Coptic Orthodox Church Prepares to Nominate New Pope

The Coptic Orthodox Church has released the names of clerical and lay participants in a special ecclesiastical assembly to nominate a successor to the recently reposed Pope Shenouda III (al-Suriani) of Alexandria. The release of the list is the first step towards the convening of the assembly, which will nominate three candidates for inclusion in the drawing of lots to chose the next Coptic Orthodox patriarch.

The Church also recently announced that it will not have representatives at the annual iftaar (a dinner breaking the Ramadan fast) this year due to its continued mourning of Pope Shenouda's falling asleep. More here.

In Memoriam: Pope Shenouda III of Alexandria

Our father Pope Shenouda III (al-Suriani) of Alexandria has fallen asleep in the Lord at the age of eighty-eight. Born the eighth child of a devout Upper Egyptian family in 1923, the future successor of St. Mark became involved as a youth in the life of the Church, and particularly in the Sunday School movement. He later studied history and theology in Cairo before retreating to the desert of Scetis in 1954 to join the 'Syrian Monastery' of the Mother of God, where he was tonsured with the name Anthony.

In 1962 Pope Cyril VI the Wonderworker consecrated Fr. Anthony to the episcopacy with the name of Shenouda and appointed him dean of the Coptic Orthodox theological seminary in Cairo. Under Bishop Shenouda's guidance the size of the Seminary's student body tripled, and when Pope Cyril VI reposed in 1971 Bishop Shenouda was elected to succeed him as head of the Coptic Orthodox Church.

During Pope Shenouda's forty-one year papacy the Coptic Orthodox Church grew both in Africa and in the Egyptian Diaspora, with numerous new churches and dioceses being established throughout the world. Like his predecessor St. Athanasius, Pope Shenouda was exiled to the desert for his protests against policies of the state in Egypt and throughout his life advocated for the rights of his flock in the country.

After months of illness due to old age Pope Shenouda reposed peacefully in Cairo this past Saturday at the age of eighty-eight. In accordance with his last wishes he is to be buried in the Monastery of St. Paisius (or Bishoy) in Wadi al-Natrun. More on Pope Shenouda's life, as well as some of his sermons, may be found here. May his memory be eternal!

Pope Shenouda Bans Political Campaigning in Churches

Pope Shenouda III (al-Suriani) of Alexandria has banned candidates for Parliament from campaigning in Egypt's Coptic Orthodox churches, calling on the country's Copts who are running for Parliament not to use religious slogans in their campaigns or otherwise mix religion and politics. More here.

Pope Shenouda, Supreme Military Council Meet

Pope Shenouda III (a-Suriani) of Alexandria has met with the members of the Supreme Council of the Egyptian Armed Forces, which currently rules the country, to discuss the repurcussions of the 9 October incident in Cairo that resulted in the deaths of 27 Copts. Prior to Monday's meeting Pope Shenouda and a representative of the Supreme Council reportedly discussed the incident, Copts' demands for a new constitution, and the transitional government's efforts to promote national unity in the wake of the deaths. More here.

Pope Shenouda to Visit Martyrs' Families

Pope Shenouda III (al-Suriani) of Alexandria will be visiting the families of the victims of Egypt's 'Blood Sunday,' the 9 October clashes that resulted in the deaths of 27 Copts. The Coptic Orthodox Church intends to provide aid to those of the families in need of economic assistance because of their connection to the Bloody Sunday martyrs. More here.

Fast Called for Victims of Cairo Clashes

Pope Shenouda III (al-Suriani) of Alexandria has called a fast tomorrow (Tuesday) through Thursday/Friday to mourn the victims of the recent clashes in Cairo and for the peace of Egypt's Copts and the nation as a whole. Please join in the fast as you're able - we are witnessing a pivotal time in Egyptian history and next month's elections could change the lives of Egypt's Orthodox Christians greatly, for better or for worse.

Coptic Orthodox Pope Returns to Cairo

Pope Sehnouda III (al-Suriani) of the Coptic Orthodox Church has returned to Cairo from his latest three-week visit to the United States for medical care. More here.

