Today, the Coptic Orthodox Church celebrated the elevation of five bishops to the rank of Metropolitan by the hand of H.H. Pope Tawadros II, concluding the Church’s celebrations marking 17 centuries since the convening of the First Ecumenical Council of Nicaea.

His Holiness prayed the Divine Liturgy this morning at St. Mark’s Cathedral in Abbassia. It was the liturgy of the second Sunday of the month of Hathour. After the reading of the Acts (the Praxis), the prayers of granting the five bishops the honorable rank of Metropolitan were offered.

Participating in the prayers of the liturgy were 113 metropolitans and bishops of the Holy Synod of the Church, as well as the General Deputies of the Patriarchate in Cairo and Alexandria. The cathedral was filled with priests, archons, and the congregation members from the dioceses whose bishops received the rank of Metropolitan. They interacted notably with His Holiness during his address about the new metropolitans, expressing their joy with prolonged applause each time the name of one of the new metropolitans was mentioned.

The bishops who received the rank of Metropolitan today are Their Graces:

1. Bishop Yoannes, Bishop of Asyut and Secretary of the Holy Synod.
2. Bishop Sarabamon, Bishop of Atbara and Omdurman – Sudan.
3. Bishop Antony, Bishop of Ireland, Scotland, and North-East England.
4. Bishop Bernaba, Bishop of Turin and Rome – Italy.
5. Bishop Demian, Bishop of Northern Germany and Abbot of the Monastery of Virgin Mary and St. Maurice in Hoexter – Germany.

Present during the liturgy to congratulate H.G. Bishop Yoannes were Major General Hisham Abu Al-Nasr, Governor of Asyut, along with several officials of the governorate, and former Asyut Governor Major General Ibrahim Hammada. His Holiness welcomed them graciously.

Also in attendance to congratulate H.G. Bishop Sarabamon were Ambassador Ibrahim Omar Sedik (Consul at the Sudanese Embassy in Cairo), the Deputy Sudanese Ambassador, Ambassador Omar Al-Farouq Said, former Governor of Omdurman Mr. Magdy Abdel Aziz, and Ambassador Yasser Sarour (Assistant to the Egyptian Minister of Foreign Affairs and Director of the Sudan Department), along with his deputy; Minister Plenipotentiary Karim Mokhtar.

Likewise, to congratulate H.G. Bishop Demian, the German Ambassador to Egypt, Mr. Jürgen Schulz, attended with his wife, as well as Mr. Volker Kauder, former member of the German Parliament, accompanied by his wife. Pope Tawadros thanked them all, and commemorative photos were taken with him.

Commemorative photos were also taken of His Holiness with the new metropolitans, followed by photos with all the metropolitans of the Holy Synod, in a spiritual atmosphere filled with joy and happiness prevailing among the participants in the liturgy.

In the sermon of the Gospel of the liturgy – the Gospel of the second Sunday of Hathour – Pope Tawadros pointed out that in the readings of the first three Sundays of the month of Hathour, this phrase is repeated:
“He who has ears to hear, let him hear*” (Matthew 11:15). This serves as an introduction for those who desire to benefit from the Nativity Fast. This phrase is of great importance, and it is also repeated many times in the Book of Revelation, which is the last book of the Holy Bible. We call it the book of exodus to eternal life, as it prepares us for the entrance into heaven.

On the fourth Sunday of Hathour, the Church presents to us an example of a person who outwardly appears good, but whose inner ear does not hear – the rich young man who came to Christ asking: “Good Teacher, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?” (Mark 10:17).
It is a question of utmost importance, and our Lord Christ discussed it with him until He revealed his point of weakness – that he had no inner ears in his heart to hear. For Christ does not refer to physical hearing, but rather to inward hearing of the heart through obedience.

In the month of Kiahk, the Church speaks to us about our mother, the Virgin Mary, the pride of our race, as a model of a person whose ear is obedient and attentive.

Thus comes the question: Whom do we hear? And what do we hear?

1. The voice of the Bible: The Holy Bible, with all its books and verses, is a message from God to every person – ever new in meaning and reception. Each time we hear it, we discover new horizons.
2. The voice of the calls to prayer: In the Divine Liturgy, the priest prays, the deacon offers the calls to prayer, and the congregation responds with different responses.
   “Greet one another with a holy kiss”: We offer the liturgical kiss through the hands, meaning that every person should be reconciled with everyone. It is not right to attend the Divine Liturgy and partake of the Body and Blood of Christ whilst you are in a state of fall out with others.
   “Look toward the East”: This means being prepared for the coming of Christ, who will come from the East, the place of light. Are you ready for the coming of Christ, or are you distracted by the concerns of the world?
3. Seeking counsel: In the sacrament of confession, the priest lifts up his heart to God to grant him the right words for the one confessing. This is the voice of God. Whoever listens to the counsel of his father of confession is a successful person who listens and applies spiritual guidance. It is good to listen to the voice of the fathers and their instructions. We call the priest “our father” because from him we seek experience, guidance, counsel, and wisdom.
4. Nature and daily events: Everything that takes place in the world happens with God’s permission, for He is the Controller of all. In these events, we find messages from God to us. Let us listen, understand, and learn.

Sermons, the Holy Bible, and what happens with others are all messages sent to us by God, and it is good to benefit from them and learn.