Coptic Church donates Church of Great Martyr Mina to Russian Orthodox Church for free use

Cairo, June 30, 2022

Photo: Telegram Photo: Telegram     

The Coptic Church has donated the Church of the Great Martyr and Wonderworker Mina and Pope Cyrillos VI (“Mar-Mina”), located in the Gardens of the Pyramids in Giza, to the Exarchate of the Russian Orthodox Church in Africa for free use. On June 25, 2022, Metropolitan Leonid of Klin celebrated the first Divine Liturgy in the church in his capacity as Russian Exarch on African soil, reports Patriarchia.ru .

The transfer of the church of the Great Martyr Mina to the North African Diocese of the Exarchate of the Russian Orthodox Church for free use was announced by Bishop Theodosius of Giza of the Coptic Church, who welcomed Metropolitan Leonid.

Photo: Telegram Photo: Telegram     

In response, the Exarch spoke about the Russian Church’s special, kind and fraternal relations with Coptic Christians.

“When we received this kind signal from His Holiness the [Coptic] Patriarch, of course we were very glad to hear that we could hold divine services in one of the courtyards of the Coptic Church and have it for free use,” he said. “In response, we are also making every possible effort in Moscow to make the Coptic Church feel as at home on Russian soil as it does on Egyptian soil,” said Bishop Leonid.

Photo: Telegram Photo: Telegram     

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6/30/2022

See also
Fr. George Maximov’s Answer to Patriarch Theodoros of Alexandria Fr. George Maximov’s Answer to Patriarch Theodoros of Alexandria
Priest George Maximov Fr. George Maximov’s Answer to Patriarch Theodoros of Alexandria Fr. George Maximov’s Answer to Patriarch Theodoros of Alexandria
Priest George Maximov
I believe in African priests and I know that they are able to understand Church issues no less than Russians and Greeks. 100+ antimens signed for African priests of Russian Exarchate 100+ antimens signed for African priests of Russian Exarchate 100+ antimens signed for African priests of Russian Exarchate 100+ antimens signed for African priests of Russian Exarchate
A priest cannot celebrate the Divine Liturgy without an antimens signed by his ruling hierarch. This liturgical necessity is a rectangular piece of cloth, placed on the holy altar table, typically with an icon of the Descent of Christ from the Cross and inscriptions related to the Passion. A small relic of a martyr is usually sewn into it. Russian Church reps explain creation of African Exarchate Russian Church reps explain creation of African Exarchate Russian Church reps explain creation of African Exarchate Russian Church reps explain creation of African Exarchate
In various interviews and statements since late December, hierarchs and clergy of the Russian Church involved in the creation of the Exarchate have explained the Russian Synod’s reasoning for establishing its presence in Africa.
Comments
anonymous7/15/2022 5:10 pm
And while we are correcting the deliberately divisive and politically motivated errors promulgated at the Council of Chalcedon, let us also do that for the Council of Ephesus which so grievously abused Saint John of Antioch and his bishops, with the disgraced Cyril even going so far as to falsely accuse them of Nestorianism and claiming to anathematize them!
Coptic Boy7/15/2022 7:16 am
We Oriental Orthodox are miaphysites not monophysites. Get it right! If you keep going and fail to understand Chalcedon we will never unite. Chalcedon was a politically motivated council and not Ecumenical. Stop this hatred.
anonymous 7/2/2022 12:54 pm
In a time when the Church is beset by satan on all sides, how can it be that you polyphysites embrace anger and jealousy when two separate but equal limbs of Christ's body embrace one another to stand strong against the Greek schismatics?
Just Me7/1/2022 10:51 pm
It's quite shameful - I actually watched a monophysite take communion in our local ROCOR parish. It looks like all paths are leading to Rome. Let us put our trust in Christ and not in princes and sons of men in whom there is no salvation. May the Lord and His Holy Mother help us and save us!
Basil7/1/2022 9:42 pm
What's to complain about? A building that once housed heretical services is now used for Orthodox worship.
Daniel manzanas 7/1/2022 7:05 pm
Herejía, Dios mío que está pasando con el mundo, los obispos deben saber mejor :(
Jesse Dominick7/1/2022 2:49 pm
Alex, I'm not aware that anyone has accused Alexandria of heresy. Even Metropolitan Leonid said just in February that Alexandria remains a valid Church with valid Sacraments: https://orthochristian.com/144582.html
Alex7/1/2022 10:15 am
@Dionysius: Yes, I understand what you're saying, this looks pretty bad. But if the Greek and Coptic Patriarchs are both in heresy, is it so bad to trade buildings with the heretics that are at least willing to be friendly? In Western Europe, it is extremely common for recently-established Orthodox communities to celebrate the Liturgy in buildings rented from the Catholics or the Anglicans (especially since many of their churches are empty anyway). Borrowing a building from the Copts in Egypt is surely not worse than that. The REAL question is whether the Greek Patriarch of Alexandria is or isn't in heresy. If he is, then what was done here is the same as (for example) having better relations with the Anglicans than with the Catholics in England. Theologically, the Anglicans are in much greater heresy than the Catholics. But sometimes, on the ground, we have friendlier relations with the Anglicans than with the Catholics for various reasons.
Thom Nelson6/30/2022 11:09 pm
Have to agree with Dionysius here. As a parishioner of the Moscow Patriarchate, I have to say that this is beyond embarrassing. We unilaterally decided to go into someone else's canonical territory, and we're cozying up to heretics to do so.
Your most welcome to Kisumu Kenya as well most Rev. Archbishop Leonid 6/30/2022 10:19 pm
I will be happy to work with you in Kenya especially in Kisumu and Siaya counties
Dionysius Redington6/30/2022 8:01 pm
Let's see, now... The Greek patriarch is heretical, so we must establish a canonical presence in his territory. How do we do this? Well, fortunately His Holiness the Monophysite Patriarch is willing to help. In response, we will make every possible effort in Moscow to make the Monophysite Church feel as at home on Russian soil as it does on Egyptian soil. --Dionysius Redington
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