Egypt’s Coptic Orthodox papal election enters penultimate phase

The five candidates of Papal elections, from Left, Father Pachomios El-Syrian,Father Raphael Ava Mina,Father Seraphim El-Syrian, Bishop Raphael and Bishop Tawadros in Saint Mark’s Coptic Orthodox Cathedral in Azbakeya, Cairo (Photo: courtesy of Cairo Downtown Churches facebook page) Sherry El-Gergawi 29/10/2012 Coptic-Christian electors will cast ballots Monday to select three papal finalists, one of whom will become Coptic Church’s 118th patriarch following 5 November ‘altar lottery’. Egyptians are currently following the selection of a new Coptic Orthodox Pope to succeed the late Pope Shenouda III, who led the church for 40 years. The selection process began immediately after Shenouda’s death in March, after which 76-year-old Bishop Pachomios was appointed interim pope by the church’s Holy Synod