Decrees & Recommendations of the Holy Synod Session, June 2025
Today, the Holy Synod of the Coptic Orthodox Church held its general session at the conclusion of its regular convocation for the year 2025. The session was presided over by H.H. Pope Tawadros II, with the attendance of 112 members out of a total of 139, after the remaining members offered apologies for various reasons.
At the beginning of the session, His Holiness the Pope read a passage from the Book of Revelation (2:1–7), focusing on five phrases from the text:
1. “I know your works” (v. 2): This refers to the works directed toward souls, which we perform as shepherds with a pure heart and good conscience—acts of love and mercy.
2. “Nevertheless I have this against you” (v. 4): A call for self-examination and conscience searching, delivered to us gently by God so we may become alert to ourselves.
3. “To him who overcomes” (v. 7): An invitation to spiritual struggle against inner inclinations. Our life on earth is a time of testing in which we must overcome.
4. “He who has an ear, let him hear” (v. 7): Refers to the ear of the heart, by which we hear and obey. Blessed is he who obeys the commandments of the Holy Bible.
5. “What the Spirit says to the churches” (v. 7): This refers to spiritual leadership.
Following this, the committee rapporteurs of the Synod presented to the members the recommendations of each committee. These recommendations were discussed thoroughly, and after the discussion of each committee’s report, the final content of the recommendation was agreed upon by consensus.
The Holy Synod approved the revival of monastic life and officially recognized the Monastery of the Archangel Michael for monks in the Eastern Mountain of Girga, Sohag Governorate, as a functioning monastery.
The Synod also decided to add the event of a joint liturgy held by the Patriarchs of the three Oriental Orthodox Churches in the Middle East—commemorating the 17th centenary of the First Ecumenical Council of Nicaea—to the Synaxarium on the 10th of Bashans.
Finally, the Synod issued a welcoming statement regarding the Coptic Orthodox Church’s hosting of the Sixth International Conference of the World Council of Churches, also marking the 17th centenary of the Council of Nicaea.
The Most Important Recommendations issued by the Holy Synod of the Coptic Orthodox Church, Ordinary Session 2025
Public Relations Committee
– Develop curricula for all Church services encouraging all members of the congregation to participate actively in society and engage in volunteer work to serve the nation and community, in order to reinforce the spirit of citizenship, while highlighting the societal role of Copts in the homeland.
Media & Information Committee
– Form a subcommittee to develop a vision for spreading sound ecclesiastical teaching online, and increase the awareness of Church members and servants in the dioceses regarding internet technologies and AI, utilizing them to prepare engaging Sunday School lessons and sermons.
Ecumenical Relations & Dialogue Committee
– The Coptic Orthodox Church is seeking to address the dispute between the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church (Indian Orthodox Church) and the Malankara Jacobite Syrian Church. A meeting is expected to be held in Cairo, to which H.H. Pope Tawadros has invited representatives, in order to discuss the disagreements and preserve the unity of the Oriental Orthodox family.
– The Coptic Orthodox Church is closely monitoring the situation of Saint Catherine’s Monastery and values the state’s position in protecting the monastery and its monastic life.
Pastoral Care & Service Committee
– Develop training programs for talented individuals and athletes with special needs, and facilitate the exchange of expertise between dioceses.
– Emphasize the importance of establishing support meetings for families of inmates and the formerly incarcerated in all dioceses, along with efforts to employ and integrate them, in all dioceses.
– Establish and activate care and development offices in every diocese and encourage coordination with the
Church’s Development Partners Committee.
– Raise awareness about the dangers of immigrating illegally.
– Focus on gender identity development programs for our children, with training for priests, clergy, and servants on prevention, as well as healthy psychological and physical upbringing.
– Emphasize the use of computers and technology in Coptic hospitals, given the benefits for both the hospital and the patient.
– Preparations are underway to establish the General Secretariat for Coptic Hospitals in Cairo, modeled after what was done in Alexandria.
Family Committee
– Emphasize reading the “Pledge for the Couple” before the Crowning Prayer
– Review the national law regarding the rights of the elderly to better understand and assist seniors in benefiting from its provisions.
Faith & Education Committee
– Continue developing the official catechism of the Coptic Orthodox Church, titled “The Doctrine of the Coptic Orthodox Church.”
