The Holy Synod organised a ceremony of the Enthronement of H.H. at St Mark’s Cathedral, Abbaseya.
The Ceremony had a title of “From Generation To Generation” where it aimed at featuring the growth of the Church over the last 60 years, since the Enthronement of H.H. Pope Kirollos VI, then H.H. Pope Shenouda III, then the last ten years after the Enthronement of H.H. Pope Tawadros until today.
H.H. commenced the ceremony by the inauguration if the New Administrative Headquarters, where H.H. unveiled the plaque that dates the opening date of the building. This was followed by a presentation of a documentary about the stages of building and establishing the building.
After the opening, H.H. and the procession headed to the Cathedral’s courtyard, where 16 choir groups from different dioceses presented hymns. Then H.H. took a memorial picture with the choir members.
Then a choir of deacons chanted hymns at the front of the procession of H.H. heading to St Rewise’s Theatre building where H.H. inaugurated the Picture Exhibition that documents the works of the three Popes. Then the Pope’s procession entered the Theatre to continue on with the celebrations which included a speech of H.G. Bishop Daniel, Bishop of Maadi and Secretary of the Holy Synod, on behalf of the Holy Synod. This was followed by a documentary “From Generation To Generation” and another documentary named “The Church’s Patriotism” , in addition to a presentation on the most important initiatives launched or participated in by the Church over the past years, and a brief about Logos Youth Forums.
Then two youth had a interview with His Holiness , during which they addressed questions that varied between personal and pastoral questions. They also asked His Holiness to send messages to a number of ranks in the Church.
H.H. concludes the ceremony with a speech, in which H.H. expressed his thanks for the attendance, and then spoke of his thoughts during the period of his selection for the Patriarchate.
H.H. preceded it by talking about a spiritual approach that had the greatest impact on his life, consisting of the two words “ok will do,” a symbol of obedience and submission to the fathers, which His Holiness said that he learned through serving in the church, and “I have sinned,” an acknowledgment and apologizing for a mistake, which His Holiness learned in monastic life as well.
H.H. spoke about the verse that his late father of confession (Late Bishop Serapion) “All things were made through Hi, and without Him nothing was made that was made.” (John 1:3), which H.H. has made as a motto in his life.
H.H. mentioned about the days that were that the country has gone through, where churches have been attacked. H.H. said: “Every time I was thinking about what I should do, I find myself only thinking about the safety of the homeland and people. We gained from being calm and wise at the time, that we never injured the safety of the homeland.” H.H. added: We thank God that we have honest people led by the President, who are also keen on the safety of the homeland.
H.H. pointed out that this vision resulted many advantages, most notably is the law of building churches which, without the insistence of the President, the Prime Minister and Parliament, would not have come to action. H.H. stressed that we must also pay attention to the fact that the safety of the homeland means the safety of the church.
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