Pope Tawadros II of Alexandria
Pope Tawadros II or Theodore II (Coptic: Ⲡⲁⲡⲁ Ⲁⲃⲃⲁ Ⲑⲉⲟ́ⲇⲱⲣⲟⲥ ⲡⲓⲙⲁϩ ⲃ̅', romanized: Papa Abba Theódōros II ; Arabic: البابا تواضروس الثانى; born on 4 November 1952 [Coptic calendar: 25 Paopi 1668]) is the 118th and current pope of Alexandria and patriarch of the See of St. Mark, succeeding the late Pope Shenouda III as leader of the Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria. He took office on 18 November 2012 (9 Hathor 1729), two weeks after being selected.[5]
Not to be confused with Patriarch Theodore II of Alexandria (Coadjutor) or Patriarch Theodore II of Alexandria. "Tawadros II" redirects here; for the emperor of Ethiopia, see Tewodros II
Pope Tawadros II
Ⲡⲁⲡⲁ Ⲁⲃⲃⲁ Ⲑⲉⲟ́ⲇⲱⲣⲟⲥ ⲡⲓⲙⲁϩ ⲃ̅
البابا تواضروس الثانى
Alexandria
Alexandria
18 November 2012[1]
(9 Hathor 1729)
1989[1]
(1705–1706)
15 June 1997[2]
(8 Paoni 1713)
by Shenouda III
Early life[edit]
Tawadros II was born as Wagih Sobhi Baki Soliman[6] (Arabic: وجيه صبحى باقى سليمان [waˈɡiːh ˈsˤobħi ˈbæːʔi seleˈmæːn]) on 4 November 1952 (25 Paopi 1668) in the city of Mansoura, Kingdom of Egypt.[3] He studied at the University of Alexandria, where he received a degree in pharmacy in 1975.[7] After a few years of managing a state-owned pharmaceutical factory, he joined the Monastery of Saint Pishoy in Wadi Natrun to study theology for two years. In 1988, he was formally tonsured a monk by Pope Shenouda III and given the name “Theodore Anba-Bishoy."[8] He was ordained a priest in 1989 (1705–1706).[1]
Bishop[edit]
On 15 June 1997 (8 Paoni 1713), he was consecrated as a general bishop by his predecessor pope Shenouda III, with the Arabized Greco-Coptic name Tawadros (Arabic: تواضروس; Coptic: Ⲑⲉⲟ́ⲇⲱⲣⲟⲥ, Coptic pronunciation: [tæˈ(w)odo(ː)ros]), the equivalent of Greek Theódōros (Θεόδωρος), Amharic: ታዋድሮስ, and English Theodore. He was assigned to serve in the Eparchy of Behira in the northwestern Delta as an auxiliary to Metropolitan Pachomius.[9][8]
Papal selection[edit]
The papal selection process began several weeks before the 18 November/9 Hathor selection. About 2,400 clergymen and others shortlisted three candidates: Bishop Tawadros, former aide to Metropolitan Pachomios; Bishop Raphael, General Bishop in Downtown Cairo; and Father Raphael Ava Mina, a monk in a monastery near Alexandria and disciple of the 116th pope, Cyril VI.[10]
The ceremony to choose the pope from the three consensus candidates was held at Cairo's St. Mark's Cathedral at about noon, with a marked police presence. Metropolitan Pachomios, locum tenens of the Church, put slips bearing the candidates' names in a sealed chalice which was set upon the altar, then led the Divine Liturgy. He told the congregation to "pray that God will choose the good shepherd", and a blindfolded boy took a slip—Tawadros—from the chalice.[5]
Metropolitan Pachomius formally announced that the sixty-year-old Bishop Tawadros was to be the 118th Pope, and would be Pope Tawadros II, after Pope Tawadros I (r. 730–742), who was consecrated 45th Coptic Patriarch and Pope[11] during Egypt's Umayyad Period (658–750). Tawadros II said, from the monastery at Wadi Natrun, "[We] will start by organising the house from within. It is a responsibility. Most important is ... that the church, as an institution, serves the community".[12] Bishop Raphael, who came first in the election stage of papal selection,[13] was appointed general secretary of the Holy Synod of the Coptic Orthodox Church.[14]
Ordination history of
Pope Tawadros II of Alexandria
Pope Tawadros II of Alexandria
Saints[edit]
On 21 February 2015 (Meshir 14, 1731), Pope Tawadros II announced that 20 Copts and one Ghanaian murdered by the Islamic State in Libya would be commemorated as martyr saints on the 8th of Meshir of the Coptic calendar (15 February of the Gregorian calendar). The commemoration falls on the feast day of the Presentation of Jesus at the Temple.[25]
Pope Tawadros II of Alexandria, ordained bishop on 15 June 1997 by: