The Coptic Church’s Social Role

The 9th Seminar for Holy Synod Members was hold on “The Coptic Church’s Social Role” from Wednesday, November 16th to Saturday, November 19th, 2022 at the LOGOS Center at the Papal Residence at St. Bishoy’s Monastery, in the presence and patronage of His Holiness Pope Tawadros II, Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of the See of St. Mark, Bishop Danial (Maadi), Holy Synod Secretary and the presence of 116 of Holy Synod Members.

His Holiness Pope Tawadros II started the Ninth Seminar of the Holy Synod. The Seminar discussed “The Coptic Church’s Social Role”.

His Holiness delivered a lecture during the opening session which was attended by a hundred and five members of the Holy Synod.

On Saturday November 19, 2022, His Holiness Patriarch Mor Ignatius Aphrem II visited the land of the Church at the Baptismal site on the Jordan River.

Their Eminences Archbishops: Mor Anthimos Jack Yakoub, Patriarchal Vicar for Youth Affairs and Christian Education, and Patriarchal Delegate to the Archdiocese of Jerusalem, Jordan, and the Holy Lands, and Mor Joseph Bali, Patriarchal Secretary and Media Office Director, accompanied His Holiness as well as the parish priest and the committee of the Church project.

“Jesus Our King is different than the kings of the world…
When we bow our heads in reverence, we find Him washing our feet”

– Mgr. Rafiq Nahra, Patriarchal Vicar for Israel

NAZARETH – Saturday morning, on November 19th, 2022, Christian youth of all ages gathered from all over Galilee at the Salesian School (Don Bosco) in Nazareth to partake in the first meeting held for all the Christian movements of the Parishes of the Latin Patriarchate in Galilee. The event, which was organized by Fr. Ramez Twal, General chaplain of the Youth in Galilee, marked the celebration of the Feast of Jesus Christ the King, celebrated by the Church on the last Sunday of the liturgical year.

On November 18, 2022, His Holiness Patriarch Mor Ignatius Aphrem II, Patriarch of Antioch and All the East and Supreme Head of the Universal Syriac Orthodox Church, celebrated the Holy Qurobo at Mor Aphrem Church in Amman – Jordan.

Their Eminences Archbishops: Mor Anthimos Jack Yakoub, Patriarchal Vicar for Youth Affairs and Christian Education, and Patriarchal Delegate to the Archdiocese of Jerusalem, Jordan, and the Holy Lands, and Mor Joseph Bali, Patriarchal Secretary and Media Office Director, assisted His Holiness in the Holy Qurobo.

At noon on Thursday, November 4/17, 2022, the Leaders of the Local Churches of Jerusalem welcomed to a reception and a meal Her Excellency the President of Hungary Mrs Katalin Novák in the guest house of the Anglican Church in Jerusalem, which is led by the Most Reverend Hassam Naum. Mrs Katalin Novák was accompanied by the Minister of Foreign Affairs and the Minister of Defense and the Ambassador of Hungary in Ramallah, Mr Csaba Rada.

At this reception, His Beatitude Patriarch Theophilos III, Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Jerusalem, spoke on behalf of the Heads of the Churches through the following address in English:

The Coptic Orthodox Church celebrated on Friday 18 November 2022, the 10th anniversary of the Enthronement of His Holiness Pope Tawadros II on the Seat of St Mark the Apostle.

His Holiness prayed the Liturgy Friday’s morning in the Transfiguration Church at Logos Papal Centre, Wadi El Natroun, Egypt, with the company of the Metropolitans, Bishops and the Patriarchal Vicars of Cairo and Alexandria and the members of the Holy Synod who are attending the Seminar at Logos Papal Centre.

On Thursday 17 November 2022, the members of the Holy Synod celebrated the anniversary of His Holiness Pope Tawadros II Enthronement after the evening session…

During an ecumenical prayer, people of many faiths gathered during COP27 to confess, lament, and express hope for the future.

