Are the Copts orthodox? – Fr. Athanasios Henein, former Coptic priest converted to Orthodoxy

[Abel Gkiouzelis]

Are the Copts orthodox? – Fr. Athanasios Henein
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Interview with father Athanasios Henein, former coptic monophysite priest converted to Orthodoxy. Father Athanasios was also the head of the Coptic Monophysite Community of Athens and all Greece and was close to the Coptic Patriarch Shenouda the 3rd. Currently, father Athanasios is an Achipriest in the Orthodox Metropolitan of Piraeus, Greece.
Source

 

[ArmyMatt]

will definitely look at this one, especially since many say they are.

but the answer is no.

 

[Kristos]

Why would he "convert" if he was already orthodox...???

 

[dzheremi]

My stance on this question is obvious, and not one that I'm here to argue in the slightest, I would only point out that this priest is another one of several Copts who fled discipline within the OO church and ended up EO, just like the infamous Atef Aziz a.k.a. Fr. Seraphim/Fr. Macarius/whatever he's calling himself now, who was previously tonsured in the OCA (who to their credit, as I understand it from the above link, have wisely recalled him).

Not saying that you can't/shouldn't still believe him, if you wish, but this is definitely a pattern among people received into the Eastern Orthodox Church from the Coptic Orthodox Church in particular, or at least those who are known by virtue of their exploiting their former identities and talking a lot about the supposed 'heresies' of their former Church. There was a thread about Fr. Athanasios on oc.net at the time when his new testimony was fresh, though I couldn't find it just now (since I don't have an active account there anymore, I can't search the forums because I don't remember my login info). He was apparently defrocked by his bishop in Greece and subsequently left for the EO, though I'm unaware of the exact circumstances that led to the discipline.

Lord have mercy. May you guys have better luck with such people than we did.

 

[ArmyMatt]

Why would he "convert" if he was already orthodox...???

because non-Chalcedonians are not Orthodox. Chalcedon has to be accepted officially to be Orthodox (as well as all subsequent councils). we just had the feast of St Euphemia. non-Chalcedonians and the Chalcedonians each put a confession of faith in her tomb. when her tomb was opened, the non-Chalcedonian confession was found under her feet, Chalcedon's was clasped to her breast. in my opinion, the modern trend to pretend we have the same vision of Christ actually hurts the dialogue.

that being said, we should not just accept someone who has an axe to grind against their former faith. cause then it ain't about Christ.

 

[Orthodoxjay1]

While it great that another Copt came home to the complete faith in Orthodoxy, I am worried about the baggage that is brought into our Church. IDK if many know on this site but a lot of Copts(not all!) that convert seem to be fleeing a crackdown on the Charismatic/evangelical movement, which has crept into the Coptic Church, we even had this one couple recently at our Church, who left the Coptic Church because the husband belonged to a "Charismatic movement" in the Coptic Church, while everyone should be welcome home, these folks should drop their errors/heresies. I had to inform Father that the husband was going to a Catholic Mass, and also told me "it didn't matter what path to Christ you took" suffice to say it cost me a job working for those folks, since father confronted, however that is the price I'll take to see us Orthodox not deal with the mess the Copts are dealing with concerning these heresies. I wonder if this priest had any ties to this heretical movement? Who knows? Let's be cautious everyone

 

[Abel Gkiouzelis]

Why would he "convert" if he was already orthodox...???

The real Orthodox is only the Eastern Orthodox Church.

 

[ripple the car]

Hmm, yikes. Had seen some evidence of Pentecostal-style Christianity seeping into Egypt, but wasn't aware that the Coptic Church was having difficulties with this type of prayer and worship style attracting laity and clergy.

 

[Kristos]

because non-Chalcedonians are not Orthodox. Chalcedon has to be accepted officially to be Orthodox (as well as all subsequent councils). we just had the feast of St Euphemia. non-Chalcedonians and the Chalcedonians each put a confession of faith in her tomb. when her tomb was opened, the non-Chalcedonian confession was found under her feet, Chalcedon's was clasped to her breast. in my opinion, the modern trend to pretend we have the same vision of Christ actually hurts the dialogue.

that being said, we should not just accept someone who has an axe to grind against their former faith. cause then it ain't about Christ.

It was a rhetorical question meant to answer the OP.

 

[Orthodoxjay1]

Yikes the more I read about this guy, it seems he has some shady Pentecostal/Charismatic connections. This heresy seems bigger than I was first led to believe, granted we are the true Faith and the gates of Hell shall not prevail, yet if this garbage is allowed, it can do real damage in the process.

 

[ArmyMatt]

It was a rhetorical question meant to answer the OP.

wow, that went completely over my noggin. sorry about that.

 

[~Anastasia~]

I was not aware of that (the charismatic influence on the Coptic Church). I have read a number of things from time to time from the non-Chalcedonians, especially regarding prayer, that I found most helpful. (And really thoroughly Orthodox, as far as the books.)

I had noticed one priest who I watched several podcasts from, however, who seemed to have a very slightly different flavor, which surprised me. Nothing he said that I recall was an actual problem, but I did wonder at what I could see as a partial foundation to some of his sentiments.

If I watch it again, I will be aware of that. I still don't think there was any actual problem, but perhaps I mistook some of what he might have actually meant, unaware of this possible influence. But framed within an Orthodox point of view, it still seems, as I recall at least, very good.