Archpastor. His Beatitude Patriarch of Alexandria and All Africa Theodore II. Patriarch Theodore II: “I gave my heart to Russia” Law on the construction of churches in Egypt
After finishing his health trip to Austria, Coptic Patriarch Theodore II of Alexandria took part in a CBC television program in which he answered questions from Lamis Al-Hadidi.
During the program, he gave definitive answers to pressing Coptic questions regarding civil laws, church building, and the crisis in relations between some Coptic diaspora communities and the church itself.
The dialogue also raised questions about what the Coptic community and the Egyptian “political street” think about the relationship between church and state. The conversation also turned to the Patriarch's opinion regarding the Coptic activists who organized the uprising on January 25, as well as his vision of the reasons for the increase in migration from Syria and Iraq, and the crisis in which the Copts from El-Arish found themselves, as well as the role of the Congregation Council ( formerly the Coptic Orthodox Council - an organization representing Coptic parishioners - approx. ed.). It is these questions and the detailed answers of the Coptic patriarch to them that the material is devoted to.
Coptic diaspora in America and the visit of Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi: The Church is the conscience of the homeland, no one can buy us
Context
Copts: “Our life has become hell”
Liberation 03/10/2017The Troubled Life of Egypt's Coptic Christians
The Economist 12/13/2016Copts, General Al-Sisi and Divided Egypt
Vatican Insider 02/03/2014Patriarch of the Coptic Orthodox Church will meet with Francis
Vatican Insider 04/24/2013Orthodox Patriarch challenges Muslim Brotherhood
Time 04/10/2013 The most common topic on the streets of Egypt currently is the upcoming visit of President El-Sisi to the United States of America, the preparations of Egyptians living in the United States for the meeting of the president, as well as the appearance of people counting on Copts and calling on them to abstain and abandon the celebration on the occasion of the visit of the President of Egypt... In this regard, the Coptic Patriarch Theodore II addressed the Coptic diaspora in the United States with a message: “We are worthy and capable of solving our problems in Egypt. The media dramatizes and exaggerates what is happening with only their ego in mind. They take pride in being able to receive photos and news.”The Patriarch emphasized that “the Church sent a bishop to the United States to clarify the picture and reassure people who are worried and worried. We have a conscience, the church is the conscience of our homeland, no one can buy us.”
The results of the January revolution: it broke the moral foundations
Speaking about Coptic activists and opposition, it must be said that they appeared during the events of January 25 ( on this day in 2011, the events of the so-called« Arab spring» — approx. ed.). Opposition groups reject the role of the patriarch and any religious symbols taking part in Egyptian political life, and also sharply criticize the figure of Theodore II himself, who said: the January 25 revolution broke the moral foundations.
He also added that the Coptic anger that poured out on him was the reason for the start of the revolutionary uprisings in 2011. They, in turn, released what could be called human freedom, thereby breaking the barrier of respect, which is the social problem of our society. All this reflects the fact that the conversation between the two parties becomes a stream of inappropriate words and expressions.
The Patriarch addressed the young people: “Be reasonable and logical. Swearing and swearing is an argument of the weak.” He also emphasized that the insults do not upset or bother him, because he tells himself that the people know the truth.
Relocation of Christians from the Middle East— tragedy of the world
During his interview with journalist Lamis Al-Hadidi, Patriarch Theodore II commented on the problem of the resettlement of Christians from the Middle East, especially from Syria and Iraq. He said Pope Francis also shared his concern that Christians in the Middle East were being targeted and that the absence of Christians in the region would be a tragedy for the entire world.
Patriarch Theodore II noted that the wrong Western policy in Syria and Iraq has led to the emergence of a huge number of refugees, about whom residents of Europe are currently complaining.
The rapprochement of church and state is not a shortcoming or a flaw
The Coptic Patriarch commented on the issue of rapprochement and full support of the church institution for the Egyptian state: the rapprochement of church and state is not a shortcoming. The existence of peace and love between state institutions only makes us happy.
He noted that good relations benefit all Egyptians, professing both Islam and Christianity. Moreover, existing problems must be assessed within the country. Thus, an attack on a person or the robbery of a village are problems that should not be underestimated, but they must be resolved at the local level.
