Today, the Coptic Orthodox Church celebrated the ordination of 27 new priests, by His Holiness Pope Tawadros II, to serve in the churches of Alexandria, the United States of America, and Africa.
His Holiness prayed the Divine Liturgy this morning in the Great Cathedral of the Monastery of Saint Bishoy in Wadi El Natroun, and 10 bishops and a large number of priests and monks participated in it.
Following the Prayer of Reconciliation, His Holiness ordained, with the participation of the bishop, 15 priests serving in the four pastoral sectors in Alexandria, and eight other priests for the United States of America, including three from the churches of New Jersey, and five from the churches of San Jose, Colorado, Seattle, Oregon, and Concord, as well as four priests to serve in the areas supervised by H.G. Bishop Joseph, the General Bishop of Africa.
– Father Arsanious Alfy, Preist of St Demiana’s Church (El Hadra El Bahria)
– Father Kirollos Daoud, Priest of St Mary and St Mina’s Church (Coptic Hospital)
– Father Maximos Milad, Priest of St Mary and St Simon the Tanner’s Church (Abu Youssef)
– Father Youanis Viktor, Priest of St George’s Church (Al Shatby)
– Father Bishoy Senouti, General Priest in Alexandria
– Father Seraphim Mounir, General Priest in Alexandria
– Father Loka Gamal, Priest of St Mina and Pope Kirollos VI’s Church (Om Zeghyo)
– Father Peter George, General Priest in Alexandria
– Father Yolyos Mounir, General Priest in Alexandria
– Father Polykarpos Anwar, General Priest in Alexandria
– Father Tadros Naiem, Priest of St Paul and St Anthony’s Church (El Haramain)
– Father Moussa Banoub, Priest of St Abraam’s Church (Moharam Bek)
– Father Nofer Shenouda, Priest of St Karas’ Church (Ard Pharoan)
– Father Markos Albert, Priest of St Karas’ Church (Ard Pharoan)
– Father Youhanna Mounir, General Priest in Alexandria
– Father Benjamin Shafik, Priest of St Mary’s Church (East Brunswick, New Jersey)
– Father Anastasi Matta, Priest of St George and St Mina’s Church (Holmdel, New Jersey)
– Father Anthony Michael, Priest of St Anthony and St Mina’s Church (East Rutherford, New Jersey)
– Father George Maher Zaki, Priest of St George and Joseph the Carpenter’s Church (San Jose, North California)
– Father Daniel Daniel, Priest of St Mark the Apostle’s Church (Colorado)
– Father Michael Fayez, Priest of St Mary’s Church (Seattle, Washington)
– Father Anthony Nabil Fam, Priest of St Mary and St Marina’s Church (Oregon)
– Father Mina Maurice Anton, Priest of St Mary and St Marina’s Church (Concord, San Francisco)
– Father Mark Youssef, General Priest in North Namibia
– Father Anthony George, General Priest in Botswana
– Father Mina Attia, Priest of St Mary and St Abraam’s Church (Nyakuron, Juba)
– Father Samuel Fekry, General Priest in Rwanda
His Holiness made “Devoting oneself before God” the topic of the Mass sermon, during which His Holiness pointed out that when a person is ordained and becomes a priest, he leaves everything and dedicates his spirit, thought, and heart with his family to be a priest on the altar of God.
His Holiness explained that the priestly vocation includes five works and functions, and they are represented by the five fingers of the hand as follows:
1- You are a “father”: This is represented by the big finger pointing towards the sky, which means that the priest obtains the fatherhood that he seeks every day as a special blessing from God. The priest is chosen after his care and management in his family so that his management becomes broader within the scope of the church in which he will serve. With it, he must ask God every day to give him the ability to make the flock feel his fatherhood, as the Church teaches us to say: “Our Father in heaven” (Matthew 6:9). Fatherhood is a very precious quality, because the father is the one who loves, forgives, covers, contains, and supports others inside and outside the church. He is great in situations and events, and no bad word comes out of his mouth. Fatherhood is the safety valve for the priesthood.
2- You are a “teacher”: The priest teaches the parish, whether in revivals, sermons, or visits. Therefore, he must read a lot and live in his Gospel always, and his job is to present pure, clear, Orthodox teaching that has a strong foundation in the Gospel, and it becomes, in fact, a Gospel that is readable to people, and to present the word of truth with integrity. In explaining the doctrine, he will be upright, and in explaining matters, he will be life-giving and provide people with what is beneficial for their lives so that they can live by it. He should imitate the righteous Christ, and make his time sacred, like the time of redemption. “See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil.” (Ephesians 5:15-16).
3- You are a “shepherd”: The priest is a good shepherd who participates in everything related to the flock. “You therefore must endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ”. (2 Timothy 2:3). Care requires that he be compassionate and have an big heart, and not neglect any group of people, and according to his honesty, God will give him to serve his people.
4- You are an “intercessor”: The priest’s job is to pray at all times for everyone, to test God’s hand in the work, and to plant the spirit of constant prayer among his flock, in order to prepare every person to be fit for the Kingdom of Heaven, and to lead the flock to spiritual life and prayers until Christ dwells in every house.
5- You are a “friend and guide”: The priest, even as he grows older, remains a friend with every soul of the congregation, and also a spiritual guide for the young and old, and when he takes the people’s confessions he must be prepared for that, and know his way with honesty and integrity.
In conclusion, His Holiness recommended that the priest’s family be his first concern and service, and that he be in constant contact and presence with his family and give them sufficient time.
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