Statement by HG Bishop Angaelos marking the anniversary of the 21 Coptic Christians martyred in Libya

Anniversary of the 21 Coptic Christians Martyred in Libya

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

12 February 2016

For decades we have witnessed the systematic intimidation, persecution, abduction, and even execution of Christians and minorities in the Middle East, but the horrific murder of 21 Coptic Christians in Libya 12 months ago had a significant and marked effect on millions around the world. This reaction seemed to clearly indicate that even evil had a line it should not cross. 

The Egyptians, and their friend from Ghana, who were brutally murdered were not statesmen, religious leaders, activists or spokesmen, but ordinary men from villages working to support their families. Those who took their lives sought not only to victimise and disempower them, but to be triumphalist and instil fear in them and in the hearts and minds of all who witnessed this crime. What resulted however was a vision of honour, dignity and resilience demonstrated by these 21 men as they faced the final moments of their lives with their heads raised, and their lips calmly, powerfully and defiantly uttering their Faith. They indeed did "...not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul" (Matthew 10:28).

An even stronger and more inconceivable message of forgiveness came from their families and communities. They rejected the temptation to become bitter, angry and vengeful, and inspired the world with their gracious and courageous sentiment. Speaking proudly of the resilience of their fathers, brothers, and sons, who had captured the attention of the whole world, they also uttered their forgiveness for those who had so brutally and needlessly taken their lives, and who sought to rob them of their dignity. 

Over this last year, the persecution of Christians and minorities in the Middle East has been relentless. We have seen communities forced to leave their historic homelands and places of heritage that they had been an instrumental part of for generations. We continue to witness an unprecedented brutality which includes abductions, decapitation, people burned and buried alive, sold into slavery, women sold as sex slaves and children either sold or recruited as child fighters. These crimes are a polar opposite to the civilisation that we should have reached in the life of equality and freedom that we both seek and advocate for around the world. This shows what can happen when we are not vigilant. 

What we are now seeing played out in the Middle East has not happened overnight, but has come after generations of the alienation, marginalisation and persecution of Christians and minority groups throughout the region. Boundaries are challenged and pushed, and when there is no repercussion they are pushed further. The phenomenon starts with people being denied daily justice and equality in society, they are then deemed irrelevant and inconsistent, in the eyes of some, with what the region should be, and finally, they are persecuted, displaced and sometimes even killed. 

We must continue to look at the Middle East, and indeed every place where there is persecution, and not only condemn that persecution but work to restore the basic God-given rights and freedoms that we should all be able to live, for “where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty” (2 Corinthians 3:17). The 21 Coptic Christians and 30 Ethiopian and Eritrean Christians, along with the thousands who have died at the hands of those who seek to instil terror, are far too many. 

While the picture is bleak, as a Christian I know that the greatest place for light is in darkness, and the greatest opportunity to do good is where there is greatest evil. In seeing all that we have over the last year in the Middle East, it has also given rise to so many examples of bravery, generosity, faithfulness, and a powerful witness of good. We must continue to advocate, to stand for what we believe God has given to us as humanity, to be powerful in the face of injustice, generous in the face of atrocity, forgiving in the face of hatred, reconciliatory in the face of conflict and light in the presence of any darkness.

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. 

*Ends*

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. 

Press Release: Historic prayers at St Paul's Cathedral on the same day Bishop Angaelos receives OBE

Coptic Orthodox Church UK

Media and Communications Office

Coptic Orthodox Church (Europe)

                          Media and Communications Office

Historic prayers at St Paul’s Cathedral for victims of religious persecution on the same day that Bishop Angaelos receives an OBE for ‘Services to International Religious Freedom’

19 October 2015

The Coptic Orthodox Church held an unprecedented prayer service in the Order of the British Empire Chapel in St Paul’s Cathedral, following an evensong service on Friday 16 October 2015 dedicated to victims of religious persecution and refugees suffering as a result of conflict in the Middle East.

Evensong was led by The Very Reverend Dr David Ison, Dean of St Paul’s Cathedral, and attended by The Rt Revd & Rt Hon Dr Richard Chartres, Bishop of London, and His Grace Bishop Angaelos, General Bishop of the Coptic Orthodox Church in the United Kingdom. Also attending the service were a number of ecumenical, diplomatic and official guests, alongside members of the Coptic community in London.

Following evensong, a Coptic Orthodox service of prayer was led by Bishop Angaelos in the Order of the British Empire Chapel for victims of religious persecution around the world. Prayers were again offered for refugees fleeing conflict in the Middle East.

At the start of the prayer service the Dean of St Paul’s Cathedral gave a welcome address, in which he said:

“You are very welcome to be here on this day as Bishop Angaelos has received the award of the Order of the British Empire and is now with us in this joyful yet solemn occasion, doing what his award is for; promoting religious freedom. Although it is a day of joy for us, it is also a day of sadness in that there are many in the world who do not have religious freedom, and the work continues.”  

In his message, Bishop Angaelos said:

“I am thankful for the wonderful and gracious hospitality we have received, in being able to use this great Cathedral, this place of prayer, and the cornerstone of life in London and in Britain, to celebrate both evensong with the Church of England and to pray the Coptic Rite together in this Chapel for the first time. There is no greater representation of love, fellowship, companionship and a single journey that we all travel together in this great Nation, as the Body of Christ.”

“Being here and praying for those who are still victims of religious persecution is bitter sweet, because it is a shame that we still need to. We must continue to pray for all who suffer, as this tragic situation is still a reality, not only for Christians, but for many around the world in numerous countries.”

“We pray for those living hardship and persecution, and those seeking refuge, as well as those who are accepting them so graciously…We must be appreciative of the hospitality currently offered, even if we continue to strive in extending this hospitality further.”

The prayers at St Paul’s Cathedral were offered on the same day that Bishop Angaelos was formally invested as an Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire for ‘Services to International Religious Freedom’ by Her Majesty The Queen at Windsor Castle.

After the prayer service, The Bishop of London said: 

“The Order has been one that recognises outstanding contributions, excellence and achievement in all sorts of fields…it is a particular honour that now we have as a most distinguished member of the Order, Bishop Angaelos.”

He went on to thank Bishop Angaelos for:

“…his immense work…to bring together not only Christians, but people of all faiths in this Country.”     

Baroness Berridge, Co-chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group for International Freedom of Religion or Belief, said:

“His Grace has been a very keen supporter of the work that we are doing in parliament, and an amazing support to those of us who are standing up for religious freedom, and he has also introduced us to the wider community.”

*Ends*

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Resources regarding HG Bishop Angaelos on international religious freedom:

• Video coverage of events/interviews with HG Bishop Angaelos: www.YouTube.com/CopticMediaUK

• Statements by HG Bishop Angaelos www.CopticMediaUK.com

• Twitter feed: @BishopAngaelos @CopticMediaUK

Comment by His Grace Bishop Angaelos on the refugee crisis

Welcoming those less fortunate

By His Grace Bishop Angaelos,

General Bishop of the Coptic Orthodox Church in the United Kingdom

Until now, the Middle East crisis has been contained in that part of the world, and has, for some, become somewhat of a distant reality. If we have occasionally been moved by what we have seen or heard in reports, we have also had the relative comfort of being several steps removed from the situation. Now however, we are witnessing the movement of tens of thousands of desperate people fleeing that crisis and approaching the shores of Europe to seek refuge, and so the issue has become much more immediate and closer to home.

I have recently visited both refugee camps in Erbil and transit camps on the Greek-Macedonian (FYROM) border at Idomeni, and have therefore seen this humanitarian tragedy from both sides. This has provided an invaluable opportunity to personally meet and speak with many humanitarian aid workers and volunteers, as well as those in camps, and those making the dangerous journey. It has also further reinforced my view that this is a humanitarian crisis of a scale unseen since the Second World War, and that it can only be satisfactorily addressed, let alone resolved, through collaboration among and between states, NGOs and religious institutions. 

During my visit to Idomeni it was painful to hear a young Syrian man say “…in Syria we are now used to quick deaths that come with bombs or shootings, but what we are experiencing in these journeys is a slow death.” The fact that these refugees willingly travel, sometimes with their children, in what they themselves call ‘death boats’ is proof of the desperate situations they are fleeing, and their struggle should not be belittled.

Along these journeys, vulnerable refugees, many of whom are children and minors, become easy prey for trafficking and organised crime gangs that exploit this vulnerability in a way that shames our humanity. We must therefore not close our ears to the cries of those who flee the horrors of their day-to-day existence in war-torn homelands to face even more horrific journeys. As more borders close, refugees who have already sacrificed almost everything will still find alternate routes because they have nothing to lose. In anticipation, we must collaborate to formulate a coherent and humane response and continue to protect those in greatest need while recognising and preserving their dignity.

As the United Kingdom prepares to welcome refugees from camps bordering Syria under the Government’s Vulnerable People Relocation Scheme (VPRS), it is imperative that we look at the whole issue of asylum with renewed insight. Until now, refugees have been considered by many as a potential burden and/or threat on and to our communities, and an additional drain on our economy. Looking with humane eyes however, we must realise that the majority of these vulnerable individuals have experienced immense suffering and loss and have not wanted to, but have been compelled to, leave their countries, communities, and all they have behind. Many have even more tragically also lost loved ones in this ongoing conflict.

The Prime Minister’s initiative to accept 20,000 refugees from camps bordering Syria over the next five years is welcomed, as it will indeed make a significant difference to those people and their families. While this is a start to solving a problem that is now of immense magnitude, we are also hopeful that these numbers will be revisited over time, and increased when possible to accommodate the ever-increasing flow of people fleeing conflict, war and persecution. As we see people come into the United Kingdom under this scheme or others, it is worth considering our outlook on the overall situation.

I was moved by the call of a senior figure within UNHCR Greece during my recent visit, who challenged us as Church leaders to make the teaching of Matthew 25 manifest: “Come, you blessed of My Father… for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me.” This commandment is timeless and without exception, it applies today just as much as it did 2000 years ago when our Lord Jesus Christ Himself sought refuge in Egypt, fleeing adversity (Matthew 2:13).

As we do our utmost to serve those in great need, we pray for the millions currently displaced, those currently in refugee camps, and others who have embarked on treacherous journeys fleeing war and conflict; we also pray for policy makers, aid workers and volunteers who are dealing with this complex situation first-hand.

*Ends*

Find out more about His Grace’s visit to Greece via CTBI.org.uk

Statement on the refugee crisis in Europe by HG Bishop Angaelos

For immediate use

Coptic Orthodox Church UK

Media and Communications Office

Coptic Orthodox Church (Europe)

Media and Communications Office

Statement on the refugee crisis in Europe

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

4 September 2015 

Having seen heartbreaking images of the lifeless and abandoned body of young Aylan Kurdi lying alone on a beach in Turkey puts an all too gruesome optic to a matter either in the forefront or background of every mind over the past months. The images we have now become too accustomed to seeing may have desensitised some, but the horrific reality of the situation remains; thousands of people continue to risk all, even their lives, to seek the safety that we are thankfully free to live on a daily basis.

Whether it is Aylan, his family, or the countless thousands of others making the treacherous journey to flee conflict and find a better life, we must now realise that the solution to this crisis is greater than for individual Churches, religions, communities, or even states to address alone, and so a more universal, integrated and collaborative approach to make the best of limited human and material resources, must be sought.

The Church of Egypt is no stranger to the issue of asylum as it was Egypt that accepted and embraced the infant Christ and His family as refugees when they fled targeted and intentional persecution. It is indeed telling that while the world has apparently progressed over millennia since then, the problems and challenges remain the same.

As a Church with its roots in the Middle East we are very aware of the struggles faced by people in the region, Christians and others. It is essential that the plight of these refugees is not belittled or ignored, as they face very real challenges in their homelands, living with a daily threat to their livelihood and even existence.

At a time of increasing economic pressure in Europe and a greater fear of importing radical elements seeking to destabilise our communities, it is understandable that caution must be exercised. Having said that however, that caution should not mean a blanket rejection of the vast majority of those coming who are genuinely seeking safety for themselves and their families. What is concerning is abrasive rhetoric in the media and public sphere, leading to the constant dehumanisation of people who are undoubtedly victims of this conflict, to the extent that many now see them simply as an impending risk to their communities, putting aside their basic rights and needs. What we must realise is that many of these people, indigenous to their homelands, are not fleeing out of choice or preference but out of sheer necessity.