Gathering under the theme “O Lord, look at the workmanship of your hands,” the prayer was hosted by the Coptic Orthodox Patriarchate, Diocese of South Sinai, and Coptic Orthodox Cathedral of the Heavenly Hosts Sharm el-Sheikh.

“Gathered together in an ecumenical prayer, we raise it together for the sake of the world and all creatures and every living soul on the face of the earth,” read the opening to the prayer. “O Creator of all, I thank you because from the abundance of your love you left the universe to be a refuge for all.”

Speaking at the COP27 summit in Sharm El Sheikh, His Eminence Archbishop Nicolas Thevenin, Apostolic Nuncio in Egypt, urges a renewed model of development and sustainability based on care, fraternity, and cooperation.

By Amedeo Lomonaco

"The Holy See’s Delegation" to the COP27 summit “would like to underline two values which should orient our work in this remaining week: urgency and responsibility for concrete and far-sighted actions to face the climate crisis, which affect too many people, especially the poorest and the most vulnerable", said His Eminence Archbishop Nicolas Thevenin, Apostolic Nuncio to Egypt and delegate of the Holy See to the League of Arab States.

On November 17, 2022, His Holiness Patriarch Mor Ignatius Aphrem II, Patriarch of Antioch and All the East and Supreme Head of the Universal Syriac Orthodox Church, met the president and members of the Syriac Charity Association in Amman, at Mor Aphrem Church in Amman – Jordan.

Their Eminences Archbishops: Mor Anthimos Jack Yakoub, Patriarchal Vicar for Youth Affairs and Christian Education, and Patriarchal Delegate to the Archdiocese of Jerusalem, Jordan, and the Holy Lands, and Mor Joseph Bali, Patriarchal Secretary and Media Office Director, attended the meeting.

On the occasion of the beginning of the Christmas fast, the Antiochian Orthodox Media Center affiliated to the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Antioch and All the East, republished the first episode of the series of videos “The incarnation and Deification of Man”, which was published in 2019 on the Patriarchate's Facebook page. The series includes Homilies in Arabic for His Beatitude Patriarch John X, Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Antioch and All the East.

The Conference of Secretaries of Christian World Communions held its yearly meeting from November 7th to the 11th, 2022. This was the first meeting to occur in-person since the last gathering in 2019. Participants gathered from around the globe in Vancouver, Canada, and were hosted by the Pentecostal World Fellowship.

The Ecumenical officers of each respective Church family and communion shared their reports and updates. V. Rev. Fr. Hrant Tahanian participated on behalf of the Armenian Church, Holy See of Cilicia. Our Church’s report was offered to the members of the conference, detailing our Ecumenical initiatives and challenges, as well as future endeavors. It also highlighted the current status of the dialogues and Ecumenical conversations held between the Oriental Orthodox Family and other communions.

On Wednesday, November 3/16, 2022, the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem celebrated the feast of the glorious great martyr George the Trophy-bearer in Lydda, Palestine, at his holy church and tomb.

On this day, the Church does not celebrate the memory of his martyrdom, which took place in Rome under Diocletian, but the memory of the repatriation, that is, the transfer of his relics from Rome to Lydda, his mother’s hometown, in accordance with his command to his servant before his martyrdom.

The holy relic was indeed brought back and buried in Lydda. When in the meantime piety shone forth, Saint Helen built a temple around the Saint’s tomb and its consecration took place. Today, on the 3rd of November, the Church celebrates the feast of the transfer of the relics and the consecration of the Church in Lydda, while his martyrdom is celebrated on the 23rd of April.

At the celebration in honour of this event, His Beatitude Patriarch Theophilos III, Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Jerusalem, officiated the Divine Liturgy…

At noon on Sunday, October 31/ November 13, 2022, His Beatitude Patriarch Theophilos III, Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Jerusalem, made a pastoral visit to the Arabic-speaking Greek Orthodox Community in the city of Beit Jala, Palestine.

