Egyptin koptilais-ortodoksisen kirkon päämies, paavi Shenouda III kuollut - hautajaiset tänään

Paavi Shenouda III oli 117. apostoli Markuksen seuraaja Aleksandrian piispanistuimella, jolta hän vuodesta 1971 johti 12 miljoonan jäsenen koptikirkkoa. Shenouda III saavutti Egyptin viimeaikaisissa muutoksissa eri osapuolten luottamuksen.

Shenouda III osallistui muun muassa Kirkkojen Maailmanneuvoston toimintaan sen keskuskomitean jäsenenä vuosina 1991–1998. Hän johti katolisen kirkon ja koptien oppikeskusteluja ja oli ensimmäinen Khalkedonissa vuonna 451 pidetyn kirkolliskokouksen jälkeen Vatikaanissa vieraillut koptikirkon johtaja.

Sekä luterilaisen että ortodoksisen kirkon yhteydet paavi Shenoudaan ovat olleet läheiset vuosikymmenien ajan. Arkkipiispa Jukka Paarma ja arkkipiispa Leo tapasivat paavi Shenoudan Kairossa huhtikuussa 2010.

Lisätietoja:
Suomen Ekumeenisen Neuvoston pääsihteeri Heikki Huttunen, p. 040 741 8792

Surunvalittelun sisältö:

Turku, Kuopio and Helsinki, March 19th, 2012

Your Eminences and Graces, Honorable Members of the Holy Synod of the Coptic Orthodox Church,
Brothers and Sisters in Christ

With great sorrow we have received the news of the passing of the spiritual head of the Egyptian Coptic Church, His Beatitude Pope Shenouda III into Abraham´s bosom and into the communion of the saints.

As the 117th successor of the Apostle Mark, founder of the Egyptian Church and the first Bishop of Alexandria, Pope Shenouda was an exemplary Bishop for all Christians throughout the world.

Pope Shenouda´s active involvement in the ecumenical movement for more than 40 years meant very much to the strengthening of the co-operation and fellowship among the Christians. He was an open minded and learned Church leader, celebrated and respected in all Christendom and also in the Muslim and other religions´ communities.

The Finnish Archbishops were happy to meet with His Beatitude in Kairo, in April 2010, to pray with him and to enjoy with him the Christian faith which we share together.

On behalf of the Christian Churches in Finland we wish to offer our prayers and condolences to the Coptic Orthodox Church, her Bishops and faithful as well as to all the Egyptians on the occasion of the death of His Beatitude Pope Shenouda III.

May His soul rest in the peace of the Kingdom of Heaven.

+ Kari Mäkinen
Archbishop of Turku and Finland
The Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland

+ Leo
Archbishop of Karelia and All Finland
The Orthodox Church of Finland

+ Teemu Sippo
Monsignore SCJ
Bishop of Helsinki
The Chairman of the Finnish Ecumenical Council