H.H. Pope Tawadros II prayed the Divine Liturgy this morning at the Cathedral of the Monastery of Saint Bishoy in Wadi El Natroun. Praying with His Holiness were five metropolitans and bishops, together with the priests serving the churches of the Gulf Region.
Following the Prayer of Reconciliation, Pope Tawadros, together with the attending hierarchs, prayed the ordination prayers for three deacons, who were ordained to the priesthood to serve in the Coptic Orthodox churches in the United Arab Emirates:
- Deacon Shenouda Fawzy, ordained as Fr Shenouda, to serve at the Church of Saint Anthony in Abu Dhabi.
- Deacon Michael Magdy, ordained as Fr Youssef, to serve at the Church of Saint Mark and Saint Bishoy in Dubai.
- Deacon John Mansour, ordained as Fr John, to serve at the Church of Saint Mina in Jebel Ali.
Following the Gospel reading, His Holiness delivered the sermon, expressing his joy at the pastoral blessing bestowed upon the churches of the Gulf Region through the ordination of these three new priests for service in the United Arab Emirates.
His Holiness then reflected on five spiritual principles that ensure the fruitfulness of a priest’s ministry:
- Love
Love is the foremost mark of a true priest. Without love, a person cannot truly be a Christian. A priest’s love is expressed through continual prayer. Having set aside the concerns of the world, the priest becomes a labourer in the Lord’s vineyard, dedicating his entire life to Christ.
The priest draws his strength from prayer and from the Holy Bible. These are the two feet by which he walks in the many fields of ministry. Every prayer is an opportunity to receive strength: “The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.” (James 5:16)
Likewise, the Holy Bible, in which the priest continually lives, enables him to minister with the Spirit and with life: “The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life.” (John 6:63, NKJV)
This is the source of the priest’s strength: prayer and the Holy Bible.
- Fatherhood
A priest is first and foremost a father. Spiritual fatherhood is one of the greatest needs of our present age. It embraces love, support, forgiveness, protection, guidance, and every expression of genuine fatherly care.
It is essential that a priest lives up to the title “Father,” recognising the great responsibility it carries and continually seeking this grace from God. Through authentic fatherhood, a priest wins the hearts of his people.
Fatherhood is especially manifested through pastoral visitation. The priest is considered a member of every family within his church, and through these visits he conveys God’s love while caring for the spiritual and personal well-being of his flock.
- Joy
A priest’s joy is found in his own repentance and in the repentance of those entrusted to his care. Joy grants strength and consolation, and the priest’s greatest happiness is to see every member of his flock inherit the Kingdom of Heaven.
- Peace
A priest’s peace flows from wisdom. Wisdom is acquired through learning from elders, benefiting from the experiences of the Fathers, and seeking counsel.
“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God” (Matthew 5:9).
It is therefore essential that a priest’s conduct and decisions always be governed by wisdom.
- Care for His Spiritual Life and His Family
A priest should regularly devote time to spiritual retreat and maintain close fellowship with his father of confession and experienced spiritual guides. He should neither rely solely on his own opinions nor develop an authoritarian or isolated approach to ministry.
It is equally important that a priest cares diligently for his family and places them as a priority. A priest must be one who rules his own house well, and his dedication to ministry is a dedication shared by his entire household.
His Holiness concluded by affirming that this is the true nature of the priesthood: a ministry that is an offering of love, time, repentance, and labour for the sake of others.
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