Pope Shenouda leads Holy Thursday Services

01/04/2010

By:
Amr Bayoumi

Pope Shenouda, the Patriarch of Alexandria, will lead Holy Thursday celebrations today at the Anba Beshoui Monestary in the Wadi el-Natroun desert.

Shenouda left the Abbasiyya Cathedral Wednesday afternoon, amid assurances from the church that his health condition is stable. Monk Sergious of the Coptic Orthodox Patriarchate dismissed rumors that the Pope’s health had deteriorated after his return from a surprise visit to Alexandria.

“The pope visited Alexandria last Sunday, as he always does during Holy Week, then returned to the cathedral and then to the monastery, for he is always anxious to celebrate the Maundy Thursday and Good Friday with the monks there,” he said.

The German Press Agency quoted sources close to Shenouda on Wednesday as saying that he is suffering serious health problems. The agency added that the Pope’s Wednesday sermon and his participation in Thursday’s celebrations had been officially cancelled. The church has denied the reports.

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