The answer
The title of Pope (Abba/Papa) was first given to St. Heracleus (232-249 CE), the thirteenth patriarch or the See of Alexandria because the people loved him dearly and began calling him Papa/Abba. The patriarchate is the succession of the Apostolic Throne to oversee the Lord's flock in a specific jurisdiction. St. Paul spoke about the role of bishop to St. Timothy who was appointed as a bishop (1 Timothy 3) to oversee a region. Overseer is a compound word derived from the Greek "Epi" meaning over or above, and "scopos" like the word "scope" meaning seer. Thus, episcopos is bishop, an overseer. The role, function, and sanctity of the priesthood that was first established in the Old Testament (Leviticus) was carried into the New Testament by Christ Jesus with some variations according to the needs of the Church, which also included administering the Hoy Mysteries. These first priests in the New Testament were the Lord's twelve disciples, then the ones He appointed as apostles, and after His ascension, the apostles ordained others as the ministry grew. Through these successors of the apostles, the Church we have today is what was delivered to us from the holy hands of Christ Jesus. A hierarchy of the holy orders in the Coptic Orthodox Church is to assure compliance, cohesiveness, correction, and accountability, not merely through one person, but through the Holy Synod that discuss all matters with great seriousness and deliberates after studying all perspectives through scholarly interpretation of the Holy Scripture and the writings of the Church Fathers and submission in prayer.Read more:
- http://www.suscopts.org/messages/lectures/sacrament2.pdf
- http://www.suscopts.org/messages/lectures/sacrament3.pdf
Answered by His Eminence Metropolitan Youssef (opens in a new tab)