HG Bishop Angaelos calls for return of HH Abune Antonios, praying repose for Abune Dioskoros

His Grace Bishop Angaelos calls for the return of His Holiness Abune Antonios I of the Eritrean Orthodox Church, while also praying repose for Abune Dioskoros

22 December 2015

After having received confirmation of the death of Abune Dioskoros, we pray for his repose and for the faithful of our sister Eritrean Orthodox Church. This trying and indeed painful time presents an opportunity for a reunion between the Eritrean Orthodox Church and her canonically-recognised father, His Holiness Patriarch Antonios I, who was deposed and unjustly placed under house arrest in 2005.

This would indeed be a good time for the release of Abune Antonios, returning him to his patriarchal, pastoral responsibilities, and once again uniting the deeply faithful and committed members of the Eritrean Orthodox Church around the world. Such steps will undoubtedly restore peace and a sense of justice that would contribute significantly to Eritrea and the Eritrean community globally.

During this blessed season of Advent that heralds in hope and a promise of restoration, we pray good health for His Holiness Abune Antonios, who has reportedly been unwell for some time, healing for the Eritrean Church at large, repose for Abune Dioskoros, and for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ into every heart and every situation, both now and moving forward.

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Article: HG Bishop Angaelos delivers keynote address at international conference in Rome on the Christian response to persecution.

HG Bishop Angaelos delivers keynote address at international conference in Rome on the Christian response to persecution  

After a short introduction by Daniel Philpott, Associate Professor of Political Science and Peace Studies at the University of Notre Dame, His Grace Bishop Angaelos, General Bishop of the Coptic Orthodox Church in the United Kingdom, gave an address titled ‘Christians in the Middle East: Light in darkness, hope in despair’.

During his address, he said:

“The world seems to suddenly be waking up to the fact that there is a problem in the Middle East. That problem, however, did not start with the mass exodus of Christians from Mosul, because there has been a systematic and systemic persecution of Christians throughout the Middle East over decades and indeed over centuries. This ethnic cleansing is an accumulative effect and our silence has been a contributing factor to what we are seeing today.”

Highlighting the extent of persecution facing Christians in the Middle East, he went on to say:

“The Christian presence in the Middle East decreased from 25% to just 5%. An even more alarming statistic, is when you take Egypt out of the equation as the most populous country with the most populous Christian presence, that percentage falls from 5% to somewhere between 1% and 2% because there are 13 million Christians in Egypt.”

“That said, I welcome the recent steps taken to present the actions of the caliphate to be those of genocide. I also welcome even more strongly, the efforts in the past few days that have sought to ensure that Christians are not excluded from that equation.”

In speaking of a solution to the Middle East crisis, Bishop Angaelos said:

“We cannot export models of what we consider to be viable democratic process to a region that is governed by its own demographics, dynamics and understanding of what religion is and where it belongs, both in society and in the lives of individuals.”

Calling for a collaborative response to the situation, he continued:

“There is a growing disregard for the sanctity of life, and that must be what offends us. It is not about Christians or Muslims being killed, but about life and humanity as God’s creation, and that disregard is a violation that we cannot be silent about. In response we must realise that we have to respond together, collaboratively.”

 “We must come out of the mentality that speaks of a Christian West and a Muslim East. The Body of Christ is one that feels pain equally and is affected equally by these horrible acts.”

Shedding light and hope on the situation he said:

“The response we have seen to the attacks in Paris, in the United States, throughout Europe and around the world indicates that there is an inextinguishable mercy that exists within the human being that rejects this kind of rampant and indiscriminate violence.”

Speaking of the Christian calling to advocacy Bishop Angaelos said:

“When we are speaking for others, we have a moral responsibility to be advocates, in the model of our Lord Jesus Christ Himself, Who speaks for those who cannot speak, and in a phrase commonly used these days, He is a voice for the voiceless.”

“In the 21^st Century we should not just be speaking about human rights because life in itself is not a luxury; to live is a right and to live with dignity is a God-given right that we all receive. In our discourse we should not merely talk about provision but prosperity, not about protection but safety, or about survival but dignity; these should be the baseline of our efforts.”

Offering words of encouragement to all those working tirelessly in the area of religious freedom, and quoting Scripture, he said:

“We give thanks to God always for you all, making mention of you in our prayers, remembering without ceasing your work of faith, labour of love..." (1 Thessalonians 1:2-3)

Giving thanks and paying tribute to Christians in the Middle East, Bishop Angaelos concluded:

"You are ‘hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed…perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed...’”(2 Corinthians 4:8-9)

The Conference, themed ‘Under Caesar’s Sword: Christians in Response to Persecution’ took place at the Pontifical Urban University in Rome, Italy, from 10-12 December 2015, organised jointly by the Centre for Civil and Human Rights at the University of Notre Dame and the Religious Freedom Project at the Berkley Centre for Religion, Peace, and World Affairs at Georgetown University. The conference was co-sponsored by the Community of Sant'Egidio. 

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Statement by HG Bishop Angaelos on International Human Rights Day 2015

International Human Rights Day 2015

Statement by His Grace Bishop Angaelos, General Bishop of
 the Coptic Orthodox Church in the United Kingdom

10 December 2015

As the world marks yet another Human Rights Day, it has become evident that the past 12 months have proven the need for such a focus and cause to continue to be championed. It would have been welcomed to see those whose rights were violated to have experienced greater freedom, empowerment, prosperity, dignity and safety, yet what has unfolded for many around the world is quite the opposite. We have seen innocent people displaced, tortured, sold into slavery, beheaded and even burned alive, for trying to live the freedom for which they were created.

It may seem simple to perpetrators to violate the rights of those whom they see as less deserving, less entitled, or indeed less human. Until the right of every person to share equally in the gracious gift of life and the appreciation of the sanctity of that life is recognised, these violations will continue, and even be justified, by those who see themselves entitled to determine who does and does not have a right to live, where, and under what conditions.

It is worth stressing that freedom is a right given to all to be experienced individually within a given context, and that context is dependent upon an understanding of self within a cultural identity. What we sometimes see however is some who see themselves as human rights champions and campaigners, imposing their own understanding of freedom upon others, and when their attempts are unsuccessful it is deemed to be the fault of those who could not embrace them. 

In  advocating for, and protecting, the great conventions that safeguard human rights, we must therefore not be prescriptive, or distracted from the fact that protecting those rights should actually be a baseline of our conviction, and realise that people are not only entitled to those rights, but to live with dignity and in a state of safety and security. 

Having said that, we must pay tribute to the immensely valuable and courageous work being done by so many around the world at a great cost to themselves. Advocates, lawyers, politicians, healthcare professionals, aid workers, volunteers and so many more go to great lengths and are subjected to great risks purely for the sake of others. Within a Christian context, they show that there is “no greater love than to lay down one’s life” for another (John 15:3); sometimes quite literally.  These individuals strive tirelessly to uphold principles that are core to our communities, but for many remain a distant dream.

In that same spirit, we all now have an opportunity to exhibit this same humaneness and charity by assisting and even welcoming the many thousands who are displaced and seeking refuge, who are not mere statistics or a phenomenon, but are human beings fleeing conflict and seeking basic human rights and dignity.

Today, we pray particularly for those whose rights to life and dignity continue to be violated, for those who advocate for and serve them, and for those whose hearts are moved to be a vehicle for the provision of support for these many who are deprived of the God-given rights granted to all but enjoyed by so few. 

Article by HG Bishop Angaelos on 'A Christian response to the plight of refugees and displaced peoples'

4 December 2015

A safe passage: a Christian response to the plight of refugees and displaced peoples

By His Grace Bishop Angaelos, General Bishop of the Coptic Orthodox Church in the United Kingdom

As countries across Europe unite in their efforts to address the crisis in the Middle East and its root causes and effects, it is important that as Christians, we recognise our role and what we represent in the midst of this crisis.

The Incarnation of our Lord Jesus Christ is pivotal to our Faith and is the most powerful demonstration of what it means to provide for the needs of others who find themselves in exile, away from their rightful homelands. As humans, we were all victims of the separation from God caused by the weakness of our humanity, and through the Incarnation and Salvation, were restored to our rightful place in Him. When God took flesh, He experienced our pain by sharing in it and not merely observing our situation from a distance. Having said that, the Incarnation of our Lord was not only intended to make humanity feel comfortable in the world (John 17:14-15), but to provide a safe and viable route back to its rightful original place in His Kingdom.

Likewise, we must also feel the pain of those suffering, share their burden, and provide for the immediate humanitarian needs of the vulnerable who are both internally and externally displaced. Our longer-term vision must then be to restore them, if that is their desire, to the lands they have occupied for generations, and in which their heritage and identity lies; a restoration that is founded upon dignity, equality, safety and prosperity.

The idea of providing this means of return is by no means prescriptive, but is based upon the same concept of our Lord having provided us with a viable way to reach His Kingdom through Salvation, but leaving that desire and its related choices to every individual.

We must then continue to work towards safeguarding the dignity of every person we encounter, and to call for the basic God-given rights owed to the countless millions living in unenviable positions of displacement or exile. We must also do all we can to provide for those in greatest need of our support, for in doing so we live the message of the Incarnate Lord, extending our hand and offering ourselves as ministers of His message of hope, light and love (Matthew 5:14).

Bishop Angaelos delivers address and answers questions regarding the refugee crisis during a Churches Together in England (CTE) President’s dinner with Church leaders at Lambeth Palace on 3 December 2015.

Coptic Orthodox Church UK

Media and Communications Office

Coptic Orthodox Church (Europe)

 Media and Communications Office

Bishop Angaelos delivers address and answers questions regarding the refugee crisis during a Churches Together in England (CTE) President’s dinner with Church leaders at Lambeth Palace on 3 December 2015.

