General Congregation Council ( ar, المجلس الملي العام للأقباط الأرثوذكس) is part of the
Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria
The Coptic Orthodox Church ( cop, Ϯⲉⲕ̀ⲕⲗⲏⲥⲓⲁ ⲛ̀ⲣⲉⲙⲛ̀ⲭⲏⲙⲓ ⲛ̀ⲟⲣⲑⲟⲇⲟⲝⲟⲥ, translit=Ti.eklyseya en.remenkimi en.orthodoxos, lit=the Egyptian Orthodox Church; ar, الكنيسة القبطي� ...
and represents the laity of the Church, it is also known as the Coptic Orthodox Lay Council
Established in February 1874
during the vacancy time of the Patriarchal Throne before the election of
Pope Cyril V of Alexandria. The order for its establishment was issued by
Isma'il Pasha
Isma'il Pasha ( ar, إسماعيل باشا ; 12 January 1830 – 2 March 1895), was the Khedive of Egypt and conqueror of Sudan from 1863 to 1879, when he was removed at the behest of Great Britain. Sharing the ambitious outlook of his grand ...
who was, then, the Khedive of Egypt. The first rules of the Council were issued in January 1874 by Khedive
Tewfik Pasha
Mohamed Tewfik Pasha ( ar, محمد توفيق باشا ''Muḥammad Tawfīq Bāshā''; April 30 or 15 November 1852 – 7 January 1892), also known as Tawfiq of Egypt, was khedive of Egypt and the Sudan between 1879 and 1892 and the sixth rule ...
who ruled Egypt after his father
Isma'il Pasha
Isma'il Pasha ( ar, إسماعيل باشا ; 12 January 1830 – 2 March 1895), was the Khedive of Egypt and conqueror of Sudan from 1863 to 1879, when he was removed at the behest of Great Britain. Sharing the ambitious outlook of his grand ...
. By 1883, the Council was fully established and in charge of managing non ecclesiastical matters of the church.
The Chairman of the council is the
Pope of the Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria
The Pope of the Coptic Orthodox Church ( cop, Ⲡⲁⲡⲁ, translit=Papa; ar, البابا, translit=al-Bābā), also known as the Bishop of Alexandria, is the leader of the Coptic Orthodox Church, with ancient Christian roots in Egypt. Th ...
.
General Secretary
Currently the General Secretary for the Council is Dr.
Tharwat Bassily, الدكتور ثروت باسيلي
previously this post has seen many prominent
Copts like
Boutros Ghali بطرس غالى
the grandfather of
Boutros Boutros Ghali
Boutros Boutros-Ghali (; , ar, بطرس بطرس غالي ', ; 14 November 1922 – 16 February 2016) was an Egyptian politician and diplomat who served as the sixth Secretary-General of the United Nations (UN) from 1992 to 1996. An academic ...
بطرس بطرس غالى
and
Habib Elmasry the father of
Iris Habib Elmasry.
Members
Currently the Council is formed of twenty four members (males and females) elected by the Copts in Egypt and is chaired by the
Pope
The pope ( la, papa, from el, πάππας, translit=pappas, 'father'), also known as supreme pontiff ( or ), Roman pontiff () or sovereign pontiff, is the bishop of Rome (or historically the patriarch of Rome), head of the worldwide Cathol ...
.
Relations with the Popes
The Council had a disagreement with
Pope Cyril V of Alexandria at the start of his pontificate, which was resolved in the Pontiff's favour. This was followed by several confrontations between the two parties, primarily because of the Pope's objection about the interference of the Council in the church's matters.
There were at many times tension between the Council and the Pope, especially during the Pontificate of Pope
Macarius III (1942–1944), the council agreed with
The Holy Synod of the Coptic Orthodox Church
The Holy Synod of the Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria is the highest Orthodox authority in the Coptic Orthodox Church. It formulates the rules and regulations regarding matters of the Church's organisation and faith.
The synod is chaired by t ...
in the decision to remove Pope
Joseph II (1946–1956) from office in 1954.
During the Pontificate of Pope
Cyril VI (1959–1971) there was no major disagreements and Pope
Shenouda III (1971–2012) maintained a good relationship with the Council, since he was the Chairman of the Council.
See also
*
Coptic Orthodox Church
The Coptic Orthodox Church ( cop, Ϯⲉⲕ̀ⲕⲗⲏⲥⲓⲁ ⲛ̀ⲣⲉⲙⲛ̀ⲭⲏⲙⲓ ⲛ̀ⲟⲣⲑⲟⲇⲟⲝⲟⲥ, translit=Ti.eklyseya en.remenkimi en.orthodoxos, lit=the Egyptian Orthodox Church; ar, الكنيسة القبطي� ...
*
The Holy Synod of the Coptic Orthodox Church
The Holy Synod of the Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria is the highest Orthodox authority in the Coptic Orthodox Church. It formulates the rules and regulations regarding matters of the Church's organisation and faith.
The synod is chaired by t ...
References
Coptic Orthodox Church
Religious organizations established in 1874
Christian organizations established in the 19th century
1874 establishments in Egypt
{{OrientalOrthodoxy-stub