His Holiness Pope Tawadros II delivered his weekly sermon at the Wednesday meeting this evening, from the Church of the Archangel Michael in Tussoun in Shoubra. The sermon was broadcast on Christian satellite channels and the C.O.C channel of the Church’s media center on the Internet.
His Holiness continued the series of “Strong,Short, Prayers from theLiturgy” and addressed part of chapter 17 of the Gospel of our teacher St. John, verses (15-23), and referred to a short request of the requests that the Church prays in the Gregorian Mass, which is: “May the Schisms of the Church Cease”
He explained that the word “schisms” in the language means separation for a while, and that the church was founded by Jesus Christ.
“and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.”
(Matthew 16:18)
When our Lord Jesus chose his twelve disciples, then the seventy apostles, then Apostle Paul, and these eighty-three people became the beginning of the one church, and on the day of the Ascension of the Holy Spirit, there were thousands.
His Holiness explained the history of the emergence of the Christian Church, explaining that the Church continued as one for nearly five centuries, and in those first centuries it was subjected to severe persecution from King Diocletian, Emperor of Rome, and most of the martyrs were in Egypt and Palestine. Then, in the year 313, King Constantine issued a decree that Christianity as a recognised religion, until Arius appeared in the year 323, who spread false teachings.
Therefore, the Church held the Council of Nicaea in the year 325, which was attended by 318 bishops, Pope Alexandros, Pope No. 19, and his student Athanasius (the 20th Pope). Arius was excommunicated and they issued the Creed. This sign became important, because any church that says the Creed is a Christian church, and in the year 326, Queen Helena discovered the site of the Holy Cross, and after nearly 50 years, the Council of Constantine was held, at which the Church completed the explanation of the Creed, “Yes, we believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the Giver of Life, who proceeds from the Father..”
In the year 431, the Council of Ephesus was held to discuss the ideas of Nestorius and Eutyches.
The Council was during the time of Pope Kyrillos,the pillar of faith, who is famous for Theological teachings, he put the Theotokia of the week.
Nestorius and Eutyches were exiled, but in the year 451 a schism occurred in the Church after it had been one, and the Council of Chalcedon was held. – the Orthodox Church does not believe in it – to discuss theological issues, in which three factors intervened, namely:
- Political dispute, Rome, Alexandria, Constantinople and Antioch.
- Language, some expressions were not well understood.
- Greatness and man’s sense of self
“and said, “Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven.”
(Matthew 18:3)
His Holiness continued that the Council of Chalcedon resulted in a schism in the Church, so Alexandria and Antioch became the Orthodox, and Rome and Constantinople became the Catholics. This was the first schism that occurred in the Church, then in the eleventh century Constantinople separated from Rome, because Rome added the word “and the Son” to the Creed, and in In the sixteenth century, the Protestant schism emerged from Rome, and an Anglican schism also occurred in England, so there were four large congregations in the world, while Jesus Christ says:
”that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me. And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one:“
(John 17:21-22)
His Holiness pointed out that despite the occurrence of divisions in churches around the world, there are common factors, which are:
- All the churches of the world believe in one Christ.
- All churches in the world have the Bible.
- All the churches of the world strive for the heavenly kingdom.
His Holiness addressed the church’s efforts that began for unity of faith, when church councils were established, as follows:
-The World Council of Churches was established after the end of World War II in 1948, and its headquarters are in Geneva.
The Coptic Church was the first to participate in it, and it includes most of the churches of the world. This council does not discuss doctrine and theology, but is concerned with participation and cooperation at the social level between the churches of the world. Therefore, their decisions are not binding on the churches, and H.G. Bishop Thomas, Metropolitan of Qusayyah, is our representative in the central committee of this council.
- In 1974, the Middle East Council of Churches was established in Lebanon for all the churches of the Middle East. Its founding was facilitated by H.G. Bishop Samuel, Bishop of Services, who was martyred in the assassination of President Sadat. In 1975, the Council moved its headquarters to Cyprus, until the civil war in Lebanon ended and it returned again.
Last year we hosted the General Assembly of the Middle East Council of Churches for the first time in the history of the Council.
-Nearly ten or twelve years ago, the Council of Churches of Egypt was established. It consists of five members: Coptic Orthodox, Greek Orthodox, Catholics, Protestants, and Anglicans, and this council is still emerging.
- The All Africa Conference of Churches (AACC), based in Kenya, of which we are also members, and the Coptic Church is the Vice-President of the Council.
His Holiness indicated that our Church participates in these councils and has a practical role in them for the return of the one Church that Jesus Christ wants from us, because division and factionalism are the sins that anger the heart of God the most.
His Holiness explained that we, as a Coptic Church, believe that the unity of the world’s churches passes through four steps, represented by the sides of the cross as follows:
1- Establishing loving relationships with all the churches of the world, and representing the lower vertical side of the cross,
”These things I command you, that you love one another.“
(John 15:17), ”love your enemies“ (Matthew 5:44)
Also to show the work of love, and to be proud that we are an established, stable and strong church, so we receive anyone from the churches of the world.
2- Specialized study of all the churches of the world, which represents the side of the cross. We should study other churches, such as the Syriac, Armenian, Russian, and Indian churches, and have specialized scholars to understand their faith, culture, and traditions. Indeed, our church sent students on scholarships outside Egypt, such as Russia, Athens, and England.
3- Establishing theological dialogues, which represent the other side of the cross, and explaining our faith and its history, as well as the Church, and to others likewise. There are already dialogues, which began since the days of Pope Kyrillos VI, and this step begins after the two previous steps.
4- Prayer, which represents the upper vertical side of the cross, “to overturn divisions in the Church”, prayer for the unity of the Church, and therefore ecumenical prayers are held.
His Holiness addressed the role of our Coptic Church as follows:
1- We participate in all the councils of the world, and at one time H.H. Late Pope Shenouda III reached the presidency of the World Council of Churches.
2- We exchange visits, for example, Pope Shenouda’s first visit to the Catholic Church in Rome, and we also received the Cardinal of Austria and the Patriarch of Ethiopia, and many others.
3- There are dialogues with many churches, such as the Catholic and Russian Church.
4- International Week of Prayer in Egypt, so that we can all become closer to each other.
His Holiness concluded that most divisions arise from within the person and himself, so in these relationships we should put “May the schisms of the Church cease” in our private prayers.
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