The Holy Synod of the Coptic Orthodox Church

The Holy Synod of the Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria is the highest authority in the Church of Alexandria [ [http://caselaw.lp.findlaw.com/nycodes/c103/a32.html Caselaw] ] and it formulates the rules and regulations regarding matters of church's organisation, faith, service's order. [ [http://lis.njleg.state.nj.us/cgi-bin/om_isapi.dll?clientID=136664&depth=2&hitsperheading=on&infobase=statutes.nfo&record={521C}&softpage=Document42 Document ] ]

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.

eniority 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 that of the Metropolitan of Western Pentapolis, but since its demise in the days of Pope John VI of Alexandria as a major Archiepiscopal Metropolis, it has been 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. [ History of the Coptic Church, Iris Habib Elmasry ] . 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. [ History of the Coptic Orthodox Church, Abouna Menassa Elkomos Youhanna 1923 ]

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. According to the alexandrine tradition, the Metropolitan rank is granted by the Pope of Alexandria to the eparchial bishops under his jurisdiction on a personal status and not due to the size or the importance of the eparchy, which the bishop is shepherding, except in the above-mentioned case of the Archdiocese of Jerusalem. This has been the case since Cyril III consecrated Metropolitan Basilius as the first Coptic Orthodox Metropolitan of Jerusalem and All the Near East. This status is most probably because the Archdiocese of Jerusalem is considered as a Patriarchal Exarchate outside the regular territorial jursidiction of the Alexandrine Throne and accordingly, the presiding hierarch is a Patriarchal Exarch of the Alexandrine Throne, thus being honored by the Archepiscopal rank right upon consacretion.

Currently, and because the seniority of the members of the Holy Synod is decided according to seniority ranking rules of the ecclesiastical ranks(Metropolitans first then Bishops (and Bishops Exarchs of the Throne), then Auxiliary Bishops, then General Bishops, then Chorbishops and according to the date of consecration within each rank, the most senior position after the Pope is the oldest consecrated Metropolitan of the Throne, who is now Mikhail, the Metropolitan of the Holy Metropolis of Asyut (Lycopolis), (Hieracon) and (Apollonopolis Parva) (Consecrated in 1946).

It is to be noted that according to the ancient Alexandrine tradition, that 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 also 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

[http://st-takla.org/Gallery/Coptic-Holy-Synod/Holy-Synod_Al-Magma3-Al-Kokaddas_01.html A Gallery of the Coptic Holy Synod of Egypt (All Coptic Bishops)] (external link)

[http://www.theholysynod.copticpope.org/thumb.htm 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) Shenouda III (Senouthius III)
*Pope and Lord Archbishop of the Great and Holy Metropolis of Alexandria (Rhakotis), being:
**The Metropolitan of the Holy Metropolis of Alexandria (Rhakotis), comprising:
***The Suffragan Holy Diocese of Canopus (Aboukir)
***The Suffragan Holy Diocese of Menelaus
***The Suffragan Holy Diocese of Schedia
**The Metropolitan of the metropolitan province of Greater Cairo comprising:
***The Holy Archdiocese of Cairo (Arcadia Ægypti), which includes:
****East of the Railroad District in Cairo
****The Maadi District and Dar El Salam (Irininoupolis) in Cairo
***The Suffragan Holy Diocese of Heliopolis
***The Suffragan Holy Diocese of El Mataria, Ain Shams and Ezbet El Nakhl
***The Suffragan Holy Diocese of Old Cairo (Babylon)
*Elder and Chief Metropolitan Archbishop of all the Egyptian Provinces
*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) Mikhail (Michael), Elder Metropolitan of the Holy Metropolis of Asyut (Lycopolis), (Hieracon) and (Apollonopolis Parva) and Abbot of the Monastery of Saint Macarius the Great, in Scetes, Lower Egypt.

3) 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 and Patriarchal Exarch of all the Near East.

4) Domadius (Dometius), Metropolitan of the Holy and Great Metropolis of Giza (Memphis), (Busiris) and Atfih (Aphroditopolis).

5) Pachomius, Metropolitan of the Holy Metropolis of Beheira (Thmuis and Hermopolis Parva), (Buto), (Naucratis), Mariout (Mareotis), Marsa Matruh (Paraetonium), (Apis); Patriarchal Exarch of the Ancient Metropolis of Libya: (Livis, Marmarica, Darnis and Tripolitania) and Titular Metropolitan of the Great and Ancient Metropolis of Pentapolis in (Cyrenaica): (Cyrene), (Appollonia), (Ptolemais), (Berenice) and (Arsinoe).