This is undoubtedly an extremely complex issue that involves geo-politics, global economics, European economies and borders, state and regional security, as well as an increasingly volatile Middle East, but as I have mentioned previously, we must not be prescriptive to people living in crisis on whether or not they should stay and fight in their war-torn countries, or flee for their lives. Whatever their choices may be, we must advocate to either safeguard their continued presence or provide an alternative if they cease to see a viable continuity in their homelands.

It is encouraging, that over the past few days there has been a greater intention and appetite for a pragmatic and compassionate response to this increasing refugee crisis in seeking practical solutions whatever they may be.

The Scriptures are timeless in their direction, and when the Lord God instructs His people to care for the widow, orphan, traveller and stranger (Deuteronomy 10:18) that was not meant exclusively for His immediate audience alone, but to the whole of humanity over time.

These challenging events remind us of the brokenness of our humanity, but as Christians we also recognise the ability of God to heal that brokenness. For that reason, we pray confidently for solutions in the homelands of those fleeing, the countries that may extend whatever hospitality they can, and above all, safety for many who make these dangerous journeys out of sheer desperation.   

*Ends*

His Grace Bishop Angaelos to be conferred the honour of Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (OBE) for services to International Religious Freedom

His Grace Bishop Angaelos to be conferred the honour of Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (OBE) for services to International Religious Freedom

It was announced on 13 June 2015 that His Grace Bishop Angaelos, General Bishop of the Coptic Orthodox Church in the United Kingdom would be conferred the honour of Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (OBE) by Her Majesty The Queen, 'For Services to International Religious Freedom.'

The honours system, founded during the First World War in 1917 by George V, now serves to recognise people who have made achievements in public life and committed themselves to serving and helping Britain. Over the past years Bishop Angaelos has worked tirelessly to advocate for religious freedom, releasing statements calling for the protection of God-given rights and freedoms for all, testifying in the United States Congress on human rights abuses, taking part in a variety of media interviews to raise awareness of a number of issues in the Middle East, and organising and engaging in numerous ecumenical, governmental and non-governmental meetings and events focusing on the protection of basic human rights and freedoms.

Through his work, the Coptic Orthodox Church in the United Kingdom is a supporter of, and works in conjunction with, the All Party Parliamentary Group for International Freedom of Religion or Belief, and Bishop Angaelos as founder and convenor of, and driving force behind the Asylum Advocacy Group, works to help the vulnerable. His efforts have brought together organisations and parties who have never previously collaborated and the group has seen an effective result with the UK Home Office border agency regarding asylum cases, with a continuity that other organisations have not experienced.

In 2013 he became the first Coptic clergyman to testify in the United States Congress. Approached to attest to human rights abuses in Egypt since the 2011 uprising due to his knowledge and public voicing of the matter, he spoke of human rights and religious freedom violations facing Christians, secularists, women, those suffering poverty and various minorities. He is a pioneer in advocating for human rights and freedom for all as his testimony, among other efforts, has given a voice to people of all faiths.

In April 2015 at an international conference in Bari, Italy addressing extreme challenges faced by Christians in the Middle East, Bishop Angaelos called for greater collaboration between Churches, governments, organisations, and similar initiatives that would lead to greater results for all. He warned that “a lack of coordination will lead to a fragmentation of what should be a very powerful voice of advocacy, as well as duplication and the wastage of resources that are already limited in light of the immense need.”

Highlighting the need to refer to minority communities in the Middle East more precisely in discourse and in the media, Bishop Angaelos went on to say: “This issue must be transformed from one of ‘minorities’ to that of indigenous people who have had their roots in these lands for not only decades or centuries but millennia. They are an intrinsic part of, and a stabilising force in, the region, and losing them would be a loss to the whole world as they are, through their continuous presence, part of the history, institution and constitution of the Middle East.”

Since the establishment of the Media and Communications Office in the United Kingdom in 2011, Bishop Angaelos’ statements have been far-reaching, calling for justice and the protection of basic rights and freedoms. His statements to-date have been particularly striking due to their all-encompassing nature, speaking for the rights of all communities, not merely his own.

