Continuation of the Synaxarium
From the events of history
Continuation of the Synaxarium
A proposal we present to the Holy Synod…
The Synaxarium is the book that contains the daily commemorations of the saints of the Church. This book was compiled many centuries ago… and during these centuries the Church has produced saints of various types who should be added to the Synaxarium.
With this addition, believers feel that holiness was not limited to the early generations, but extends through all ages.
There are saints in the Synaxarium of the universal Church before the schism (before 451 A.D.). And saints from the Roman era. And saints from the Islamic eras, such as Anba Rewis, Anba Barsoum al-Erian, Mar Girgis al-Muzahim, Anba Mark the Anchorite, and others.
This indicates that additions to the Synaxarium continued over ten centuries…
Added to this are some Popes of the Church, up to a recent era, who were included in the Synaxarium. In the Holy Synod convened in the year 1963 A.D., His Grace Anba Shenouda, Bishop of Education, proposed adding the name of Saint Anba Abram, Bishop of Fayoum, and Anba Sarabamon Abu Tarha, Bishop of Menoufia, and the Synod agreed.
Thus the additions extended into the twentieth century.
In the time of Pope Kyrillos VI, it was decided to add to the Synaxarium the account of the apparition of the Virgin in Zeitoun, and the account of the return of the relics of St. Mark to Cairo.
And the additions came to include our present generation as well.
In light of this synodal response to additions, we present our current proposal, which is:
1- The Synaxarium requires many additions, whether concerning persons of the saints or significant events.
2- A synodal committee can be formed to study what ought to be added. It may seek assistance from some researchers and present its study to the Holy Synod.
3- This committee may review the current Synaxarium and offer its observations on it.
4- The committee may receive proposals sent by the masses of the people. It may also receive from every diocese a list of its well-known saints, in order to determine their place in the Synaxarium.
5- There are saints for whom merely mentioning their names is sufficient, or a few lines may be added. And there are other saints whose lives are written in detail, according to the lessons and spiritual benefit they contain.
6- After the decision of the Holy Synod, the Synaxarium is printed in a new official edition, approved by the Church, and this edition is used in the ecclesiastical readings.
We hope that this project will be completed in our present generation, trusting in the scientific potential within it and in hearts open to understanding.
Research will show us significant events worthy of being recorded, no less at all than what is recorded in the current Synaxarium. It will also reveal important corrections that must be made.
And we would like to say that the Synaxarium, as an official liturgical book in the Church, should not be published or printed by ordinary individuals whose output we cannot guarantee in any way.
It is an official work, belonging to the Church alone.
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