6) Pishoy (Pisoios), Metropolitan of the Holy Metropolis of Damietta (Thamiates), Kafr El Sheikh, Sakha (Xois) and Belqas; Abbot of the Monastery of Saint Demiana and General Secretary of the Holy Synod of the Throne. [ [http://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/pontifical_councils/chrstuni/anc-orient-ch-docs/rc_pc_christuni_doc_20060130_report-iii-meeting_en.html Report - Third Meeting - Etchmiadzin, Armenia, 27 – 30 January 2006 ] ]

7) Seraphim, Metropolitan of the Holy Metropolis of Glastonbury and Primate of the British Orthodox Church.

8) Hedra, Metropolitan of the Holy Metropolis of Aswan (Syene & Elephantine) and (Kom Ombo) and Abbot of the Monastery of Saint Hedra and of the Monastery of Saint Pachomius the Cenobite.

9) Wissa (Besa), Metropolitan of the Holy Metropolis of el-Balyana (Abydos), Berdis, Awlad Tookh and its jurisdictions.

10) Arsenius, Metropolitan of the Holy Metropolis of Minya, Abu Qirqas, Beni Hasan, (Akoris) and (Hebenu).

=Bishops of the Throne=

11) Ammonius (Amon), Bishop of the Holy Diocese of Luxor (Thebes), Esna (Latopolis), Armant (Hermonthis) and Edfu (Apollonopolis Parva, Maximianopolis, Eileithyiaspolis and Apollonopolis Magna) (Relieved from Eparchial Shepherding).

12) Benyamin (Benjamin), Bishop of the Holy Diocese of Al Minufiyah (Prosopolis).

13) Pavnotius, Bishop of the Holy Diocese of Samalut and Taha El Aaameda.

14) Angelos, Bishop of the Holy Diocese of Al Sharqiyah (Fakus and Tanis) and of the 10th of Ramadan City. 15) Tadros (Theodoros), Bishop of the Holy Diocese of Port Said (Pelusium, Tahpanhes and Farama).

16) Ignatius, Bishop of the Holy Diocese of Suez (Clysma). 17) Yacobos (Jacob), Bishop of the Holy Diocese of Zaqaziq (Bubastis), (Busiris) and Menya Al Qamh (Sais)

18) Kyrillos (Cyril), Bishop of the Holy Diocese of Nag Hammâdi (Khenoboskion) and Abu Tesht.

19) Boula (Paul), Bishop of the Holy Diocese of Tanta.

20) Morkos (Mark), Bishop of the Holy Diocese of Shubra el-Kheima.

21) Ashe’yia (Isaiah), Bishop of the Holy Diocese of Tahta and Juhayna (Aphroditopolis & Hispis)

22) Fam, Bishop of the Holy Diocese of Tima.

23) Pissada, Bishop of the Holy Diocese of Akhmim (Panopolis), Saqualta and the Holy Monasteries of Mount Akhmim in Upper Egypt.

24) Andrawos (Andrew), Bishop of the Holy Diocese of Abutig, Sedfa and el Ghanayem.

25) Missael, Bishop of the Holy Diocese of Birmingham, the Midlands and its Affiliated Regions, UK.

26) Abram, Bishop of the Holy Diocese of Faiyum (Crocodilopolis, Arsinoe) and Abbot of the Monastery of Archangel Gabriel in the Naqloun Mountain, Central Egypt.

27) Serapion, Bishop of the Holy Diocese of Los Angeles, Southern California and Hawaii, USA.

28) Demetrius, Bishop of the Holy Diocese of Mallawi, Ansena (Antinoopolis) and El Ashmunein (Hermopolis Magna).

29) Lukas (Luke), Bishop of the Holy Diocese of Abnub and el Fateh.

30) Bakhoum (Pachomius), Bishop of the Holy Diocese of Sohag (Athribis), el-Mansha (Ptolemais Hermiou) and el-Maragha.

31) Barsoum (Parsoma), Bishop of the Holy Diocese of Dairut and Sanabou.

32) Antonius (Anthony), Bishop of the Holy Diocese of Manfalut.

33) Picenti (Pisentios), Bishop of the Holy Diocese of Helwan and Al Maasara (Tura).

34) Kyrillos (Cyril), Bishop of the Holy Diocese of Milano and Northern Italy and Abbot of the Monastery of Saint Shenouda the Archimandrite in Milano.

35) Aghapius, Bishop the Holy Diocese of Deir Mawas and Delga.

36) Thomas, Bishop of the Holy Diocese of el-Qusiya (Qis) and Meir.

