Egypt: Ruling on Easter holiday appeal set for Feb 10

January 24, 2009: The Administrative Court of Egypt will deliver on February 10 its ruling on an appeal by two Coptic human rights activists seeking to declare Easter as a national feast and an official holiday for all the Egyptians, officials said yesterday.

“All the parties to the suit Lawyer Mamdouh Nakhla, the chairman of el-Kalema (the word) Human Rights Society, and Lawyer Naguib Gubrael, have been notified that the court will deliver its ruling on their appeal on February 10,” a senior court official said.Nakhla and Gubrael are asking the Administrative Court to announce Easter, which the Egyptian Copts celebrate on April 19 this year, as a national feast and official day off in Egypt.The two lawyers argued that their request was a concrete move towards deepening friendly and brotherly bonds between Muslims and Copts in Egypt.Egypt’s Copts - the largest Christian community in the Middle East - account for an estimated six to 10 per cent of the country’s 80 million inhabitants. Tensions often run high between Egypt’s Muslim and Christian communities in a society dominated by Sunni Muslims.Easter is without rival the most important religious event in the Coptic Christian calendar.

Source: US Copts Association

THE STANDING COMMITTEE OF THE ORIENTAL ORTHODOX CHURCHES

Jan 15, 2009: Following the meeting of the Executive Committee of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) on 15 January, the members of the Standing Committee of the Oriental Orthodox Churches in the Middle East, met in the evening at the Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia, Antelias (Lebanon).

H.E. Metropolitan Bishoy and H.G. Bishop Mark represented the Coptic Orthodox Church, and H.E. Metropolitan George Saliba and H.G. Bishop Daniel represented the Syrian Orthodox Church. His Grace Bishop Nareg represented the Armenian Orthodox Church. The General Secretary of MECC also attended the meeting.

In the first part of the agenda they discussed the relationships of the Oriental Orthodox Churches in the region with the MECC and the World Council of Churches, and the status of theological bilateral dialogues. In this context they discussed the implications of the visit of His Holiness Aram I to the Vatican on the life of the churches in the Middle East. In the second part, they discussed two forthcoming meetings. One, the Oriental Orthodox and Roman Catholic theological dialogue to be held in the end of January, and two, the meeting in May 2009 of the Heads of the Oriental Orthodox Churches in the Middle East, H.H. Pope Shenouda III, H.H. Patriarch Zakka I Iwas, and H.H. Catholicos Aram I.

Coptic Church to Nominate Pope Shenouda for Nobel Peace Prize

The Egyptian Orthodox Church welcomed a proposal by the expatriate Copts to nominate Pope Shenouda III for the Nobel Peace Prize.

Yet the Secular Copts Front said it would be difficult due to the political inclinations that determine who would get the prize. Bishop of Helwan and Maasara Rev. Basenti said Pope Shenouda has contributed to peace in Egypt, the Middle East and the whole world, stressing that the Pope is quite qualified for the prize and that he received honorary doctorate degrees for peace from many universities around the world.

He said the Holy Synod did not discuss the proposal with the Pope, but all its members are for it. The nascent Coptic Association of Sweden said it would supervise the Pope’s nomination campaign. It said that the Pope had numerous humanitarian stances emphasizing a genuine peace that is based on love and justice, and that he is a man who advocates equality and freedom of worship.

H.H. ARAM I receives the special envoy of Patriarch Zakka I Iwas

On Wednesday 14 January 2009 Metropolitan George Saliba, Syrian Orthodox Metropolitan of Mount Lebanon visited His Holiness Aram I, and transmitted a special message on behalf of the Patriarch.

On this occasion the Metropolitan also discussed with His Holiness current ecumenical concerns in the region

http://www.armenianorthodoxchurch.org/v04/doc/English/visitscatheng.htm#9

Christmas Sermon of His Holiness Aram I

On Tuesday 6 January 2009, Armenians all over the world celebrated Christmas, the Holy Feast of the Incarnation and Epiphany. His Holiness Aram I celebrated the Holy Liturgy at St. Gregory the Illuminator Cathedral in Antelias in the presence of Lebanese Government officials, community leaders and a large number of believers.

