After a six-hour closed meeting yesterday, the Holy Synod officially announced the definitive decision of the acting patriarch, the locum tenens Anba Pachomeus to refrain from candidacy for the post of the patriarch.
After a six-hour closed meeting yesterday, the Holy Synod officially announced the definitive decision of the acting patriarch, the locum tenens Anba Pachomeus to refrain from candidacy for the post of the patriarch.
Even though Anba Pachomeus, also the Archbishop of Beheira, had been strongly nominated him for the post by members of the Holy Synod, he thanked all those who put their trust in him and explained that he preferred to keep his current post as locum tenens, serving the Church until she peacefully crosses this serious phase, and he hands over the papal seat to the new patriarch. Had Anba Pachomeus accepted nomination, he would have had to relinquish the post of acting patriarch which would then have gone to the next in line of the Holy Synod.
Preparations for the elections
Anba Youssef, Bishop of the South USA, delivered the statement of the Holy Synod. He said the Synod had decided that, according to the by-laws for the election of the new patriarch, the Ethiopian Church should participate with five votes.
Anba Youssef said that the committee in charge of registering the voters was to convene today in order to set the measures for the registration of eligible voters from among the Copts of the Diaspora, and to set the deadlines for receiving the demands for voter registration. Twelve voters from the laity will be chosen from every diocese by the bishop assisted by five laypersons. The list of the candidates so far nominated for the papal seat, Anba Youssef said, will not be announced till the nominations are closed on 17 May. He urged the media for accuracy while covering stories connected to the papal elections or on the Church in the broader sense.
According to Maged Riad, legal advisor of the Coptic Orthodox Church in US, some 14 candidates have been so far nominated for future patriarch. Among these are Bishop of Youth Anba Moussa, Bishop-General Anba Yu’annis, Secretary of the Holy Synod and Archbishop of Dumyat Anba Bishoi, Bishop of Samalout Anba Pavnotius, Bishop General Anba Raphael, Bishop of Minya, Anba Makarius, former Secretary of Pope Shenouda III Anba Botros, and Bishop General of Beheira Anba Tawodros. Three monks were also nominated, among whom is Father Raphael Avamina of the Mar Mina Monastery, who is well loved by the congregation, but his old age may stand against his nomination. Also nominated has been Anba Kyrillos, Bishop of Milan, who is very popular among the Copts of Europe.
Task for the new pope
Considering the large number of candidates, an initial vetting will have to be made by the electoral commission, in order for the final list to consist of a maximum of seven candidates. The 1957 by-laws states that the final list of candidates should include no more than seven and no less than five candidates, after which three candidates are elected, then a draw is performed during Holy Mass after which the newly elected pope is announced.
The Coptic Orthodox Church considers the draw an integral part of the election process because it is rooted among the practices of the first Church. It leaves the final say regarding the choice of pope to divine will.
As the late pope’s legal advisor, Dr Riad divulged that Pope Shenouda had concerns regarding the 1957 by-laws, but that he thought the time was not right to venture on amendments since these may be taken to indicate he was paving the road before a specific candidate to succeed him. He thus preferred to leave this task for the next pope as soon as he is elected.
WATANI International
1 May 2012