37) Matthias, Bishop of the Holy Diocese of El-Mahalla El-Kubra and Samanoud (Sebennytos). (Resigned & Deposed)

38) Cheroubim (Cherubim), Bishop of the Holy Diocese of Qena, Qift (Coptos) and its jurisdictions

39) Pimen, Bishop of the Holy Diocese of Naqada and Qus (Apollonopolis Parva).

40) Takla, Bishop of the Holy Diocese of Dishna & Dendera (Tentyra) and its jurisdictions.

41) Macarius, Bishop of the Eritrean Church in the USA. Member of the Eritrean Holy Synod.

42) Markos (Mark), Bishop of the Eritrean Church in the UK. Member of the Eritrean Holy Synod.

43) Theophilus, Bishop of the Holy Diocese of Hurghada, Kosseir, & All the Red Sea , (Olbia), (Apollonopolis), (Arsinoe), (Myos Hormos), (Philoteras), (Berenice) and (Apollonos Hydreium).

44) Maximus, Bishop of the Holy Diocese of Banha (Leontopolis) and Quouwaysena (Athribis).

45) Sarapamon (Serapis Amon), Bishop of the Holy Diocese of Atbara, Um Durman & All the North of the Sudan and Titular Bishop of the Great and Ancient Metropolis of Nubia: (Faras) of (Nobatia), (Dongola) of (Makuria) and (Soba) of (Alodia).

46) Antony, Bishop of the Holy Diocese of Ireland, Scotland & North East England, United Kingdom and Abbot of the Monastery of St. Athanasius the Apostolic.

47) Damian, Bishop of the Holy Diocese of Höxter-Brenkenhausen, Kroeffelbach & All Germany and Abbot of the Monastery of Saint Anthony the Great in Kroeffelbach, Germany.

48) Youssef (Joseph), Bishop of the Holy Diocese of Southern United States and Abbot of the Monastery of Most Holy Virgin Mary and Saint Moses the Strong in Corpus Christi, Texas.

49) Barnaba, Bishop of the Holy Diocese of Torino and Southern Italy.

50) Suriel, Bishop of the Holy Diocese of Melbourne,Victoria (Australia), Tasmania, ACT, South Australia, Western Australia, New Zealand and of all Oceania.

51) Gabriel, Bishop of the Holy Diocese of Beni Suef (Herakleopolis Magna) , El-Bahnasa (Oxyrhynchus) and Nilopolis (Delas).

52) Georgios (George), Bishop of the Holy Diocese of Matai (Acanthus) and its jurisdictions.

53) Stephanos (Stephen), Bishop of the Holy Diocese of Beba, Samasta and El Fashn.

54) Gabriel, Bishop of the Holy Diocese of Vienna and all Austria.

55) Ilia (Elijah), Bishop of the Holy Diocese of Khartoum and all the South of the Sudan.

56) Seraphim, Bishop of the Holy Diocese of Ismailia (Heroonopolis) and (Pithom).

57) Apollo, Bishop of the Holy Diocese of El-Tor (Raithu), Sharm El Sheikh and all South Sinai.

58) Athanasius, Bishop of the Holy Diocese of Beni Mazar.

59) Aghathon, Bishop of the Holy Diocese of Maghagha and El Idwa.

60) Kosman (Cosmas), Bishop of the Holy Diocese of El Arish (Rhinocorura), El Qantarah and all North Sinai. 61) Daniel, Bishop of the Holy Diocese of Sydney, New South Wales, Queensland, Northern Territory, Thailand, Singapore, Hong Kong, Japan and all East Asia.

62) Dawood (David), Bishop of the Holy Diocese of Mansoura (Leontopolis), (Lycopolis) and (Mendes) and Abbot of the Monastery of Saint George at Meit Demsis, Lower Egypt.

63) Aghathon, Bishop the Holy Diocese of Sao Paolo and all Brazil.

64) Youssef (Joseph), Bishop of the Holy Diocese of Santa Cruz and all Bolivia.

=Auxiliary Bishops of the Throne=

65) Athanasius, Auxiliary Bishop of the Holy Metropolis of Toulon & all France

66) Daniel, Auxiliary Bishop for Maadi District in Cairo, assistant to the Pope.

67) Raphael, Auxiliary Bishop for Central Cairo and Heliopolis, assistant to the Pope.

68) Tawadros (Theodorus), Auxiliary Bishop for the Holy Diocese of Beheira (Thmuis & Hermopolis Parva), assistant to Pachomius.

69) Maximos (Maximus), Auxiliary Bishop for Dar El Salam (Irininoupolis) in Cairo, assistant to the Pope.