Theodore II continued his speech by saying: “Of course, the events in El Arish caused great pain, but the state was able to take the right measures to solve this problem. It was intended to harm Egypt and destroy its unity." He pointed out that the church is trying to achieve peace and quiet, but fire will not put out the fire.
Law on the construction of churches in Egypt
Multimedia
Bloody Christian protest in the center of Cairo
InoSMI 10/12/2011Spread of Christianity in the Middle East and Africa
RIA Novosti 02/14/2014 Coptic Patriarch Theodore II also noted that the law allowing the construction of churches in Egypt is in itself an achievement, since in just four months permission to build a large number of temples was received, and officials in any province respond to requests to build a church , be it acceptance or refusal.The Patriarch explained that the law will help solve the “crisis” of the church, as well as create a legal framework for its existence. To implement this, the Prime Minister formed a special committee.
Coptic Orthodox Council downplayed the role of citizenship
Theodore II commented on the role of the Coptic Orthodox Council, saying: "This council consists of a group of clergy who are not clergy, but are interested in state affairs and assist the church in administrative and social matters rather than in religious matters."
The Coptic patriarch explained the reason for changing the name of this council: it downplayed the role of citizenship, giving priority to religious identity. He pointed out that the special role of the council had been removed from the relevant chapter in the Constitution and confirmed that it had ceased to exist back in 2011. After all, it was this advice that became the cause of the problems that Egyptian society experienced after the January revolution. However, now, after the stabilization of state institutions, thoughts have emerged about its revival and the resumption of its work.
InoSMI materials contain assessments exclusively of foreign media and do not reflect the position of the InoSMI editorial staff.
Date of Birth:
Date of tonsure:
A country:
Egypt and all of Africa
Biography:
Born in Kanli, Kasteli Chania province in 1954. As a child, he lived with his family in Tilis, Agies Paraskies, and Heraklion on the island of Crete. After high school, he studied at the Risarian Church School in Athens and received a master's degree after graduating from the Faculty of Theology at the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki. He also studied art history, literature and philosophy in Odessa.
In 1973, he took monastic vows at the Ankarat Monastery. He continued his studies at the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki at the Faculty of Theology.
In 1975, he was ordained deacon at the monastery of Spili, and served as protosingel (secretary) of the Lambian and Sfakian Metropolis in Crete. He actively participated in preaching and philanthropic activities.
From 1985 to 1990 he was in Odessa as exarch of the Patriarch of Alexandria in Russia, where his flock were the Greeks of the former Soviet Union.
He founded the School of Greek Culture and the Filiki Etherea Museum for 600 children, where the Greek language is taught. In 1990 he was ordained bishop with the title of Cyrinx and was appointed Patriarchal Representative of the Patriarchate of Alexandria in Athens.
In 1996 he was appointed Patriarchal Vicar in Alexandria.
In September 1997, Metropolitan Theodore was elected Metropolitan of Cameroon and Central Africa. In subsequent years, he became known as a pastor who made an enormous contribution to the apostolic ministry of the peoples of Cameroon, Chad, Guinea, Ecuador, Gabon and the islands of St. Thomas, as an administrator who took over a huge metropolitanate that extends to central and western Africa.
In 2002, he was elected Metropolitan of Zimbabwe, and the works of the apostolic ministry from central-western Africa are transferred south to the lands of Zimbabwe, Angola, Mozambique, Botswana, and Malawi. He founded 4 missionary centers in Harare, a Greek cultural center for 400 delegates, 2 large missionary centers in Malawi, a hospital, a technical school and a nursing school. They founded temples in Botswana and Angola.
On October 9, 2004, he was elected as the 116th Patriarch of Alexandria and All Africa. The enthronement ceremony took place at the Cathedral of the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Alexandria on October 24, 2004.
Title of Primate: His Beatitude, Most Divine and Holy Father and Chief Shepherd, Pope and Patriarch of the great city of Alexandria, Libya, Pentapolis, Ethiopia, all Egypt and all Africa, Father of fathers, Shepherd of shepherds, Bishop of bishops, Thirteenth Apostle, Judge of the universe.
The patriarchal residence is located in Alexandria (Egypt).
