Ordination of Fr. Tomas Nashed

Among those ordained by H.H. Pope Shenouda III on November 14, 2009, was Fr. Tomas (Thomas) Nashed, formerly known as Hany Nashed, to serve in the church of St. George & St. Shenouda Church in Jersey City, NJ.  I would like to congratulate Fr. Tomas, Mona, Mark, Thomas, Daniel, the family, and the congregation on this blessed ordination.  May the Lord bless Fr. Tomas’ service to be fruitful and effective in the youth of our church. Here are the two videos of selected clips from the ordination.

Ordination Video  – Short Version (5:32)

Contains: Beginning of Prayers, Fr. Tomas is Called, Fr. Tomas is Dressed in his Priestly Garments, Fr. Tomas is Crowned with his Priestly Crown, Fr. Tomas Prays a Part in the Liturgy

Ordination Video – Long Version (17:11)

Contains: Beginning of Prayers, The Oath of Priesthood, The Prayers of Blessing, Fr. Tomas is Called, Fr. Tomas is Dressed in his Priestly Garments, Fr. Tomas is Crowned with his Priestly Crown, Fr. Tomas Prays a Part in the Liturgy, The Confession

Coptic Priest Ordinations – November 2009

Today, on November 14, 2009, the 38th Anniversary of the Enthronement of H.H. Pope Shenouda III as Pope and Patriarch on the See of St. Mark, H.H. Pope Shenouda III, the gathered Metropolitans, and Bishops ordained many priests.

They ordained 22 new priests:

1. Father Tomas (Thomas), formerly known as Hany Nashed of Jersey City, NJ, to serve St. George & St. Shenouda Church in Jersey City, NJ, USA
2. Father George to serve St. George Church in Ottawa, Canada
3. Father Youssef (Joseph) to serve St. Abraam Church in Toronto, Canada
4. Father Mikhail (Michael) to serve St. Mark Church in Brazil
5. Father Elia (Elijah) to serve St. Antonius & St. Paul Church in Ezbet El Nakhl, Cairo, Egypt
6. Father Yostos to serve St. Antonius & St. Paul Church in Ezbet El Nakhl, Cairo, Egypt
7. Father Boules (Paul) to serve Virgin Mary Church in El Matareya, Cairo, Egypt
8. Father Bola (Paul) to serve Virgin Mary Church in El Matareya, Cairo, Egypt
9. Father Filopateer to serve Virgin Mary Church in El Matareya, Cairo, Egypt
10. Father Angelos (Angel) to serve Virgin Mary Church in El Matareya, Cairo, Egypt
11. Father Samoeel (Samuel) to serve Virgin Mary Church in Hart El Room, Egypt
12. Father Bola (Paul) to serve Virgin Mary Church in Hart El Room, Egypt
13. Father Mina to serve Virgin Mary & St. Mina Church in Madenat Nasr, Egypt
14. Father Bishoy to serve St. Shenouda Church in El Hadaba Bosta, Egypt
15. Father Rafael to serve St. Shenouda Church in El Hadaba Bosta, Egypt
16. Father Shenouda to serve St. Shenouda Church in El Hadaba Bosta, Egypt
17. Father Timothaos (Timothy) to serve St. Mina Church in Shoubra, Cairo, Egypt
18. Father Arsanios to serve St. Mina Church in Shoubra, Cairo, Egypt
19. Father Mousa (Moses) to serve St. Mina Church in Shoubra, Cairo, Egypt
20. Father Markos (Mark) to serve Virgin Mary & Archangel Michael in Egypt
21. Father Yohanna (John) to serve Virgin Mary & St. John in Bab El Looh, Cairo, Egypt
22. Father Mina, formerly knows as Mina Abdelshahid of Brooklyn, NY, to serve our churches in USA

May the Lord continue to bless His Church and increase her service. We congratulate His Holiness Pope Shenouda III on the ordinations of these new servants of Christ. We also congratulate the newly ordained fathers the priests, their families, and the congregations of these blessed churches.