70) Silwanos (Silvanus), Auxiliary Bishop for Old Cairo (Babylon), assistant to the Pope.

71) Timotheos (Timothy), Auxiliary Bishop for El Mataria, Ain Shams and Ezbet El Nakhl, assistant to the Pope.

72) Martyrus, Auxiliary Bishop for East of the Railroad District in Cairo, assistant to the Pope.

=Exarchs of the Throne=

73) Antonius Markos (Anthony Mark), General Bishop for African Affairs and Patriarchal Exarch in West and South Africa.

74) David, General Bishop and Patriarchal Exarch in Cedar Grove, New Jersey, Archdiocese of North America.

75) Boules (Pavlos), General Bishop for Evangelism & Mission & Patriarchal Exarch in East and Central Africa.

76) Youhanna (John), General Bishop & Assistant Patriarchal Exarch in Cedar Grove, New Jersey for the Archdiocese of North America.

77) 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=

78) Sarapamon (Serapis Amon), Bishop and Abbot of the Monastery of Saint Pishoy in Scetes, Lower Egypt.

79) Sawiros (Severus), Bishop and Abbot of the Monastery of the Most Holy Virgin Mary known as Al Muharraq Monastery Upper Egypt.

80) Mattheos (Matthew), Bishop and Abbot of the Monastery of the Most Holy Virgin Mary known as the Syrian Monastery, in Scetes, Lower Egypt.

81) Basilius (Basil), Bishop and Abbot of the Monastery of Saint Samuel the Confessor, in El Qualamon Mountain, Upper Egypt.

82) Yustus (Justus), Bishop and Abbot of the Monastery of Saint Anthony the Great, in the Eastern Desert.

83) Isithoros (Isidore), Bishop and Abbot of the Monastery of the Most Holy Virgin Mary known as the Paromeos (Roman) Monastery, in Scetes, Lower Egypt.

84) Kyrillos (Cyril), Bishop and Abbot of the Monastery of Saint Mina, in the Desert of Mariut (Mareotis), Lower Egypt..

85) Mina, Bishop and Abbot of the Monastery of Saint George in El Khatatba, Central Egypt.

86) Daniel, Bishop and Abbot of the Monastery of Saint Paul the Anchorite, in the Eastern Desert.

=General Bishops of the Throne=

87) Ruweis, General Bishop and Patriarchal Emissary at large.

88) Macarius, General Bishop and Patriarchal Emissary at large.

89) Apakir (Apa Cyrrhus), General Bishop and Patriarchal Emissary at large.

=General Bishops Administrators of the Bishoprics of the Throne=

90) Moussa (Moses), General Bishop and Administrator for the Bishopric of Youth Affairs. 91) Dioscorus, General Bishop and Administrator of the Patriarchal Print Shop.

92) Botros (Peter), General Bishop and Administrator of Aghapy TV Channel.

=General Bishops Patriarchal Secretary=

93) Youannes (John), General Bishop and Patriarchal Secretary at the Patriarchal Residence in Cairo.

94) Armiah (Jeremiah), General Bishop and Patriarchal Secretary at the Patriarchal Residence in Cairo.

Chorbishop

95) Isaac, Chori-Episcopus.

=Patriarchal Vicar for Alexandria=

96) Hegumen Cheroubim the Pachomian, Grand Economos and Patriarchal Vicar in Alexandria.

Vacant Metropolis/Diocese/Abbey

97) (Vacant), Metropolitan of the Holy Metropolis of Girga (Thinis).

98) (Vacant), Bishop of the Holy Diocese of Shebin El Quanater, Toukh and El Khanka.

99) (Vacant), Bishop and Abbot of the Monastery of Saint George in El Rozaiquat, Central Egypt.

100) (Vacant), Bishop and Abbot of the Monastery of Saint Anthony the Great in Barstow, California, United States. (Vacant after the death of Bishop Karas in 2002)

101) (Vacant), Metropolitan of the Holy Metropolis of Toulon and all France; Primate of The French Coptic Orthodox Church. (Vacant after the death of Metropolitan Markos in 2008)

ee 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

External links

* [http://www.copticpope.org The Coptic Pope website]
* [http://www.theholysynod.copticpope.org/ theholysynod.copticpope.org]
* [http://st-takla.org/Gallery/Coptic-Holy-Synod/Holy-Synod_Al-Magma3-Al-Kokaddas_01.html Gallery of the Coptic Holy Synod of Egypt (All Coptic Bishops)]
* [http://www.coptipedia.com Coptic Documents of the Holy Synod in French]