Tag: Coptic Christians

Islamic Democracy in Action: Egypt continues down the Sharia road- please pray for Coptic Christians

Peanut Gallery: I’m a lousy predictor of election results (read Nov 6) but this one looks like an easy call.

The people of Egypt will overwhelmingly approve the draft constitution in a referendum engineered by the Muslim Brotherhood. Sharia law will be skillfully woven into the constitution and- when push comes to shove- will trump all other considerations.

All the noise in the Egyptian street right now is just that… noise. The Muslim Brotherhood will have their way and they know it.

The Western diplomatic spin will be “it could have been worse if the Salafist’s had their way.“ Just wait.

Please pray for the new Coptic Pope, the Coptic Church and Coptic Christians around the country. Life is going to become even more difficult for them. God help them.
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Morsi supporters hit the streets as Egypt braces for referendum
Please click on above link for full story and related news.

Egyptian Islamists are holding rallies in support of President Mohammed Morsi ahead of his expected ratification of a new post-revolutionary constitution that opponents fear is too based in sharia law and does not adequately protect human rights.

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The demonstrations in Cairo and across the country come after days of rival protests by supporters and opponents of Morsi, who is expected to call a quickfire referendum on Saturday on the new draft constitution in order to hurry it through before Egypt’s supreme constitutional court can dissolve the assembly that drafted it.

The draft has been criticised for its ambiguous language on civil liberties, women’s and minority rights and freedom of expression, as well as its concentration on enshrining sharia law as the basis for legislation. It also protects army privileges that Morsi’s opponents want revoked, including the ability to try civilians in military courts.

Continue reading “Islamic Democracy in Action: Egypt continues down the Sharia road- please pray for Coptic Christians” →

Please pray for Coptic Christians as Egypt moves down the Sharia road

Morsi’s Egypt: More power, more persecution

Christian human-rights analysts warn the expanded powers seized by Egypt’s president means more anti-Christian persecution to come.

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In a set of legal maneuvers this week, Muslim Brotherhood-anointed President Mohamed Morsi moved to sidestep the courts and make his office immune to judicial oversight. With no constitution to restrain him, Morsi holds broad executive and legislative authority.

Middle East analyst Theodore Shoebat’s concern is what Morsi’s power grab means for Egypt’s Christians. He references two regimes – one ancient, one modern – to illustrate what happens when leaders opposed to Christianity take control.

“Before Nero inflicted a full persecution on the church, he at first seized full control of the Roman government,” Shoebat said.

“In order for us to comprehend how Christians will be eventually persecuted under a Muslim Brotherhood Egypt, we must look to North Sudan, a country also run by a member of the Muslim Brotherhood, Omar al-Bashir,” he continued.

“Bashir has committed a genocide of millions of Christians all in the name of jihad. And he, like Morsi, also believes that the Quran must be the constitution of his country,” Shoebat said.

Shoebat said he sees no reason to believe Morsi will not follow the model of both Nero and al-Bashir.

“The same will happen in Egypt. Continue reading “Please pray for Coptic Christians as Egypt moves down the Sharia road” →

Please pray for: Bishop Tawadros new pope of Egypt’s Coptic Christians | BBC

Peanut Gallery: Please pray for Bishop Tawadros who has been chosen the new pope of Egypt’s Coptic Christians, becoming leader of the largest Christian minority in the Middle East… to be enthroned in a ceremony on November 18.

“You therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.  And the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also. You therefore must endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.”  2 Timothy 2.1-3 NKJV

Watch the moment in the ceremony when a blindfolded boy picked the name out of a bowl –

Bishop Tawadros has been chosen as the new pope of Egypt’s Coptic Christians, becoming leader of the largest Christian minority in the Middle East.

His name was selected from a glass bowl by a blindfolded boy at a ceremony in Cairo’s St Mark’s Cathedral. Three candidates had been shortlisted.

The 60-year-old succeeds Pope Shenouda III, who died in March aged 88.

He succeeds as attacks on Copts are on the increase, and many say they fear the country’s new Islamist leaders.

The other two candidates were Bishop Raphael and Father Raphael Ava Mina. They were chosen in a ballot by a council of some 2,400 Church and community officials in October.

Bishop Tawadros has studied in Britain

In God’s hands

Their names were written on pieces of paper and put in crystal balls sealed with wax on the church altar.

A blindfolded boy – one of 12 shortlisted children – then drew out the name of Bishop Tawadros, who until now was an aide to the acting leader, Bishop Pachomius.

Bishop Pachomius then took the ballot from the boy’s hand and showed it to all those gathered in the cathedral.

Strict measures were in place to make sure there was no foul play during the televised ceremony: the three pieces of paper with candidates’ names were all the same size and tied the same way.

Copts say this process ensures the selection is in God’s hands.

Bishop Tawadros will be enthroned in a ceremony on 18 November.

Continue reading the main story

More on: Choosing a New Coptic Pope » First Thoughts | A First Things Blog

Peanut Gallery: I confess, I’m fascinated by the papal selection process of the Coptic Orthodox Church. It’s not so much the candidate vetting to narrow the final choices down to three. It’s the God-directed final selection by lot at the hand of a random child that I find  both amazing and inspiring.

It’s so unlike the political lobbying and manuevering that I’ve witnessed in the church over the years. And this selection is so much more important in the total scheme of things… given the tenuous position of Christians in an emerging Islamic Egypt.

That’s why I’ve re-posted this article from First Things… to add additional information… and to encourage you to pray for the Coptic Church and their soon-to-be-revealed new Pope.

Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done
On earth, as it is in heaven!

See full article below –
Choosing a New Pope
Thursday, November 1, 2012
Mark Movsesian

In Egypt this weekend, the Coptic Orthodox Church will select its 118th pope. The new pope will succeed the late Shenouda III, who led the Coptic Church—a venerable and long-suffering communion, and the largest Christian church in the Middle East today—for forty years. The selection process, which is codified in Egyptian civil law, tracks ancient custom and is quite fascinating.

According to Eastern Christian practice, only monks—that is, celibate priests attached to a monastic brotherhood—may become pope. Continue reading “More on: Choosing a New Coptic Pope » First Thoughts | A First Things Blog” →

Egyptian Prayer Update: “Copts fast for three days ahead of altar lottery”

Peanut Gallery: Yesterday, eligible Coptic voters selected three final candidates as successor to Pope Shenouda III (Wikipedia.) The final selection will be made by a child from the congregation who will choose the new Coptic Pope by lot… ultimately putting the selection in God’s hands. See earlier post.

Prior to Sunday’s selection, the Church has been asked to fast and pray.

“Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done
on earth as it is in heaven.”

Copts fast for three days ahead of altar lottery – full article.

Coptic Pope Election

The altar lottery will decide the successor to Pope Shenouda III among Bishop Raphael, auxiliary bishop of central Cairo, Bishop Tawadros, the auxiliary bishop for Beheira, and Father Raphael Ava Mina, a monk at St. Mina Monastery.

Bishop Angaelos, secretary for acting Pope Pachomius, said the Church will conduct a lottery to choose one child from amongst 70 children to conduct the final altar lottery.

Georgette Qillini, a member of the nominations committee, said the church has geared up for the altar lottery. Three bits of paper bearing the names of the three nominees will be placed in a glass box and then a child, between 4 and 7 years old, will pick one paper. Continue reading “Egyptian Prayer Update: “Copts fast for three days ahead of altar lottery”” →