| Coptic Orthodox Church to Point the Way to New Pope Body of Coptic Christian Pope Shenouda III lies in state at St Marks cathedral in Cairo as worshippers walk past to pay their final respects (File photo: Laurence Underhill) The commission overseeing the election of the new Patriarch of the Coptic Church will disclose the list of voters who will participate in the election of the new pope on Monday 23 July. The list will consist of 2,594 names and will be published in three national newspapers. The assembly of voters will consist of both clergy of various ranks and laity across all dioceses throughout Egypt and the rest of the globe. These voters include 12 voters from each Coptic diocese, Christian members of the press, clergy with certain roles within the Church, and current and former Christian government officials. The names will be displayed at the Cathedral until August 6 for the public to examine. From the following day until 20 August the door will be open for any appeals in the case of any objections to any of the names by the general public. An assembled committee will then spend an estimated two weeks considering submitted appeals. The current pool of nominees is made up of 17 monks and bishops, selected by members of the Holy Synod. A minimum of five and a maximum of seven nominees will be selected from this pool and after that the appointed electoral assembly will narrow the nominees to a final three. After a special liturgy, a lot is cast among the final three and a child randomly selects a name. The newly-elected pope will be the 118 th Patriarch of the Coptic Church, succeeding the late Pope Shenouda III who held the position for 40 years. Following the Pope’s death, Bishop Pachomius was selected as acting patriarch and will hand the seat over to whoever is elected. Nominees include Metropolitan Bishoy of Damiette, former secretary to the Pope Bishop Youannes, and Bishop Rafael, auxiliary bishop of central Cairo and Heliopolis. The Bishop Pachomius also extended greetings for the Holy Month of Ramadan to President Morsy, Field Marshall Tantawi, Dr. Ahmed el-Tayyeb of Al Azhar, and the Grand Mufti Dr. Ali Gomaa on behalf of the Church as acting patriarch, as did Egypt’s Catholic and Protestant Churches. |
| Husband and Wife Who Converted to Christianity Shot by Muslim Family Members August 31, 2015 A Pakistani man and his wife who converted to Christianity were severely persecuted and shot by family members. The couple, Aleem and Nadia Masih, had gotten married about a year ago after Nadia converted to Christianity from Islam. Nadia’s Muslim family continually threatened the couple so that they fled Lahore, Pakistan and began traveling to a town called Narang Mandi, about 37 miles from Lahore, according to the Christian Post. Nadia’s father and brothers pursued the couple as they traveled to Narang Mandi, overtaking them on the road. Nadia’s family was so enraged that she had married a Christian and recanted her Muslim faith that they kidnapped the couple and took them to a farm where they brutally beat and kicked them before shooting them. Aleem was shot three times, once in the ankle, the ribs, and the face. Nadia was shot in the abdomen. Nadia’s father and brothers left the farm, believing they had killed both Aleem and Nadia and avenged their shame due to the couples’ conversion to Christianity. Nadia, however, was not dead. Nadia’s brother, Azhar, presented himself to the police, admitting to having killed his sister and her husband. When the police went to the farm to investigate they found Nadia still alive. Nadia has been taken to a hospital where she is battling for her life. Honor violence is widespread among Muslims whose family members convert to Christianity, as killing a Christian is seen as killing an “infidel,” which will secure a Muslim’s place in paradise and avenge the shame of having an infidel in the family. Nadia’s father and brothers have not been arrested, although the Masih family has filed an official police report on the violence. 31 августа 2015 г. Смотри также Комментарии Мы в соцсетях Подпишитесь на нашу рассылку |
| Islamic universities of Tunisia, Egypt transform into Wahabi floor - All-Russian Muslim Board Moscow, February 7, 2011 The latest events in Tunisia and Egypt exposed a serious problem of the Islamic world: religious universities in these countries have stopped training clerics of moderate Islam and transformed into a Wahabi floor, member of the All-Russian Muslim Board Executive Committee Muhammedgali Huzin told Interfax-Religion on Monday. " Countries with traditional Islam have developed a radicalization trend. Egypt is an illustrative example, " he said. It is still believed that the Al-Azhar University is training traditional clerics, he said. " However, the entire teaching process in that university has been controlled by the Wahabis for many years, and nearly all the foreign students fall under their influence, " the mufti said. Graduates of the " classic " university " are carrying " pure Islam " and fight " heretics " and federal servicemen in the North Caucasus, " he said. The mufti fears that the " color " revolutions in the Islamic world will give a boost to radical Islamic forces and become " a catalyst of multi-vector aggression. " Interfax - Religion 13 февраля 2011 г. ... Комментарии Мы в соцсетях Подпишитесь на нашу рассылку |