His Beatitude Theodore II, Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria and All Africa (in the world Nicholas Choreftakis) was born in Kanli, Kasteli Chania, in 1954. As a child, he lived with his family in Tilis, Agies Paraskies, and Heraklion on the island of Crete. After high school, he studied at the Risarian Church School in Athens and received a master's degree after graduating from the Faculty of Theology at the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki. He also studied art history, literature and philosophy in Odessa.In 1973, he took monastic vows at the Ankarat Monastery. He continued his studies at the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki at the Faculty of Theology.
In 1975, he was ordained deacon at the monastery of Spili, and served as protosingel (secretary) of the Lambian and Sfakian Metropolis in Crete. He actively participated in preaching and philanthropic activities.
From 1985 to 1990 he was in Odessa as Exarch of the Patriarch of Alexandria in Russia, where his flock were the Greeks of the former Soviet Union.
He founded the School of Greek Culture and the Filiki Etherea Museum for 600 children, where the Greek language is taught. In 1990 he was ordained bishop with the title of Cyrinx and was appointed patriarchal representative of the Patriarchate of Alexandria in Athens. Vladyka always accompanied Patriarch Parthenius on trips to Africa and at many international and theological conferences.
In 1996 he was appointed patriarchal vicar in Alexandria.
In September 1997, Metropolitan Theodore was elected Metropolitan of Cameroon and Central Africa. In subsequent years, he became known as a pastor who made an enormous contribution to the apostolic ministry of the peoples of Cameroon, Chad, Guinea, Ecuador, Gabon and the islands of St. Thomas, as an administrator who took over a huge metropolitanate that extends to central and western Africa.
In 2002, he was elected Metropolitan of Zimbabwe, and the works of the apostolic ministry from central-western Africa are transferred south to the lands of Zimbabwe, Angola, Mozambique, Botswana, and Malawi. He founded 4 missionary centers in Harare, a Greek cultural center for 400 delegates, 2 large missionary centers in Malawi, a hospital, a technical school and a nursing school. With the support of the Greek Parliament, he renovated the Greek Square (School, Temple, Bishop's Residence) in Beira, Mozambique. They founded temples and handed them over to the Greek communities in Botswana and Angola.
On October 9, he was elected Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria and All Africa by the Synod of the Alexandrian Church. The enthronement ceremony took place at the Cathedral of the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Alexandria on October 24, 2004.
Official title: Pope and Patriarch of the great city of Alexandria, Libya, Pentapolis, Ethiopia, all Egypt and all Africa, Father of fathers, Shepherd of shepherds, Bishop of bishops, thirteenth Apostle and Judge of the whole universe.
Patriarchate Address: P.O.Box 2006 Alexandria EGYPT Tel: + 2-03-4868595 Fax: + 2-03-4875684 E-mail: [email protected]
Odessa State University named after I. I. Mechnikov
at birth:
village of Kasteli, Chania region, Crete, Greece
In 1973, he took monastic vows at the Agarath Monastery of the Dormition of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Heraklion.
In 1975, Metropolitan Theodore (Dzedakis) of Lambis and Sfakia ordained him to the rank of deacon, after which he served as archdeacon of the Lambis Metropolis in Crete.
On April 23, 1978, the same bishop ordained him to the rank of hieromonk, after which he was protosyncello of the same metropolis. He was involved in charity work.
On June 7, 1990, he was consecrated Bishop of Cyrene and appointed Exarch of the Alexandrian Orthodox Church in Athens, accompanied Parthenius III on missionary trips to Africa and on foreign visits.
Established four missionary centers in Harare, a Greek cultural center for 400 people, two large missionary centers in neighboring Malawi with hospitals, technical schools and nursing courses. With funds from the Greek Parliament, he renovated the Greek quarter (School, Church, Priest's House) in Beir, Mozambique. He founded churches and contributed to the creation of Orthodox communities in Botswana and Angola.
Theodore II, the only one of the primates of other churches in the patriarchal rank, participated in the enthronement of Moscow Patriarch Kirill in the Cathedral of Christ the Savior, February 1, 2009.
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Notes
Links
- on the website of the Moscow Patriarchate.
