Coptic Orthodox Church Ordains Eight New Bishops on Feast of Holy Family’s Entry into Egypt

Gerges Mounir Hanna – OCP News Service – 01/06/2025

Cairo – Egypt: The Coptic Orthodox Church, under the leadership of His Holiness Pope Tawadros II, celebrated a momentous occasion this morning with the ordination of eight new bishops. The ceremony took place at St. Mark’s Cathedral in Abbassiya, coinciding with the Feast of the Entry of our Lord Jesus Christ and the Holy Family into the Land of Egypt. The Divine Liturgy saw Pope Tawadros II, flanked by numerous metropolitans and bishops, lay apostolic hands on the monastic candidates.

Names of new bishops:

1. Hegumen Gabriel El-Mahrougi – ordained as Bishop and Abbot of the Monastery of Saint Macarius of Alexandria in Mount El-Qalali, Beheira Governorate, under the name Bishop Pachomius.
2. Hegumen Andraos El-Souriany – ordained as Bishop of the Diocese of Matrouh and the Five Western Cities, under the name Bishop Karas.
3. Hegumen Theophan Ava Mina – ordained as Bishop of the Diocese of Borg El-Arab and Amreya, under the name Bishop Mina.
4. Hegumen Daniel El-Georgy – ordained as Bishop of the Diocese of Deir Mawas and Delga, Minya Governorate, under the name Bishop Boctor.
5. Hegumen Discorus El-Antouny – ordained as Bishop of Southern Germany and Abbot of the Monastery of Saint Anthony in Kröffelbach, under the name Bishop Discorus.
6. Hegumen Ologios El-Baramosy – ordained as General Bishop for the churches of Ain Shams, Matariya, and Helmiyat El-Zaytoun, under the name Bishop Ologios.
7. Hegumen Yakobos Anba Bishoy – ordained as General Bishop for the churches of Hadayek El-Kobba, El-Wayly, Abbassiya, and Manshiyat El-Sadr, under the name Bishop Athanasius.
8. Hegumen Ignatius El-Souriany – ordained as Auxiliary Bishop to His Eminence Metropolitan Sharobeem of the Diocese of Qena, under the name Bishop Ignatius.

Pope Tawadros II addressed the significance of the ordinations, stating, “The ordination of bishops takes place after the reading of the Praxis, for their ministry is an extension of the apostolic work.” He emphasized the high status of the episcopal rank, praying for the new bishops’ faithfulness.

In his homily, His Holiness shared nine guiding principles, urging the newly ordained to prioritize Christ as the Church’s head, maintain humility, focus on spiritual life, nourish their flock, flee the love of money, avoid discussing the unknown or occult, trust God’s timing, and practice true religion by visiting the afflicted.

The ceremony, attended by 110 metropolitans and bishops, patriarchal vicars, and a large number of clergy and faithful, was marked by joyous hymns and ululations, welcoming the new spiritual leaders.

Source:

OCP News Service