First of all, His Beatitude Patriarch Theophilos III visited the building belonging to the Hegoumen of the Monastery, which in the past was used as an Elementary School and now has been renovated with the sponsorship of the Palestinian Authority, to function as a kindergarten and as a space for the catechetical school.

Affiliated to St. George’s & St. Abram’s Church, Heliopolis in New Cairo

On November 12, 2022, His Holiness Pope Tawadros II, Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of the See of St. Mark. inaugurated the “Lotus Conference House” in Orabi area in Obour City, Egypt. The conference house is affiliated to the St. George’s and St. Abraam’s Church in Helioplis, New Cairo.

Fr. Sergius Sergius, Deputy of the Patriarchate in Cairo and the Church’s Priest attended the inauguration along with the Priests of the Church and the members of its committee.

A Clerical Celebration of the 10th Anniversary of the Pope

His Holiness Pope Tawadros II, Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of the See of St. Mark. congregate with the clergy of Alexandria, on the afternoon of Thursday 10 November 2022, at the theatre in the Papal Centre in St. Mark’s Cathedral in Alexandria, with the presence of H.G. Bishop Bavly, General Bishop of Montazah, H.G. Bishop Elarion, General Bishop of West Alexandria, H.G. Bishop Hermina, General Bishop of East Alexandria and Father Abraam Emil, deputy of the Patriarchate in Alexandria.

The clergy celebrated the 10th anniversary of His Holiness Pope Tawadros II’s Enthronement. The celebration started with a musical called “The Well”. Just as Joseph came out of an empty well and was set over all the land of Egypt, and as the Samaritan woman who went out from where the well that was filled with water was to preach, that is how His Holiness came out as leader, patient, wise father and teacher.

Climate Responsibility for 100 Years of Activities

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It is the world’s richest countries that emit the most greenhouse gases, but it is the world’s poorest who pay the biggest price. To help those who struggle the most, we must think innovatively.

“In DanChurchAid we are firsthand witnesses to how climate change displaces and causes food insecurity for millions of people worldwide. For us, the obvious thing is to set an example and to pioneer new standards of climate responsibility.

You can find the condolences message of His Beatitude Patriarch Pierbattista Pizzaballa, Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, for the passing of His Beatitude Archbishop of Cyprus Chrysostomos II.

On Monday, November 7th, 2022, His Holiness Catholicos Aram I, Catholicos of the Armenian Church, Holy See of Cilicia, extended a condolence letter to the Holy Synod of the Cyprus’ Greek Orthodox Church over the passing of His Beatitude Archbishop Chrysostomos II, head of the church.

In his letter, His Holiness Catholicos Aram I states that the late Archbishop Chrysostomos II has served the church remarkably on every level, and has led his congregation with grace and courage.

On the morning of Monday, October 25 / November 7, 2022, the Blessed Archbishop of Cyprus Chrysostomos II passed away after a long illness.

Thus, His Beatitude Patriarch Theophilos III, Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Jerusalem, sent the following letter of condolence to the Church of Cyprus:

To His Eminence the Metropolitan Georgios of Paphos, governor of the Holy Archdiocese of Cyprus, beloved brother in the Lord and co-minister of Our Mediocrity, holy greetings in Christ Jesus.

Through Our Patriarchal brotherly Letter we express the deep condolences of the Church of Jerusalem and Mother of Churches, as well as Our personal ones, to the brotherly Autocephalous Church of Cyprus, and to your quite beloved Eminence, for the departure in the Lord of the blessed Shepherd of the great island of Cyprus Chrysostomos II, our brother and co-minister…

His Holiness Pope Francis recalls the late Orthodox Archbishop of Cyprus, who passed away on November 7, as a man of dialogue and a lover of peace.

By Lisa Zengarini

During the Wednesday General Audience, His Holiness Pope Francis turned his thoughts to the Cypriot people mourning the death of His Beatitude Chrysostomos II.

The late Orthodox Archbishop, who had been leading the Church of Cyprus since 2006, passed away on Monday morning at the age of 81 in his residence in Nicosia due to cancer.