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Thanks Randy! Do you (or anyone) know who it was that was actually there from the Coptic Church?

In His Name,
Stephen

Hello: I believe you'll all love this picture, Patriach Lubomyr incenses the Holy Father's coffin.
Patriarch Lubomyr Incensing [story.news.yahoo.com]

God bless

I knew such an Eastern element would really start up some fun (or confusion - take your pick). In spite of the caption, that is the Coptic (?) Patriarch censing the coffin.

Σώσον, Κύριε, καί διαφύλαξον η�άς από τών Βασιλιάνικων τάξεων!

Some commentators observed that nowhere in history, perhaps not even in the near future, that a single and singular event gathered the heads of state, heads of government, reigning monarchs, representatives, and delegates of countries and world organizations in one place!

Add to that the chief hierarchs and representatives of around 140 religious confessions!

In one poignant moment, what the U.N. failed in so many attempts to bring warring nations and factions to the peace table it was achieved, by the diplomatic quirk of seating guests alphabetically in French, at the funeral of Pope John Paul II.

The Presidents of sworn enemies Israel and Syria (who are "officially" at war) and Israel and Iran (whose declared policy on the destruction of Israel still looms) sat near each other at arms length and exchanged the sign of peace and shooked the other's hands in a sincere and fraternal gesture!

I shed joyful tears as this extraordinary display of "comradeship" among the earth's sojourners could be the result of the Holy Father's relentless preaching of peace among men and nations as an undeniable springboard for recapturing our human dignity!

Amado

Here's a fun AP photo from the West Bank and Ramallah:

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/050408/481/jrl12904081558&e=21&ncid=

Dave

christiansteve asked:
"Do you (or anyone) know who it was that was actually there from the Coptic Church?"

I don't, but I wonder if that isn't a Catholic Copt, not a Monophysite Copt. Looking at the Coptic website
http://www.copticpope.org/
I found the letter that I've copied below, but no mention of a delegation.

Photius


Statement on the Departure of Pope John Paul II
by H.H. Pope Shenouda III
Statement by His Holiness Pope Shenouda III.

Brethren, the Catholic Cardinals, and the congregations all over the whole world:

I would like to extend to you my most heartfelt sympathies on the death of H.H. Pope John Paul II after he guided the Church throughout 26 years. During this period, he was highly respected and honored by the peoples of the whole world. He was also highly praised because of his personal qualities, and his participation in the ecumenical work and the relationship between the Catholic Church and rest of the Churches of the world.

We will always remember his visit to Egypt and our Coptic Church, and how he was warmly welcomed. In fact, his pain and suffering would be a solace to many of the sick.

I want to offer you the most sincere condolences of the Holy Synod and the whole Coptic Clergy. We will always remember that we work together for Christian Unity. May the Lord help you bear the loss of this great Pontiff.

Pope Shenouda III
Pope of Alexandria,
and Patriarch of the See of St. Mark

As you have gathered I was watching pretty closely this morning - did manage to spot a few clerics I could indentify

BUT

I am sorry to say could not identify two that interested me - the Scottish Cardinal or our resident unknown member underneath an all enveloping paper bag

Did anyone spot them ?

Anhelyna

I have never seen a picture of the Scottish Cardinal, so I wouldn't recognize him. But Cardinal Incognitus, I would recognize. The paper bag would give him away. Incognitus I for Pope! Long may he reign.

It's a shame that we're not in full union with our Orthodox brethren. That way we could have had one of the many beautiful Orthodox patriarchate choirs providing the music for the Requiem Mass... the Choir of the Capella Sistina is TERRIBLE. I hate to sound rude, but I think that the choir of my parish church back home is better than those guys. I suspect that one of the many fruits of union will be the restoration of sacred music in the Latin church!

CatholicNerd posted:
"That way we could have had one of the many beautiful Orthodox patriarchate choirs providing the music for the Requiem Mass..."

My experience is that more than 90% of westerners intensely dislike eastern music. Your plan would work for Ruthernian, Ukrainian, or Russian music, which are diatonic and western, but I suspect nothing else would be well received. What do you perceive?

Photius, Reader

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Photius:
christiansteve asked:
"Do you (or anyone) know who it was that was actually there from the Coptic Church?"

I don't, but I wonder if that isn't a Catholic Copt, not a Monophysite Copt.

Ahem. The Copts are Henophysites, not Monophysites. They condemn the Monophysites too.

They are 1000% better than they used to be.

Nick

I'll vote for that! (too bad I'm not the unidentified scotch cardinal).

Argh

Please Scottish or Scots

Scotch is whisky

And I have met Keith Patrick Cardinal O'Brien [ of Irish birth I might add ] a few times - a real gentleman , mixes well with people - but he has already publicly announced that he has booked his return flight .

Maybe Incognitus had something to do on the various moments the wind played with the Cardinal Vestments!