2 Bishops, 3 Monks Nominated For Papal Chair

The final 5 nominations for the papal election were announced today. The nominations included two bishops and three monks. They are Bishop Tawadros- General Bishop of El-Beheira, and Bishop Raphael- General Bishop of Central Cairo. The three monks are Father Pachomius Al-Syriany and Father Seraphim Al-Syriany, monks at the Monastery of the Virgin Mary in Wadi Natrun, in addition to Father Raphael Ava Mina, a monk at the Monastery of St Mina in the desert of Maryut in Alexandria.

The Papal Nominations Committee has excluded a number of names who topped the nominations. They are Bishop Youannes- Former secretary of the late Pope Shenouda III, Bishop Pishoy- Secretary of the Holy Synod and the metropolitan of Damietta, Kafr El-Sheikh and Al-Babrary and head of the Monastery of Saint Demiana, Bishop Pavnotios- Bishop of Samalut, and Bishop Botros (Peter): General Bishop and Pope Shenouda III’s personal secretary.