Coptic Orthodox Church UK
Media and Communications Office
Coptic Orthodox Church (Europe)
Media and Communications Office
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Bishop Angaelos gives Keynote Address on the persecution of Christians in the
Middle East to over 700 MPs and other guests in the Houses of Parliament, later
addressing 50 High Commissioners and Ambassadors in the State Rooms at the
Palace of Westminster
14 June 2016
On 14 June 2016 His Grace
Bishop Angaelos, General Bishop of the Coptic Orthodox Church in the United
Kingdom, delivered the keynote address on the situation of Christians in the
Middle East at the annual National Parliamentary Prayer Breakfast (NPPB). During his address Bishop Angaelos spoke specifically
on the persecution of Christians and minority communities, and the millions
subsequently displaced and living as refugees. His Grace addressed an audience
of over 700 attendees including Members of the House of Lords, House of
Commons, civic and faith leaders, ambassadors, and CEOs of advocacy
organisations and NGOs. The Archbishop of Canterbury was also in attendance. The
gathering was welcomed by the Lord Speaker, the Speaker of the House of
Commons, and Fiona Bruce MP, Chair of this year’s Parliamentary Breakfast.
The NPPB is the largest
gathering of any kind in parliament throughout the year. The event is held with
the permission of the Speaker and the Lord Speaker and is an annual recognition
of the contribution that Christianity makes to the national life of the United
Kingdom. While themes of previous events have focused on topics of national
impact, this is the first to address a global issue of this scale.
In
his welcome, The Right Hon John Bercow, Speaker of the House of Commons, said:
“‘The Church in the Middle East’ is a theme
never more relevant than it is today. It is a magnificently chosen theme that
will continue to be relevant at least until some of the prevailing discord…of
which certainly there is an abundance, is either moderated or better still
overcome altogether.”
In
her welcome, The Lord Speaker, The Baroness D’Souza said:
“This
breakfast theme…could not be more timely to explore the need for tolerance and
understanding. I greatly look forward to hearing…as to how we make steps, if
not leaps, towards this.”
In
her welcome, Fiona Bruce MP highlighted that the attendance at this year’s
Breakfast surpassed previous years, with over 150 MPs and peers and 730 people
in attendance, saying:
“It is
particularly encouraging that so many members of parliament are attending
together with religious leaders from their constituencies…the fact that so many
parliamentarians and peers are here today does, I believe, confirm their deep
concern…”
“Let us seek to ensure that we
in the United Kingdom are doing everything we can to stand up and be a voice
for the voiceless in the Middle East, both to those who share our Faith, and
those of other faiths or none.”
Speaking
of the work that Bishop Angaelos has done in the area of religious freedom, she
continued:
“I am particularly delighted
and grateful that His Grace Bishop Angaelos will address us this morning as he
has tirelessly advocated on behalf of the Church throughout the Middle East in
recent years…”
In his
address, Bishop Angaelos spoke directly to parliamentarians saying:
“We often
hold you to account for the decisions you make, yet often forget to hold ourselves
to account to pray for you as you make those decisions. In the coming weeks
those prayers will be more important because of the decisions that are going to
be made for the future of Britain.”
Speaking
of Christians in the Middle East, Bishop Angaelos said:
“Christians
in the Middle East are indigenous people and reject minority status. They see
themselves as intrinsic members, and indigenous peoples.”
He
continued:
“As
religious and civic leaders, we have an opportunity and responsibility to
change the narrative and expectation of the Middle East from one of hopelessness
and conflict to one of hope and promise.
We
need to address the reality of this situation, that there has been a systemic,
yet gradual prejudice, marginalisation and alienation of Christians and
minorities allowed to continue over decades. This does not have to continue on
our watch…”
Calling
for collaboration, he went on to say:
“We
must realise that the current situation is greater than us all; it needs us all
to work together…There can no longer be a concept of ‘over there’ because
families of those affected in the Middle East are members of your constituencies,
our Churches, and our society as a whole…We are one very large community…our paths
cross, our experience is one and our journey is one that we must share.”
“Regardless
of which House one sits in, which Church one worships in, or indeed which faith
one does or does not have, we must work together for the freedom and dignity of
human life and speak with a collaborative voice.”
Elaborating of the calling and responsibility of
Christians to advocate indiscriminately for all, Bishop Angaelos said:
“We
are called in Scripture (Luke 4:18) to follow in the footsteps of our Lord
Jesus Christ, Who came to ‘preach the gospel to the poor…heal the broken-hearted…proclaim
liberty to the captives…set at liberty those oppressed.’ To be a Christian is
to be an exceptional human being at the service of all humanity, for even the ‘Son
of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom
for many’ (Mark 10:45)”
“Our
struggle is not just for Christians, but for human dignity. To pursue God-given
rights is to serve the whole of humanity indiscriminately. As a Christian I
cannot be selective as to who I love, honour or even forgive, as we are
instructed by our Lord to ‘love our neighbour as ourselves.’ “There is no other
commandment greater…” (Mark 12:31).
Shedding light on the hopeful witness of Christians in the Middle East, Bishop Angaelos concluded:
“The
Church is defiant, the Church is resilient, the Church is alive.”
After the event Bishop Angaelos spoke to 50 High Commissioners and Ambassadors from a variety of
faith traditions at a separate event in the State Rooms of the Palace of
Westminster.
*Ends*
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