His message of forgiveness following the brutal murder of Coptic Christians in Libya in February 2015 had a significant impact on the media coverage of that event and helped to further raise awareness of the plight of so many killed for their faith, and their families and communities who are left behind. In launching the ‘When Left Behind’ appeal for the families of those who died in Libya, Bishop Angaelos attracted comment and support from figures such as His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales, His Grace the Archbishop of Canterbury, and numerous others in their private and official capacities, both nationally and internationally.

Bishop Angaelos continues to work in the sphere of international religious freedom, and on receiving news of his award, said:

“I am humbled by this award because I see it as my role and duty to advocate for religious freedom as part of my ministry. While I am thankful for this great honour, it also comes with a sense of sadness that in the 21^st Century we still need to defend people’s God-given rights and freedoms in this way. I consider this an award to every person who has worked with and supported me along the way and pray that God rewards and blesses them for all they have done and all they will continue to do. I must also express my sincere gratitude to Her Majesty The Queen and the Prime Minister for considering this cause worthy of such public acknowledgement.”

Watch various talks and interviews with His Grace Bishop Angaelos concerning International Religious Freedom via www.Youtube.com/CopticMediaUK and read his statements via www.CopticMediaUK.com. Follow His Grace on twitter via www.Twitter.com/BishopAngaelos

Announcement: HG Bishop Angaelos to receive OBE for services to international religious freedom

Announcement

His Grace Bishop Angaelos to be conferred the honour of Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (OBE) for services to international religious freedom by Her Majesty The Queen.

13 June 2015

His Grace Bishop Angaelos, General Bishop of the Coptic Orthodox Church in the United Kingdom will be conferred the honour of Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire for services to International Religious Freedom by Her Majesty The Queen as announced in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List, published in the London Gazette on 13 June 2015.

Bishop Angaelos, who is conducting and speaking at the inaugural young adult’s convention in Vancouver, Canada, said the following in response to the announcement:

“I am humbled by this award because I see it as my role and duty to advocate for religious freedom as part of my ministry. While I am thankful for this great honour, it also comes with a sense of sadness that in the 21^st Century we still need to defend people’s God-given rights and freedoms in this way. I consider this an award to every person who has worked with and supported me along the way and pray that God rewards and blesses them for all they have done and all they will continue to do. I must also express my sincere gratitude to Her Majesty The Queen and the Prime Minister for considering this cause worthy of such public acknowledgement.”

The formal investiture will take place in the coming months.

*Ends*

View this announcement online via www.CopticMediaUK.com 

Media coverage re HG Bishop Angaelos:

• ITV: Campaigning bishop is among people honoured in Hertfordshire
• BOB FM: Home Counties Recognised In Queen's Birthday Honours 2015
• The Guardian: Queen's birthday honours list 2015: OBE
• Herts & Essex Observer: Queen's Birthday Honours
• Freedom Declared: Bishop Angaelos: OBE for work on International Religious Freedom
• Heart: Queen's Birthday Honours List Released
• Daily News Egypt: Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II honours 2 Egyptians
• Premier Christian Media: Coptic bishop 'humbled' by OBE
• Al Arabiya News:  Queen honors two Egyptians, Muslim woman in birthday list
• The Cairo Post: Queen Elizabeth II honours 2 Egyptians for outstanding service
• Christian Today: Queen's Birthday Honours include widow who forgave husband's murder
• The Orthodox Church News Network: Bishop Angaelos to receive OBE for services to international religious freedom
• Egyptian Streets: Queen Elizabeth II Honors Two Egyptians For Outstanding Contributions
• MCN: Queen Elizabeth honors Bishop Angaelos and Nemat Shafik
• The Comet: Campaigning bishop from Stevenage, sports stalwart from Hitchin among those honoured in Queen’s birthday list.
• Independent Catholic News: Coptic Bishop Angaelos awarded OBE in Queen's Birthday Honours List

Resources regarding HG Bishop Angaelos on international religious freedom:

• Video coverage of events/interviews with HG Bishop Angaelos: www.YouTube.com/CopticMediaUK

• Statements by HG Bishop Angaelos www.CopticMediaUK.com

• Twitter feed: @BishopAngaelos @CopticMediaUK

Engagements in Washington DC 17-18 March 2015

HG Bishop Angaelos met with a number of state representatives and officials in Washington DC and spoke at the National Press Club and the Hudson Institute on 17-18 March regarding the state of Christians in Egypt and the broader Middle East.

