Yesterday evening, H.H Holines Pope Tawadros II attended the closing ceremony of the first LOGOS Junior Forum, a gathering for children from the dioceses of the Coptic Orthodox Church. The forum was held over the course of eight days at the LOGOS Centre, located within the Papal Headquarlters at the Monastery of Saint Bishoy in Wadi El Natroun. It brought together 180 boys and girls representing dioceses and pastoral sectors from across Egypt, alongside the forum’s team of servants.
The closing ceremony was attended by a number of metropolitans, bishops, priests, monks, and invited guests.
The celebration commenced with a procession led by the children’s deacons’ choir from St George Church, Sidi Beshir, Alexandria, chanting the traditional hymns of welcome for the Pope and Patriarch. The children carried crosses and banners adorned with an icon of Christ embracing young children, followed by the priests, bishops, metropolitans, and finally His Holiness.
The programme featured a theatrical performance interwoven with hymns and spiritual songs presented by the Alb Dawood (Heart of David) Choir, a recorded segment with several of the participating children, and heartfelt messages addressed by the children to their spiritual father, Pope Tawadros. The ceremony also included an address by Fr Youhanna Wadie, the General Coordinator of the forum, who highlighted the three foundational themes that shaped the forum’s vision: helping every child appreciate the value of themselves, their Church, and their homeland.
In his concluding speech, His Holiness reaffirmed the Church’s deep commitment to children’s ministry through a variety of initiatives, most notably Koogi, the Coptic children’s satellite television channel under the supervision of H.E. Metropolitan Markos, Metropolitan of Shubra El Kheima, as well as the Holy Synod’s Subcommittee for Childhood, chaired by H.G. Bishop Nofir, Bishop of Shibin El Qanater.
His Holiness explained that the word
“Logos” means “the Word” (John 1:1), referring to Christ Himself. Accordingly, the participants had gathered in the embrace of Christ and within the embrace of the Monastery of Saint Bishoy in Wadi El Natroun, home to both the Papal Headquarters and the LOGOS Centre.
His Holiness noted that the forum was the fruit of many months of dedicated preparation by the organising team of servants. He also expressed his sincere appreciation to the children’s parents, the metropolitans and bishops of their dioceses, the priests, the forum’s servants, and the administrators of the various locations visited by the children during the programme.
He encouraged the participants to remain firmly connected to God, the Church, and their homeland, urging them, upon returning home, to share with their families, churches, and everyone they meet the experiences they had seen, heard, and lived throughout the forum.
Following his address, His Holiness posed for commemorative photographs with the children as they proudly held their certificates of participation.
Although the official ceremony came to a close, the children’s enthusiasm continued. They gathered around His Holiness to express their love and gratitude, while the bishops and priests mingled among them. The young participants eagerly took photographs with the clergy, and their joyful comments reflected both their happiness and their deep appreciation for a Church that lovingly cares for them.
This page is also available in:
العربية
