The Holy Synod of the Coptic Orthodox Church, led by Pope Tawadros II and in attendance of 107 of its 138 members, held its general assembly on 2 June 2023 at Logos Centre in the Western Desert monastery of Anba Bishoy, some 120km northwest Cairo.
“For their sake, I sanctify Myself”
The annual meeting, normally held right ahead of the Pentecost, represents the outcome of studies conducted by the Synod’s committees and subcommittees that specialise in studying various issues throughout the year; these committees issue recommendations which are more often than not adopted as decisions by the Synod’s General Assembly. The significance of these decisions cannot be overstated and, as such, are keenly awaited by the congregation.
Pope Tawadros started off with an introductory word titled: “For their sake, I sanctify Myself” (John 17:19), shedding light on the basic trio of pastoral care: Jesus Christ; the bishop as a father; and the congregation, the children of the Church.
Recommendations, decisions
The ten branch committees of the Holy Synod had begun their meetings on Sunday 28 May at St Mark’s Cathedral in Abbasiya Cairo, to discuss the reports submitted to them by their subcommittees. They accordingly wrote recommendations that were presented to the Synod’s general assembly for approval. The recommendations approved read as follows:
1- Pastoral Care and Service Committee
Enabling the participation of Church servants in diocesan training programmes that focus on care for individuals with special needs, and establishing a website for the committee to facilitate communication with the dioceses in this regard.
Empowering the development office in each diocese in order to identify local development needs; the Bishopric of Public and Social Services would then provide the required technical support.
Perpetually and regularly posting updates on the social care database, especially as regards Church services for the education and increased support for children.
Working to spread the culture of foster care for children, which is promoted by a government initiative titled “A child needs a family and a family needs a child.
Coordinating with specialised centres for addiction treatment set up by the government to offer state-of-the-art service free of charge. The committee also encourages Church servants to join the Coptic Centre for Psychological Studies to prepare leaders for such a service.
Providing pastoral care for persons that relocate in a diocese other than their home diocese for purposes such as education or work.
Urging bishops and priests to work to spread awareness on avoiding marriages of blood relatives, with the aim of reducing the spread of genetic diseases. [Blood-relatives-marriages are widespread in Egypt’s rural areas.]
Promoting a culture of organ donation, such as in liver transplants.
Caring for various groups including migrants, orphans, persons with disabilities, prisoners, special cases, and addicts; also caring for and supporting their families spiritually, psychologically, and socially. There is a need to train Church servants to qualify for serving such groups, as in setting up homes for each group, and coordinating between dioceses to maximise benefit.
2- Family Committee
Stressing the seriousness of pre-marriage medical examination, which should preferably be conducted before an engagement and not [as is frequently the case] directly before marriage.
Placing strong emphasis on counselling and pre-marriage classes that include topics on family planning, dangers of female genital mutilation (FGM), and the dangers of blood-relatives-marriages.
Stressing that the Marriage Pledge by Groom and Bride should be read at the outset of the Crowning Ceremony Matrimonial Prayers. [Wording of Pledge is cited at the end of this article].
Recommending the promotion of services for children in every church.
Recommending the establishment of men’s meetings in every church.
Focusing on women’s meetings so that the role of women in the household can be enhanced through initiatives such as “Gathering the fragments” (John 6:12) that works to alleviate the rise in prices and inflation, and “Test the Spirits” (1 John 4:1) that battles belief in sorcery and supernatural practices.
Benefiting from the inclusion and experiences of elderly persons, organising weekly meetings for them, and establishing homes for those who cannot serve themselves.
Forming a committee of graduates from accredited counselling institutes to resolve family disputes. Such committees should then be affiliated to local clerical councils. [Clerical Councils are councils formed by the Church to look into applications for divorce, marriage annulment, and remarriage].
3- Public Relations Committee
Consolidating the concept of citizenship by encouraging community participation in national projects, with an emphasis on positive dealings with presidential initiatives such as: ‘Solidarity and Dignity’ and ‘A Decent Life’, especially given that the Coptic Orthodox Church has become a member of the National Alliance for Civil Development Work.
Expressing appreciation to the Egyptian government and its agencies for the role it has played towards our Egyptian and Sudanese children since the start of the current fighting. Given the development of events in Sudan where large numbers of Sudanese Copts have been and are being directly attacked in Khartoum and Omdurman, we also appeal to the political leadership in our country to facilitate their entry into Egypt.
