara, Um Durman and All the North of the Sudan and Titular Bishop of the Great and Ancient Metropolis of Nubia: (Faras) of (Nobatia), (Dongola) of (Makuria) and (Soba) of (Alodia).

47) His Grace Antony, Bishop of the Holy Diocese of Ireland, Scotland and North East England, United Kingdom.

48) His Grace Damian, Bishop of the Holy Diocese of Höxter-Brenkenhausen, Kroeffelbach and All Germany and Abbot of the Monastery of Saint Anthony the Great in Kroeffelbach, Germany.

49) His Grace Youssef (Joseph), Bishop of the Holy Diocese of Southern United States and Abbot of the Monastery of Most Holy Virgin Mary & Saint Moses the Strong in Corpus Christi, Texas.

50) His Grace Barnaba, Bishop of the Holy Diocese of Torino and Southern Italy.

51) His Grace Suriel, Bishop of the Holy Diocese of Melbourne, Victoria (Australia), Tasmania, Australian Capital Territory, South Australia, Western Australia, New Zealand and All Oceania.

52) His Grace Gabriel, Bishop of the Holy Diocese of Beni Suef (Herakleopolis Magna) and El-Bahnasa (Oxyrhynchus).

53) His Grace Georgios (George), Bishop of the Holy Diocese of Matai and its jurisdictions.

54) His Grace Stephanos (Stephen), Bishop of the Holy Diocese of Beba, Samasta and El Fashn.

55) His Grace Gabriel, Bishop of the Holy Diocese of Vienna and all Austria.

56) His Grace Ilia (Elijah), Bishop of the Holy Diocese of Khartoum and All the South of the Sudan.

57) His Grace Seraphim, Bishop of the Holy Diocese of Ismailia (Heroonopolis) and (Pithom).

58) His Grace Apollo, Bishop of the Holy Diocese of El-Tor (Raithu), Sharm El Sheikh and All South Sinai.

59) His Grace Athanasius, Bishop of the Holy Diocese of Beni Mazar.

60) His Grace Aghathon, Bishop of the Holy Diocese of Maghagha and Edwa.

61) His Grace Kosman (Cosmas), Bishop of the Holy Diocese of El Arish (Rhinocorura), El Qantarah and All North Sinai.

62) His Grace Daniel, Bishop of the Holy Diocese of Sydney, New South Wales, Queensland, Northern Territory, Thailand, Singapore, Hong Kong, Japan and All East Asia.

63) His Grace Dawood (David), Bishop of the Holy Diocese of Mansoura (Leontopolis), (Lycopolis) and (Mendes) and Abbot of the Monastery of Saint George at Meit Demsis, Lower Egypt.

64) His Grace Aghathon, Bishop the Holy Diocese of Sao Paolo and All Brazil.

65) His Grace Youssef (Joseph), Bishop of the Holy Diocese of Santa Cruz and All Bolivia.

=='''Auxiliary Bishops of the Throne'''==

66) His Grace Athanasius, Auxiliary Bishop of the Holy Metropolis of Toulon and All France, Assistant to His Eminence Marcos, Primate of The French Coptic Orthodox Church.

67) His Grace Daniel, Auxiliary Bishop for Maadi District in Cairo, Assistant to His Holiness the Pope.

68) His Grace Raphael, Auxiliary Bishop for Central Cairo and Heliopolis, Assistant to His Holiness the Pope.

69) His Grace Tawadros (Theodorus), Auxiliary Bishop for the Holy Diocese of Beheira (Thmuis and Hermopolis Parva), assistant to His Eminence Pachomius.

70) His Grace Maximos (Maximus), Auxiliary Bishop for Dar El Salam (Irininoupolis) in Cairo, Assistant to His Holiness the Pope.

71) His Grace Silwanos (Silvanus), Auxiliary Bishop for Old Cairo (Babylon) and Assistant to His Holiness the Pope.

72) His Grace Timotheos (Timothy), Auxiliary Bishop for El Mataria, Ain Shams and Ezbet El Nakhl, Assistant to His Holiness the Pope.

73) His Grace Martyrus, Auxiliary Bishop for East of the Railroad District in Cairo, Assistant to His Holiness the Pope.

74) His Grace Macarius, Auxiliary Bishop for the Holy Metropolis of Al Minya, (Theodosiopolis) and Abou Qurqas, Assistant to His Eminence Arsenius.

=='''Exarchs of the Throne'''==

75) His Grace Antonius Markos (Anthony Mark), General Bishop for African Affairs and Patriarchal Exarch in West and South Africa.

76) His Grace Youhanna (John), General Bishop and Patriarchal Exarch in Cedar Grove, New Jersey, Archdiocese of North America.

77) His Grace Boules (Pavlos), General Bishop for Evangelism and Mission & Patriarchal Exarch in East and Central Africa.

78) His Grace David, General Bishop and Patriarchal Exarch in Cedar Grove, New Jersey, Archdiocese of North America.

79) His Grace Angaelos, General Bishop and Patriarchal Exarch for the Youth Ministry at the Patriarchal Center and the Coptic Orthodox Theological College at Stevenage, United Kingdom.

=='''Bishop Abbots of the Holy and Sacred Monasteries of the Throne'''==

80) His Grace Sarapamon (Serapis Amon), Bishop and Abbot of the Monastery of Saint Pishoy in Scetes, Lower Egypt.