| Many moderate and liberal Muslims attended the cathedral’s funeral service and others were quick to come the next day after to show their solidarity and denounce Mursi and the Brotherhood. “The attack is unacceptable to me,” said Ahmed Sharif, a Muslim. “For me, the Coptic Cathedral is a symbol of Egypt like al-Azhar,” he said, referring to the highest Muslim authority. Sidhom, the Coptic editor, said that while some Christians might be planning to leave the vast majority would stay to confront the Brotherhood in upcoming parliamentary elections. “I am one of those who want to stay and fight back,” he said. In last June’s presidential poll, many Copts voted for Mubarak’s last premier, Ahmed Shafiq, who came a close second. Many now hope moderate Muslims fed up with queues at fuel stations, power cuts and a rise in crime will turn against the Brotherhood at the polls, which could take place in October. But their hopes could be dashed if the weak and fragmented opposition fails to unite or sticks to threats of a boycott. “I feel frustrated (with the liberal opposition),” Sidhom said. “I hope that… they would wisely reconsider their position and take steps to participate in the elections.” RADICAL If the Muslim Brotherhood and more radical Salafist parties gain the upper hand, some church activists have few illusions that their youth will also become more radical. Some Copts are ready to resort to violence. A Reuters reporter saw two young men with guns and a crate of petrol bombs on the roof of the cathedral during the clashes. A day after the clashes, the mood was still tense at the cathedral compound which also houses a theological institute, a nuns’ home and a tailor for religious vestments. Officials kept the doors closed – not just for protection but also to stop angry young Copts arriving as rumors of more violence swirled around. “We want to get in,” shouted a group of young men, banging at the door. Some showed cross tattoos on their hands but a guard told them: “Nobody is allowed in today.” |
| Orthodox faith in jeopardy in Middle East - Metropolitan Hilarion Moscow, June 20, 2011 The Moscow Patriarchate has expressed concerns about the situation of Orthodox Churches in the Middle East. " The escalation of Christianophobia in some countries of the Middle East may lead to serious consequences for the Orthodox faith, jeopardizing the life of parishioners of old local Churches and depriving them of their rights, " head of the Synodal Department for External Church Relations Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk said in an interview with Interfax-Religion. Metropolitan Hilarion expressed great concerns about the safety of Christian holy places in the Middle East. " If the governments of the Middle Eastern countries do not take special measures to protect Christians, we will soon see another wave of their emigration, " Metropolitan Hilarion said. He reiterated that " extremism under Islamic slogans should by no means be identified with Islam, which preaches tolerance between members of different religions. " " I have recently become convinced about that again when I met with the rector, faculty and students of Al-Azhar University, one of the largest Islamic universities in the world. Among the goals of this Egyptian university is to educate young Muslims in the spirit of tolerance, " Metropolitan Hilarion said. Interfax - Religion 24 июня 2011 г. ... Комментарии Мы в соцсетях Подпишитесь на нашу рассылку |
| The speech of Rev. Paul Feghali built on this point. Feghali, in his lecture about the identity of Jesus in Pauline Theology, showed how Christ was the Lord Kyrios who is God’s icon for the gentiles and the Son of God who is the revelation of God who is Yahweh for Jews. Jesus is the revelation of Truth. Because he is God in flesh swma. The message from this day is clear; all Christendom confesses that Jesus is the Word of God, and He is the way. In the presence of al-Azhar (the highest Islamic religious foundation in Egypt) Sheikhs, different denominations and people of the parish, there was a voice calling for declaring that Christ is the Alpha and Omega, the beginning of Christian message and its goal. Ecumenical dialogue and cooperation is an Orthodox Christian duty, there is no compromise coming out of a reciprocal agreement on common basis. Declaring it in a Muslim majority region is a crucial issue. Coexistence and cooperation doesn’t require any kind of compromise or change but it glorifies confessional mission and witness to the church’s own faith. How beautiful it was to see the first day as a feast where people gathered around Christ, the bridegroom and the Lord of the house. It set the tone for the remaining days of the