(Redirected from The Holy Synod of the Coptic Orthodox Patriarchate of Alexandria)The Holy Synod of the
Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria is the highest authority in the
Church of Alexandria and it formulates the rules and regulations regarding matters of church's organisation, faith, service's order.
[1]
The Synod is chaired by the
Patriarch of Alexandria and the members are the Church's Metropolitans, Bishops, Chorbishops and the Patriarchal Vicar for Alexandria.
Seniority in the Synod
According to the Coptic Orthodox Church Traditions the Pope, being Bishop of Alexandria and being the Senior and Elder Bishop and the Metropolitan Archbishop of the Province and Primate of All Egypt, is the head of the Synod as a
first among equals. The most senior position after the Pope was the Metropolitan of
Pentapolis, but since its demise as a major Archiepiscopal Metropolis and now being held as a Titular See attached to another Diocese.
There is a special status of seniority of honor for the Metropolitan Archbishop of the Holy and Great City of Our Lord,
Jerusalem, Holy Zion, Archbishop of the Holy Archdiocese of
Jerusalem, All
Palestine,
Philadelphia of Jordan & All the
Near East.
This great archdiocesan Metropolis is technically outside the Egyptian Province and was not originally counted within the jurisdiction of the Pope of Alexandria and it was created by Pope
Cyril III (
1235-
1243) in the Thirteenth Century, which, at that time, had caused a dispute between the
Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria and the
Syriac Orthodox Church of Antioch.
[2]. This was a very rare incident between the two sister churches as in general their relationship is one of the strongest between any two sister churches.
[3] .
It is important to note that the Coptic Orthodox Metropolitan of Jerusalem is the only Coptic Orthodox Metropolitan who is consecrated as a Metropolitan Archbishop without being consecrated a bishop first then elevated to the Metropolitan rank later as is the norm in all episcopal consecration according to the tradition of the Church of Alexandria. This has been the case since
Cyril III consecrated Metropolitan Basilius as the first Coptic Orthodox Metropolitan of Jerusalem and All the Near East.
Currently, and because of the fact that the seniority of the members is decided according to ranking rules depending on the Rank in the Church (Metropolitans first then Bishops (and Exarchs of the Throne), then Auxiliary Bishops, then General Bishops, then Chorbishops and according to the date of consecration, the most senior position after the Pope is the oldest consecrated Metropolitan of the Throne, who is now the Metropolitan of the Holy
Metropolis of
Asyut (
Lycopolis), (
Hieracon) and (
Apollonopolis Parva) (Consecrated in 1946).
Apart from the fact that, as in ancient tradition, after the Senior Hierarch of
Pentapolis, came the Hierarch of the Metropolis of (
Lycopolis), (
Hieracon) and (
Apollonopolis Parva), which is
Asyut.
It is to be noted that the most senior Metropolitan in consecration is candidate to become the
Locum tenens in case of the death of the Pope until the election of the new Pope, and will be the one who enthrones the newly elected Pope along with the entire body of the Holy Synod.
This seniority ranking system does not diminish the importance and the greatness of the Metropolis of Jerusalem and All the Near East. It is to be noted that the archiepiscopal status of this great metropolis is given due to the Holy Apostolic Throne that it represent, being the Apostolic Throne of Jerusalem, although its Metropolitan Archbishop does not claim that title and is under the jurisdiction of the Throne of Alexandria.
Gallery
A Gallery of the Coptic Holy Synod of Egypt (All Coptic Bishops) '(external link)'
A Gallery of the Members of the Holy Synod of the Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria In order of date of consecration in Arabic and English '(external link)'
'Primate and Pontiff'
'Chairman of The Synod'
1) His Holiness
Shenouda III (Senouthius III)
★
Pope and Lord Archbishop of the Great and Holy Metropolis of Alexandria (
Rhakotis), that is in
Alexandria and the metropolitan province of Greater
Cairo comprising:
★
★ Central
Cairo and
Heliopolis
★
★ El Mataria,
Ain Shams and Ezbet El Nakhl
★
★
Old Cairo (
Babylon)
★
★ East of the Railroad District in
Cairo
★
★ The
Maadi District and Dar El Salam (Irininoupolis) in
Cairo
★
Elder and Chief Metropolitan Archbishop of the Egyptian Province
★
Primate of all
Egypt,
Pentapolis,
Libya,
Nubia and the
Sudan
★
Patriarch of All Africa on the
Holy Throne of St. Mark the Evangelist, the
Holy Apostle and
Martyr.
