Meeting of the Holy Synod of the See of St. Mark

The Holy Synod met on Saturday, May 13, 1992, at St. Anthony’s Church in the Papal Residence, under the presidency of His Holiness the Pope, with His Grace Bishop Bishoy serving as Secretary. Fifty-eight metropolitans and bishops attended the meeting. For the first time, the Metropolitan of Jerusalem and two Eritrean bishops attended the sessions of the Synod.

Approval of Committee Reports

The Holy Synod approved several committee reports, including the Pastoral Care Committee’s report on the ministry of consecrated women, the Personal Status Committee’s report and its engagement form, as well as the Liturgical Committee’s report.

The Synod was also informed of the Education Committee’s report and the preparations for the celebration marking one hundred years since the reestablishment of the Theological Seminary. It was further informed of the results of the theological dialogue with other churches.

The Synod was also informed of the decision to defrock the former monk Daniel El-Baramousy, the errors attributed to him, the books he had published, his prayers with other denominations, his journeys abroad, and the endorsement of his excommunication by bishops, priests, and members of ecclesiastical councils in Cairo, Alexandria, Lower Egypt, and Upper Egypt.

Liturgical Instructions

1. Only one loaf of qurban is to enter the sanctuary to be offered in the Sacrament of the Eucharist. The remaining loaves are to remain outside for distribution as eulogia (blessed bread).
2. No one may enter the sanctuary except those serving at the altar.
3. A deacon may not put on the tonia (liturgical tunic) until it has been blessed by the priest.
4. All deacons wearing the tonia are to partake of the Holy Mysteries, since the tonia is a sign of service at the altar.
5. A candidate for priestly ordination must previously have been ordained a deacon; therefore, he should not approach priestly ordination dressed as a layman.
6. A cantor may be ordained a Psaltos, while the senior cantor may be ordained an Archipsaltos.
7. Following his ordination, a new priest is to spend forty days in retreat at a monastery. When he returns, he returns to his congregation as a father and shepherd, rather than simply returning to his family.

Personal Status Matters

The Synod decided that the engagement record should specify the type and degree of kinship between the engaged couple, in order to ensure that no canonical impediment exists because of consanguinity or affinity.

All engagements are also to be announced on the church notice board for no less than two weeks, allowing anyone aware of a canonical impediment to submit an objection.

Church administrative employees were also instructed not to reserve a church for an engagement or wedding unless an officially approved written authorization had been issued by the diocese.

Other Decisions

Candidates for monasticism, the seminary, consecrated service, priesthood, or church ministry in general are to undergo examination concerning their doctrinal beliefs, in order to prevent anyone holding doctrinally deviant views from entering pastoral ministry.

The required pledge is to apply not only to bishops and priests but also to all other church servants.

Registers and certificates are to be established for baptisms and all ordinations, according to specially prepared formats.

Each church is also to maintain a historical record containing an account of its establishment, architectural plans, electricity and water layouts, copies of its purchase contract and official authorization, and an inventory of the relics of saints, icons, and historical manuscripts in its possession.

Guidelines are also to be prepared for visitors to monasteries and historic churches in order to preserve their tranquility and the dignity and reverence of these sacred places.

Finally, the relationship between churches and Coptic associations is to be regulated.