News of the Holy Synod
News of the Holy Synod
Meeting of the Committees of the Holy Synod
His Holiness the Pope met with the members of the Holy Synod committees from April 5–7 at the Monastery of Saint Anba Bishoy in Wadi El Natrun.
Those present included members of the Monasticism Committee, the Public Relations and Ecclesiastical Relations Committee, the Education and Canons Committee, the Liturgical Committee, and the Services Committee.
Monasteries and Monasticism Committee
This committee convened under the presidency of His Holiness the Pope on Saturday, April 5, 1986, and presented the following recommendations:
1. Establishing a Register for the Monks of Each Monastery
This register should include the monk’s current name, his secular name before monasticism, his profession and marital status before monasticism, date of birth, date of monastic profession, ecclesiastical ranks received and their dates, duties within the monastery, service outside the monastery if applicable, health condition, and remarks.
The register should be updated with all new monastic ordinations, and a complete copy of all such information should be kept by the Synod Secretariat.
2. Monks Outside Their Monasteries
Lists should be submitted from all monasteries containing the names of monks residing outside their monasteries, whether engaged in service, under disciplinary measures, or traveling.
The fathers reviewed the names of monks wandering outside monasteries, visiting homes, and causing various problems. They recommended that no monk be received in private homes unless he possesses authorization from either the Patriarchate or his monastery. The same applies to monks collecting donations.
3. Ordination and Promotion of Monks
The committee recommended that no bishop or monastery priest may ordain a monk or nun except for a monastery officially recognized by the Church. This should only occur through, or with the permission of, the abbot, the monastery’s bishop, or His Holiness the Pope.
Likewise, no monk may be elevated to any clerical rank except through, or with the permission of, the abbot, the monastery’s bishop, or His Holiness the Pope.
4. The Tourist Aspect of Monasteries
The committee recommended giving attention to the tourism aspect of monasteries. Each monastery should publish a book in Arabic and foreign languages such as English, French, and German. This book should be attractively printed and contain color photographs of the monastery’s churches, icons, and Coptic and monastic antiquities, helping both foreigners and Egyptians become acquainted with our monasteries, their historical significance, and their monastic life.
The committee also recommended publishing a comprehensive illustrated book on Coptic monasticism for tourists.
It further recommended establishing a museum in every monastery to display its antiquities, as well as an exhibition for valuable monastery products.
5. Acceptance of New Monks
The committee recommended that the probationary period for a candidate to monasticism should be no less than one year and may extend to three years.
It also recommended that monastic candidates take unpaid leave from their employment, if possible, so that if they do not persevere in the monastic life they may return to their jobs without harm. This recommendation may also be applied in convents.
6. A Monastic Regulation
The committee decided to prepare a draft monastic regulation that would also organize work within monasteries. Existing monastic regulations were collected, the latest being from the era of Pope Yoannes XIX, whose papacy began in 1927 and who departed in the early 1940s.
7. Other Various Recommendations
The committee recommended greater attention to the education of monks and the holding of spiritual meetings for them.
It also recommended exchanging information among monasteries concerning monks under ecclesiastical discipline, with such information being sent to the Secretariat of the Holy Synod, which would communicate with the bishops regarding these matters.
The committee further recommended that no church should allow an unfamiliar monk to celebrate the Divine Liturgy or offer incense services unless it is certain of the validity of his priesthood and he carries a letter from his bishop authorizing him to do so.
Likewise, no diocesan bishop should appoint a monk to serve in a diocese, or even promise him such service, without first obtaining permission from His Holiness the Pope or the abbot of the monastery.
The committee also recommended that monks should not reside with their families in cities or rural areas.
8. List of Recognized Monasteries for Monks and Nuns
The Monasteries Committee established the following list of monasteries officially recognized by our Coptic Church:
A. Monasteries for Monks
- Monastery of Saint Anba Antony, Eastern Desert.
- Monastery of Saint Anba Paul, Eastern Desert.
- Monastery of the Virgin Mary (Al-Baramous), Wadi El Natrun.
- Monastery of Saint Macarius (Abu Maqar), Wadi El Natrun.
- Monastery of Saint Anba Bishoy, Wadi El Natrun.
- Monastery of the Virgin Mary (Al-Surian), Wadi El Natrun.
- Monastery of the Virgin Mary (Al-Muharraq), Assiut.
- Monastery of Saint Anba Samuel, Mount El-Qalamoun.
- Monastery of Saint Mina the Wonderworker, Mariout.
- Monastery of Saint Pachomius, Hager Edfu.
- Monastery of Saint George, El-Rizikat.
B. Convents for Nuns
- Convent of Saint Mercurius (Abu Seifein), Old Cairo.
- Convent of Saint George, Old Cairo.
- Convent of the Virgin Mary, Harat Zuwayla.
- Convent of Saint George, Harat Zuwayla.
- Convent of Prince Tadros, Harat El-Roum.
- Convent of Saint Demiana, the Wilderness of Belqas.
Diocesan Affairs Committee and Canons Committee
These two committees met under the presidency of His Holiness the Pope and discussed several matters concerning parish priests and personal status issues. They issued recommendations to be submitted to the Holy Synod.
Their recommendations will be published in the next issue, God willing.
The committee also recommended that no condition imposed by a bishop requiring that a specific monk be ordained and sent to serve in his diocese after a certain period should be accepted before that monk enters the monastic life.
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