=='
Metropolitans of the Throne'==
2) His Eminence Mikhail (Michael), Elder Metropolitan of the Holy Metropolis of
Asyut (
Lycopolis), (
Hieracon) and (
Apollonopolis Parva) & Abbot of the
Monastery of Saint Macarius the Great, in
Scetes,
Lower Egypt.
3) His Eminence Abraham, Metropolitan of the Holy and Great City of Our Lord,
Jerusalem, Holy Zion, Archbishop of the Holy Archdiocese of
Jerusalem, All
Palestine,
Philadelphia of Jordan & All the
Near East.
4) His Eminence Domadius (Dometius), Metropolitan of the Holy Metropolis of
Giza (
Memphis), (
Busiris) &
Atfih (
Aphroditopolis).
5) His Eminence Pachomius, Metropolitan of the Holy Metropolis of
Beheira (
Thmuis &
Hermopolis Parva), (
Buto),
Mariout (
Mareotis),
Marsa Matruh (
Paraetonium), (
Apis),
Patriarchal Exarch of the Ancient
Metropolis of
Libya: (
Livis,
Marmarica,
Darnis &
Tripolitania) & Titular
Metropolitan Archbishop of the Great and Ancient
Metropolis of
Pentapolis in (
Cyrenaica): (
Cyrene), (
Appollonia), (
Ptolemais), (
Berenice) and (
Arsinoe).
6) His Eminence Pishoy (Pisoios), Metropolitan of the Holy Metropolis of
Damietta (
Thamiates),
Kafr El Sheikh,
Sakha (
Xois) &
Belqas, Abbot of the Monastery of Saint Demiana and General Secretary of the Holy Synod of the Throne.
[4]
7) His Eminence Marcos (Mark), Metropolitan of the Holy Metropolis of
Toulon and All
France, Primate of
The French Coptic Orthodox Church.
8) His Eminence
Seraphim, Metropolitan of the Holy Metropolis of
Glastonbury, and Primate of the
British Orthodox Church.
9) His Eminence Hedra, Metropolitan of the Holy Metropolis of
Aswan (
Syene &
Elephantine) and (
Kom Ombo) & Abbot of the Monastery of Saint Hedra.
10) His Eminence Wissa (Besa), Metropolitan of the Holy Metropolis of
el-Balyana (
Abydos), Berdis, Awlad Tookh & its jurisdictions.
11) His Eminence Arsenius, Metropolitan of the Holy Metropolis of
Minya,
Abu Qirqas,
Beni Hasan, (
Akoris) & (
Hebenu).
=='
Bishops of the Throne'==
12) His Grace Ammonius (Amon), Bishop of the Holy Diocese of
Luxor (
Thebes),
Esna (
Latopolis),
Armant (
Hermonthis) and
Edfu (
Apollonopolis Parva,
Maximianopolis,
Eileithyiaspolis &
Apollonopolis Magna) (Relieved from Eparchial Shepherding).
13) His Grace Benyamin (Benjamin), Bishop of the Holy Diocese of
Al Minufiyah (Prosopolis).
14) His Grace Pavnotius, Bishop of the Holy Diocese of
Samalut & Taha El Aaameda.
15) His Grace Angelos, Bishop of the Holy Diocese of
Al Sharqiyah (
Fakus &
Tanis) & 10th of Ramadan City.
16) His Grace Tadros (Theodoros), Bishop of the Holy Diocese of
Port Said (
Pelusium,
Tahpanhes &
Farama).
17) His Grace Ignatius, Bishop of the Holy Diocese of
Suez (
Clysma).
18) His Grace Yacobos (Jacob), Bishop of the Holy Diocese of
Zaqaziq (
Bubastis), (
Busiris) & Menya Al Qamh (
Sais)
19) His Grace Kyrillos (Cyril), Bishop of the Holy Diocese of
Nag Hammâdi (Chenoboskion) & Abu Tesht.
20) His Grace Boula (Paul), Bishop of the Holy Diocese of
Tanta.
21) His Grace Morkos (Mark), Bishop of the Holy Diocese of
Shubra el-Kheima.
22) His Grace Ashe’yia (Isaiah), Bishop of the Holy Diocese of
Tahta & Juhayna (Aphroditopolis & Hispis)
23) His Grace Fam, Bishop of the Holy Diocese of
Tima.
24) His Grace Pissada, Bishop of the Holy Diocese of
Akhmim (
Panopolis), Saqualta & the Holy Monasteries of Mount Akhmim in
Upper Egypt.