In his sermon His Holiness invited the believers to respond to the message of renewal and love transmitted through the Birth of Jesus. He said that the commandment of love as the new law was given to us with the Incarnation. He then asked: “How do we live and express the love that came to us from Heaven through the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem? How close do we feel we are to God? The only way to discover whether God is in us is to love one another. As the Apostle said, whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love (1 John 4:7-11). Do we consider ourselves children of God? We should because through Nativity God showed his love to all of humanity.”

He then linked the message of the new commandment of love to the situation in Lebanon and the Middle East. He hoped that the national reconciliation process based on a dialogue of love would lead to radical solutions of the political problems in the country. He also appealed to the political leaders to serve the people with love and deep commitment and alleviate their social and economic difficulties. Finally, he called upon the international community to stop the bloodshed in Gaza , care for the innocent victims and find a permanent solution to the Palestinian question.

After the Liturgy and on the following day, His Holiness Aram I received Lebanese Government Officials, representatives of Diplomatic Corps and Leaders of the Armenian Community in Lebanon, who came to convey their good wishes on the occasion of Armenian Christmas.

Oriental Orthodox - Roman Catholic Dialogue 2009

The sixth meeting of the International Commission will be hosted by the Roman Catholic Church in Rome in January 2009. The day of arrival will be January 24 or 25, enabling the members to take part in the Vespers Service at St. Paul's Outside the Walls Basilica for the conclusion of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity. The two delegations will meet separately on Monday January 26. January 27, 28, 29 and 30 will be set aside for plenary sessions, with departures on Saturday January 31. At this session work will continue on the common statement on ecclesiology, and each side will present one paper "The Exercise of Communion Among the Churches in the First Five Centuries" and another paper "Reception of Councils in the First Five Centuries."

The members of the Commission are:

Representatives of the Oriental Orthodox Churches ( Alphabetic order)

1.Armenian Apostolic Church: Catholicosate of all Armenians
2.Armenian Apostolic Church: Holy See of Cilicia
3.Coptic Orthodox Church
4.Eritrean Orthodox Church
5.Ethiopian Orthodox Church
6.Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church
7.Syrian Orthodox Church

and

Roman Catholic Church.

Voice For Mor Gabriel

The demonstration against the seizure of Mor Gabriel was held on Sunday the 14th of December in Sdertlje. Our Syriac Orthodox Church realised that it was time to raise our voices and object against the escheat of Mor Gabriels properties. A manifestation is a democratic tool that we can use to light the world of situations like this one. In this way, we show our damnation against people who are trying to seize properties that our rightfully ours.

The demonstration was held on Maren in Sdertlje. Nearly two thousand people joined forces and buses came from cities like Norrkping and rebro

Mor Gabriel (St Gabriel) is in Midyat, a village in Turkey. It is one of our oldest monasteries being almost 1600 years of age. It is a property with holy value, not only for the Syriac-Orthodox community but for all Christians around the world.

Three villages around the monastery are working towards seizing and occupying parts of the monasterys land. The monastery has though, since 1938, the documents needed to proove that the property belongs to Mor Gabriel and that tax has been payed throughout the years.

Despite this obvious fact, the turkish state is allowing the villages action by letting a court of law decide the future of the monastery. The trial was meant to be held on the 19th of December but the turks decided to postpone it.

The confiscation goes against the international undertaking and conventions that Turkey has signed and promised to follow. One of the contracts is the Lausanne treaty which Turkey signed in 1923. It states that the country acknowledge the non-muslim minorities rights in Turkey. More importantly, in 2008, the Turkish parliament altered the law of religious diocese right to own properties and land in the country. Several politics from Sweden are right now in Turkey to object towards this act and to make sure that the court of law is following these undertakings made by Turkey.

His Eminence Yulius Abdulahad Gallo Shabo and His Eminence Dioscoros Benjamin Atas were both present and held speaches that encouraged the people who were present. Some even shed a few tears while listening to the speaches. Ten priests also attended to give their support. Speaches were held by representatives from different parties and a poem was read.

A hope was lit in peoples eyes during the manifestation. A hope that the monastery will be kept in our property.

Quotes from different speakers:

We have to be united and strong.

We have to fight and demand our rights. This is a crime against human rights and democracy!

We have to help Christians in Turkey. They are our siblings, not strangers!

Our brothers and sisters in Turkey may be afraid of raising their voices because of oppression and threat, but we can raise our voices!