81) His Grace Sawiros (Severus), Bishop and Abbot of the Monastery of the Most Holy Virgin Mary known as Al Muharraq Monastery, Upper Egypt.

82) His Grace Mattheos (Matthew), Bishop and Abbot of the Monastery of the Most Holy Virgin Mary known as the Syrian Monastery, in Scetes, Lower Egypt.

83) His Grace Basilius (Basil), Bishop and Abbot of the Monastery of Saint Samuel the Confessor, in El Qualamon Mountain, Upper Egypt.

84) His Grace Yustus (Justus), Bishop and Abbot of the Monastery of Saint Anthony the Great, in the Eastern Desert.

85) His Grace Isithoros (Isidore), Bishop & Abbot of the Monastery of the Most Holy Virgin Mary known as the Paromeos (Roman) Monastery, in Scetes, Lower Egypt.

86) His Grace Kyrillos (Cyril), Bishop & Abbot of the Monastery of Saint Mina, in the Desert of Mariut (Mareotis), Lower Egypt.

87) His Grace Mina, Bishop & Abbot of the Monastery of Saint George in El Khatatba, Central Egypt.

88) His Grace Daniel, Bishop & Abbot of the Monastery of Saint Paul the Anchorite, in the Eastern Desert.

=='''General Bishops of the Throne'''==

89) His Grace Ruweis, General Bishop.

90) His Grace Apakir (Apa Cyrrhus), General Bishop.

=='''General Bishops Administrators of the Bishoprics of the Throne'''==

91) His Grace Moussa (Moses), General Bishop, Administrator for the Bishopric of Youth Affairs.

92) His Grace Dioscorus, General Bishop, Administrator of the Patriarchal Print Shop.

=='''General Bishops Patriarchal Secretary'''==

93) His Grace Youannes (John), General Bishop, Patriarchal Secretary at the Patriarchal Residence in Cairo.

94) His Grace Boutros (Peter), General Bishop, Personal Secretary to H.H. at the Patriarchal Residence in Cairo and Administrator of Aghapy TV Channel.

95) His Grace Armiah (Jeremiah), General Bishop, Patriarchal Secretary at the Patriarchal Residence in Cairo.

=='''Chorbishop'''==

97) His Grace Isaac, Chori-Episcopus.

=='''Patriarchal Vicar for Alexandria'''==

98) The Very Reverend Hegumen Cheroubim the Pachomian, Grand Economos and Patriarchal Vicar in Alexandria.

=='''Vacant Metropolis/Diocese/Abbey'''==

1) His Eminence (Vacant), Metropolitan of the Holy Metropolis of Girga (Thinis).

2) His Grace (Vacant), Bishop of the Holy Diocese of Shebin El Quanater, Toukh & El Khanka.

3) His Grace (Vacant), Bishop and Abbot of the Monastery of Saint George in El Rozaiquat, Central Egypt.

4) His Grace (Vacant), Bishop and Abbot of the Monastery of Saint Anthony the Great in Barstow, California, United States. (Vacant after the death of the thrice blessed [[Bishop Karas]] in 2002)

5) His Grace (Vacant), Bishop of the Holy Diocese of El-Mahalla El-Kubra and Samanoud (Sebennytos).

6) His Grace (Vacant), Metropolitan of the Holy Metropolis of Toulon and all France; Primate of The French Coptic Orthodox Church. (Vacant after the death of Metropolitan Markos (Marcus) in 2008)

7) His Grace (Vacant), Bishop and Abbot of the Monastery of Saint Macarius the Great, in Scetes, Lower Egypt. (Vacant after the resignation of Metropolitan Mikhail from the Abbotship of the Monastery in 2009)

8) His Grace (Vacant), Auxiliary Bishop for the Suffragan Diocese of El Mataria, Ain Shams and Ezbet El Nakhl in the Holy Archdiocese of Cairo (Arcadia Ægypti), assistant to the Pope.

==References==
<references/>

==See also==
*[[Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria]]
*[[Coptic calendar]]
*[[Coptic iconography]]
*[[Coptic music]]
*[[Coptic Catholic Church]]
*[[Coptic Orthodox Church in the United Kingdom]]
*[[British Orthodox Church]]
*[[Coptic Orthodox Church in Australia]]
*[[Coptic Orthodox Church in Canada]]
*[[Coptic Orthodox Church in Europe]]
*[[Coptic Orthodox Church in the United States]]
*[[Coptic Orthodox Church in South America]]
*[[The French Coptic Orthodox Church]]
*[[Coptic Church in Wales]]
*[[Eastern Orthodoxy]]
*[[Church of Alexandria (Coptic)]]
*[[List of Coptic Orthodox Popes of Alexandria]]
*[[Oriental Orthodoxy]]
*[[Shenouda III (Gayyid) of Alexandria]]

==External link==
The Coptic Pope website
http://www.copticpope.org
*[http://st-takla.org/Gallery/Coptic-Holy-Synod/Holy-Synod_Al-Magma3-Al-Kokaddas_01.html Gallery of the Coptic Holy Synod of Egypt (All Coptic Bishops)]
*[http://www.coptipedia.com Coptic Documents of the Holy Synod in French]

==Source==
*http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Holy_Synod_of_the_Coptic_Orthodox_Patriarchate_of_Alexandria

