copticorthodoxy
30th July 2006, 07:35 PM
This article is wrote by H.H. Pope Shenouda III pope of Alexandria and all St. Mark see in " El Keraza Magazine " the official Coptic Orthodox magazine . it is about Max Michael who declared that he is an Archbishop
http://www.copticpope.org/downloads/eng_keraza/engkeraza14-07-2006.pdf
what attracted me to this article that the Pope is calling him my son , how merciful is our great Pope Shenouda III
Max Michael was our son, as
son of the Coptic Church; he was
born in it, was baptized in it and
studied in our Theological College.
And when he graduated, he served
in our churched in Shobra, Zefta
and Tanta. Then came the big trial,
and it threw him outside the
church so he said: “I have nothing
at all to do with the mother
church…” and declared that he is a
bishop then said that he is a
Metropolitan, then an Archbishop
although he is married and has two
daughters. And to get out of this
trouble he declared that bishops
must be married.
I am saddened for you my
son. I am saddened for your
separation from your church,
saddened for you losing the
chance in gaining your eternity
and saddened for your claiming
your priesthood. And this claim
will not save you on the Last Day.
Those who appointed you were
not legitimate bishops and are not
truly Orthodox. And if they were,
tell us from which Orthodox
Church are they?! Whether from
the Eastern Orthodox Church ( The pope means the Oriental Orthodox Church , Oriental = Eastern ) or
the Byzantine Orthodox Church ( the pope means the Eastern Orthodox )
and these are well known Orthodox
churches.
And so long as they are not
legitimate Orthodox, their
ordaining you is also illegitimate.
And consequently all ordinations
you conducted to appoint priests or
bishops are also illegitimate.
And consequently every clergy
act you conduct is illegitimate and
this applies to all those you
ordained. And applies to you the
saying of the apostle that you
“think of yourself more highly than
you ought to think”.
Therefore, I tell you a decision
that may hurt you but is necessary
for the salvation of your soul.
We do not recognize your
ordination, nor do we
recognize your new name, and
before us you will remain Max
Michael. And we do not
recognize the ordinations you
made nor do we recognize any
clergy act you conduct.
And we warn the
congregation from accepting
any clergy acts from you:
neither a Baptism, Chrism (Myron)
Sacrament, Repentance
Sacrament, Eucharist, Matrimony
nor Priesthood Sacrament for all
these acts will be void by you.
And with all the love we invite
you to repentance and abandoning
what you are in now. And know
that the priesthood clothes and
titles will not save your soul in the
Last Day and will not open the
doors to God’s Kingdom before you
but might shut them in before you.
And do not rejoice in joining to
you all those who were deprived
from their priesthood rank or those
rebelling against the obedience of
the church. And do not rejoice in
opening the marriage door to
those whom the mother church
rejecting allowing their remarriage
in obedience to the bible
commandments.
This road that you are taking will
not lead you anywhere and I go
back and say: I am saddened for
you my son
And do not think that the
abundance of curses with which
you curse the mother church will
be an excuse for you to rebel.
God is capable of helping you
save your soul and have another
purpose other than this.
http://www.copticpope.org/downloads/eng_keraza/engkeraza14-07-2006.pdf
what attracted me to this article that the Pope is calling him my son , how merciful is our great Pope Shenouda III
Max Michael was our son, as
son of the Coptic Church; he was
born in it, was baptized in it and
studied in our Theological College.
And when he graduated, he served
in our churched in Shobra, Zefta
and Tanta. Then came the big trial,
and it threw him outside the
church so he said: “I have nothing
at all to do with the mother
church…” and declared that he is a
bishop then said that he is a
Metropolitan, then an Archbishop
although he is married and has two
daughters. And to get out of this
trouble he declared that bishops
must be married.
I am saddened for you my
son. I am saddened for your
separation from your church,
saddened for you losing the
chance in gaining your eternity
and saddened for your claiming
your priesthood. And this claim
will not save you on the Last Day.
Those who appointed you were
not legitimate bishops and are not
truly Orthodox. And if they were,
tell us from which Orthodox
Church are they?! Whether from
the Eastern Orthodox Church ( The pope means the Oriental Orthodox Church , Oriental = Eastern ) or
the Byzantine Orthodox Church ( the pope means the Eastern Orthodox )
and these are well known Orthodox
churches.
And so long as they are not
legitimate Orthodox, their
ordaining you is also illegitimate.
And consequently all ordinations
you conducted to appoint priests or
bishops are also illegitimate.
And consequently every clergy
act you conduct is illegitimate and
this applies to all those you
ordained. And applies to you the
saying of the apostle that you
“think of yourself more highly than
you ought to think”.
Therefore, I tell you a decision
that may hurt you but is necessary
for the salvation of your soul.
We do not recognize your
ordination, nor do we
recognize your new name, and
before us you will remain Max
Michael. And we do not
recognize the ordinations you
made nor do we recognize any
clergy act you conduct.
And we warn the
congregation from accepting
any clergy acts from you:
neither a Baptism, Chrism (Myron)
Sacrament, Repentance
Sacrament, Eucharist, Matrimony
nor Priesthood Sacrament for all
these acts will be void by you.
And with all the love we invite
you to repentance and abandoning
what you are in now. And know
that the priesthood clothes and
titles will not save your soul in the
Last Day and will not open the
doors to God’s Kingdom before you
but might shut them in before you.
And do not rejoice in joining to
you all those who were deprived
from their priesthood rank or those
rebelling against the obedience of
the church. And do not rejoice in
opening the marriage door to
those whom the mother church
rejecting allowing their remarriage
in obedience to the bible
commandments.
This road that you are taking will
not lead you anywhere and I go
back and say: I am saddened for
you my son
And do not think that the
abundance of curses with which
you curse the mother church will
be an excuse for you to rebel.
God is capable of helping you
save your soul and have another
purpose other than this.