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

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The Coptic Orthodox have been assured that the Catholic Church does not consider them as objects of a “mission” and that it is important that all pastoral work among Orthodox be undertaken with the knowledge, agreement and cooperation of the Orthodox authorities, and without the intention of having people pass from one Church to the other. For this reason it is necessary that there be frequent and regular contacts between Catholic bishops and religious superiors and those of the Orthodox Church. These contacts are deemed necessary in order to create that atmosphere of mutual respect and trust which is lacking at present, to meet the pastoral needs of the Christians, and to sort out particular items that could be a source of misunderstanding or friction. Once again the Holy See commends the work of the local joint committee. Moreover, it is convinced that it is mainly by means of regular systematic consultations between the authorities of the two Churches, that the fears, worries and desires expressed in the Vienna Report can be dealt with. In his letter to Bishop Samuel, Cardinal Willebrands spoke clearly and frankly about the practice of some Orthodox of “rebaptising” Catholics who pass to the Orthodox Church. By this custom the Orthodox Church puts in doubt the very existence of the Catholic Church with its sacraments, its liturgy, and its hierarchy. Many Catholics find in this behaviour an obstacle to their participation in the ecumenical movement. Therefore, we ask that this practice be ended, though we are not demanding any public statement on this matter. In another letter, the Secretariat for Promoting Christian Unity also informed Bishop Samuel of our thinking in the question of the passage of Christians from one Church to another. We recognise the possibility of such cases occurring for reasons of faith and out of a deep personal conviction, of which the local bishop is the judge. Nevertheless, when it is a matter of groups of persons able to form a community, the bishop will make a very close investigation of their motives. If these initiatives are due to a desire to withdraw, for no matter what reason, from the authority of their own bishop or parish priest, that is not sufficient motive. Such a request to pass to the Catholic Church should be refused, and the Orthodox authorities must be informed of such proposals. In collaboration with the Orthodox authorities, a solution must be sought in such a way as to restore peace to the community. Your Beatitude can see the importance which we give to developing relations between Catholic and Orthodox bishops, whether on an individual basis or on the level of the hierarchies as such. It is important in the search for full communion that the Catholic and the Orthodox authorities really acknowledge one another as brothers in the episcopate, with pastoral concerns that transcend the present divisions and necessitate brotherly collaboration. Recently, during the visit of the four Catholic members of the local joint committee, of which Bishop Kabès is co-president, we had an opportunity for friendly discussions, which helped us better appreciate both the difficulties being encountered in this important stage of dialogue with the Coptic Orthodox Church, and the common desire to overcome them. 248
We had occasion to clearly underline, once again, the thinking and hopes of the Holy See. It has been agreed that we must together overcome the lack of trust that separates the Coptic Catholics from the Coptic Orthodox. Hence, the need for regular contacts between the two hierarchies to prevent misunderstandings, to deepen mutual respect and to favour the pastoral care of all Christians. Similarly, whilst respecting the autonomy of Catholic pastors to take the decisions they judge necessary for the pastoral care of their own people, these meetings and exchanges are especially recommended when it is a matter of taking important pastoral and organisational decisions. During the meetings in Rome, the hope was expressed that the Assembly of Ordinaries might become an appropriate means for the encouragement of inter-ritual collaboration in the work for ecumenism as well. As regards the collaboration offered by religious and other individuals and institutions to the Coptic Orthodox pastors, it has been decided that this collaboration would follow the general orientations of the Catholic Church, in conformity with their constitutions or statutes and according to the instructions of the hierarchy. To conclude, the Holy See commends the local joint committee to the Catholic hierarchy. The committee’s work is of particular importance for ecumenical activity in Egypt. The Sacred Congregation for the Eastern Churches and this Secretariat are very grateful to their colleagues for their work in this area. In writing to Your Beatitude, we wished to offer these reflections in the hope that they might help the Catholic Church in Egypt fulfil its essential role in the search for unity between Catholics and Orthodox, a search which will lead the two sister Churches to re-establish the full communion which is Christ’s will. The Holy Father has already told Your Beatitude that he is sure that the Catholics in Egypt will collaborate fully in this task. We entrust this task to your pastoral care and that of the members of your Holy Synod, and all the Catholic Ordinaries of Egypt, of whose assembly Your Beatitude is president. With every fraternal good wish, Yours sincerely in Christ JOHANNES CARDINAL WILLEBRANDS President Secretariat for Promoting Christian Unity PAUL CARDINAL PHILIPPE Prefect S. Congregation for the Eastern Churches 249
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THE COPTIC ORTHODOX CHURCH AND THE
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DEDICATION This book is dedicated t
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VI SYNDESMOS Statement; May 1991...
