H.H. Pope Tawadros II prayed the Divine Liturgy this morning at St. Mark’s Cathedral in Abbassia, during which he ordained 16 new priests: 15 to serve in churches in Cairo and the new cities, and one for New Jersey in the United States.
Four bishops and the General Deputy of the Patriarchate in Cairo participated in the prayers of the Liturgy and ordination.
The sermon of the Liturgy was based on the Gospel passage from Mark 4:21-29, where His Holiness addressed the question posed in the Gospel: “Is a lamp brought to be put under a basket or under a bed? Is it not to be set on a lampstand?”(Mark 4:21)
Pope Tawadros used this verse as an example of the life and service of a priest, emphasizing that a priest can become a shining lamp through the following:
- Repentance – A priest must live in personal repentance, setting an example for his congregation, who will repent when they see their shepherd repenting. The period of fasting aids in repentance, which leads to purity, making a person shine spiritually.
- The Bible– The Bible is “spirit and life,” as the Lord Christ said. A priest must have a living relationship with the Bible so that he can shine. The Bible should be present in his life, his family’s life, his ministry, and his teaching. Without the Bible, a priest lacks spiritual life. The teachings of the Church Fathers and liturgical prayers are extensions of the Bible, since it is the foundation.
- Prayer – Prayer is the strong yet delicate thread that connects heaven and earth. It is essential in a priest’s life. A priest must learn how to step away from the busyness of service to retreat and pray, so that he may shine.
- Visitation and Confession – Through pastoral visits and hearing confessions, a priest serves his people, draws near to them, and becomes a guiding lamp for them.
- Fatherhood – Spiritual fatherhood in the Church is a powerful and influential tool. It is a fatherhood that truly knows and embraces the children of the Church, offering support, protection, and encouragement.
His Holiness also warned of certain weaknesses that may affect a priest’s ministry, summarizing them as laziness, negligence, heedlessness, stumbling others, and lack of organization (chaos).
Pope Tawadros concluded by asking the congregation to pray for the newly ordained priests, that God may grant them strength and support in their service.
Since the beginning of Lent, His Holiness has ordained 31 new priests, including 15 for Cairo, 12 for Alexandria, 3 for Africa, and 1 for California in the United States, in addition to the 16 priests ordained today.
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