- on the website of the Patriarchate of Alexandria
- , July 1, 2008
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Excerpt characterizing Theodore II (Patriarch of Alexandria)
From the flush they drove even further to the left along a road winding through a dense, low birch forest. In the middle of itforest, a brown hare with white legs jumped out onto the road in front of them and, frightened by the clatter of a large number of horses, he was so confused that he jumped along the road in front of them for a long time, arousing everyone’s attention and laughter, and only when several voices shouted at him, he rushed to the side and disappeared into the thicket. After driving about two miles through the forest, they came to a clearing where the troops of Tuchkov’s corps, which was supposed to protect the left flank, were stationed.
Here, on the extreme left flank, Bennigsen spoke a lot and passionately and made, as it seemed to Pierre, an important military order. There was a hill in front of Tuchkov’s troops. This hill was not occupied by troops. Bennigsen loudly criticized this mistake, saying that it was crazy to leave the height commanding the area unoccupied and place troops under it. Some generals expressed the same opinion. One in particular spoke with military fervor about the fact that they were put here for slaughter. Bennigsen ordered in his name to move the troops to the heights.
This order on the left flank made Pierre even more doubtful of his ability to understand military affairs. Listening to Bennigsen and the generals condemning the position of the troops under the mountain, Pierre fully understood them and shared their opinion; but precisely because of this, he could not understand how the one who placed them here under the mountain could make such an obvious and gross mistake.
Pierre did not know that these troops were not placed to defend the position, as Bennigsen thought, but were placed in a hidden place for an ambush, that is, in order to be unnoticed and suddenly attack the advancing enemy. Bennigsen did not know this and moved the troops forward for special reasons without telling the commander-in-chief about it.
On this clear August evening on the 25th, Prince Andrei lay leaning on his arm in a broken barn in the village of Knyazkova, on the edge of his regiment’s location. Through the hole in the broken wall, he looked at a strip of thirty-year-old birch trees with their lower branches cut off running along the fence, at an arable land with stacks of oats broken on it, and at bushes through which the smoke of fires—soldiers’ kitchens—could be seen.
No matter how cramped and no one needed and no matter how difficult his life now seemed to Prince Andrei, he, just like seven years ago at Austerlitz on the eve of the battle, felt agitated and irritated.
Orders for tomorrow's battle were given and received by him. There was nothing else he could do. But the simplest, clearest thoughts and therefore terrible thoughts did not leave him alone. He knew that tomorrow's battle was going to be the most terrible of all those in which he participated, and the possibility of death for the first time in his life, without any regard to everyday life, without consideration of how it would affect others, but only according to in relation to himself, to his soul, with vividness, almost with certainty, simply and horribly, it presented itself to him. And from the height of this idea, everything that had previously tormented and occupied him was suddenly illuminated by a cold white light, without shadows, without perspective, without distinction of outlines. His whole life seemed to him like a magic lantern, into which he looked for a long time through glass and under artificial lighting. Now he suddenly saw, without glass, in bright daylight, these poorly painted pictures. “Yes, yes, these are the false images that worried and delighted and tormented me,” he said to himself, turning over in his imagination the main pictures of his magic lantern of life, now looking at them in this cold white light of day - a clear thought of death. “Here they are, these crudely painted figures that seemed to be something beautiful and mysterious. Glory, public good, love for a woman, the fatherland itself - how great these pictures seemed to me, what deep meaning they seemed filled with! And all this is so simple, pale and rough in the cold white light of that morning, which I feel is rising for me. Three major sorrows of his life in particular occupied his attention. His love for a woman, the death of his father and the French invasion that captured half of Russia. “Love!.. This girl, who seemed to me full of mysterious powers. How I loved her! I made poetic plans about love, about happiness with it. Oh dear boy! – he said out loud angrily. - Of course! I believed in some kind of ideal love, which was supposed to remain faithful to me during the whole year of my absence! Like the tender dove of a fable, she was to wither away in separation from me. And all this is much simpler... All this is terribly simple, disgusting!
