The Pledge of the Newly Ordained Bishop
The Pledge of the Newly Ordained Bishop
I, the unworthy one… called by the grace of God to the noble work of the episcopacy,
✚ I pledge before God, the Lord of lords, the Shepherd of shepherds, and the invisible Head of the Church; before His holy altar; before my father, His Holiness Pope Shenouda III; before my fathers and brothers the metropolitans and bishops; before the other members of the Holy Synod, the clergy, and all the people:
✚ That I will remain steadfast in the Orthodox faith until my final breath, and that I will serve and uphold the laws of the Holy Church established by the holy apostolic fathers, as well as those set forth by the three Ecumenical Councils convened in Nicaea, Constantinople, and Ephesus; and likewise the canons approved by the Church from the local councils and the great fathers, teachers of the faith.
✚ I also pledge to proclaim the Gospel to the extent of my ability.
✚ I further pledge to preserve the traditions, rites, and teachings of our Coptic Orthodox Church, and to exert all my effort in teaching the people the sound faith, leading them in a life of holiness and righteousness, and to be myself an example to them in every good work (*).
✚ I pledge to love the flock and to deal with them with gentleness and wisdom; not to have a favored group among them, but to care for all; not to judge anyone by hearsay or in anger, but to give each one the opportunity to defend himself.
✚ I pledge to continue in the life of asceticism to which I have vowed myself, and not to regard the Church’s money as my own.
✚ I pledge to submit to the supreme headship of the priesthood, represented by His Holiness the Pope Patriarch and by the Holy Synod of our Coptic Orthodox Church.
✚ I ask the Lord to grant me strength through your prayers, that I may carry out this serious responsibility and carefully shepherd this flock, whose blood God will require from my hand.
Pray for me, O my fathers and holy brothers. Behold, I make a prostration before you all.
(*) Up to this point, the General Bishop shares this pledge with the Diocesan Bishop. The General Bishop then continues as follows:
✚ I pledge to continue in the life of asceticism to which I have vowed myself, and to strive in acquiring the virtues befitting the rank of the episcopacy.
✚ I pledge to submit to the supreme headship of the Church, represented by His Holiness the Pope Patriarch and by the Holy Synod of our Coptic Orthodox Church, and to conduct my service as a General Bishop according to the guidance and direction of His Holiness the Pope.
✚ I ask the Lord to grant me strength through your prayers, that I may carry out this serious responsibility and faithfully fulfill all the duties entrusted to me.
Pray for me, O my fathers and holy brothers. Behold, I make a prostration before you all.