[[Category:Non-Chalcedonian Bishops]]
[[Category:Jurisdictions]]
[[Category:Oriental Orthodox]]

Church of Alexandria (Coptic)

2009-12-14T10:19:20Z

Arbible: Reverted edits by Cmd (Talk); changed back to last version by Wsk

[[Image:ChristCopticArt.jpg|frame|Coptic icon of Christ]]
The '''Coptic Orthodox Church''' is the portion of the [[Church of Alexandria]] which broke from the Byzantine churches in the wake of the [[Fourth Ecumenical Council]] in [[Chalcedon]] in 451. Sharing a common heritage before with the Chalcedonian Church of Alexandria, it traces its origins to the [[Apostle Mark]]. The church is one of the [[Oriental Orthodoxy|Oriental Orthodox]] churches. Its leader is the Coptic Pope of Alexandria, currently [[Shenouda III (Gayyid) of Alexandria|Pope Shenouda III]]. The Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria cares for about 18 million Coptic Orthodox Christians in Egypt and abroad, besides being the Mother Church of both the Ethiopian and [[Church of Eritrea|Eritrean]] Orthodox Churches. More than 95% of the Christians of Egypt are Coptic Orthodox, but other "Patriarchates/Patriarchs of Alexandria" also exist (Coptic Catholic, Greek/Latin Catholic and Greek Orthodox - see 'Coptic Christianity Today' below), as well as small Protestant and Anglican denominations.
{{orientalchurches}}

The Coptic Church regards itself as having never believed in [[monophysitism]] the way it was portrayed in the Council of Chalcedon, but rather as having always believed in [[miaphysitism]] (a doctrine that [[Oriental Orthodox]] Churches regard as correct and orthodox). In that council, monophysitism meant believing in one nature of Jesus Christ. Copts believe that the Lord is perfect in his divinity, and he is perfect in his humanity, but his divinity and His humanity were united in one nature called "the nature of the incarnate Word," which was articulated by St. [[Cyril of Alexandria]]. Copts thus believe in two natures "human" and "divine" that are united in one "without mingling, without confusion, and without alteration" (from the declaration of faith at the end of the Coptic divine liturgy). These two natures "did not separate for a moment or the twinkling of an eye" (also from the declaration of faith at the end of the Coptic divine liturgy).

==History==
[[Image:CopticAltar.jpg|thumb|200px|right|A Coptic altar in Jerusalem]]
Egypt is often identified as the place of refuge that the [[The Holy Family in Egypt|Holy Family]] sought in its flight from Judea: "When he arose, he took the young Child and His mother by night and departed for Egypt, and was there until the death of Herod, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying, ''Out of Egypt I called My Son'' ([[Gospel of Matthew|Matthew]] 2:12-23). The Egyptian Church, which is now more than nineteen centuries old, was the subject of many prophecies in the [[Old Testament]]. [[Isaiah]] the prophet, in Chapter 19, Verse 19 says "In that day there will be an altar to the LORD in the midst of the land of Egypt, and a pillar to the LORD at its border."

The first Christians in Egypt were mainly Alexandrian Jews such as Theophilus, whom the [[Apostle Luke]] addresses in the introductory chapter of his [[Gospel of Luke|gospel]]. When the church was founded by [[Apostle Mark|Mark]] during the reign of the Roman emperor Nero, a great multitude of native Egyptians (as opposed to Greeks or Jews) embraced the Christian faith. Christianity spread throughout Egypt within half a century of Mark's arrival in Alexandria as is clear from the [[New Testament]] writings found in Bahnasa, in Middle Egypt, which date around the year 200 AD, and a fragment of the [[Gospel of John]], written in Coptic, which was found in Upper Egypt and can be dated to the first half of the second century. In the second century Christianity began to spread to the rural areas, and scriptures were translated into the local language, namely Coptic.

=== The Catechetical School of Alexandria ===
The [[Catechetical School of Alexandria]] is the oldest catechetical school in the world. Founded around 190 by the scholar Pantanaeus, the school of Alexandria became an important institution of religious learning, where students were taught by scholars such as [[Athenagoras of Athens|Athenagoras]], [[Clement of Alexandria|Clement]], [[Didymus the Blind|Didymus]], and the great [[Origen]], who was considered the father of theology and who was also active in the field of commentary and comparative Biblical studies. Origen wrote over 6,000 commentaries of the [[Bible]] in addition to his famous ''[[Hexapla]]''. Many scholars such as St. [[Jerome]] visited the school of Alexandria to exchange ideas and to communicate directly with its scholars. The scope of this school was not limited to theological subjects; science, mathematics and humanities were also taught there. The question and answer method of commentary began there, and 15 centuries before Braille, wood-carving techniques were in use there by blind scholars to read and write.

The Theological college of the catechetical school of Alexandria was re-established in 1893. The new school currently has campuses in Alexandria, Cairo, New Jersey, and Los Angeles, where Coptic priests-to-be and other qualified men and women are taught among other subjects Christian theology, history, Coptic language and art—including chanting, music, [[iconography]], and tapestry.