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FOREWORD vi By H.H. Pope Shenouda I
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THE ONE CHURCH CHAPTER 1 UNITY AND
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phrase: “One nature of God the Wo
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centuries they had managed to maint
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Later doctrinal and papal developme
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Byzantine Tradition There are nine
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maintain a degree of flexibility in
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CHAPTER 2 THE ECUMENICAL VISION Der
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5. Youth Ecumenical Committee Under
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Since the beginning the Church used
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etween the two traditions of Orthod
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THE UNOFFICIAL CONSULTATIONS Throug
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Participants Eastern Orthodox Orien
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does not appear therefore to be inc
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THE THIRD UNOFFICIAL CONSULTATION G
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the nature of the Church be safe gu
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(h) To explore the possibilities of
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THE FOURTH UNOFFICIAL CONSULTATION
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more clarity of thought and more ea
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THE OFFICIAL CONSULTATIONS After tw
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MEETING OF THE JOINT SUB-COMMITTEE
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JOINT COMMISSION OF THE THEOLOGICAL
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(atreptos), without separation (ach
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REPORT OF THE JOINT SUB-COMMITTEE A
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1 - In the area of the relation bet
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JOINT-COMMISSION OF THE THEOLOGICAL
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4. Both families agree that the nat
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RECOMMENDATIONS ON PASTORAL ISSUES
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e) Abortion. 12.A joint consultatio
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Joint Commission Of The Theological
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iii) A Liturgical Sub-Committee sho
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POPE SHENOUDA III’S ADDRESS TO PO
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HOMILY OF POPE PAUL VI May 6th, 197
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From this new knowledge of God foll
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conscious of its duty of witnessing
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RESPONSE OF POPE PAUL VI TO POPE SH
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POPE PAUL VI’S ADDRESS BEFORE THE
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We shall always keep in our memory
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COMMON DECLARATION SIGNED BY POPE P
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THE INTERNATIONAL JOINT COMMISSION
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esurrection and ascension. It is fr
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pastoral activities and exert a mor
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Participants in the meeting were: C
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some other bishop. The universal Ch
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THIRD MEETING OF THE INTERNATIONAL
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1. The authorities of the Catholic
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His Divinity. This explains the mos
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Excellency, Msgr. Youhanna Kabes au
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A) The Holy See of Rome a) Consider
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of the theological, ecclesiastical
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DIRECTIONS TO THE WORK OF THE I.J.C
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ADDRESS OF POPE JOHN PAUL II TO A C
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PRINCIPLES FOR GUIDING THE SEARCH F
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Frequent contacts at all levels of
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THE RESUMPTION OF THE DIALOGUE When
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We must bear witness to this common
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Members Of The Commission Coptic Or
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SIXTH MEETING OF THE INTERNATIONAL
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MEETING OF THE POPE OF ALEXANDRIA A
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PRO ORIENTE ORIENTAL ORTHODOX - CAT
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The Second Consultation At the seco
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and the Ecumenical Councils, as the
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church in truth and love, in Euchar
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The Fourth Consultation The fourth
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statements of the See of Rome canno
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The conversations were held in a co
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a). Look more closely into the agre
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she does not on her own respect the
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4. This communion is participation
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On each place where the Eucharist i
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church should not be undertaken wit
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exchanged by His Eminence and the c
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7. Confirmation and reception of ec
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ANGLICAN - COPTIC JOINT DECLARATION
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THE LAMBETH CONFERENCE The ten year
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gave birth to the Logos, helped to
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the patriarch of Constantinople. Wo
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All Scripture is given by inspirati
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• Regional Forums The Forum welco
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CHAPTER 6 COPTIC ORTHODOX AND WORLD
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4. Dr. Silke-Petra Bergjan presente
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Possible Topics for Future Discussi
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ORIENTAL ORTHODOX - REFORMED DIALOG
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• How do our historical contexts
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We submit this statement to the aut
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ORIENTAL ORTHODOX - REFORMED DIALOG
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• In their understanding, Scriptu
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• Theologia reformata et semper r
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Participants in the Third Session O
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Participants in the Fourth Session
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CHAPTER 8 COPTIC ORTHODOX AND PRESB
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CHAPTER 9 CONSTRUCTING BRIDGES OF L
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PRELIMINARY MEETING OF ORIENTAL ORT
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(ie. In the Apostolic Faith) in the
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THE SECOND MEETING OF THE HEADS OF
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Fourth: The Middle East Council of
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THE THIRD MEETING OF THE HEADS OF T
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Oriental Orthodox family will join
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Page 214 and 215: that this document become a matter
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Page 220 and 221: CHAPTER 10 ECUMENICAL ORGANISATIONS
Page 222 and 223: WORLD COUNCIL OF CHURCHES Founded i
Page 224 and 225: In 1961 the assembly was held in Ne
Page 226 and 227: i The Trinitarian God, ii Salvation
Page 228 and 229: Special Commission on Orthodox Part
Page 230 and 231: ALL AFRICA CONFERENCE OF CHURCHES A
Page 232 and 233: THE ALEXANDRIAN CONFESSION (1976) T
Page 234 and 235: THE MECC LOGO The logo of the Middl
Page 236 and 237: Conducted every 5 years, the assemb
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Page 242 and 243: SYNDESMOS It is the World Fellowshi
Page 244 and 245: APPENDIX I CHRISTOLOGICAL AGREEMENT
Page 246 and 247: APPENDIX II ADDRESS BY H.H. POPE SH
Page 248 and 249: St. John the divine, a pillar of th
Page 250 and 251: CHURCH UNITY IS AN HISTORICAL INHER
Page 252 and 253: “We all believe that Our Lord, Go
Page 254 and 255: An excursion was organised to visit
Page 256 and 257: You will understand, therefore, tha
Page 258 and 259: tradition of our Church, is changed
Page 260 and 261: feeling in themselves the pain of d
Page 264 and 265: APPENDIX IX LETTER OF HIS HOLINESS
Page 266 and 267: APPENDIX X TELEGRAM FROM H.H POPE J
Page 268 and 269: eport that only a few priests have
Page 270 and 271: Bibliography Arruda, M. (ed.), Ecum
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