Pope's visit a treat for Coptic church

By Anna Weaver
Advertiser Staff Writer

Pope Shenouda III of the Coptic Orthodox Church of Egypt bestows his blessing on the congregation here after the consecration of the altar of Saint Mark Church on 'Alewa Heights. Within the state there are about 100 members of the faith, which is similar to the Eastern Orthodox churches. Bruce Asato • The Honolulu Advertiser

Along with bishops from Los Angeles, Australia and England, Pope Shenouda III spread oil across the smooth surface of the square of white marble. Symbolizing baptism, the oil consecrated the new altar. As the pope prayed, priests and bishops dressed in white with red and gold sashes stood around the altar and sang along with cymbal and triangle music.

From a distance, the 81-year-old pope seemed diminutive, a short, elderly man with a white beard dropping down to his chest. Up close, he had piercing eyes and a commanding presence as he and the bishops spread a red and gold cloth over the newly consecrated altar. Candles were set up and lighted. Later the pope blew on 12 icons of the apostles, symbolically breathing life into them.

Coptic church members don't often get to see ceremonies of such significance, or the pope himself, said Wafaa Guirguis, a Hawai'i Kai resident who has been a church member for 12 years.

"In Egypt, thousands of people wait all their life to meet just one bishop. Here, in a very small community, to have all the bishops and the pope ... it's unbelievable!"

The pope came to Hawai'i to consecrate the altar, and because the small Coptic congregation had obtained a church of its own, after holding services in various locations for many years. His most recent visit was in 1996.

Wafaa Guirguis and her husband, Tarek, were born in Egypt and have lived in Hawai'i for many years, but had not witnessed a consecration ceremony until yesterday. "We've never seen a blessing of the altar. It's once in a lifetime," she said. The couple have an 11-year-old son, Mark, and 3-year-old daughter, Monica. "It's a nice adventure for the children to see it, and for us, too."

Wafaa says she was delighted when the Pope talked and played with Monica on Monday, the day he arrived in Hawai'i, after he gave a prayer of thanksgiving at the church.

Pope Shenouda III, head of the Coptic Orthodox Church of Egypt, blew on icons of the apostles after the consecration of the new altar at St. Mark Church. The blowing symbolized breathing life into them. Bruce Asato • The Honolulu Advertiser

With the new church, Wafaa said that it was "nice for our own children to have church every week."

On his first visit to St. Mark's, Mike Moriss of Waikiki said that the service made him want to come to the church more. "The service was great," he said. "Every Sunday I will try to come.

"Our pope, we love him. In his presence you feel a lot of spirit."

Until May 19, when it completed the purchase of what was formerly Grace Bible Church, the congregation, formed in 1989, had been without its own building. The new property is 50,000 square feet, with enough room to accommodate the approximately 50 members.

Now, said Father Anastasi Saint Antony, one of two priests at the church, "The people feel that they have their own place, that they can have their own identity. We can pray the liturgy whenever we want. Not just on Sunday as we were renting from the other churches."

During the two-hour liturgy service that followed the consecration, church members and visitors stood, sat and kneeled with the church leaders. The pope and bishops served communion. Women wore head scarfs, some of white fabric with red crosses, others with shimmery fabric.

At the end of the liturgy everyone, including visitors who could not receive communion earlier, went to receive bread from the Pope and bishops.

Visitors were awed by the service. "It's beautiful, it's full of tradition," said Casey Levins of Hawai'i Kai. "We're looking at something that happened hundreds of years ago but hasn't changed."

Madonna Ibrahim of Hawai'i Kai received Holy Communion yesterday from Pope Shenouda III. He leaves today for San Diego. Bruce Asato • The Honolulu Advertiser

The pope arrived in Honolulu from Los Angeles, where he visited churches and celebrated his 50th anniversary of being a monk. He leaves today for San Diego.

After the services and meeting with church members, Pope Shenouda III talked with visitors. One of his goals is to work toward unity of the Christian churches. He said that progress is being made.

"We are coming closer. But it needs time," he said.

Deacon Wagdy Guirguis said that work was being done on the church up until a few days ago. The roof had to be rid of termites, and air conditioning and plumbing had to be fixed and installed. The icons of the 12 apostles arrived from Egypt three days before.

And there is more work to be done with putting icons on the walls. The large portrait of Jesus that sat on the floor behind the altar would be hung.

"Little by little, this church will be open day and night every day of the week," Father Anastasi said.