Rites Committee
– The Feast of Zacchaeus the Tax-collector will be celebrated on Hatoor 3 in the Church’s liturgical calendar and included in the Synaxarion.
Diocesan Affairs Committee
– Organize a meeting with diocesan representatives and members of the clerical councils on personal status matters with Hegumen Fr. Sergius Sergius, Cairo’s Patriarchate Vicar, regarding engagement and marriage records.
Monasticism & Monasteries/Convents Affairs Committee
– Encourage monks to engage in continuous academic study across various fields, with a focus on theological and doctrinal studies.
– Publish an occasional bulletin containing research papers and monastic articles, with editorial responsibilities rotated among the Coptic monasteries.
Diaspora Affairs Committee
– Continue encouraging mission trips to the mother Church while offering services and supporting projects in various dioceses and churches within Egypt.
– Organize regular online meetings between His Holiness and the dioceses in North America and Europe, after dividing them into groups based on the number of churches. These meetings should be held for clergy, servants, youth, and if possible, families.
– Educate servants and youth on using AI with discernment and wisdom, and caution against sharing inaccurate theological or doctrinal content.
Statement of the Holy Synod of the Coptic Orthodox Church Regarding the Sixth International Conference of the World Council of Churches on the Occasion of the 17th Centenary of the First Ecumenical Council of Nicaea
The Holy Synod welcomes the Coptic Orthodox Church’s hosting of the international conference commemorating the 17th centenary of the First Ecumenical Council of Nicaea, held in 325 A.D. This takes place as part of the Church’s role and responsibility in the global ecumenical movement, and in honor and glorification of our saintly Fathers, especially Pope Alexander I, the 19th Patriarch, and Pope Athanasius the Apostolic, the 20th Patriarch, along with other heroes who defended the Orthodox faith.
The conference will be held in October 2025, under the auspices of the Faith and Order Commission of the World Council of Churches (WCC). It is the first time such a conference is hosted by an Oriental Orthodox Church. This will be the sixth such conference in a century, with previous gatherings held in: First in 1927 (Lausanne, Switzerland), Second in 1937 (Edinburgh, Scotland), Third in 1952 (Lund, Sweden), Fourth in 1963 (Montreal, Canada), Fifth in 1993 (Santiago, Spain).
The Holy Synod affirms that this is not a theological dialogue on Christian doctrines, but rather an opportunity for academic presentations and research papers on the Council of Nicaea as a model for confronting heresies challenging the Christian faith. The Council of Nicaea is considered a “historic moment,” representing a time when the Christian Church was united globally.
This means the conference is academic in nature, featuring research papers reflecting the viewpoints of their authors—Fathers, scholars, and specialists. No decisions, agreements, signatures, or even recommendations will be issued from the conference. Only media statements may be released.
The Coptic Orthodox Church has been a member of the World Council of Churches since 1954, as well as of various regional and local Church councils. The WCC includes more than 300 Churches and denominations from over 100 countries. Oriental Churches constitute only 15%, while Western churches make up 85%.
Our Church’s hosting of this international event comes within its strong and active role in spiritual and pious cooperation among all Christian Churches in Egypt and worldwide. We are not isolated from the global community, as we have Coptic churches and monasteries in over 60 countries and maintain loving relationships and communication with the Churches there. We participate in theological dialogues to explain and present our Orthodox faith, based on the glorious history and sound faith of our Church. We pray for the unity of faith and the end of the divisions within the Church.
In recent years, we have successfully hosted important ecclesiastical events, such as: The 12th General Assembly of the Middle East Council of Churches (2022), The Meeting of Representatives of the Orthodox Churches Worldwide (2024), The Meeting of the Patriarchs of the Oriental Orthodox Churches in the Middle East (2025), and this is in addition to other international gatherings.
Regarding the aforementioned conference, a Church committee has been formed under the leadership of H.G. Bishop Abraham (General Bishop in the Diocese of Los Angeles), to oversee organizational matters such as reception, accommodation, hospitality, visits, and media coverage. The committee will not be involved in the content of the program, lectures, or speeches, as these are the responsibility of the WCC administration.
We ask for your prayers for this great ecclesiastical event, that it may be crowned with full success and fruitful outcomes.
Thursday, June 5, 2025 – 28 Bashans 1741 A.M.
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