25) His Grace Andrawos (Andrew), Bishop of the Holy Diocese of
Abutig,
Sedfa &
el Ghanayem.
26) His Grace Missael, Bishop of the Holy Diocese of
Birmingham, the Midlands and its Affiliated Regions,
UK.
27) His Grace Abram, Bishop of the Holy Diocese of
Faiyum (
Crocodilopolis,
Arsinoe) & Abbot of the Monastery of Archangel Gabriel in the Naqloun Mountain, Central Egypt.
28) His Grace
Serapion, Bishop of the Holy Diocese of
Los Angeles,
Southern California &
Hawaii,
USA.
29) His Grace Demetrius, Bishop of the Holy Diocese of
Mallawi,
Ansena (
Antinoopolis) &
El Ashmunein (
Hermopolis Magna).
30) His Grace Lukas (Luke), Bishop of the Holy Diocese of
Abnub &
el Fateh.
31) His Grace Bakhoum (Pachomius), Bishop of the Holy Diocese of
Sohag (
Athribis),
el-Mansha (
Ptolemais Hermiou) &
el-Maragha.
32) His Grace Barsoum (Parsoma), Bishop of the Holy Diocese of
Dairut & Sanabou.
33) His Grace Antonius (Anthony), Bishop of the Holy Diocese of
Manfalut.
34) His Grace Picenti (Pisentios), Bishop of the Holy Diocese of
Helwan &
Al Maasara (
Tura).
35) His Grace Kyrillos (Cyril), Bishop of the Holy Diocese of
Milano and
Northern Italy & Abbot of the Monastery of Saint Shenouda the Archimandrite in
Milano.
36) His Grace Aghapius, Bishop the Holy Diocese of
Deir Mawas & Delga.
37) His Grace Thomas, Bishop of the Holy Diocese of
el-Qusiya (
Qis) &
Meir.
38) His Grace Matthias, Bishop of the Holy Diocese of
El-Mahalla El-Kubra and Samanoud (
Sebennytos). (Resigned & Deposed)
39) His Grace Cheroubim (Cherubim), Bishop of the Holy Diocese of
Qena,
Qift (
Coptos) & their jurisdictions
40) His Grace Pimen, Bishop of the Holy Diocese of
Naqada &
Qus (
Apollonopolis Parva).
41) His Grace Takla, Bishop of the Holy Diocese of Dishna &
Dendera (
Tentyra) & its jurisdictions.
42) His Grace Macarius, Bishop of the Eritrean Church in the USA. Member of the
Eritrean Holy Synod.
43) His Grace Markos (Mark), Bishop of the Eritrean Church in the UK. Member of the
Eritrean Holy Synod.
44) His Grace Theophilus, Bishop of the Holy Diocese of
Hurghada,
Kosseir & All the
Red Sea (
Apollonopolis), (
Arsinoe), (
Myos Hormos), (
Philoteras) & (
Berenice).
45) His Grace Maximus, Bishop of the Holy Diocese of
Banha (
Leontopolis) & Quouwaysena (
Athribis).
46) His Grace Sarapamon (Serapis Amon), Bishop of the Holy Diocese of
Atbara, Um Durman & All the North of the
Sudan & Titular Bishop of the Great and Ancient
Metropolis of
Nubia: (
Faras) of (
Nobatia), (
Dongola) of (
Makuria) and (
Soba) of (
Alodia).
47) His Grace Antony, Bishop of the Holy Diocese of
Ireland,
Scotland &
North East England,
United Kingdom.
48) His Grace Damian, Bishop of the Holy Diocese of
Höxter-Brenkenhausen, Kroeffelbach & All
Germany & Abbot of the Monastery of Saint Anthony the Great in Kroeffelbach,
Germany.
49) His Grace Youssef (Joseph), Bishop of the Holy Diocese of
Southern United States & Abbot of the Monastery of Most Holy Virgin Mary & Saint Moses the Strong in
Corpus Christi, Texas.
50) His Grace Barnaba, Bishop of the Holy Diocese of
Torino and
Southern Italy.
51) His Grace Suriel, Bishop of the Holy Diocese of
Melbourne,
Victoria (Australia),
Tasmania,
ACT,
South Australia,
Western Australia,
New Zealand and All
Oceania.
52) His Grace Gabriel, Bishop of the Holy Diocese of
Beni Suef (
Herakleopolis Magna) &
El-Bahnasa (
Oxyrhynchus).
53) His Grace Georgios (George), Bishop of the Holy Diocese of
Matai and its jurisdictions.
