The Holy Synod of the Coptic Orthodox Church has announced the names of the nominees for the post of patriarch, which has been vacant since the death of Pope Shenouda III last March.
The Holy Synod of the Coptic Orthodox Church has announced the names of the nominees for the post of patriarch, which has been vacant since the death of Pope Shenouda III last March.
The list of nominees, which includes 7 bishops and 10 monks, is preliminary in the sense that it is open for contests. Once these contests are resolved by the election committee, a short list of five to seven candidates will be determined and offered for voting by the electorate. The process is not expected to be completed before the finalisation of the voter lists which, according to the committee in charge, will take at least till the end of this month.
Four nominees have declined candidacy for the post of patriarch: Bishop of Youth Anba Moussa, acting patriarch Anba Pachomeus, Bishop of Old Cairo Anba Mina, and Bishop of California Anba Moussa.
The seven bishops nominated are: Archbishop of Dumyat Anba Bishoi, Bishop of Samalout Anba Pavnotius, Bishop of Milano Anba Kyrillos, Bishop of Services and Papal Secretary Anba Yu’annis, Bishop of Downtown Cairo Churches Anba Rafa’il, Bishop-General of Beheira Anba Tawodros, and Papal Secretary Anba Boutros.
The 10 monks nominated are the fathers Bishoi Ava Pola, Sawiris Ava Pola, Anastasi al-Samu’ili, Pachmeus al-Suriani, Danial al-Suriani, Sarofim al-Suriani, Shenouda Ava Bishoi, Rafa’il Ava Mina, Maximos al-Antoni, and a monk from the Baramos monastery whose name was not disclosed.
WATANI International
1 June 2012