A swedish priest said: This concerns all of us as Christians. He then referred to St Paul who says: And if one member suffers, then all members suffer with it (1 Cor 12:26)

Having that in mind we should also remember that if one member is honoured, then all members rejoice with it (1 Cor 12:26).

We pray that St Pauls words come true.

Source: http://www.melthodhaye.com

-- Youtube link

Copts Crying Out for Help Before Another Massacre Occurs

27 December, 2008: The Egyptian security authorities are again at work to support the fanatics who do not want the Copts to pray anywhere in Egypt. The same scenario is repeated all over again. Last month it was in Ain Shams, then Minya el Kamh, and today in Ameriya district, Alexandria, where the Copts there are crying out for help, as sectarian tension rise, and they fear the worst.

A mob of nearly 1000 Muslims in the village of "Iraq" in Ameriya rallied and tried to attack the home of Mr. Ehab Hanna, a Copt who sold the land to the registered Coptic "Eslah" charity for the erection of a services centre, which holds a building permit since 2004.

Twelve people came to his house and tried to extract by force his signature on papers pledging the absence of any church in the village. He refused as they had no official capacity and explained to them that it was a services building and not a church. Outside were cars waiting holding nearly 1000 people, following announcements made in the nearby mosques by a person called Aly Sharaf who was employed by a member of the Egyptian People's Assembly, that the "Copts are building a Church". After many attempts to force him to sign the papers, the security forces arrived led by Deputy Director of Security, which caused the mob to flee. They questioned witnesses including Mr. Hanna who then escorted them to the Ameriya Police Station, where he presented them with all valid documents and permits, which proved the legality of the building, and was, released the following day. Two people from the Muslim mob were taken to the police station. The building was then closed by the security authorities, its locks changed and a guarding police unit was placed in front of it.

During the investigation with Mr. Ihab Hanna, the security authorities summoned an agricultural engineer - the Ministry of Agriculture is involved in the process of licensing - who issued a forged report that the building was in violation, despite the fact that it holds a license since 2004 from the former Governor of Alexandria, which, therefore, practically cancels out the obtained license. In his report, the agricultural engineer stated that he carried out an investigation with Mr. Ihab Hanna at 7 p.m. Astonishingly, Mr. Ihab Hanna at that time was at the Ameriya police station for questioning since 6.30 p.m. He also advised that he has never seen or spoken with this engineer. Despite the present calm conditions, the village Copts expressed fears of a repeat of the Koshh massacre, or of any attempts to inflame the Muslims, as they have received threats to burn their land and loot their property, in the event of any church being built. They also expressed concern that the authorities might remove the building. They are calling for caution on the part of the security authorities of any attempts to break out violence. There are 150 Coptic families living in the "Iraq" village, in Amereya, every family has a plot of land from 10 acres to 50 acres, as well as a number of livestock sheds. However, there are no churches in the area, and the nearest is nearly 50 km from the village!!! It is worth noting that the permit held is for the erection of a building for social as well as religious services.

by Ashraf Ramelah, Voice of the Copts

Ethiopian Patriarch visits Malankara Orthodox Church

Kottayam, India, 31st December 2008: The Patriarch of the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahido Church His Holiness Abuna Paulos visited India for 3 days from 29-31 December 2008, on the invitation from the Malankara Indian Orthodox Syrian Church to participate in the centenary of the foundation of the Church’s Students movement. During this visit His Holiness Abuna Paulos met Catholicose His Holiness Marthoma Baselios Didymos I, the supreme head of the Malankara Indian Orthodox Syrian Church at the Catholicate Palace in Kottayam.

On Tuesday 31st His Holiness inaugurated the valedictory function of the year-long centenary celebrations of the Mar Gregorios Orthodox Christian Students Movement at a function held at Parumala Seminary on Tuesday. Catholicos and Supreme head of Malankara Orthodox Church Baselios Marthoma Didimos I presided over the function. Catholicos-designate Paulose Mar Milithios delivered the keynote address. The Ethiopian Patriarch was conferred the Order of St. Thomas by the Catholicose on the occasion.

The Ethiopian delegation to India included Archbishop Gerima W Kirikos, Archbishop Abba Thimothios Tespha and Archbishop Abba Dioscoros.

source: MalankaraOrthodox.in

World must intervene in Gaza, Christian leaders say

VATICAN CITY (Reuters) - Christian leaders in Jerusalem called on Tuesday for global intervention to stop the Gaza conflict and urged Israelis and Palestinians to "return to their senses."

