The artist Majed Kadwani sparked a wave of controversy over his acceptance of the embodiment of Pope Shenouda in the series «Pope of Arabia», which was announced recently, as the Egyptian artist appeared in a video published by his son Youssef, warning his audience of fake accounts impersonating his name and personality, calling on everyone to boycott these accounts, He stressed that he does not have any accounts on social media. The video raised questions about Al-Kadwani's acceptance to participate in the work, especially with his close associates for his tendency to apologize for the personification of the character, because of his strong fear of taking this responsibility, and asked to give him a chance to think, because the work is too large, which may cause shock to the pioneers of the communication sites Socialists who celebrated the choice of Kadwani to embody the historical personality, and accounts emerged promoting the welcome Kadwani this choice, and even spread images of him in the clothes of Pope Shenouda.

Donations crisis

Kadwani's position came to add to a series of controversial positions, raised by the series «Pope of Arabia», which will address the story of the life of the late Pope Shenouda III, as soon as it was announced, especially with the reported budget of between 50 and 80 million pounds for the implementation of the work, the church He pushed her by opening an account to receive donations from Copts inside and outside Egypt, prompting some to object to the idea, considering that it is first to spend this large amount on the poor and needy.

The author of the series, the Coptic historian Nashat Zoklema, denied the matter, pointing out in statements to Egyptian and Arab news sites, that the monastery rejected the idea of ​​collecting donations for the implementation of this work, and opened an account in the name of the monastery in a bank, to receive the posts of satellite channels wishing to display the work on its screens, in the production of the series. He expected that the series will attract the attention of many Egyptian and Arab satellite channels to display and participate in its production.

4 stages

Another controversy raised by the series about how to present the character of Pope Shenouda, as the author of the work that he will present the life of the late, which extended to nearly 89 years in four stages, the first bearing the name of Nazir Jade Rafael, the secular name of the Pope, extending 30 years from birth to monasticism In July 1954, the second stage deals with the life of the monk Antonius Syriac (the ecclesiastical name of Nazir Gayed at the time) for eight years to the day of his ordination as bishop of education in September 1962. The third stage presents the life of St. Shenouda, a bishop of education for nine years, the last stage deals with his life after Become Patriarch of the First Church Orthodox in the name of Pope Shenouda III until his death.

Regarding the artists who are nominated for work, Ziglema stated that he offered to portray Pope Shenouda's character to Majid Al-Kadwani, but he did not respond yet to approve the personification.He asked to give him a chance to think, because the work is very huge, which also happened with Sandra Nashat, the candidate to direct the series.

And a movie too

The controversy over “Pope of the Arabs” did not stop there, as the Egyptian director Albert Akram provoked another wave of controversy after he announced on his Facebook page that he denounced the presentation of a series about Pope Shenouda with the same name as the film he is working on. The required approvals, either from censorship or from the church.

Akram added: «I used the name of Baba al-Arab from 2012 in (Promo) located on the site on December 17, 2012, and proved in the Ministry of Culture on July 15, 2015, in intellectual property rights, and it is not understood at all to use the same name to publicize another work».

Open to all

The series «Baba Arab», which is carried out by the monastery of Bishop Bishoy, is the most important and largest dramatic work in the history of the Orthodox Church, especially as it will be shown to the public through satellite channels and public television channels, and not only to Christian circles like previous work.

- The Egyptian artist appeared

In the video warns

In which his audience of

Fake accounts

Impersonating his name.

- 80

Million pounds reduction

Top of that budget

Spotted for the series.