First Coptic Orthodox Church in Hungary Consecrated

Pope Shenouda III (al-Suriani) of Alexandria has consecrated the first Coptic Orthodox church in Hungary in the country's capital, Budapest. The consecration came a day after national celebrations of the founding of the Hungarian state which the Coptic Orthodox pope participated in at the invitation of the Hungarian government. More here.

Pope Shenouda Preaches Weekly Sermon, Prepares for Visits to the USA and Hungary

Taking rumors of his death lightly, during his weekly Wednesday sermon Pope Shenouda III (al-Suriani) of Alexandria told those present that he "came from the other world" because he missed his flock. The Coptic Orthodox pope will travel to Hungary next week to consecrate that country's first Coptic Orthodox church and then make a brief trip to the United States for medical checkups. More here.

Coptic Orthodox Church Denies Pope Gravely Ill or Deceased

The Coptic Orthodox Church is denying rumors spread last night that Pope Shenouda III (al-Suriani) of Alexandria is gravely ill and had reposed during the night, saying that he will be giving his weekly sermon at St. Mark's Cathedral in Abbasiya, Cairo, this Wednesday as usual. More here.

Pope Shenouda Cancels Annual National Unity Iftar

It is being reported, although not yet officially, that Pope Shenouda III (al-Suriani) of the Coptic Orthodox Church has canceled the national unity iftar (breaking of the fast) usually hosted by the pope at the end of Ramadan. The iftar is reportedly being canceled so that the meal's cost can go to help needy Egyptians. More here.

Pope Shenouda Orders Investigation into Divorce Demands

Pope Shenouda III (al-Suriani) of the Coptic Orthodox Church is having the demands of pro-divorce, pro-remarriage demonstrators in Cairo investigated to discern whether they should in fact have been allowed to divorce by the Church due to their individual situations. (Currently, only a change in faith or adultery are causes for the Church to grant a couple divorce.) More here.

Pope Shenouda Confirms Church's Commitment to Dialogue Between Egypt and Ethiopia

Pope Shenouda III (al-Suriani) of Alexandria has met with the newly appointed Egyptian ambassador to Ethiopia and again expressed his hope that the Coptic and Ethiopian Orthodox Churches can play a role in bringing about rapproachment between Egypt and Ethiopia over the redistribution of the Nile River's waters to provide for both the countries' water needs. More here.

Pope Shenouda Meets with Former Arab League Leader in Cairo

Former head of the Arab League and Egyptian presidential candidate Amr Moussa has visited Pope Shenouda III (al-Suriani) of the Coptic Orthodox Church at the Cathedral of St. Mark in Abbasiya, Cairo. During their meeting the two discussed ongoing political developments in Egypt and the need for a new constitution that would protect the rights of all of Egypt's citizens. More here.

Pope Shenouda Meets with Head of Military Council

Pope Shenouda III (al-Suriani) of Alexandria and the head of the military council ruling Egypt, Hussein Tantawi, met yesterday to discuss a draft law that would change regulations regarding the construction of new places of worship and the internal financial management of religious organizations as well as a proposed law that would criminalize discrimination on religious grounds. More here.

Pope Shenouda Returns from Medical Checkups

Pope Shenouda III (al-Suriani) of the Coptic Orthodox Church has returned to Egypt from his most recent round of medical checkups in the United States. More here.

Pope Shenouda in USA for Medical Tests, Not Protests

A spokesman of the Coptic Orthodox Holy Synod has denied rumors that Pope Shenouda III (al-Suriani) is in the United States to protest political developments in Egypt. Pope Shenouda traveled to the USA at the end of May for a round of medical examinations and recently announced an extension of his stay to finish additional tests requested by his doctors. More here.

Coptic Orthodox Holy Synod Meeting Cancelled

The annual session of the full Holy Synod of the Coptic Orthodox Church has been cancelled due to Pope Shenouda's unexpected return to the USA for medical treatment. More here.

Pope Shenouda Returns to USA for Medical Care

The Coptic Orthodox Church's 88-year old Pope Shenouda III (al-Suriani) has returned to the United States for medical treatment. More here.

Coptic, Ethiopian Orthodox Churches Discuss Relations

Pope Shenouda III (al-Suriani) of Alexandria has met with a delegation from the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahido Church to discuss relations between the latter and the Coptic Orthodox Church as well as recent developments in Egyptian and Ethiopian relations generally. More here.