Medical officials say more than 380 Palestinians have been killed since Israel launched bombing raids on Saturday designed to stop rocket salvoes from the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip.

In a joint statement issued by the Vatican, patriarchs, bishops and heads of Christian churches in Jerusalem also pressed all parties to chose non-violent methods to resolve their disputes.

"We also call on the international community to fulfill its responsibilities and intervene immediately and actively to stop the bloodshed and end all forms of confrontation," they said.

Signatories included the Catholic "Custos of the Holy Land," who oversee major Christian pilgrimage sites, the Greek Orthodox Patriarch, the Syrian Orthodox Patriarch and a bishop from the Evangelical Lutheran Church.

"We believe that the continuation of this bloodshed and violence will not lead to peace and justice but breed more hatred and hostility -- and thus continued confrontation between the two peoples," they wrote.

Pope Benedict, the leader of the world's 1.1 billion Catholics, has repeatedly called for an end to the fighting and issued a high-profile appeal for peace at Christmas. On Sunday, he pressed all sides to abandon the "perverse logic of conflict and violence."

Vatican officials are exploring the possibility of the pope's first visit to the Holy Land since his 2005 election.

The Vatican supports Israel's right to exist within secure borders alongside an independent Palestinian state and hopes a papal trip could help political and religious dialogue aimed at Middle East peace.

(Writing by Phil Stewart; Editing by Katie Nguyen)

Source: http://uk.reuters.com/article/usTopNews/idUKTRE4BT3I620081230

Christmas Papal Message - His Holiness Pope Shenuda

My Beloved Children in the lands of immigration, Clergy, Laity.

It gives me joy to congratulate you on the glorious feast of nativity and with the start of the New Year. We pray that it is blessed and joyful in the life of each of us.

The birth of the Lord is full of deep spiritual contemplations; we hope that they may be a lesson to us all, having its effect and results.

Firstly, he came down to us, to visit us, reconcile us and save us. One of the fathers the saints said: "With sin there was contention between man and his creator, and since man could not ascend to God and reconcile with Him, God came down to man." Yes, He came down and continues to knock on the door of the human heart so it may open for
Him.

In His coming down, He "made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant.and being found in appearance as a man."(Philippians 2: 7,8) He did not desire to frighten us with His divinity, but attracted us with Him humility. He also attracted us with His love, as He went about doing good. And this is another lesson for us.

In his nativity, He was born in an amazing simplicity; He did not come down upon the wings of the Cherubim, engulfed by a choir of angels. Instead HE was born from a poor orphan virgin, who was in the care of a simple carpenter. His birth was in a manger, on a day not known to anyone, but was proclaimed to some shepherds, and then
visited by three Magi representing the estranged Gentiles..It is a mixture of simplicity and humility, which was a third lesson for us to be far from outer appearances.

The Lord Christ lived an alienated childhood far from being famous. A part of this childhood was threatened by the sword of Herod, and in a part of this childhood, He was a stranger in the land of Egypt, although He blessed it. As for His youth days, we do not know anything about it. And the little that the Jews gave Him was "the carpenter's son."( Mathew 13: 55)

When He started His ministry, He lived for more than three years without a position of leadership in the Jewish community. The little that He was known by among His beloved was "Teacher." He did not possess a house for the ministry, He did not even have a place to lay His head (Luke 9:58). HE sometimes preached from the mountain, or in the wilderness, or the fields, or upon the sea shore..

His strength was in His personality and not in any appearance that surrounded m; loved by the people and envied by the leaders, but He was a source of love to all, being compassionate upon everyone in need every sick person and upon those tormented by evil spirits.

He had disciplined who wee also simple; and E filled their heart with love, filled their minds with knowledge, granted them His Holy spirit, and also granted them gifts.

This is The Christ whom we celebrate His Birth, and we are proud that His Name has been called upon us. Blessed is the day of His birth and may we also celebrate His characteristics as well.

Finally, be all well and healthy in the Lord, absolved from His Holy Spirit.

Pope Shenouda III
Pope of Alexandria and
Patriarch of the See of St. Mark
Feast of Nativity 2008

Source:

http://st-takla.org/News/Coptic-Papal-Messages/Christmas-Papal-Message-for-2008.html