In the Proclamation of the Enthronement of His Grace Bishop David, His Holiness Pope Tawadros II, the 118th Pope of the Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria and Patriarch of the See of St. Mark stated: “As the Coptic Orthodox Church has prospered and the number of our Coptic Orthodox Churches in the U.S.A. have vastly increased, they have become in great need of bishops to pastor them and oversee their ministry. We received nominations from the churches of the regions of New York, and New England states nominating His Grace Bishop David, the general bishop, after learning of his virtues, knowledge, and wisdom in administrative and spiritual matters to be the Bishop on the Diocese of New York and New England. ThisDiocese includes States of New York, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Vermont and Maine. Therefore we have installed him Bishop over this Diocese in the vespers of the blessed Sunday of the eighth day of Hatour 1730 A.M., which is the 17th of November 2013 A.D. in the Cathedral of St. Mark in the Monastery of Anba Reweis, Cairo by my hand:Tawadros II, Called to be Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of the See of St. Mark, the successor of St. Mark the Apostle and the 118th in the Apostolic Succession. With the participation of eighty-four of my brethren the honored Metropolitans and Bishops, members of the Holy Synod of the See of St. Mark, who have blessed this choice. They joined me in requesting of God to kindle the Holy Spirit in this blessed father.”
His Holiness Pope Tawadros II signs the Proclamation that was written on papyrus on Dec 3, 2013. The papyrus was prepared at the Anaphora Center and was gifted by His Grace Bishop Thomas
In 1999, His Grace Bishop David was ordained a General Bishop and appointed as the Patriarchal Exarch at the Coptic Orthodox Archdiocese of North America in Cedar Grove, New Jersey by the hand of His Holiness Pope Shenouda III, the 117th Pope of the Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria and Patriarch of the See of St. Mark.
When His Grace first started serving the Coptic Orthodox Church throughout North American, there were 18 Coptic Orthodox Churches and 24 priests in the northeastern part of the United States. Today, after 14 years of His Grace’s service in the region, we have 63 churches and 85 priests. Out of this number, His Grace Bishop David will oversee and shepherd the new Diocese of New York and New England with 24 churches and 36 priests.
During his service as a General Bishop, His Grace Bishop David has earned two Master’s Degrees, his first in Pastoral Counseling from Fordham University in New York, and the second in Theology from the Holy Cross School of Theology in Boston.
To complete the rite of enthronement, His Grace Bishop David will be formally enthroned on his seat on Saturday, December 7, 2013 at the Coptic Orthodox Church of St. Abraam of Long Island, located at 90 Woodbury Road, Woodbury, NY 11797 by the hands of a number of His Grace’s brethren of the Metropolitans and Bishops who will arrive from overseas especially for this ceremony that will begin at 12 noon.
To attend this ceremony, reservations have been made for 1000 persons, including members of the Holy Synod, dignitaries, priests, deacons and congregation. No one would be allowed to attend without invitation. The ceremony will be live broadcasted over the various Coptic TV channels such as CYC and Logos, as well as over the formal website of the Coptic Orthodox Diocese of New York and New England.
We are thankful to God for this joyous occasion and we pray that the Lord may continue His care for the Coptic Orthodox Church, His Holiness Pope Tawadros II, His Grace Bishop David and all members of the Holy Synod, through the intersession of the Theotokos St. Mary and Glory be to God. Amen.
Fr. Abraham Azmy
Office of His Holiness Pope Tawadros II
Director of Database Operations and US International Media Relations.