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|b The Coptic Church currently answers its calling in Africa through seven Church Fathers and Bishops, together with a large number of priests, monks, consecrated persons and laypersons. The Fathers are: Bishop Pachomius, Bishop of al-Bahira, Matrouh and North Africa; Anba Anthony Murcos, Bishop of South Africa who was appointed and promoted to Archbishop in June 19: Anba Srabamon, Bishop of Atbara, Omdurman and North Sudan; Anba Elia, Bishop of Khartoum and South Sudan; Anba Paul, General Bishop of Preaching in Africa; Anba Josef, the seventh General Bishop of Africa, who was ordained last March to serve four southern African countries; and Anba Biman, Bishop of Naqadah and Kou's and Coordinator of Relations with the Ethiopian Orthodox Church. The services of the Coptic Church expand and grow in Africa day by day, not only in the spiritual sphere, but also in the developmental, educational and healthcare spheres. These are in addition to other services supervised by the pious Father David Lamei. First: Capabilities of the Coptic Church to Work and Serve in Africa Many factors and causes come together to guarantee, whether at present or in the future, that the Coptic Church plays its diverse role in the African continent in a greater, more widespread and influential manner commensurate with the capabilities of the Church and its internal and external determinants, to serve and complement, ultimately, the role of Egypt, itself, in Africa. Second: Map of Coptic Churches in Africa (Whereabouts and Influence) 1- The study reviews the level of the Church's relationship with the respective African countries themselves: A - The Coptic Church relationship with North Africa, or the five western cities (now Libya), the relationship with Sudan (formerly Nubia), and the relationship with Southern Sudan. B- The Coptic Church relationship with East Africa: We review the historical roots of the relationship with Ethiopia and relations with Eritrea, and then the current framework of the relationship with the Ethiopian and Eritrean churches. There is also the relationship of the Coptic Church with Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda. C- The Coptic Church relationship with the countries of Central Africa: the relationship with Zaire (Democratic Republic of the Congo). D- The relationship of the Coptic Church with South Africa: Especially after the formation of the new Coptic Parish in South Africa in June 2019. The relationship with other Southern Africa countries "Zambia, Zimbabwe, Namibia, Swaziland". E- The relationship of the Coptic Church with West African countries: (Nigeria - Ghana - Cameroon – Ivory Coast – Togo) 2- The relationship of the Coptic Church with African organizations. Third: Dimensions of the Role of the Coptic Church in Africa: The role of the Coptic Church in Africa has many dimensions, and it combines a political role with a social "developmental" one, in addition to religious or cultural and educational roles. Through each of these roles the axes of influence of the Coptic Church extend in more than one direction on the continent, whether towards resisting colonialism, reinvigorating African nationalism, combating slavery and racial segregation or towards establishing developmental institutions in African countries like hospitals, clinics, or vocational training centers for women and men alike, as well as nurseries, and in caring for children in general. The Church furthermore touches on the elements of the "religious" and educational or cultural influence, represented in either translation work or by transferring the idea of Sunday schools to the African continent, or by the establishment of both religious and civil educational institutions, in which the Coptic Church has been in the forefront, especially in Ethiopia and Sudan. The Coptic Church therefore provides no fewer or less important services to Africans than those that used to be provided by western churches on the continent, and additionally, the Coptic Church excels in originality of approach and fostering a strong sense of belonging.
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