I would like to wish a special CONGRATULATIONS to Fr. Tomas Nashed, Mona, Mark, Thomas, Daniel, the whole family, and congregation of St. George & St. Shenouda!

Coptic Clergy Ordinations Video

Live Streaming of Coptic Special Events

I will be live streaming video of two events coming up:

1. Celebration for the Anniversary of H.H. Pope Shenouda III of Enthronement at 11:00am EST on Friday,  Nov. 13, 2009.

2. Ordination of Coptic Clergy at 1:00am EST on Saturday, Nov. 14, 2009.

Click to watch Live Stream via Ustream

Theological Seminary in Melbourne

His Grace Bishop Suriel of Melbourne is completing the development of the Theological Seminary in Melbourne and will open it to the general public. Moreover, the Seminary will soon be accredited through His Grace’s leadership.

What a wonderful and awesome endeavor that is greatly needed for our Church and for the public at large.

We ask our Good Savior to continue advancing these efforts for the glory of His Holy Name.

Please check out this wonderful video about the Seminary:

More Information available at: http://www.sacotc.org/

NAACCS 2009 & FTFT!

H.H. Pope Shenouda III, Pope & Patriarch of the Coptic Orthodox Church

H.H. Pope Shenouda III presided over the North American Annual Coptic Clergy Seminar (NAACCS) which was held in Holy Virgin Mary’s Spiritual Vineyard of Charlton, MA from Monday, September 14, 2009 through Wednesday, September 16, 2009. There were 14 bishops and over 220 priests from the United States & Canada in attendance. Among the bishops in attendance where: H.G. Bishop Pisenti (Helwan), H.G. Bishop Botros (Patmos), H.G. Bishop Serapion (Los Angles), H.G. Bishop Youssef (Southern), H.G. Bishop Suriel (Melbourne), H.G. Bishop Agathon (Brazil), H.G. Bishop Youssef (Bolivia), H.G. Bishop Reweis (General Bishop), H.G. Bishop Makarious (General Bishop), H.G. Bishop Youannis (General Bishop), H.G. Bishop Youhanna (General Bishop), H.G. Bishop Armia (General Bishop), H.G. Bishop David (General Bishop), and H.G. Bishop Michael (General Bishop).  The Seminar consisted of spiritual words of wisdom delivered by H.H. Pope Shenouda III and Their Graces the Bishops to the Reverend Fathers, as well as Question & Answer sessions.

On Tuesday morning, September 15, 2009, H.H. along with Their Graces the Bishop and Reverend Fathers travelled to Nashua, New Hampshire to consecrate the Coptic Orthodox Church of Virgin Mary & Archangel Michael (41 Chandler St, Nashua, NH 03064-2816). After consecrating the church H.H. and the clergy returned to the vineyard to continue their seminar.

On Tuesday evening, H.H. received and welcomed FTFT! (First Timothy Four: Twelve!), a faith-based church-supervised youth-managed missionary service organization. FTFT! presented to H.H., and all the clergy in attendance their origin, history, and goals.  FTFT! explained that they are answering H.H.’ call for missionary service in the United States.  They are serving with the spiritual goal of bringing people to Christ.  They serve the neediest of our Lord’s people such as those who are hungry, homeless, sick, elderly, lonely, and imprisoned both Copts and non-Copts. H.H. was pleased with the group’s presentation, he blessed and encouraged them.  H.H. distributed gifts to the presenters and took a group picture with them. H.G. Bishop David (Overseer of FTFT!) suggested that any priest interested in getting their local youth involved in such a service could contact FTFT! for help getting started.

To read more about the Seminar please visit:

• http://www.telegram.com/article/20090917/NEWS/909170670/1101

To learn more about FTFT! please visit:

• http://www.ftftmission.org/

The Reception of His Grace Bishop Michael

The reception of His Grace Bishop Michael took place as stated below.  Here is the link for some pictures of the event:

http://www.amsacopticchurch.org/photo/082309/index.html

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Below are details concerning the welcome reception for His Grace Bishop Michael, Bishop of Virginia and its districts (Sorry I still don’t know the official title).  May God preserve him on his seat for many years and peaceful times.

