14 hours ago
Nine principles for nine new bishops
On 1 June 2025, the Feast of the Entry of the Holy Family into Egypt, Pope Tawadros completed the consecration of eight new bishops, and installed one on Coptic dioceses and monasteries in need of pastoral care, some because their previous bishops passed away.
Three dioceses in place of one
The consecration ceremony began during incense Vespers service on Saturday 31 May, and was complete during Mass on Sunday 1 June—the Mass celebrating the Holy Family Feast—at St Mark's Cathedral in Abassiya, Cairo.
The Pope announced that the Diocese of Beheira, Matrouh, and the Five Western Cities (Pentapolis), whose previous Metropolitan Anba Pachomius passed away on 30 March 2025 following 54 years of service, would be divided into three separate dioceses: The Diocese of Beheira and its affiliated regions, the Diocese of Burg al-Arab and Amriya, and the Diocese of Matrouh and the the Five Western Cities.
During his lifetime, Metropolitan Pachomius had founded and headed the Monastery of Saint Macarious the Alexandrite in Gabal (Mount) al-Qalali in Beheira; the Pope installed a new Abbot there.
Calling them by name
The consecration rite started with a procession of the candidates for episcopacy marching among the congregation, for the public to become familiar with them. The episcopal vow was then read, following which Pope Tawadros completed the installation of Anba Ilarion as Bishop of Beheira and its affiliated regions. The Pope said of Anba Ilarion: 'He has been a general bishop for ten years, serving in Cairo and Alexandria. He is well known for his ecclesiastical and spiritual leadership.'
The Pope and the attending metropolitans and bishops then blessed the episcopal vestments of the new bishops in the name of the Holy Trinity, and he formally announced the names and titles of the eight new bishops:
Fr Ghabrial al-Muharraqi was named Anba Pachomius, Bishop and Abbot of the Monastery of Saint Macarius the Alexandrite in Gabal al-Qalali.
Fr Andrawes al-Suriani became Anba Karass, Bishop of Matrouh and the Five Western Cities.
Fr Theophan Ava Mina was called Anba Mina, Bishop of the Diocese of Burg al-Arab and Amriya.
Fr Danial El-Georgy became Anba Boqtor, Bishop of the Diocese of Deir Muwwas and Dalga in Minya, succeeding Anba Aghapius who passed away in February 2025.
Fr Dioscorus al-Antouny was called Bishop Dioscorus of Southern Germany and Abbot of the Monastery of Saint Anthony in Kröffelbach, in place of Bishop Mishael who passed away in August 2023.
Fr Ologious al-Baramosi became Bishop-General for the Churches in Ain Shams, Matariyya, and Helmiyet al-Zeitoun in Cairo, under the name Bishop Ologius.
Fr Yakobos Anba Bishoy was made Bishop-General for the Churches in Hadayeq al-Qubba, al-Wayli, Abassiya, and Manshiyet al-Sadr, under the name Bishop Athanasius.
Fr Ignatius al- Suriani was made Assistant Bishop to Metropolitan Sharobeem of the Diocese of Qena, under the name of Bishop Ignatius.
Nominated and examined
Participating in the prayers were 102 metropolitans and bishops, the General Deputies of the Patriarchates in Cairo and Alexandria, and a number of monks from the monasteries of Saint Anthony in Kröffelbach and Saint Macarius the Alexandrite in Gabal al-Qalali, as well as members of the clergy and congregation from the various dioceses and monasteries receiving the new bishops.
Pope Tawadros said: 'This is indeed a joyful day… Recently, we lost the blessed bishops: Metropolitan Pachomius, Bishop Aghapius, and Bishop Mishael. In order to find candidates to fill their places, we held meetings and consultations with clergy councils and asked the abbots of monasteries to nominate two monks from each monastery. With prayer, we received several nominations.
'The Secretariat of the Holy Synod interviewed the nominees and conducted spiritual, ecclesiastical, psychological, and social assessments. After consensus was reached on specific names, I met with them, we talked and discussed the regions most suitable for them to serve in according to their abilities.
'We then sent the draft list to the Holy Synod members to share their feedback within three days. The final official list was announced two weeks ago. After that, the nominees attended a five-day course in Church management conducted by the team from the Coptic Institute for Church Administration and Development (COPTICAD)'.
Extension to the Apostles
The following day, Sunday 1 June the Feast of the Entry of the Holy Family into Egypt, the consecration and installation rite was completed during Mass, with participation of 110 metropolitans and bishops.
Once the Praxis was read, the procession of the eight new bishops entered the cathedral to the deacon choir's joyous chant 'Ti Galeeli Aa' of the Holy Family Feast. The congregation cheered and ululated in joy.
Pope Tawadros laid his hands on the new bishops in a rite signifying the transfer of spiritual authority and the calling of the Holy Spirit. He explained that episcopal ordination takes place following the reading of the day's chapter from the Praxis, the book that cites the lives of the saints and martyrs, in confirmation that the work of new bishops is an extension of that of the apostles who Jesus sent to preach the word; the ordination of priests, on the other hand, takes place following the Prayer of Reconciliation, given that they primarily act as men of prayer and intercession for the congregation.
The Pope then called each of the new bishops by his episcopal name three times, blessing them in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, while the metropolitans and bishops laid their hands on them.
Nine principles
In the Mass sermon, the Pope chose to speak of nine principles the new bishops should follow, and not only them but all bishops, priests, monks and the laity.
First, he said, is that Christ is the owner and leader of the Church; 'we are compliant tools in His hands.
'Second: the bishop is ordained for the people; he must be perpetually present among them.
'Third: Humbleness is the protector of the gift of grace you received. The episcopacy is the crown jewel of clerical work. But in the Church, we do not believe in upward elevation, the uppermost position is when we bow down and wash feet. Only then will you feel how small you are before God's abundant gifts that work through your humbleness.
'Fourth: Never ignore your spiritual life, because if you lose yourself you lose everything. Never forget that you are first and foremost a monk [who had given up the world for the love of Christ. Don't let your new responsibilities drag you away from God.
'Fifth: Fill your congregation with spiritual, ecclesiastical, social and mental nourishment. Our people call us Abouna, literally Father; they are the reason this Church has flourished throughout centuries, they expect of us to help them to be full. Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for Christ, for they shall be filled.
'Sixth: Walk away from the love of money. It is a deadly sin, 'No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. 'You cannot serve both God and money'(Matt 6: 24). Money is only a means of service, and God sends it to His people.
'Seventh: Do not talk of wizardry, dreams, devil's magic, or suchlike. Not in your sermons, nor in reply to questions.
'Eighth: Know that God does everything in its perfect timing. Don't be impatient, it will only make you weary.
'Ninth: 'Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world.' (James 1: 27). Let your door be always open to the needy, and guard yourself from the evils in this world.'
Receiving the staff
Once Mass was over, the new bishops marched in a procession in the church to the Resurrection hymn 'Christos Anesti' and back to Pope Tawadros to be handed by him the staff of the episcopacy.
Watani International
4 June 2025 Comments
comments