=== Monasticism and missionary work ===
In the third century, during the persecution of Decius, some Christians fled to the desert, and remained there to pray after the persecutions abated. This was the beginning of the [[monasticism|monastic movement]], which was reorganized by the saints [[Anthony the Great]] and [[Pachomius the Great|Pachomius]] in the 4th century. By the end of the century, there were hundreds of monasteries, and thousands of cells and caves scattered throughout the Egyptian hills. A number of these monasteries are still flourishing and have new vocations till this day.

Egyptian monasticism attracted the attention of Christians in other parts of the world, who visited Egypt, many bringing monastic ideas home with them, and spreading monasticism through the Christian world. St. [[Basil the Great]], organizer of the monastic movement in Asia Minor visited Egypt around AD 357 and his rule is followed by the eastern churches; St. Jerome, en route to Jerusalem, stopped in Egypt and left details of his experiences in his letters; St. [[Benedict of Nursia]] founded monasteries in the 6th century on the model of Pachomius, but in a stricter form.

===Council of Chalcedon===
[[Image:StMarkCathAlex.jpg|thumb|St Mark Coptic Cathedral in Alexandria]]
{{oriental}}

By the time the [[Fourth Ecumenical Council|Council of Chalcedon]] was called, politics had already started to intermingle with Church affairs. When the Emperor Marcianus interfered with matters of faith in the Church, the response of [[Pope Saint Dioscorus I of Alexandria (Coptic POV)|Dioscorus of Alexandria]] (the Pope of Alexandria who was later to be exiled) to this interference was clear: "You have nothing to do with the Church." It was at Chalcedon that the emperor would take his revenge for the Pope's frankness.

The Council of Chalcedon abandoned Cyrillian terminology and declared that Christ was one hypostasis in two natures. However, in the Nicene-Constantinopolitan Creed, "Christ was conceived of the Holy Spirit and of the Virgin Mary," thus the foundation according to non-Chalcedonians is made clear. In terms of Christology the Oriental understanding is that Christ is "One Nature--the Logos Incarnate," ''of'' the full humanity and full divinity. The Byzantine understanding is that Christ is ''in'' two natures, full humanity and full divinity. (Just as all of us are of our mother and father and not in our mother and father, so too is the nature of Christ. If Christ is in full humanity and in full divinity, then He is separate in two persons as the [[Nestorianism|Nestorians]] teach. Imagine your nature in your mother and your father; you are then two different people. If however your nature is of your mother and your father, then you are one person [http://www.geocities.com/mfignatius/others/byzantine01.html].) This is the linguistic difference which separated the Orientals from the Byzantines.

The Council's finding were rejected by many of the Christians on the fringes of the Byzantine Empire: Egyptians, Syrians, Armenians, and others. From that point onward, Alexandria would have two patriarchs: the "[[Melkite]]" or Imperial Patriarch, now officially known by the Egyptian State as the Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Alexandria and all Africa [http://www.greekorthodox-alexandria.org/], and the non-Chalcedonian national Egyptian one, now known as the Coptic Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria and Apostolic See of St. Mark. Almost the entire Egyptian population rejected the terms of the Council of Chalcedon and remained faithful to the national Egyptian Church (now known as the Coptic Church). Those who supported the Chalcedonian definition remained in [[full communion|communion]] with the other leading churches of the Roman Empire. The non-Chalcedonian party became what is today called the [[Oriental Orthodoxy|Oriental Orthodox Church]].

The Coptic Church regards herself as having been misunderstood at the Council of Chalcedon. Some Copts believe that perhaps the Council understood the Church correctly, but wanted to exile the Church, to isolate her and to abolish the Egyptian, independent Pope, who maintained that Church and State should remain separate. The Coptic Church regarded that the ousting of Pope Dioscorus of Alexandria in the council of Chalcedon was in part due to the rivalry between the Bishops of Alexandria and Rome. The Tome of Pope Leo of Rome was considered influenced by Nestorian philosophy. It is important to note that Pope Dioscorus of Alexandria was never labeled as heretic by the council's canons. Copts also believe that the Pope of Alexandria was forcibly prevented from attending the third congregation of the council in which he was ousted, which apparently was a result of the conspiracy tailored by the Roman delegates. For further info, please refer to [http://www.romanity.org/htm/rom.06.en.orthodox_and_oriental_orthodox_consultation.htm this key paper] on the subject by Professor Fr. [[John S. Romanides]], a prominent Greek Orthodox scholar.

Before the current positive era of Eastern and Oriental Orthodox dialogues, Chalcedonians sometimes used to call the non-Chalcedonians "[[Monophysitism|monophysites]]", though the Coptic Church denies that she teaches monophysitism, which she has always regarded as a heresy. They have sometimes called the Chalcedonian group "[[Dyophysitism|dyophysites]]". A term that comes closer to Coptic doctrine is "[[Miaphysitism|miaphysite]]" [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miaphysitism], which refers to a conjoined nature for Christ, both human and divine, united indivisibly in the Incarnate Logos. The Coptic Church believes that Christ is perfect in His divinity, and He is perfect in His humanity, but His divinity and His humanity were united in one nature called "the nature of the incarnate word", which was reiterated by [[Cyril of Alexandria|Saint Cyril of Alexandria]]. Copts, thus, believe in two natures "human" and "divine" that are united in one hypostasis ''without mingling, without confusion, and without alteration''. These two natures ''did not separate for a moment or the twinkling of an eye'' (Coptic Liturgy of Saint Basil of Caesarea).