54) His Grace Stephanos (Stephen), Bishop of the Holy Diocese of Beba, Samasta & El Fashn.
55) His Grace Gabriel, Bishop of the Holy Diocese of
Vienna and all
Austria.
56) His Grace Ilia (Elijah), Bishop of the Holy Diocese of
Khartoum & All the South of the
Sudan.
57) His Grace Seraphim, Bishop of the Holy Diocese of
Ismailia (
Heroonopolis) & (
Pithom).
58) His Grace Apollo, Bishop of the Holy Diocese of
El-Tor (
Raithu),
Sharm El Sheikh & All
South Sinai.
59) His Grace Athanasius, Bishop of the Holy Diocese of
Beni Mazar.
60) His Grace Aghathon, Bishop of the Holy Diocese of
Maghagha &
El Idwa.
61) His Grace Kosman (Cosmas), Bishop of the Holy Diocese of
El Arish (
Rhinocorura),
El Qantarah & All
North Sinai.
62) His Grace Daniel, Bishop of the Holy Diocese of
Sydney,
New South Wales,
Queensland,
Northern Territory,
Thailand,
Singapore,
Hong Kong,
Japan & All
East Asia.
63) His Grace Dawood (David), Bishop of the Holy Diocese of
Mansoura (
Leontopolis), (
Lycopolis) & (
Mendes) & Abbot of the Monastery of Saint George at Meit Demsis,
Lower Egypt.
64) His Grace Aghathon, Bishop the Holy Diocese of
Sao Paolo and All
Brazil.
65) His Grace Youssef (Joseph), Bishop of the Holy Diocese of
Santa Cruz and All
Bolivia.
=='
Auxiliary Bishops of the Throne'==
66) His Grace Athanasius, Auxiliary Bishop of the Holy Metropolis of
Toulon & All
France, Assistant to His Eminence Marcos, Primate of
The French Coptic Orthodox Church.
67) His Grace Daniel, Auxiliary Bishop for
Maadi District in
Cairo, Assistant to His Holiness the Pope.
68) His Grace Raphael, Auxiliary Bishop for Central
Cairo &
Heliopolis, Assistant to His Holiness the Pope.
69) His Grace Tawadros (Theodorus), Auxiliary Bishop for the Holy Diocese of
Beheira (
Thmuis &
Hermopolis Parva), assistant to His Eminence Pachomius.
70) His Grace Maximos (Maximus), Auxiliary Bishop for Dar El Salam (Irininoupolis) in
Cairo, Assistant to His Holiness the Pope.
71) His Grace Silwanos (Silvanus), Auxiliary Bishop for
Old Cairo (
Babylon) & Assistant to His Holiness the Pope.
72) His Grace Timotheos (Timothy), Auxiliary Bishop for El Mataria,
Ain Shams & Ezbet El Nakhl, Assistant to His Holiness the Pope.
73) His Grace Martyrus, Auxiliary Bishop for East of the Railroad District in
Cairo, Assistant to His Holiness the Pope.
74) His Grace Macarius, Auxiliary Bishop for the Holy Metropolis of
Minya &
Abu Qirqas, Assistant to His Eminence Arsenius.
=='
Exarchs of the Throne'==
75) His Grace Antonius Markos (Anthony Mark), General Bishop for
African Affairs & Patriarchal Exarch in
West &
South Africa.
76) His Grace Youhanna (John), General Bishop & Patriarchal Exarch in
Cedar Grove,
New Jersey, Archdiocese of
North America.
77) His Grace Boules (Pavlos), General Bishop for Evangelism & Mission & Patriarchal Exarch in
East &
Central Africa.
78) His Grace David, General Bishop and Patriarchal Exarch in
Cedar Grove,
New Jersey, Archdiocese of
North America.
79) His Grace
Angaelos, General Bishop and Patriarchal Exarch for the Youth Ministry at the Patriarchal Center and the Coptic Orthodox Theological College at
Stevenage,
United Kingdom.
=='
Bishop Abbots of the Holy and Sacred Monasteries of the Throne'==
80) His Grace Sarapamon (Serapis Amon), Bishop & Abbot of the
Monastery of Saint Pishoy in
Scetes,
Lower Egypt.
81) His Grace Sawiros (Severus), Bishop & Abbot of the Monastery of the Most Holy Virgin Mary known as
Al Muharraq Monastery Upper Egypt.
82) His Grace Mattheos (Matthew), Bishop & Abbot of the
Monastery of the Most Holy Virgin Mary known as the
Syrian Monastery, in
Scetes,
Lower Egypt.
