Church Organizations

Decisions of the Holy Synod

Decisions of the Holy Synod

The Holy Synod approved the recommendations submitted by the Committee on Diocesan Affairs regarding the engagement record. This includes the following:

1. Unifying the engagement record in all dioceses. A standard model was presented for this purpose.
2. Recording in the engagement record the type of kinship or relationship between the engaged couple.
3. Ensuring that there are no impediments to the marriage.
4. The necessity of announcing the names of the engaged couple on the church bulletin board.
5. The necessity of verifying the sincerity of the faith of those joining the Coptic Orthodox Church in terms of conviction and proper understanding of the doctrine before accepting them into the Church and performing any sacramental rites, including the Sacrament of Marriage.

The Holy Synod also approved the recommendations submitted by the Committee on Pastoral Care and Service concerning the following:

1. Holding a specialized seminar to train priests and servants involved in the pastoral care of prisoners and their families.
2. Holding another seminar on matters of faith.
3. Preparing draft regulations for the consecrated deacon. This task was entrusted to Their Graces Anba Bishoy, Anba Benjamin, and Anba Moussa.

The Committee on Ecumenical Relations submitted a memorandum written by His Grace Anba Bishoy regarding the Assyrians and their request to join the Middle East Council of Churches, and how it became evident that they are Nestorians who do not wish to renounce their Nestorian doctrine.

The Holy Synod approved the recommendations of the Committee on Rites concerning the following:

1. The commitment of all priestly fathers to wear the recognized priestly vestments, both during liturgical services and outside the church.
2. Praying the litanies aloud for the preservation of the rite, since the practice of some praying them silently leads to their being forgotten or causes the people to believe that they have been omitted.

The Synaxarium, after its revision, will be submitted to the printing press.

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