His Holiness Pope Tawadros II issued the papal decree No. 14 of 2018 concerning the formation of the regional councils for personal status of the new session, which begins on 1 July 2018 and ends on 30 June 2021.
“The formation of the regional personal status councils of the Coptic Orthodox Church (2018-2021), as follows:
First: Personal Status in US and Canada:
1- Anba Karas, Bishop of Pennsylvania and its affiliated areas
2- Father Hermia Theophils
3- Father Tadros Al Masri
4- Father Markos Ayoub
5- Mr. / Joseph Ghabour – Lawyer
6 – Dr. Suzy Onsi Beshai – Physisian.
Second: Personal Status in Europe:
1- Anba Giovanni, Bishop of Hungary and its affiliated areas 2- Father Youssef Mansour (Eidhoven, Netherlands) 3- Father Bishoy Michel (Manchester – England) 4- Father Youssef Khalil (Budapest – Hungary) 5- Dr. Maggie Youssef, Netherlands 6- Lawyer: Due to the difference in the family laws and other laws in European countries, we need to consult a legal consultant from the country where the case is to be examined.
Third: Personal Status in Australia:
1- Anba Domadius, Bishop of 6th of October and Osim 2- Fr. John Zakaria (Sharjah – UAE) 3- Fr. Anthony Yaqoub Mikhael (6th of October) 4- Tadros Samaan Mousa (Sydney – Australia) 5 – Mr/ Magdi Zakaria Fakhri – Lawyer 6- Dr. Samah Fawzi Attallah, Physisian.
Fourth: Personal Status in Cairo, Giza and Africa:
1- Anba Marcos, General Bishop of Cairo 2- Father Youssef Gaed Soweha 3- Father Elia Shokri Sadeq 4- Father Athanasius Fahmi Mina 5 – Mr / Fathi Ragheb Hanna – Lawyer 6- Nancy Mahrous Wahba – Physisian.
Fifth: Personal Status in Alexandria and sea side:
1- Anba Markos, Bishop of Shubra El-Kheima
2- Father Hedra Lamei
3- Father Abraam Emile
4- Father Gerges Tawfiq
5- Mr. Samuel Gaed Isaac – lawyer
6- Dr. Suzanne Soliman Hanna – Physician.
Sixth: Personal Status in Upper Egypt:
1- Anba Estephanos, Bishop of Beba and Al-Fashn
2- Father Abraam Sadeq
3- Father Georgios Salib
4- Pastor Peter Tawfiq (Assiut)
5- Prof. Abdullah Atta Bushra – Lawyer
6- Dr. Nevin Adel Habib, Physician.
To began working with these councils from the first of July 2018, for the next three years.
God Bless obedient
“Pope Tawadros II, Pope of Alexandria and the Patriarch of the see of St. Mark”
The decision to reshape the regional councils comes within the framework of the institutional thinking pursued by His Holiness Pope Tawadros II since his inauguration, which requires the circulation of responsibility and the renewal of blood within the administrative system of the church.
His Holiness directed to make diocese undersecretary post for a three-year period, renewable once.
His Holiness had thanked the members of the Regional Councils for Personal Status whose term of service had expired and which had been extended for a full term (2015-2018).
This came in Al-Kraza magazin issue of June 22 last year, where His Holiness said:
“We thank the members of the Regional Councils for Personal Status (2015-2018), under the supervision of the distinguished pontiffs, who have made great efforts in this new service:
1- Anba Sarapion, Bishop of Los Angeles – council of America and Canada.
2 – Anba Kyrillos, Bishop of Milan – council of Europe.
3- Anba Paula, Bishop of Tanta and its affiliated areas, council of Asia and Australia.
4. Anba Daniel, Bishop of Maadi and its affiliated areas, council of Cairo.
5- Anba Bakhoum, Bishop of Sohag and its affiliated areas, council of Upper Egypt, Giza and Africa
6- Anba Theodosious, Bishop of centeral Giza and its affiliated areas, council of Alexandria and sea side.