His Holiness Pope Tawadros II prayed this Saturday evening in St. Mark’s Cathedral in Abbasiya, prayers on the eve of the ordination of two new bishops, one of them for the Diocese of Nag Hammadi, in Qena Governorate, and the other bishop of the Monastery of St. Bishop Pachomius, known as Deir el-Shayeb in Luxor.

Enthronement prayers were also held for four general bishops, one of whom was for the monastery of the Virgin Mary and the Archangel Michael in Bahnasa, which was recognized by the Holy Synod of the Church in its last session held the day before yesterday, and the other three were for diocesan chairs, which are the Diocese of Helwan and Al-Masara, and a new diocese in Africa that includes the countries of Namibia, Zimbabwe and Botswana. Malawi and the Diocese of Mansoura.

One hundred and eleven bishops, representatives of the Patriarchate in Cairo and Alexandria, the councils of the monks of the monasteries of the Virgin Mary and the Archangel Michael in Bahnasa, Saint Bishop Pachomius the Elder in Luxor, and the councils of priests and people of the dioceses of Nag Hammadi, Mansoura, and Helwan participated in the prayers.

The ordination, which will be completed during the Liturgy tomorrow morning, includes the passing of the procession of monastic fathers nominated for the episcopate among the people to identify them, the reading of the episcopal pledge, and the blessing of the episcopal service garments.

After that, His Holiness completed the appointment of four general bishops over a monastery and three dioceses, as follows:
1- H.G. Bishop Thomas, Bishop and Head of the Monastery of the Virgin Mary and Archangel Michael in Al-Bahnsa, Minya Governorate.
2- H.G. Bishop Mikhael, Bishop of the Diocese of Helwan and its dependencies.
3- H.G. Bishop Joseph appointed a new diocese in Africa that includes the countries of Namibia, Zimbabwe, Botswana and Malawi, in Africa.
4- H.G. Bishop Axios, Bishop of the Diocese of Mansoura.

Then His Holiness the Pope took the first step in the ordination of the two new bishops, which is the ritual of calling. His Holiness called the two monks by name and the new episcopal title, and they are:
1- The Hegomen Monk Ecladious the Syrian, bishop and head of the monastery of Saint Anba Pachomious (the Shaib) in Luxor, in the name of Bishop Ecladious.
2- The Hegomen Monk Anastasius the Syrian, bishop of the Diocese of Nag Hammadi and its dependencies, in the name of Bishop Bidaba.

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