This morning (Saturday), H.H. Pope Tawadros II prayed the Divine Liturgy at the Church of Archangel Michael in Kafr El-Dawar, affiliated with the Diocese of Beheira, on the occasion of the fiftieth anniversary of Hegumen Reweis Aziz’ ordination as a priest of the church (September 5, 1975 – September 5, 2025).
At the beginning of his sermon, His Holiness congratulated Hegumen Reweis Aziz, with whom he has shared a relationship for nearly sixty years, while fondly remembering the Thrice-Blessed Metropolitan Pakhomious, the previous metropolitan of Beheira, Matrouh, and the Five Western Cities, who personally ordained Father Reweis.
His Holiness then reflected upon the three pillars of service that make service according to God’s will:
Love: The foundation of our love is God’s love, for He loved us first. God’s love for us is sacrificial love (aghapy), which seeks nothing for itself. This is what Christ expects from His servant: “Do you love Me?” Such love is nurtured through our bond with the Word of God. It enables us to accept our brother, to cover his faults, and it is the essential element by which we shall stand before God on the Day of Judgment.
Faithfulness: In thought, word, and deed. Faithfulness must be lived throughout one’s entire life, in both great and small matters.
Pastoral Care: This encompasses service, teaching, and all forms of service. Yet pastoral care cannot succeed without love and faithfulness, for these are its essential foundation.
Pope Tawadros emphasized that all of these virtues have been clearly manifested in Hegumen Reweis Aziz.
His Holiness added: “I am a disciple of Father Reweis. He used to visit us at home every Wednesday, and afterward we served under his guidance at Archangel Michael’s Church in Damanhour. I cannot forget the service meetings he held for us, where we learned more from his silence than from his words, and from the precision and strictness with which he conducted his life. We were deeply moved when he left us upon being ordained in Kafr El-Dawar.”
Speaking about Fr. Reweis’ service in Kafr El-Dawar, Pope Tawadros continued: “He transformed this church into a shining example of service and a beautiful model among all the churches of Beheira. We recall this long journey, which has been filled with love, faithfulness, and pastoral care.”
He further remarked:”From His abundant blessings, God grants us gifts in the form of persons — shepherds who minister in spirit and in truth, offering us examples from which we may learn.”
Pope Tawadros concluded by saying: “Many happy returns, Father. May God grant you the blessing of health and long life, and may we rejoice in the fruits of your ministry.”
Hegumen Reweis Aziz, now 92 years of age, was ordained priest on September 5, 1975, for the Church of Archangel Michael in Kafr El-Dawar by the Thrice-Blessed Metropolitan Pakhomious; the previous metropolitan of Beheira, Matrouh, and the Five Western Cities. He is the brother of the late Bishop Andrawes (former Bishop of Damietta, Kafr El-Sheikh, and El-Barari), as well as the late Fr. Antonious Aziz (former General Deputy of the Diocese of Beheira).
This page is also available in:
العربية