Copts suffered under the rule of the Byzantine [[Eastern Roman Empire]]. The Melkite Patriarchs, appointed by the emperors as both spiritual leaders and civil governors, massacred the Egyptian population whom they considered heretics. Many Egyptians were tortured and martyred to accept the terms of Chalcedon, but Egyptians remained loyal to the faith of their fathers and to the Cyrillian view of [[Christology]]. One of the most renowned Egyptian saints of that period is Saint [[Samuel the Confessor]].

===The Arab conquest of Egypt===
The [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_early_Arab_Egypt#The_Arab_Conquest_of_Egypt Arab conquest of Egypt] took place in AD 641. Although the Imperial forces resisted the Arab army under Amr ibn al-As, the majority of the civilian population, having suffered persecution for the differing Christian beliefs, were less hostile; in some cases they welcomed their new masters. Considered "People of the Book", Christians were allowed to practice their religion, under the restrictions of the [[Islam]]ic Shari'a law. This protection stemmed in part from a Hadith of Muhammad (whose Egyptian wife had been the only one to bear a male child) that advised "When you conquer Egypt, be kind to the Copts for they are your proteges and kith and kin" and in part from a need to have capable administrators.

Despite the political upheaval, Egypt remained a predominently Christian land, although gradual conversions to Islam over the centuries had the effect of changing Egypt from a predominantly Christian to a predominantly Muslim country by the end of the 12th century. This process was sped along by persecutions during and following the reign of the mad Fatimid caliph Al-Hakim bi-Amr Allah (reigned AD 996-1021) and the Crusades, and also by the acceptance of Arabic as a liturgical language by the Pope of Alexandria, Gabriel ibn-Turaik.

===From the 19th century to the 1952 revolution===
The position of the Copts began to improve early in the 19th century under the stability and tolerance of Muhammad Ali's dynasty. The Coptic community ceased to be regarded by the state as an administrative unit and, by 1855, the main mark of Copts' inferiority, the ''Jizya'' tax, was lifted. Shortly thereafter, Christians started to serve in the Egyptian army. The 1919 revolution in Egypt, the first grassroots display of Egyptian identity in centuries, stands as a witness to the homogeneity of Egypt's modern society with both its Muslim and Christian components. However, recently (2005-2006) Christians have unfortunately been persecuted in various parts of Egypt.

==Coptic Christianity today==
[[Image:Coptic festival.jpg|thumb|450px|left|Coptic Festival in Upper Egypt.]]
The current Coptic Orthodox Patriarch of Alexandria is Pope [[Shenouda III (Gayyid) of Alexandria|Shenouda III]]. There is a small [[Coptic Catholic Church]] ([[Eastern Rite Catholic]]) established in the 19th century and headed by a Patriarch of Alexandria in communion with the Pope of Rome. The [[Melkite Greek Catholic Church]] has little presence in Egypt, but is headed by a Patriarch of Alexandria, Antioch and Jerusalem.

By some accounts there are about 60 million Coptic Orthodox Christians in the world: they are found primarily in Egypt (roughly 15 million), Ethiopia (roughly 38 million [http://www2.wcc-coe.org/pressreleasesen.nsf/index/pr-05-55.html]), and Eritrea (roughly 2 million), but there are significant numbers in North America, Europe, Australia, Sudan and Israel, and in diaspora throughout the world making approximately another 3 to 4 million. However, as applied to the [[Church of Ethiopia|Tewahedo Church of Ethiopia]], which in 1959 was granted her first own Patriarch by Coptic Pope [[Cyril VI (Atta) of Alexandria|Cyril VI of Alexandria]], the word ''Coptic'' can be considered a misnomer because it means ''Egyptian''. The [[Church of Eritrea|Eritrean Orthodox Church]] similarly became independent of the Tewahedo Church during the 1990s. These three churches remain in [[full communion]] with each other and with the other [[Oriental Orthodoxy|Oriental Orthodox]] churches.

Since the 1980s theologians from the the Oriental Orthodox and Chalcedonian Orthodox churches have been meeting in a bid to resolve the theological differences, and have concluded that many of the differences are caused by the two groups using different terminology to describe the same thing (see [[Agreed Official Statements on Christology with the Catholic and Eastern Orthodox Churches]]). In the summer of 2001, the Coptic Orthodox and Greek Orthodox Patriarchates of Alexandria [[Pastoral Agreement between the Coptic Orthodox and Greek Orthodox Patriarchates of Alexandria (2001)|agreed]] to mutually recognize baptisms performed in each other's churches, making rebaptisms unnecessary, and to recognize the sacrament of marriage as celebrated by the other. Previously, if a Coptic and Greek wanted to marry, the marriage had to be performed twice, once in each church, for it to be recognized by both. Now it can be done in only one church and be recognized by both.

In the Coptic Church only men may be ordained, and they must be married before they are ordained, if they wish to be married. In this respect they follow the same practices as does the [[Orthodox Church|Eastern Orthodox Church]].

Traditionally, the Coptic language [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coptic_language] was used in church services, and the scriptures were written in the Coptic alphabet [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coptic_alphabet]. However, due to the Arabisation of Egypt, service in churches started to witness increased use of Arabic, while preaching is done entirely in Arabic. Native languages are used, in conjunction with Coptic, during services outside of Egypt.