4- Diocesan Affairs Committee
Promoting the work of the Celibate Consecration Committee and reviewing the consecration guidelines.
Stressing that the Coptic Orthodox Church rejects all kinds of sexual perversion.
5- Rites Committee
The committee stressed that printing books on liturgy, rituals and rites is the responsibility of the Coptic Orthodox Patriarchate alone, and the books should be approved by the Holy Synod. In addition, it is not permissible to add or change any phrase in liturgical prayers except by official decision from the Holy Synod.
6- Faith and Education Committee
Developing a vision for an explanation of the Nicene Creed to fit all ages, and illustrating through artistic works an explanation of the epic book “The Incarnation of the Word” by Pope Athanasius the Apostolic, in preparation for celebrating the 1700th anniversary of the First Ecumenical Council of Nicaea that was held in AD325.
7- Ecumenical Relations and Dialogue Committee
Continuing as a member in the Anglican Oriental Orthodox International Commission which is a committee concerned with cooperation and good relations, without any theological agreements.
The committee recommends continuing with efforts to restore Jerusalem’s Deir al-Sultan to [its rightful historical owner] the Coptic Orthodox Church, through communication with the authorities concerned inside and outside Egypt.
8- Media and Information Committee
Producing a series of short films of no more than three minutes on social media addiction, atheism, types of addiction, homosexuality, and transgenderism.
Advertising the Coptic Orthodox Church electronic application and website as an open channel for dialogue to communicate with young people, and receive their questions and suggestions.
Producing a documentary on the First Ecumenical Council of Nicaea based on accurate research, for the 2025 celebration of its 1700th anniversary.
9- Monasticism and Monasteries/Convents Affairs Committee
Based on the committee’s recommendation, the Holy Synod decided to officially recognise the following six convents:
First: Convents Inside Egypt:
1. The Wise Virgins Convent off Ismailiya Road
2. The Virgin Mary and Wedamon the Martyr Convent in Hager Armant
3. St George & St Syncletica (Severinky) Convent in al-Alamein
Second: Convents outside Egypt:
1. Archangel Michael Convent in Melbourne, Australia
2. St Anne’s Convent in Austria
3. St Mary, St George and St Philopateer Convent in Mississauga, Canada
10- Diaspora Affairs Committee
Establishing an office in the Patriarchate to coordinate service trips to the mother Church in Egypt, such as medical convoys, and educational and service purposes.
To celebrate the 1700th anniversary of the First Ecumenical Council in Nicaea, a theological seminar will be held during the Feast of St Athanasius the Apostolic (15 May 2025), organised by the Diocese of Los Angeles.
Standing Committee
Facilitating reconciliation between the Eritrean Church and her children at home and abroad.
Secretariat Committee
The Secretariat of the Holy Synod recommends visiting the following sites:
The official website of the Coptic Orthodox Church: https://copticorthodox.church/
The general website for Coptic hospitals: coptic-hospitals.org
The Coptic Institute for Psychological Studies: coptic-cip.org
The website of the Centre for Training Servants to serve Persons with Special Needs: sacsob.com
Coptic Orthodox marriage pledge
We pledge before God, the Lord of Lords and Shepherd of shepherds; before His angels and saints; and before the priests and congregation gathered with us, that we shall live a Christian marriage according to the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Each of us shall strive for the salvation of the other’s soul. Our home shall be a home of prayer, purity, and blessings; it shall be as the Bible says: “As for me and my house, we worship the Lord”.
We pledge to adhere to the Orthodox faith to our last breath, honouring the holy Church’s canons and respecting her traditions, rites, and teachings.
We pledge that each of us shall sacrifice ourselves for the sake of the other’s happiness; that we shall walk together in love, good faith, tolerance, truth, and patience; that we shall each bear with the other’s weaknesses; and in wisdom flee from worldly corruption.
We pledge not to allow material aspects to be a cause for difference or dispute between us. Also to exercise love and wisdom in dealing with each other’s parents and families.
We pledge to raise our children in true Christian manner, and to be role models for them in good deeds, so that we may all live saintly lives without blame before God.
Watani International
5 June 2023