Saturday, August 22: Vespers at St. George Coptic Orthodox Church at 5:00 pm. The Vespers will be attended by:

• H.G. Bishop Isidoros, Abbot of El Baramous Monastery, Egypt
• H.G. Bishop Youssef, Bishop of the Diocese of the Southern States, USA
• H.G. Bishop David, General Bishop (Papal Residence, Cedar Grove, NJ)

Sunday, August 23: Following the 8:30 am Divine Liturgy at St. George Coptic Orthodox Church, a reception will be held at Saints Peter and Paul Antiochian Orthodox Church** at 4:00 pm. The reception will be attended by:

• H.G. Bishop Isidoros, Abbot of El Baramous Monastery, Egypt
• H.G. Bishop Youssef, Bishop of the Diocese of the Southern States, USA
• H.G. Bishop David, General Bishop (Papal Residence, Cedar Grove, NJ)
• H.G. Bishop Serapion, Bishop of the Diocese of Los Angeles, USA
• H.G. Bishop Apollo, Bishop of Southern Sinai, Egypt

**Saint Peter & Paul Anitochian Orthodox Church: 10620 River Road Potomac, MD 20854.

For more details visit www.stgeorgemd.org

Coptic Ordinations Pentecost 2009

On June 7, 2009, the Feast the Pentecost, H.H. Pope Shenouda III, the gathered Metropolitans, and Bishops ordained many bishops and priests.

They enthroned 2 existing bishops for dioceses as follows:

H.G. Bishop Timothaeus (Timothy), on the Diocese of El ZaaZeh, Egypt

H.G. Bishop Abakir, on the Diocese of Sweden and all Scandinavia

They also ordained 7 new bishops as follows:

H.G. Bishop Michael, on the Diocese of Virginia, United States

H.G. Bishop Daniel, on the Monastery of St. Shenouda, Australia

H.G. Bishop Theodosius, a General Bishop in the Diocese of El Giza, Egypt

H.G. Bishop Salib, a General Bishop in the Diocese of Meet Gamr, Egypt

H.G. Bishop Marcorios. on the Diocese of Girga, Egypt

H.G. Bishop Botros (Peter), on the Diocese of Shebeen El Anater, Egypt

H.G. Bishop Mina, a General Bishop

While ordaining the bishops,  As he places the bishops crown on every new bishop, H.H. breathes onto their faces and recites, “…  He said to them, As the Father has sent Me, I also send you.  And when He had said this, He breathed on them, and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit.  If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.” (John 20:21-23)

They also ordained 37 new priests:

1. Father Daniel to serve Virgin Mary & St. Abraam’s Church in Ajax, Canada
2. Father Antonios, known as Nader Salib of East Brunswick, NJ to serve Virgin Mary & St. Kerolos’s Church in Pennsylvania, USA
3. Father John, formerly known as John Rizkalla of East Brunswick, NJ to serve Virgin Mary & St. Athanasius’ Church – Raritan, New Jersey, USA
4. Father Bishoy, known as Bishoy Lamie Mikhail to serve St. Antonios & St. Mina’s Church in East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA
5. Father Mina, known as Mina Attwa to serve St. Mark’s Church in Nairobi, Kenya
6. Father Steven to serve St. Moses the Black’s Church in Lusaka, Zambia
7. Father Antony to serve St. Antonios’s Church in Lambo, Congo
8. Father Kerolos (Cyril) to serve St. Mark’s Church in Shoubra, Cairo, Egypt
9. Father Antonios (Anthony) to serve St. Mark’s Church in Shoubra, Cairo, Egypt
10. Father Mikhail (Michael) to serve St. Mark’s Church in Shoubra, Cairo, Egypt
11. Father Martiros to serve St. George’s Church in El Bortoeya, Egypt
12. Father Kerolos (Cyril) to serve St. George’s Church in El Bortoeya, Egypt
13. Father Mina to serve St. George’s Church in El Bortoeya, Egypt
14. Father Agnatios (Ignatius) to serve Vrigin Mary’s Church in Haret Zooela, Egypt
15. Father Polycarpos to serve Virgin Mary’s Church in Garden City, Egypt
16. Father Yostos to serve St. Mark’s Church in Cleopatra, Cairo, Egypt
17. Father Antonios (Anthony) to serve St. Mark’s Church in Cleopatra, Cairo, Egypt
18. Father Mina to serve St. Mark’s Church in Cleopatra, Cairo, Egypt
19. Father Yousef (Joseph) to serve Virgin Mary’s Church in Ard El Golf, Egypt
20. Father Youhanna (John) to serve Virgin Mary’s Church in El Sherooh, Cairo, Egypt
21. Father Angelos to serve Virgin Mary & St. Shenouda’s Church in Ard El Berka, Egypt
22. Father Gabrial (Gabriel) to serve Virgin Mary’s Church in El Uptamia, Cairo, Egypt
23. Father Rafael to serve Virgin Mary’s Church in Deriaz, Cairo, Egypt
24. Father Ibraam (Abraham) to serve Virgin Mary’s Church in Deriaz, Cairo, Egypt
25. Father Shenouda to serve Virgin Mary’s Church in Deriaz, Cairo, Egypt
26. Father Moussa (Moses) to serve Virgin Mary’s Church in Ezbet El Nakhl, Cairo, Egypt
27. Father Andrwais (Andrew) to serve Virgin Mary’s Church in Ezbet El Nakhl, Cairo, Egypt
28. Father Philopateer to serve Virgin Mary’s Church in Ezbet El Nakhl, Cairo, Egypt
29. Father Mina to serve St. George’s Church in Sawael, Luxor, Egypt
30. Father Ibraam (Abraham) to serve St. George’s Church in Sawael, Luxor, Egypt
31. Father Philopateer to serve Archangel Michael’s Church and Monastery in Kamoola, Luxor, Egypt
32. Father Moussa (Moses) to serve Archangel Michael’s Church and Monastery in Kamoola, Luxor, Egypt
33. Father Elia (Elijah) to serve St. Pachomios’s Church in Luxor, Egypt
34. Father Hedra to serve St. George’s Church in Armant, Egypt
35. Father Boules to serve Sinai, Egypt
36. Father Bishoy to serve St. Doolagi’s Church in Isna, Egypt
37. Father Gerges (George) to serve Virgin Mary’s Church in Mahat El Fatekat, Egypt

They also elevated 2 priests to the rank of Hegomen:

1. Father Youhanna to serve St. Mark’s Church in Cleopatra, Cairo, Egypt

2. Father Antonios to serve Virgin Mary & John the Beloved’s Church in El ZaaZeh, Egypt

May the Lord continue to bless His Church and increase her service. We congratulate His Holiness Pope Shenouda III on the ordinations of these new servants of Christ. We also congratulate the newly ordained fathers the bishops, hegomens, priests, their families, and the congregations of these blessed churches.

Bishop Ordinations Video

Priest & Hegomen Ordinations Video

Satan’s Meeting

As this year’s Lent is almost over and I realized how it has just passed by, I have decided to spend this last week of Lent and Holy Week differently.  I have been caught up with many things and I have been busy!  Like many of us, I needed a wake up call.  Well, a good friend shared this video with me and now I’m sharing it with you…

more about “Satan’s Meeting“, posted with vodpod

Coptic Priest Ordinations – March 2009

Today, March 3, 2009 at 1:45 am eastern standard time, His Holiness Pope Shenouda III ordained 19 new priests.  One priest to serve in North America and eighteen to serve in Egypt.  Here is what information I could gather:

1. Father Paul formerly known as Michael Girguis of Los Angeles, CA to serve St. Mark’s Church – Fairfax, Virginia, USA
2. Father Matta (Matthew) to serve St. Demiana’s Church in Baba Doblo, Shoubra, Egypt
3. Father Markos (Mark) to serve St. Demiana’s Church in Baba Doblo, Shoubra, Egypt
4. Father Salib (Cross) to serve Archangel Michael’s Church in Sheraton, Egypt
5. Father Marcorius to serve Archangel Michael’s Church in Sheraton, Egypt
6. Father Antonious (Anthony) to serve St. Abu Sefin’s Church in Hadayek El Kobba, Egypt
7. Father Samoeel (Samuel) to serve Virgin St. Mary’s Church in Maleeha, Egypt
8. Father Philemon to serve Virgin St. Mary’s Church in Maleeha, Egypt
9. Father Mikhail (Michael) to serve Virgin St. Mary’s Church in Maleeha, Egypt
10. Father Boules (Paul) to serve Virgin St. Mary’s Church in Amiriya, Al Iskandariyah, Egypt
11. Father Yostos to serve Virgin St. Mary’s Church in Amiriya, Al Iskandariyah, Egypt
12. Father Gawargios (George) to serve Virgin St. Mary’s Church in Amiriya, Al Iskandariyah, Egypt
13. Father Armia (Jeremiah) to serve St. Demiana’s Church in Bel Wayli, Egypt
14. Father Mousa (Moses) to serve St. Demiana’s Church in Bel Wayli, Egypt
15. Father Philopateer to serve Pope Athanasius the Apostolic and St. Pishoy’s Church in Belkosous, Egypt
16. Father Youssef to serve Pope Athanasius the Apostolic and St. Pishoy’s Church in Belkosous, Egypt
17. Father Athanasius to serve Pope Athanasius the Apostolic and St. Pishoy’s Church in Belkosous, Egypt
18. Father Angelos (Angel) to serve Virgin St. Mary and St. Abu Sefin’s Church in Esbeet El Hagana, Egypt
19. Father Mikhail (Michael) to serve Anba Balamon’s Church in Egypt

May the Lord continue to bless the Church and increase her service. We congratulate His Holiness Pope Shenouda III on the ordination of these new servants of Christ. We also congratulate the newly ordained fathers, their families, and the congregations of these blessed churches.

Full Video of Ordination

The Ordination of Fr. Paul Girguis

March 3, 2009 - Father Bishoy (right) with newly ordained Father Paul (left).

Coptic Priest Ordinations – November 2008

On November 11, 2008 His Holiness Pope Shenouda III ordained 11 new priests. Ten priests to serve in North America and one to serve in Austria. Here is what information I could gather:

1. Father Kyrillos formerly known as Bassem Gobran to serve St. Mark’s Church – Boston, MA, USA
2. Father Samuel formerly known as Alex Hanna to serve St. Mark’s Church – Boston, MA, USA
3. Father Mark formerly known as Maged Iskander (a servant from Virgin Mary & St. Pachomius in Stoney Point) to serve St. Mary and St. Moses’ Church – Buffalo, NY, USA
4. Father Andrew formerly known as Ayman Awad to serve Virgin Mary & Archangel Michael’s Church – Hamden, CT, USA
5. Father Tadros formerly known as Sami Bishara to serve St. Mary & St. Demiana – Westchester, NY, USA
6. Father Anthony formerly known as Magdy Zaki to serve St. Mark’s Church – Myrtle Beach, SC, USA
7. Father Joseph to serve St. George & St. Rueiss’ Church – Toronto, Canada
8. Father Luke formerly known as Uncle Michail to serve Virgin Mary & St. Athanasius – Mississauga, Canada
9. Father David formerly known as Uncle Baheeg to serve Virgin Mary & St. Athanasius – Mississauga, Canada
10. Father Antonious to serve St. Mark’s Church – Montreal, Canada
11. Father Shenouda to serve our churches in Austria

May the Lord continue to bless the Church and increase her service. We congratulate His Holiness on the ordination of these servants in Christ.

Photos courtesy of Coptic.net