The Coptic Orthodox Church has her own, unique purely religious/liturgical music and chants [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coptic_music], [http://tasbeha.org/mp3.html], [http://www.saintmina-holmdel.org/Multimedia/index.php], [http://www.coptichymns.org/index.php?module=hymns&func=catview] (some are also used by Coptic Catholics).

Following their own church calendar ([[Coptic Calendar]]), Coptic Christians celebrate [[Christmas]] on the [[January 7|7th of January]] which, since 2002, is an official national holiday in Egypt. The Coptic calendar is the calendar of martyrs. Coptic years are counted from 284 AD, the year Diocletian became Roman Emperor, whose reign was marked by tortures and mass executions of Christians, especially in Egypt. Hence, the Coptic year is identified by the abbreviation AM (for ''Anno Martyrum'' or "Year of the Martyrs").

The Coptic Orthodox Church also has her own distinguished Coptic art [http://www.coptic.net/articles/CopticArtOfEgypt.txt], [http://www.copticmuseum.gov.eg/English/internal/gallery.asp]; iconography [http://www.coptic.net/articles/CopticIcons.txt], [http://www.theotokos.org/CopticIcons/IconGallery.htm], [http://www.copticmuseum.gov.eg/English/internal/gallery_pieces.asp?section_id=1]; and architecture [http://www.copticarchitecture.com/], [http://www.coptic.net/articles/OldCairoCopticChurches.txt].

==Some Coptic saints==
'''''Note:''' Some of these are not saints on the Chalcedonian calendar.''

* [[Abanoub]]
* [[Abdel Messih El-Makari]]
* [[Abraam Bishop of Fayoum]] الأنبا إبرآم أسقف الفيوم
* [[Andrews (Ibrahim) the Samuelite]]
* [[Anthony the Great]] القديس الأنبا أنطونيوس أب الرهبان
* [[Athanasius of Alexandria|Athanasius the Apostolic]] البابا أثناسيوس الرسولي
* [[Bishoy]]
* [[Bishoy Kamel]]
* [[Cyril of Alexandria]] القديس البابا كيرلس السكندري عامود الدين
* [[Cyril VI (Atta) of Alexandria]] قداسة البابا كيرلس السادس
* [[Demiana]] الشهيدة دميانة
* [[Didymus the Blind]] القديس ديديموس الضرير
* [[Pope Saint Dioscorus I of Alexandria (Coptic POV)|Dioscorus I]] البابا ديسقوروس
* [[Macarius the Great]]
* [[Mary of Egypt]] القديسة مريم المصرية
* [[Maurice]] القديس موريس قائد الكتيبة الطيبية
* [[Mikhail Ibrahim]]
* [[Menas|Mina]] الشهيد مارمينا العجايبي
*[[Moses the Black]] القديس موسى الأسود
* [[Mina (Rizk) AvaMina]]
* [[Pachomius the Father of Coenobitic Monasticism|Pakhom]] القديس باخوم أب الشركة
* [[Barsoum El-Erian|Parsoma (Barsoum El-Erian)]] الأنبا برسوم العريان
* [[Paulus the First Hermit|Paul the Anchorite]]
* [[Philopatyr Mercurius]]
*[[Samuel the Confessor]]
*[[Shenouda the Archimandrite|Shenoute the Archimandrite]]
*[[Simon the Shoemaker]]
*[[Takla Haymanot of Ethiopia|Takla Haymanot]] القديس الأنبا تكلا هيمانوت الحبشي القس
*[[Tigy]]
*[[Verena]] القديسة فيرينا

==See also==
*[[List of Coptic Popes]]
*[[:Category:Coptic interpretations of the Fourth Ecumenical Council]]
*[[Heritage of the Coptic Orthodox Church]]

==Source==
* Portions of this article taken from [[Wikipedia:Coptic Christianity]]