   

His Grace Bishop Angaelos, General Bishop of the Coptic Orthodox Church in the United Kingdom spoke to an audience of journalists, government representatives, NGO’s and media professionals at the National Press Club in Washington DC on ‘Sensitivity rather than sensationalism in media reporting’. After his address he responded to questions as part of a panel made up of Katrina Lantos Swett, President of the Lantos foundation, Robert A. Destro, Professor of Law and founding Director of the Interdisciplinary Program in Law & Religion at The Catholic University of America’s Columbus School of Law in Washington, D.C, Thomas Farr, Director of the Religious Freedom Project at Georgetown University’s Berkeley Center for Religion, Peace, and World Affairs, Journalist for the National Review, Kathryn Jean Lopez, and Nermien Riad of Coptic Orphans. In his address Bishop Angaelos shed light on the dangers of sensational reporting, and noted the power of journalism in influencing public opinion, generating reactions and directly impacting lives.

Praising journalists for their response to the brutal murder of 21 Coptic Orthodox Christians in Libya, His Grace said:

“The Coptic community felt encouraged by the sensitive media coverage of those who were killed in Libya. Their martyrdom was a turning point for the world, and after this atrocity we must realise that news coverage is not merely about headlines, ratings, or statistics, it is about lives.”

He contrasted this with past coverage of events such as the burning of over 100 Churches and places of Christian ministry in Egypt in August 2013 where mainstream media was slow to respond. He went on to say,

“It is important that journalists do all they can to ensure that individuals and communities do not feel forgotten, disregarded or insignificant. There is no ‘one size fits all’ approach to covering the Middle East, and it is important that the media is not selective in reporting atrocities.”

Later in the day His Grace gave a keynote address on the ‘Prospects for Christians in the Path of Persecution’ at the Hudson Institute. The session was chaired by Nina Shea, Director of the Centre for Religious Freedom at the Hudson Institute and Sam Tadros, Senior Fellow at the Center for Religious Freedom, Hudson Institute made a response to the address by His Grace. The panel then responded to questions from the audience, who were made up of government representatives, media professionals, and NGO’s.

In his address Bishop Angaelos spoke of the increasing intolerance and violence facing indigenous Christian communities in the Middle East and the danger of the current model of extremism spreading across the region and beyond. He spoke of the tendency to generalise the situation facing Christians in the Middle East, saying:

“The answer is not to empty the Middle East of its Christians nor to force them to remain in the region to maintain a presence, but to seek what they desire and enable them to fulfil their own choices, which will vary depending on many factors including where they live and what their experience is.

We must realise that many Christians do not desire to leave their homelands because they are the indigenous people of the region, so let us look at the Middle East within its own context and not impose Western models.”

His Grace concluded with reassuring words of Scripture relating to the state of Christians in the Middle East, saying: ‘We are hard-pressed but not crushed, persecuted but never forsaken’ (paraphrased from 2 Corinthians 4:8-9)

In response Sam Tadros spoke of the importance of safeguarding the rights of Christians in the Middle East due to the impact their presence has on the region, saying:

“When we speak about the rights and persecution of Christians it is not because we care about their presence because we are Christian, but because the fate of Christians is tied to the whole region itself…the Christian presence has also been a valued bridge between the East and the West.”

As part of his visit to Washington, His Grace also met with Melissa Rogers, Special Assistant to the President and Executive Director of the White House Office of Faith-based and Neighborhood Partnerships. His Grace also attended a Congressional Hearing after which he met with Ambassador Saperstein, the State Department’s Ambassador-at-Large for International Religious Freedom.

Bishop Angaelos’ engagements on 17 March included attending a Congressional Breakfast on Capitol Hill and meeting with Co-Chairs of the Middle East Religious Minorities Caucus, Congressman Jeff Fortenberry, and Congressdwoman Anna G. Eshoo. His Grace also met other members of the Caucus, including Congresswoman Barbara Comstock, Congressman Dave Trott, and Congressman Tim Walberg.

During his visit Bishop Angaelos prayed a vespers service at St Mark's Coptic Orthodox Church and preached on the life of the Cross and the recent martyrdom of 21 Coptic men in Libya.