Convention as one of dialogue, which offered a place for scholars from Greece and Lebanon, as well as politicians, to speak about the role of the church and its message, preserved in the word of God which is “for every age”. To be continued … Code for blog Since you are here… …we do have a small request. More and more people visit Orthodoxy and the World website. However, resources for editorial are scarce. In comparison to some mass media, we do not make paid subscription. It is our deepest belief that preaching Christ for money is wrong. Having said that, Pravmir provides daily articles from an autonomous news service, weekly wall newspaper for churches, lectorium, photos, videos, hosting and servers. Editors and translators work together towards one goal: to make our four websites possible - Pravmir.ru, Neinvalid.ru, Matrony.ru and Pravmir.com. Therefore our request for help is understandable. |
| This faith draws you closer to your fellow man. He gives it in the end to his fellow man, to the poor and needy, so that he can eat meat when he had not been able to. So there is no religion and no humanitarian principle that accepts what is happening, especially, unfortunately, under the banner of religion. This is rejected by Muslims and Christians. As a result of blind extremism, we have started using the word “moderates”. Afterwards, events will have forced upon us a whole new dictionary. In any case, we cooperate, meet and stay in contact with each other, with the Grand Mufti Ahmad Badreddin Hassoun, to whom we are bound by brotherhood. His house is our house and our house is his house. We are one with our brothers, the virtuous and tolerant Islamic scholars, even in the Arab world, such as the Grand Sheikh of al-Azhar and all those in whom there is God’s law, any person in whom his conscience and God’s law is at work. Everyone rejects extremism, as believers in the Lord in Syria and the region. However, it has become clear that politics is what is behind these extremisms, not religion. We hope that people will open their hearts to God and be guided by Him. We hope that when a person holds a sword, says “Allahu Akbar” and slaughters his brother like he would slaughter a chicken, he knows where he is and where he is headed. Many conferences and meetings have been held in Syria, Lebanon and elsewhere and we have participated in some of them, on the local, regional or international level. We always leave with the agreement of everyone without exception, Muslim and Christian, that in order for one to renounce extremism and not accept it, one must hear the voice of truth and the truth must be said and this position must be declared to states and international organizations. There has been more than one conference at the World Council of Churches in Geneva. These conferences did not have a political character. They were humanitarian and churchly meetings that adopt human rights. |
| You agree then with Pope Francis, who recently had a get-together with the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar and said, “The meeting is the message?” I undoubtedly agree with that in this case, and it’s certainly been the conviction of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, which has worked to realize this dream for 100 years. The idea is to move together in the church. The Greek work for a council is “synodos,” meaning being on the same journey; and the first step to be on the same journey is to take a step together. The entire structure of the Orthodox Church is founded on the principle of conciliarity. Without it, something may look like an Orthodox church and may hold to certain Orthodox doctrines and practices, but it’s not Orthodox. It’s only in council that the Orthodox Church is true to its identity, faithful to what it’s supposed to be. It’s also important to remember that the time after the council will be just as crucial as the event itself, because it’s the period of reception. No rule or structure in the Orthodox Church comes from the top down. It’s the conscience of the faithful, the Church itself at large, which is the ultimate protector and guarantor of Orthodox truth and doctrine. You’re involved in ecumenical dialogue with the Catholic Church. Does Pope Francis bring something special to it? I think what Pope Francis brings to the table, which parallels the theological interests of our Patriarch, is a more human face. He understands our two churches can bring much more to the world together in terms of offering hope to the suffering people. By offering a joint voice to a world that’s divided and in pain, we can be much more effective and positive. When Francis and Bartholomew recently met on [the Greek island of] Lesbos, it was hugely significant and symbolical. There are so many refugees there who literally risk their lives trying to get to civilization and freedom, and their presence there together threw a huge spotlight on the crisis, offering an ethical reminder of how we should be responding. |
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