83) His Grace Basilius (Basil), Bishop & Abbot of the Monastery of Saint Samuel the Confessor, in El Qualamon Mountain,
Upper Egypt.
84) His Grace Yustus (Justus), Bishop & Abbot of the
Monastery of Saint Anthony the Great, in the
Eastern Desert.
85) His Grace Isithoros (Isidore), Bishop & Abbot of the
Monastery of the Most Holy Virgin Mary known as the
Paromeos (Roman) Monastery, in
Scetes,
Lower Egypt.
86) His Grace Kyrillos (Cyril), Bishop & Abbot of the
Monastery of Saint Mina, in the Desert of Mariut (
Mareotis),
Lower Egypt..
87) His Grace Mina, Bishop & Abbot of the Monastery of Saint George in El Khatatba, Central Egypt.
88) His Grace Daniel, Bishop & Abbot of the
Monastery of Saint Paul the Anchorite, in the
Eastern Desert.
=='
General Bishops of the Throne'
89) His Grace Ruweis, General Bishop.
90) His Grace Apakir (Apa Cyrrhus), General Bishop.
'
General Bishops Administrators of the Bishoprics of the Throne'
91) His Grace Moussa (Moses), General Bishop, Administrator for the Bishopric of Youth Affairs.
92) His Grace Dioscorus, General Bishop, Administrator of the Patriarchal Print Shop.
93) His Grace Botros (Peter), General Bishop, Administrator of Aghapy TV Channel.
'
General Bishops Patriarchal Secretary'==
94) His Grace Youannes (John), General Bishop, Patriarchal Secretary at the Patriarchal Residence in
Cairo.
95) His Grace Armiah (Jeremiah), General Bishop, Patriarchal Secretary at the Patriarchal Residence in
Cairo.
=='
Chorbishop'
96) His Grace Isaac, Chori-Episcopus.
'
Patriarchal Vicar for Alexandria'==
97) The Very Reverend Hegumen Cheroubim the Pachomian, Grand Economos and Patriarchal Vicar in
Alexandria.
'Vacant Metropolis/Diocese/Abbey'
98) His Eminence (Vacant), Metropolitan of the Holy Metropolis of
Girga (
Thinis).
99) His Grace (Vacant), Bishop of the Holy Diocese of Shebin El Quanater, Toukh & El Khanka.
100) His Grace (Vacant), Bishop & Abbot of the Monastery of Saint George in El Rozaiquat, Central Egypt.
101) His Grace (Vacant), Bishop & Abbot of the Monastery of Saint Anthony the Great in Barstow,
California,
United States. (Vacant after the death of the thrice blessed
Bishop Karas in
2002)
See also
★
Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria
★
General Congregation Council
★
Christianity in Africa
★
Copts
★
Coptic alphabet
★
Coptic calendar
★
Coptic iconography
★
Coptic language
★
Coptic music
★
Coptic flag
★
Coptic abstinence
★
Coptic orphans
★
Coptic Catholic Church
★
Coptic Orthodox Church in UK
★
British Orthodox Church
★
Coptic Orthodox Church in Australia
★
Coptic Orthodox Church in Canada
★
Coptic Orthodox Church in Europe
★
Coptic Orthodox Church in the United States
★
Coptic Orthodox Church in South America
★
The French Coptic Orthodox Church
★
Coptic Church in Wales
★
Eastern Orthodoxy
★
Eastern Orthodox Church of Alexandria
★
Egypt
★
List of Coptic Orthodox Popes of Alexandria
★
Oriental Orthodoxy
★
Patriarch of Alexandria
★
Pope Shenouda III of Alexandria
★
Pope of the Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria
References
1. http://lis.njleg.state.nj.us/cgi-bin/om_isapi.dll?clientID=136664&depth=2&hitsperheading=on&infobase=statutes.nfo&record={521C}&softpage=Document42
2. History of the Coptic Church, Iris Habib Elmasry
3. History of the Coptic Orthodox Church, Abouna Menassa Elkomos Youhanna 1923
4. http://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/pontifical_councils/chrstuni/anc-orient-ch-docs/rc_pc_christuni_doc_20060130_report-iii-meeting_en.html
External link
★
The Coptic Pope website
★
theholysynod.copticpope.org
★
Gallery of the Coptic Holy Synod of Egypt (All Coptic Bishops)
★
Coptic Documents of the Holy Synod in French
العربية
中国
Français
Deutsch
Ελληνική
हिन्दी
Italiano
日本語
Português
Русский
Español
