24.04.2013 Views

Coptic Church & Ecumenical Movement - Saint Mina Coptic ...

Coptic Church & Ecumenical Movement - Saint Mina Coptic ...

Coptic Church & Ecumenical Movement - Saint Mina Coptic ...

SHOW MORE
SHOW LESS

Create successful ePaper yourself

Turn your PDF publications into a flip-book with our unique Google optimized e-Paper software.

WEEK OF PRAYER<br />

Every year a special week of prayer for Christian Unity is celebrated. The Christian<br />

<strong>Church</strong>es in Egypt assemble at different churches, united in prayer. Commenting on<br />

the significance of this important activity, Pope Shenouda III said:<br />

<strong>Ecumenical</strong> Encounters<br />

Over the past 50 years there have been numerous meetings and conferences of <strong>Coptic</strong><br />

<strong>Church</strong> delegates with Byzantine Orthodox <strong>Church</strong>es. A <strong>Coptic</strong> delegation was<br />

invited as observers at the Pan Orthodox conference at Rhodes in September 1961.<br />

In October 1972, Pope Shenouda visited the ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople,<br />

Demetrius II and the Patriarchs of Antioch, Moscow, Romanian and Bulgaria, thereby<br />

enhancing the spirit of love amongst the Orthodox <strong>Church</strong>es, urging the churches to<br />

work towards visible unity of faith.<br />

In Egypt, His Holiness has injected a wonderful spirit of love amongst the different<br />

churches, culminating in the establishment of the Council of <strong>Church</strong>es in 1976. His<br />

Holiness has encouraged ecumenical work between the churches in Egypt,<br />

particularly in social and welfare services.<br />

In June 1988, Pope Shenouda III accompanied by Bishop Serapion attended the<br />

Millennium Celebrations marking the Baptism of Russia. In April 1995, His Holiness<br />

attended the enthronement of the Armenian Patriarch-Catholicos, His Beatitude<br />

Keryakan, in Turkey and in July he attended the enthronement of the Armenian<br />

Catholicos, His Beatitude Aram Keshishian in Lebanon. In October 1995, Pope<br />

Shenouda attended the celebration marking the seventy-fifth anniversary of the<br />

Romanian Orthodox <strong>Church</strong>’s independence.<br />

205

Hooray! Your file is uploaded and ready to be published.

Saved successfully!

Ooh no, something went wrong!