In a three-hour long session today by the Holy Synod of the Coptic Orthodox Church, over which Pope Tawadros II presided, Bishop-General of Downtown Cairo Anba Raphail was voted in as secretary-general of the Holy Synod. Anba Raphail was among the three finalists elected by Coptic voters
In a three-hour long session today by the Holy Synod of the Coptic Orthodox Church, over which Pope Tawadros II presided, Bishop-General of Downtown Cairo Anba Raphail was voted in as secretary-general of the Holy Synod. Anba Raphail was among the three finalists elected by Coptic voters to qualify for the altar draw which earlier this month brought in Anba Tawadros as the 118th Coptic pope. He is known as an experienced scholar, a persuasive preacher, and one in charge of a wide-reaching socio-development service in Downtown Cairo.
Anba Thomas of Qussiya, Upper Egypt, and Bishop Youssef of the South US were voted in as assistant secretaries.
The Pope, who is entitled to appoint a third assistant secretary, appointed Anba Apollo of South Sinai in this position.
The synod discussed the requirements of the upcoming phase, and the 1957 Bylaws which govern the selection of the pope of the Coptic Orthodox Church, and which has been widely criticised for being out of touch with today’s Egyptian and global variables, and for being unclear about specific canonical details.
The Pope has already charged the 18-person—nine members of the clergy and nine of the laity—committee over which Beheira Archbishop Anba Pochomeus presides, and which had managed the papal elections, to draw a new set of bylaws to replace the 1957 Bylaws. “This committee,” Pope Tawadros said a day earlier in a televised address, “is the most qualified to look into the matter, since it is already familiar with all the intricacies and predicaments of the 1957 Bylaws, and has a good vision of the amendments needed.”
A decision was taken that the Holy synod should convene twice a year: once before Advent which begins on 25 November every year, except in leap years when it begins on 26 November; the other time would be during the 10 days between the Ascension and the Pentecost, usually in June.
The Holy Synod also took a decision to ban public applause in churches through clapping or ululating which were described as inappropriate to the sanctity of the place.
Watani International
22 November 2012
The photo shows Anba Raphail