H.H. Pope Tawadros II has lead the funeral Service of H.G. Bishop Karas, General Bishop of Mahala El Kobra today at 12:00 pm.
H.G. Bishop Karas has departed to the Lord in the hope of resurrection on the evening of the day before yesterday after a short struggle with illness at the age of 63, having spent 38 years in the monastic life, 8 years of which he served as General Bishop for the Diocese of El Mahala El Kobra.
The prayers were held in the Grand Cathedral of Saint Mark in Abbasia, where 39 members of the Holy Synod participated in the service together with the priests of the Diocese of El Mahala El Kobra, and a huge crowd of the Diocese congregation, alongside with all the people who loved the departed meek bishop amidst tight Covid 19 restrictions.
The Holy Liturgy was prayed in the Cathedral before the funeral Service. The Holy Liturgy was lead by His Grace Anba Bemen Bishop of Neqada and Qus, he was accompanied by H.G. Bishop Danial, Bishop of Maadi and the Holy Synod Secretary, Bishop Timothaous, Bishop of Zagazig and Menia El Kameh, Bishop Salib, Bishop of Mit Ghamr, Dakados and Bilad El Sharquiah, Bishop Marcos, Bishop of Damietta, Kafr El Sheikh and El Barrari and Bishop Bigol, Bishop & Abbot of St. Mary Muharraq Monastery, accompanied by several priests.
H.G. Bishop Danial, The Holy Synod Secretary, made a speech thanking all who participated in the prayers, with a special thanks to His Eminence, the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar Doctor Ahmed El Tayeb who sent Doctor Mohammed El Ameer the Deputy Head of Al-Azhar University to attend the service. Also, He thanked the leaders in El Gharbeya Governorate for their condolences.
The prayers were concluded with a very touching speech by His Holiness, Pope Tawadros II where His Holiness mourned the departed Bishop, describing him as an honest servant, a pious monk and a venerable Bishop, pointing that he spent his monastic and his episcopal life with love and humbleness that was evident in all his deeds. His words were simple and deeply touching to everyone who heard him.
His Holiness started his words with two verses:”Blessed is the man whom thou choosest, and causest to approach unto thee, that he may dwell in thy courts” (psalm 65: 4) and”For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.” (James 4: 14)
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