HG Bishop Takla's mismanagement of the Diocese of Dishna

In the meeting on 02/06/2001

His Holiness the Pope said:

We trust that His Grace Bishop Takla will resolve the issue with the land of Al-Awamia. The land of Al-Awamia (in Luxor) was supposed to be divided between the four dioceses that is left by Qena Diocese, the charity in Qena and state ownership.

This matter has been referred to the Coptic Endowments Authority to take action. Therefore, we in good faith have recruited Bishop Takla to ensure that if any part of the land is sold, the money is to be placed in the bank.

His Grace Bishop Takla has begun to sell the land and take the money and buy things for his Diocese. Amongst those whom he has sold to were “The Sons of the Salama Afifi”. The charity (in Qena) contested the divided sale in the public domain.

His Holiness the Pope requested from His Grace Bishop Bishoy (Secretary of the Holy Synod) to explain what happened in this matter and [His Grace] explained at length.

At this point, His Grace Bishop Pakhmios requested that His Holiness the Pope set a structure to prevent quarrels between Bishops. His Holiness the Pope said, “the new Bishops will not be enthroned until after the division of the monies of the main, original Diocese”.

His Holiness the Pope added, “His Grace Bishop Takla [should] feel within himself the delicacy of the situation, or else we will have to take action that he will regret his entire life. It is not permissible to manipulate the situation.”

His Grace Bishop Benjamin said, “Mr Monsf Naguib Solomon, the lawyer who was instructed by Mr Nabeeh Zikry (Footnote: one of the purchasers) is studying the entire situation because he intends to draft proper guarantees for Mr Nabeeh Zikry, in accordance with his request.”

The Holy Synod decided that Bishop Takla has one month at the most to present all necessary data and agencies, otherwise very firm action will be taken.

In the meeting on 22/06/2002

His Holiness the Pope said:

Bishop Takla has caused the Sons of Afifi to bring a lawsuit against us claiming millions of pounds that Bishop Takla has spent, which he was not entitled to do. In order to end this lawsuit, we must gather several millions of pounds:

1. Some benevolent businessmen in Luxor bought a section of the Awamiya land for the sum of 2,000,000 pounds.
2. pounds from sales and donations in the Diocese of Dishna.
3. His Holiness Pope Shenouda III took a loan of 2,000,000 pounds.
4. The Coptic Endowments authority paid 500,000 pounds.

We are facing the following issues:

1. The debts that have been incurred to get rid of the Sons of Affifi.
2. The rights of his Bishop brethren who did not receive anything from the land.
3. The rights of the charity which, according to the official papers, owns more than 40% of the land.

These three matters have not been resolved by Bishop Takla stepping down from the monastery see Appendix No. 3

Due to these problems, the people have lost faith in the Church as a whole. Mr Nabeeh Zikry (footnote: one of the purchasers) said, “I have lost faith in the entire priesthood”.

Alongside the financial errors, he [Bishop Takla] was not gentle in his interactions. Someone from Dishna named Osama Farag criticised Bishop Takla (in front of the Diocesans Affairs Committee) so he deprived [punished] him and his mother. His mother was dying so she requested communion and they called Bishop Takla by telephone in St. Bishoy Monastery, but he [Bishop Takla] did not permit her to receive communion and she died without receiving communion.

His Holiness the Pope requested that Bishop Bishoy set out the investigations that took place with Bishop Takla in the Diocesans Affairs Committee (see the same Appendix). He [Bishop Bishoy] explained it, confirming that his actions were not right, and he has been found guilty in these investigations.

His Holiness the Pope said to the Metropolitans and Bishops in attendance, “is there anyone who can direct us to the solution to the problems that have been caused by Bishop Takla?”. There were none.