In a brief speech delivered before the commencement of the prayers for elevating five bishops to the rank of metropolitan, H.H. Pope Tawadros II indicated that these bishops have served in the episcopate for more than thirty years, during which they offered pastoral care, visitations, and great labor in their ministry. He pointed out that this ordination comes as part of the celebrations of the Coptic Orthodox Church marking seventeen centuries since the convening of the First Ecumenical Council of Nicaea.

He noted that as we celebrate the elevation of new metropolitans, this conveys several messages:

1. The Church’s appreciation and gratitude for the bishop across his long years of service.
2. Renewal and added vitality for the bishop in his ministry, that he may continue it with enthusiasm and strength.
3. The Church’s acknowledgment of the bishop’s great ecclesiastical and spiritual experience.
4. This elevation is considered a blessing for all the people of the diocese served by this honorable father. Overall, the elevation to metropolitan is a great joy and significant addition to the life of the Coptic Church.

On the occasion of the elevation of one of our bishops in Sudan; H.G. Bishop Sarabamon, Pope Tawadros asked those present to pray for peace to be established in Sudan.

Regarding the new metropolitans, His Holiness said:

“The five fathers being elevated to the metropolitanate were ordained by the hands of the late Pope Shenouda III, and their seniority in ordination is as follows:

1. H.G. Bishop Yoannes: received episcopacy in 1993 and served as a general bishop until 2015 when he was enthroned as bishop of the Diocese of Asyut.
2. H.G. Bishop Sarabamon, Bishop of Atbara, Omdurman, and Northern Sudan: received episcopacy in 1993 and obtained Sudanese citizenship during his ministry there.
3. H.G. Bishop Antony, Bishop of Ireland, Scotland, and North-East England: he is the first bishop of this diocese, which was established during the papacy of Pope Shenouda. He received episcopacy in 1995 and is considered the first Coptic Egyptian bishop in Europe to be elevated to the rank of metropolitan.
4. H.G. Bishop Bernaba, Bishop of Turin and Rome for the Coptic Orthodox in Italy: received episcopacy in 1995 and became a bishop in Italy. He served for a period with the late Metropolitan Kyrillos (former Metropolitan of Milan), and he represents us in numerous meetings with the Catholic Church in relation to his diocese there.
5. H.G. Bishop Demian, Bishop of Northern Germany and Abbot of the Monastery of Virgin Mary and Saint Maurice in Höxter, Germany: received episcopacy in 1995 and served in Germany as its first bishop. He served for a period as a general bishop, then was enthroned over the diocese in 2013, and he is also the first Coptic metropolitan in Germany.

We would like to congratulate Metropolitan Yoannes today on his birthday, which also coincides with the commemoration of the departure of the honorable Metropolitan Mikhail; former Metropolitan of Asyut. Here we witness the continuity of generations from one to another, for Metropolitan Mikhail offered a noble service in Asyut, which is now being continued by H.E. Metropolitan Yoannes.”