==External links==
* [http://www.CopticPope.org Official Website of the Coptic Pope]
* '''Video - Christianity in Egypt and the History of Coptic Monasticism:'''
**[http://www.copticchurch.org/Video/CopticHistory/Christianity%20in%20Egypt.avi Christianity in Egypt];
**[http://www.copticchurch.org/Video/CopticHistory/Types%20of%20Monasteries.avi Three Kinds of Monasticism];
**The Monastery of El-Moharrak: [http://www.copticchurch.org/Video/CopticHistory/Egypt%20General%20Stills.avi Vol.1], [http://www.copticchurch.org/Video/CopticHistory/El%20Maharek.avi Vol.2], [http://www.copticchurch.org/Video/CopticHistory/Pope.avi Vol.3];
**The History of Monasticism (St. Anthony): [http://www.copticchurch.org/Video/CopticHistory/St%20Anthony.avi Vol.1], [http://www.copticchurch.org/Video/CopticHistory/St%20Anthony's%20Cave.avi Vol.2];
**[http://www.copticchurch.org/Video/CopticHistory/St%20Bishoy.avi St. Bishoy's Monastery];
**[http://www.copticchurch.org/Video/CopticHistory/St%20Makarious.avi St. Makarious' Monastery];
**[http://www.copticchurch.org/Video/CopticHistory/St%20Mina.avi St. Mina's Monastery]
* [http://www.touregypt.net/featurestories/copticchristians.htm An Overview of the Coptic Christians of Egypt by Lara Iskander and Jimmy Dunn]
* [http://www.coptichymns.net coptichymns.net] ''The hub of the Coptic Media Network''
* [http://www.copticheritage.org copticheritage.org] ''The Official Website of the Heritage of the Coptic Orthodox Church''
* [http://st-takla.org/Links/Coptic-links-1.html Links to ALL Coptic sites]
* [http://www.zeitun-eg.org Holy Virgin Mary Apparitions over the domes of Her Coptic Orthodox Church in Zeitun, Cairo, Egypt, 1968 - seen by millions]
* [http://www.zeitun-eg.net/stcyril6/ The late Pope Kyrillos VI (Cyril the Sixth), 116th Pope of Alexandria and See of St. Mark (Coptic Orthodox Patriarch, 1959-1971)]
* [http://www.stmina-monastery.org St. Mina (Menas) Coptic Orthodox Monastery in Mariut, near Alexandria, Egypt]
* [http://www.coptic.net/EncyclopediaCoptica/ Encyclopedia Coptica: The Christian Coptic Orthodox Church Of Egypt]
* [http://www.copticchurch.net/topics/pope/ HH Pope Shenouda III: Biography and Writings]
* [http://st-takla.org/Coptic-church-1.html Coptic Church History at www.St-Takla.org]
* [http://www.copticchurch.net More Information on the Coptic Church, its Beliefs, Practices, and Liturgical Life]
* [http://www.coptic.net CoptNet - The Christian Coptic Orthodox Church Of Egypt]
* [http://www.france-copte.net Réseau des Coptes en France]
* [http://tasbeha.org Ancient Hymns of the Coptic Orthodox Church]
* [http://www.coptichymns.net Coptic Hymns]
* [http://online.mq.edu.au/pub/AHPG856/coptic_mq.html The MA Program in Coptic Studies at Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia]
* [http://www.france-copte.net France-copte.net Coptic Website in France, Autor Mikhail David]
* [http://www.copticmidlanddiocese.co.uk Official Website of Coptic Orthodox Diocese in the Midlands & Affiliated Regions U.K.]

==Bibliography==
* [http://aucpress.com/cgi-aucpress/auc02/pager.cgi?catno=757_4 ''Two Thousand Years of Coptic Christianity'' by Dr. Otto F. A. Meinardus (368 pages - Cairo: AUC Press, 2002)]
* [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0965239608/002-6112676-3430426 ''Traditional Egyptian Christianity: A History of the Coptic Orthodox Church'' by Rev. Fr. Prof. Theodore H. Partrick (226 pages - Fisher Park Press, 1996)]
* [http://www.stmina-monastery.org/ButcherEL/ ''Story of the Church of Egypt'' - by Edith L Butcher (1897)]
* [http://groups.yahoo.com/group/arbible/message/25832 Selected Bibliography about Coptic Christianity]

[[Category:Oriental Orthodox|Alexandria]]
[[Category:Jurisdictions|Alexandria (Coptic)]]

Talk:Orthodox Study Bible

2009-12-07T23:38:31Z

Arbible: /* Dead links */

== Creating a list of translation errors ==

I would like to suggest that we create a list of translation errors in the OSB, not to slam the project, but to compile a list of things needing correction in a subsequent edition. I would limit it to substantive errors, in which the text is either clearly wrong, omits something that it should, or includes something that it should not... and I would suggest dividing it into those three categories. What do ya'll think? By the way, the edition I just got in the mail fixed all but one of the orginal errata of the first batch. [[User:Frjohnwhiteford|Frjohnwhiteford]] 23:53, June 12, 2008 (UTC)

A good idea. I was surprised that the new edition didn't fix Psalm 22(23). It still has "my cup overflows" as in the MT. --[[User:Fr Lev|Fr Lev]] 00:21, June 13, 2008 (UTC)

== Dead links ==

The lxx.org domain seems to have a Chinese owner now. I don't know what should be done with the links to the project, though -- just delete them? --[[User:Symeon|RdrSymeon]] 23:19, December 7, 2009 (UTC)

::Thank you. Fixed using archived copies. http://web.archive.org/web/20080708162039/http://www.lxx.org/ --[[User:Arbible|Arbible]] 23:38, December 7, 2009 (UTC)

Orthodox Study Bible

2009-12-07T23:37:11Z

Arbible: /* Reference */ lxx - archived (fix)

[[Image:Orthodox Study Bible.jpg|right|thumb|200px|The ''Orthodox Study Bible'': "Discovering Orthodox Christianity in the Pages of the New Testament"]]
The '''''Orthodox Study Bible''''' is a translation and annotation of the [[Bible]] currently in production by [[clergy]] and [[laity]] within the Orthodox Church. The text of the [[New Testament]] and [[Psalms]] translation is currently the [[w:New King James Version|New King James Version]] accompanied by Orthodox viewpoint commentary. The [[Old Testament]] in the new edition, was translated from the [[Septuagint]]{{ref|1}} using the New King James Version as the template, and is accompanied by Orthodox viewpoint commentary.

==Versions==
The first version, containing the Psalms and the New Testament, was published in 1993 by [[w:Thomas Nelson (publisher)|Thomas Nelson]]. It is currently being published by [[Conciliar Press]].