The meeting commenced with a short welcome from The Most Revd and Rt Hon Justin Welby, Archbishop of Canterbury, followed by a brief introduction by The Rt Revd Nigel Stock, Bishop at Lambeth, and David Cornick, General Secretary of CTE. Speeches were made by Presidents of CTE, the Most Rev Vincent Nichols, Cardinal of Westminster, and Dr Hugh Osgood.

In beginning his address. His Grace Bishop Angaelos, General Bishop of the Coptic Orthodox Church in the United Kingdom, commended the work being done by various Faith leaders and communities in response to the refugee crisis, and went on to outline the role Christians and Church leaders in their response, saying:

“The responsibility we have as Christians to be charitable and generous is undeniable, and it is important for us to always be good and faithful conduits of the Christian message of love and hospitality which is indiscriminate and undeniable.”

Speaking of the enormity of the challenge of refugee resettlement and stabilisation, His Grace went on to say:

“There is no way that all those currently displaced within or outside of Syria can be absorbed into other nations, and we must understand that the majority of them do not wish to leave their homelands. If their own places of heritage and history were available to them they would remain in their countries.”

“While we need to focus on the immediate vulnerability of refugees we must also think long-term about providing the possibility of return through safe and legitimate means, to ensure they have safety and refuge in their homelands.”

Urging Faith leaders to rethink rhetoric used in responding to the issue, he said:

“In tackling this issue our threshold has dropped; we are now calling for people not to be executed for their Faith or lack thereof, whereas we must realise and communicate that being alive is not a privilege but a right. We must call for all to live within a context of dignity, equality, safety and prosperity.”

Speaking of the efforts of Muslim faith leaders in their response to extremist ideology, he said:

“We must pay tribute to the Muslim voices that have spoken against these atrocities and also recognise that more must speak out, as this counter-narrative must come from within Islam and its institutions. Not only should we pay tribute to these courageous voices but we must stand by them when they speak because they become targets in challenging the more radical voices around them.”

In conclusion, Bishop Angaelos called for more unified and collaborative efforts, saying:

“We must realise that this is a great opportunity for the Church in England to be a source of light. We must stand collectively to pray, speak and provide hope into these dire situations.”

Quoting Scripture, Bishop Angaelos called for Christians to remember that “The stranger who dwells among you shall be to you as one born among you, and you shall love him as yourself; for you were once strangers…” (Leviticus 19:34)

HG Bishop Angaelos took part in 'High-Level meeting' at the European Parliament regarding the worldwide persecution of Christians, and later spoke at the Maranatha Community Annual Lecture in Manchester on the role of Faith in Politics.

2 December 2015

Held within the framework of Article 17 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU), a meeting hosted by Mr. Martin Schulz, President of the European Parliament and Mr. Antonio Tajani, Vice-President of the European Parliament, was held at the European Parliament on 1 December 2015 themed ‘The persecution of Christians in the world- A call for action.'

Contributors spoke on the condition of Christians facing persecution across the world, and provided case studies for the Balkans, Pakistan, Sinai, Iraq, and Eritrea. At the meeting, HG Bishop Angaelos stressed the essential need for collaborative advocacy in efforts to help those persecuted worldwide.

After the meeting Bishop Angaelos spoke with both the President and Vice-President of the European Parliament of the need to find ways of future collaboration and co-operation. Speaking from Brussels Bishop Angaelos went on to say:

“It was an effective gathering of people who are very active and committed to working for the persecuted and vulnerable around the world. What is clear however, is that we need to continue finding ways to collaborate without losing the individuality of organisations, but in such a way as to maximise the impact of our combined efforts.”

Later in the day, Bishop Angaelos returned to the United Kingdom to deliver the annual address at the annual Maranatha Community Lecture on ‘Faith in Politics.’

Speaking on the role of Faith in politics he said:     

“Our Christian Faith is an intrinsic part of who we are, as created in the Image and Likeness of God, and so it is meant to be indivisible from who we are and what we do at all times. Our Faith must always determine our ethics, morals, principles and actions.”    

Addressing those involved in politics, Bishop Angaelos said:    

“It is within the context of our Faith, forming our identity, that we must speak boldly, but doing so in a way that makes sense to those listening. In presenting our principles, aspirations and demands, what we say must always be relevant and gracious, and spoken in such a way that ensures it is heard and understood.”

Speaking about advocacy and politics, he went on to say:          

“Christians have a responsibility to advocate and speak for the rights and freedoms of all those for whom those rights are threatened or violated, regardless of their religion. We should be able to speak for justice, equality and God-given human rights, as this is core to our Faith. Religious leaders must act as a moral compass, not a driving force affected by party politics...”          

Bishop Angaelos concluded with a passage from Scripture, highlighting the power and beauty of unity and the boldness of true witness:     

“When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place…And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance... And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers…and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles.” (Acts 2:1,4,43)