My father also built in Bald Mountains and thought that this was his place, his land, his air, his men; but Napoleon came and, not knowing about his existence, pushed him off the road like a piece of wood, and his Bald Mountains and his whole life fell apart. And Princess Marya says that this is a test sent from above. What is the purpose of the test when it no longer exists and will not exist? will never happen again! He's gone! So who is this test for? Fatherland, death of Moscow! And tomorrow he will kill me - and not even a Frenchman, but one of his own, as yesterday a soldier emptied a gun near my ear, and the French will come, take me by the legs and head and throw me into a hole so that I don’t stink under their noses, and new conditions will arise lives that will also be familiar to others, and I will not know about them, and I will not exist.”
He looked at the strip of birch trees with their motionless yellow, green and white bark, glistening in the sun. “To die, so that they would kill me tomorrow, so that I wouldn’t exist... so that all this would happen, but I wouldn’t exist.” He vividly imagined the absence of himself in this life. And these birches with their light and shadow, and these curly clouds, and this smoke from the fires - everything around was transformed for him and seemed something terrible and threatening. A chill ran down his spine. Quickly getting up, he left the barn and began to walk.
Voices were heard behind the barn.
- Who's there? – Prince Andrei called out.
The red-nosed captain Timokhin, the former company commander of Dolokhov, now, due to the decline of officers, a battalion commander, timidly entered the barn. He was followed by the adjutant and the regimental treasurer.
Prince Andrei hastily stood up, listened to what the officers had to convey to him, gave them some more orders and was about to let them go, when a familiar, whispering voice was heard from behind the barn.
- Que diable! [Damn it!] - said the voice of a man who bumped into something.
Prince Andrei, looking out of the barn, saw Pierre approaching him, who tripped on a lying pole and almost fell. It was generally unpleasant for Prince Andrei to see people from his world, especially Pierre, who reminded him of all those difficult moments that he experienced on his last visit to Moscow.
- That's how! - he said. - What destinies? I didn't wait.
While he was saying this, in his eyes and the expression of his whole face there was more than dryness - there was hostility, which Pierre immediately noticed. He approached the barn in the most animated state of mind, but when he saw the expression on Prince Andrei’s face, he felt constrained and awkward.
“I arrived... so... you know... I arrived... I’m interested,” said Pierre, who had already senselessly repeated this word “interesting” so many times that day. “I wanted to see the battle.”
- Yes, yes, what do the Masonic brothers say about the war? How to prevent it? - said Prince Andrei mockingly. - Well, what about Moscow? What are mine? Have you finally arrived in Moscow? – he asked seriously.
- We've arrived. Julie Drubetskaya told me. I went to see them and didn’t find them. They left for the Moscow region.
The officers wanted to take their leave, but Prince Andrei, as if not wanting to remain face to face with his friend, invited them to sit and drink tea. Benches and tea were served. The officers, not without surprise, looked at the thick, huge figure of Pierre and listened to his stories about Moscow and the disposition of our troops, which he managed to travel around. Prince Andrei was silent, and his face was so unpleasant that Pierre addressed himself more to the good-natured battalion commander Timokhin than to Bolkonsky.
- So, did you understand the entire disposition of the troops? - Prince Andrei interrupted him.
- Yes, that is, how? - said Pierre. “As a non-military person, I can’t say that I completely, but I still understood the general arrangement.”
“Eh bien, vous etes plus avance que qui cela soit, [Well, you know more than anyone else.],” said Prince Andrei.
- A! - Pierre said in bewilderment, looking through his glasses at Prince Andrei. - Well, what do you say about the appointment of Kutuzov? - he said.
“I was very happy about this appointment, that’s all I know,” said Prince Andrei.
- Well, tell me, what is your opinion about Barclay de Tolly? In Moscow, God knows what they said about him. How do you judge him?
“Ask them,” said Prince Andrei, pointing to the officers.
Pierre looked at him with a condescendingly questioning smile, with which everyone involuntarily turned to Timokhin.
“They saw the light, your Excellency, as your Serene Highness did,” Timokhin said, timidly and constantly looking back at his regimental commander.
- Why is this so? asked Pierre.
- Yes, at least about firewood or feed, I’ll report to you. After all, we were retreating from the Sventsyans, don’t you dare touch a twig, or some hay, or anything. After all, we are leaving, he gets it, isn’t it, your Excellency? - he turned to his prince, - don’t you dare. In our regiment, two officers were put on trial for such matters. Well, as His Serene Highness did, it just became so about this. We saw the light...