[[Image:Orthodox Study Bible cover.jpg|right|thumb|200px|The ''Orthodox Study Bible'': "Ancient Christianity Speaks to Today's World"]]
The Old and New Testaments edition, subtitled "Ancient Christianity Speaks to Today's World" came out in February of 2008. It includes a new translation of the Psalms by Dr. Donald Sheehan of Dartmouth College.

==Criticism==
Despite positive endorsements{{ref|2}} by such prominent bishops as [[Metropolitan]] [[Maximos (Aghiorgoussis) of Pittsburgh|Maximos of Pittsburgh]] (a general editor) and Metropolitan [[Philip (Saliba) of New York|Philip of New York]] (Chairman of the Board of Directors), some commentators have been critical of the results of the project that have been published so far. Critics tend to be concerned both with the version chosen (NKJV) and with the overall approach of the commentators. A review by [[Archimandrite]] [[Ephrem (Lash)]], printed in the journal ''Sourozh'' stated that the commentary "feels far too much like a piece of evangelical propaganda decked out in the trappings of Orthodoxy."{{ref|3}} It remains to be seen how future publications of the project will address these criticisms.

== Contributors ==
The ''Orthodox Study Bible'' was the result of a collaboration between numerous Orthodox scholars, clergy and lay leaders. The initial draft was prepared by the academic community of St. Athanasius Orthodox Academy. Some of the credited contributors of the ''Orthodox Study Bible'' project include:

* Project Director - Fr. [[Peter Gillquist]]
* Managing Editor - Mr. Alan Wallerstedt
* Special Consultant - Fr. [[Thomas Hopko]]

==General Editors==
* Joseph Allen, Th.D.
* Michael Najim, Ph.D.
* Fr. Jack N. Sparks
* Fr. Theodore Stylianopoulos, Th.D.

==Editions==
*New Testament and Psalms (hardbound): ISBN 9780840783912
*New Testament and Psalms (paperback): ISBN 9780718000301
*Full-length (hardcover): ISBN 9780718003593
*Full-length (bonded leather): ISBN 9780718019082

==Reference==
*{{note|1}} [http://web.archive.org/web/20080708162039/http://www.lxx.org/ Orthodox Study Bible: Old Testament Project]
*{{note|2}} [http://web.archive.org/web/20080324005159/http://www.lxx.org/heirarch_quotes.htm What North American Hierarchs have said...]
*{{note|3}} [http://www.anastasis.org.uk/bible_review.htm Archim. Ephrem's review] in ''Sourozh''

== External links ==
*[[w:Orthodox Study Bible|''Orthodox Study Bible'' on Wikipedia]]
*[http://orthodoxstudybible.com The Official Conciliar Press Orthodox Study Bible site] - full version

*[http://www.peterpapoutsis.com Holy Orthodox Bible - Peter Papoutsis]
*[http://www.orthodox-church.info/eob EOB: The Eastern / Greek Orthodox Bible]
*[http://audio.ancientfaith.com/interviews/osb_pc.mp3 Podcast Interview with Fr. Peter Gilquist, giving an update on the OSB]
*[http://orthodoxstudybible.blogspot.com/ Reviews of the complete Orthodox Study Bible]
*[http://www.geocities.com/r_grant_jones/Rick/Septuagint/sp_OSB_notes1.htm Notes on the Orthodox Study Bible] - thorough critical review by a Greek scholar

[[Category:Book Reviews]]
[[Category:Scripture]]
[[Category:Texts]]

Holy Synod of Coptic Orthodox Church

2009-12-07T10:22:51Z

Arbible: Reverted edits by Orthodox1 (Talk); changed back to last version by Haniyac58

Apollinaris of Ravenna

2009-12-06T16:49:48Z

Arbible:

The Holy [[hieromartyr]] '''Apollinaris of Ravenna''' was the first [[Bishop]] of [[Ravenna]] during the apostolic times first century. His [[feast day]] is [[July 20]].

==Life==
Apollinaris was a native of Antioch who accompanied the [[Apostle Peter]] to Rome and was sent by him to Ravenna. <ref>''Liber Pontificalis'', ap. Muratori, ''Rer. It. Script''. ii. part i.</ref> Apollinaris was well read in Greek and Latin. In Ravenna his teaching and miracles brought hostile attention to him, resulting in his being persecuted and driven from the city by the pagans. Remaining in the vicinity of Ravenna he continued to evangelize until he again was compelled to flee.

After being expelled, Apollinaris journeyed to Dalmatia, Pannonia, Thrace, and Corinth where he preached for three years. He then returned to Ravenna to preach, perform miracles, and suffer further persecutions. He was [[martyr]]ed during the rule of Vespasian on July 23, in the year 78, after an episcopate of 28 years. He died in the port town of Classis, where he was buried.

==Reference==
<references/>

{{start box}}
{{succession|
before=—|
title=Bishop of Ravenna|
years= 50-78|
after= Aderitus}}
{{end box}}

==Sources==
*[http://www.ccel.org/ccel/wace/biodict.html?term=Apollinaris,+St.+and+Mart Apollinaris, Saint and Martyr]
*[http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/01616a.htm Cath Enc: St. Apollinaris ]

==External link==
*[[wikipedia:Apollinaris_of_Ravenna]]

[[Category: Saints]]
[[Category: Bishop]]
[[Category: Martyrs]]

Apollinaris of Ravenna

2009-12-06T16:49:28Z

Arbible: