Coptic Orthodox Church UK Media and Communications Office
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Transcript of Address by His Eminence Archbishop Angaelos, Coptic Orthodox Archbishop of London to the Church of England General Synod on 23 April 2021
Sisters
and Brothers, Christ is Risen!
While one part of the Body of Christ has
celebrated the Feast of the Resurrection of our Lord, another part, including
my own Church, prepares to go into Palm Sunday, and of course this time is
pivotal and is core.
As Christians two things automatically come to
mind. The first, is this is a celebration of our hope in the risen Lord,
and His victory to liberate us and set us free. Secondly, it is a time that we
have seen historically where Christian communities come under attack during
these most festive days. The Cross is still being carried by sisters and brothers
around the world.
Just last week we heard of the execution of a 62-year-old
Coptic Orthodox Christian, Nabil Habashi Salama, executed by ISIS in North
Sinai for building a church. 2 days ago, we commemorated the 2nd
anniversary of the Easter bombing of the churches in Sri Lanka. Yesterday
we commemorated eight years since the Archbishops of the Syriac Orthodox and
Greek Orthodox Churches of Aleppo were abducted in Syria. Today we see the
ongoing suffering of Christians in the Tigray area of Ethiopia and, as Bishop
Nick mentioned, the continued house arrest of Abouna Antonios, the Canonical Patriarch
of the Eritrean Orthodox Church. Tomorrow I will be in Coventry Cathedral with
my brother Bishop Hovakim of the Armenian Orthodox Church to mark the victims
of the Armenian genocide and the sufferings of their communities until today. At
the same time, there are ongoing religious freedom infringements against
Christians in Nigeria, Pakistan, China, North Korea and over 120
countries.
Whether we look at what St Cyril of Alexandria
said, that “The Son is Himself an advocate, both in name and in reality”, or
Nelson Mandela, who said that “The purpose of freedom is to create it for
others”, what is evident is that we are called to action.
I would like to pay tribute to Bishop Philip
Mountstephen, the Bishop of Truro, for his Independent Review, which confirmed what
we have always known; that there is systemic persecution of Christians around
the world. This must of course also be seen within the context of
persecution of other communities, including the Rohingya, the Uyghurs, and the
Bahai communities.
While our freedom is enshrined in the Universal
Declaration of Human Rights, particularly Article 18, those rights are given to
us by God. Luke 4:18 speaks of our Lord being the Chief Advocate, and in that
spirit, we as the Church must continue to be custodians of those rights;
custodians of this truth and of the sanctity of life.
I was humbled to be in a room in December of
2018, with the then Foreign Secretary, His Grace the Archbishop of Canterbury,
friends from Christian Solidarity Worldwide, Open Doors and Aid to the Church
In Need, where the Independent Review was announced. We understand the concept
of ‘fullness of time’. This ‘fullness of time’ was of a serving Foreign Secretary
making representation to a Prime Minister, and then approached the Archbishop
of Canterbury, who approached a Bishop of the Church of England, who then took
on this feat and was supported by NGO's and advocates; all working together. We
worked together along with the Bishop of Truro through Refcemi, our advocacy office,
to look at how we could understand and recognise the phenomenon of Christian
persecution around the world.
As the Church of England continues to be the church
for England, it will realise that it represents much more than our
national boundaries, because many people present in Britain are represented
abroad. For that reason, and as I discussed with my ecumenical colleagues
earlier today, we ask you to recognise this reality, and we commend this item to
you, so that at this time, at this moment, when we are called to act, we stand
for those less fortunate than us, and we place ourselves at their
service.
Coptic Orthodox Church UK Media and Communications Office Coptic Orthodox Church (Europe) Media and Communications Office
Statement from His
Eminence Archbishop Angaelos, Coptic Orthodox Archbishop of London, on the
passing of His Royal Highness Prince Philip, The Duke of Edinburgh
9 April 2021
It is with exceptional
sadness that I received the news of the passing of His Royal Highness Prince Philip, The Duke of Edinburgh today. Having had the pleasure of meeting
with His Royal Highness on numerous occasions over the past twenty years, I
will hold on to fond memories of his intelligence, sharp wit and uplifting
sense of humour. Prince Philip’s dedication to the United Kingdom and the
Commonwealth, and his avid love for serving others, most notably his admirable
support to and of Her Majesty The Queen, has always demonstrated incredible
dignity and strength of character.
This will undoubtedly be a time of sadness for
Her Majesty and all members of The Royal Family and Household, while also being
a time to rejoice in the life of His Royal Highness, and the rich legacy he so
generously leaves us.
It is comforting that the departure of His
Royal Highness comes so close to the celebration of the Feast of the
Resurrection both in the Anglican and the Orthodox calendars, a time at which
we reflect on death being a mere departure to a new and more glorious life with
our Lord Jesus Christ.
May he rest in peace, and rise in glory.
My prayers and those of
my community are with Her Majesty The Queen and the Royal Family at this
difficult time.
+Angaelos
Coptic Orthodox Archbishop of London
Papal Legate to the United Kingdom
Coptic Orthodox Church UK Media and Communications Office
Coptic Orthodox Church (Europe) Media and Communications Office
The Coptic Orthodox Church marks ‘Contemporary Martyrs Day’ with Messages from
His Holiness Pope Tawadros II, and His Holiness Pope Francis, and addresses by The
Archbishop of Canterbury, Cardinal Koch, Fiona Bruce MP, The Bishop of Truro, and
a panel of distinguished guests
16 February 2021
‘Contemporary Martyrs Day’ is
marked annually by The Coptic Orthodox Church to commemorate the anniversary of
the 21 Libya Martyrs who were murdered by Isis on 15 February 2015 in Libya. It
has also been established to commemorate members of the Coptic Orthodox Church
who have lost their lives in contemporary history as a result of religious
persecution. The commemoration was initially established during a meeting of
the Holy Synod of the Coptic Orthodox Church.
To mark the day this year, a
webinar was hosted by Refcemi (The Coptic Orthodox Office for Advocacy and
Public Policy) and The Coptic Orthodox Diocese of London, under the auspices of
His Eminence Archbishop Angaelos, Coptic Orthodox Archbishop of London and
Founder and Director of Refcemi.
Archbishop Angaelos gave
context to the webinar by explaining that advocacy initiatives on behalf of the
Coptic Orthodox Church stem from centuries of persecution experienced by its
community, saying:
“The
Coptic Orthodox Church is in a unique place, through its own experience of
persecution across the centuries, to speak for those of all faiths and none who
continue to suffer today, and it is for this reason that we gather to raise
awareness and advocate for those who are not in a position to speak for
themselves.”
Addresses from the panel
focused on Freedom of Religion or Belief in the broadest sense, touching on
communities that continue to suffer marginalisation and persecution as a result
of their religious beliefs, especially the ongoing plight of Christian
communities worldwide; approximately 80% of the world’s persecuted religious
believers are Christian, as documented in The Bishop of Truro’s report[1].
Speakers also addressed the plight of the Uighur and Rohingya Muslim
communities, and others that are suffering ongoing violations of their
religious freedoms.
The event included a video
message from His Holiness Pope Tawadros II, Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of
the See of Saint Mark, and a video message of solidarity from His Holiness Pope
Francis I, Bishop of Rome and Supreme Pontiff of the Roman Catholic Church.
After the video messages, addresses were given by a distinguished panel of
senior religious leaders, politicians, advocates, and others, which included:
The Most Reverend and Right
Honourable Justin Welby, Archbishop of Canterbury His Eminence Cardinal Koch, President of the Pontifical Council for
Promoting Christian Unity His Excellency Archbishop Claudio Gugerotti, The Apostolic Nuncio to
Great Britain His Eminence Archbishop Angaelos, Director of Refcemi and
Coptic Orthodox Archbishop of London The Rt Revd Philip Mounstephen, The Bishop of Truro The Lord Alton of Liverpool, UK House of Lords Fiona Bruce MP, Prime Minister’s Special Envoy for Freedom of Religion
or Belief Mervyn Thomas CMG, Founder President of Christian Solidarity
Worldwide Neville Kyrke-Smith, Chairman ofAid to the Church in Need Martin Mosebach, Author of ‘The 21’
In his message, His Holiness Pope Tawadros II emphasised the importance of keeping
the Church’s history and heritage of martyrdom alive and in the consciousness
of its members so as to inspire and encourage Faith in adversity.His Holiness also spoke about the many ways in which Christians can live
a faithful life of witness, and shared contemplations on what the martyrdom of
the men in Libya means for the Christian family of believers.
Reflecting
on martyrdom His Holiness said:
“It is true that we are proud of the Faith of all
martyrs, who can face death with courage to witness to their Faith, yet we
cannot by any means tolerate persecution, a word that should be wiped out of
the dictionary of humanity. We also have great faith in the value of human
life, which is a gift from God and no man has the right to end human life by
any means.
It is well understood by all Christians that
witnessing our Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ is joyful, even if it is through
giving our life. That is why we today celebrate the commemoration of our
beloved martyrs of Libya, and all martyrs of Faith with complete understanding
of the verse ‘For me to live is Christ, and to die is gain’ (Philippians 1:21).”
Contemplating on the life and witness of the
Libya Martyrs, His Holiness Pope Francis said:
“They,
are our Saints, Saints belonging to all Christians, Saints of all
Christian denominations and traditions. They are those who have washed their
lives white in the blood of the Lamb…they have received the greatest gift a
Christian can ever receive: to bear witness to Jesus Christ to the point of
giving his own life.”
“I
thank the bishops, and the priests of our sister Coptic Church who have brought
them up, and taught them to grow in the Faith. And I thank the mothers of these
men, these twenty-one men, who have passed the faith to them…in a dialect which
goes beyond languages, the dialect of belonging.
“I
join all of you, my brother bishops, present at this commemoration. To you,
great and beloved Tawadros, my brother bishop and friend. To you, Justin Welby,
who also wanted to participate at this meeting. I also join all the other
bishops and priests, but above all the holy faithful people of God who in its
simplicity, with its fidelity and infidelities, with its graces and sins,
carries forward the confession of Jesus Christ: Jesus Christ is Lord.”
The Lord Alton of Liverpool spoke
of the ongoing plight of the Muslim Uighur community, and other persecuted
communities in various parts of the world. He also highlighted the witness of
Matthew Ayariga, a man from Ghana who was martyred alongside the 20 Coptic
Christians on 15 February 2015, saying:
“It
was so fitting that, in September 2020, Matthew’s mortal remains were taken to
Egypt so that he could be buried, alongside those other remarkable men, in the
church of the Martyrs of Faith bult in Al Our. For me, the key point about Matthew Ayariga
was that in a truly remarkable – supreme - act of solidarity he was willing to
give his liberty and his life rather than walk away from his Coptic brothers. What
a contrast to our indifference to the persecution of 250 million Christians
worldwide.”
“His
act of extraordinary solidarity shames so many of us when we consider our tepid
response – often based on political expediency, institutional considerations,
or trade and business – to the persecution which is experienced by religious
and ethnic groups the world over – discrimination that morphs into persecution;
then persecution which morphs into crimes against humanity; and then ultimately
into the crime above all crimes, genocide.”
“The
Coptic tradition of Christianity has so much to teach us – not least their
experience and understanding of endless centuries of discrimination,
persecution, and martyrdom…Heroic bravery in the face of evil demands a better
response from us – even if it is only a pale imitation of the remarkable act of
solidarity by Matthew Ayariga on that deadly beach in Libya in 2015.”
Reflecting on ‘the ecumenism of blood’, The
Most Reverend and Right Honourable Justin Welby,Archbishop
of Canterbury said:
“The reality
of the ‘ecumenism of blood’ is felt on this day as we commemorate the modern martyrs.
It reminds us, and I am reminded too by a fellow bishop in the Church of England
who is themselves from a family where there is a modern martyr, that ecumenism
and solidarity are with the persecuted, for we are united to them by
their blood, it is not just something we feel for the persecuted, or
that we stand towards the persecuted; with is the key word.”
“If we
are going to be with them, whether it is the 21 martyrs in Libya, and I still remember the horror of that news, or whether it is in Nigeria, or so many
other parts of the world, we are there to listen as well as to speak ---more to
listen, to be in solidarity with them.”
Fiona Bruce MP, the Prime Minister’s Special
Envoy for Freedom of Religion or Belief, gave an encouraging address on how the
UK Government is working to protect Freedom of Religion or Belief worldwide in
light of ongoing violations taking place:
“It is a privilege to follow
such eminent champions of Freedom of Religion or Belief, and it is therefore in
a spirit of humility that I speak as the Prime Minister’s Special Envoy for
Freedom of Religion or Belief to commemorate those who have been martyred and
to affirm Freedom of Religion or Belief as a fundamental right of every human
being, a right to which the Prime Minister himself is resolutely committed.”
Quoting the Prime Minister, she continued:
“We
all know that wherever Freedom of Religion or Belief is under attack, other
human rights are under attack as well. We will continue to work closely with
like-minded partners to stand up for members of such marginalised communities.”
Highlighting the worsening situation of certain
marginalised communities, a result of the Covid-19 pandemic and the
scapegoating and discrimination they are facing in terms of receiving food, aid
and healthcare, the Prime Minister’s Special Envoy said:
“And
yet, may I encourage you that today there is also growing international awareness
of such violations and increasing advocacy on behalf of victims of persecution
and the UK is showing itself to be a global leader in this, protecting and
promoting Freedom of Religion or Belief is a key human rights priority for our Government.”
The Rt Revd Philip Mounstephen, The Bishop of
Truro, who was tasked with ‘The Independent Review of the Foreign and
Commonwealth Office Response to Christian Persecution’, spoke of the steps that
the UK Government is taking to promote Freedom of Religion or Belief,
especially in light of the Truro Report, and said:
“The net result of all this is
that the fundamental human right of Freedom of Religion or Belief and a
recognition of its widespread abuse is on the political agenda in the UK in a
way that it simply has not been before, and furthermore it would now be very
hard to remove it from that agenda. Perhaps the key recommendation of my review
is that implementation should be fully reviewed three years on from
publication; so the clock is ticking and it is absolutely vital that this issue
remains high on the political agenda.”
His Eminence Archbishop Angaelos, Director
of Refcemi and Coptic Orthodox Archbishop of London concluded the webinar
by saying:
“What we are talking about
here is not an attack on the Coptic Orthodox Church, or Coptic Orthodox Christians, because there is no monopoly
of suffering or persecution. For to
persecute is to dehumanise, to commodify, to take away the image and likeness of God that is within and that is at the
core of our humanity.”
“Through the witness of the 21
we have learned resilience, we have learned generosity, we have learned
graciousness, we have learned to love quite literally those who seek to kill
us, and we have learned to forgive, and so we are thankful for their witness.”
“As Christians this is our
calling, who we are, we would not be true to ourselves if we do not advocate
and stand together for people of all faiths and none, because we all share that
humanity…when we stand against oppression and against persecution, we gain,
because our humanity is enriched.”
Concluding with Scripture, Archbishop Angaelos
said:
“We are hard-pressed on every
side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but
not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed” (2 Corinthians 4:8-9)
*Ends*
More Information:
‘Refcemi’ The Coptic Orthodox Office for Advocacy and
Public Policy: www.Refcemi.org
A Christmas Message of Light and Hope December 2020
'Christmas is a time to
remember the fulfilment of promise and realisation of hope in the birth of
Jesus Christ. We remember that the Light shone into darkness and transformed
it, and likewise, so many have shone as bright lights throughout this past
year, as beacons of hope for those around the world who have lived various
forms of darkness, ranging from bereavement and illness to persecution and
displacement.
This Christmas, we stand
together to commit ourselves once again to a spirit of cooperation and
collaboration, and to continuing to do all we can to shine a light of hope,
promise and kindness into a world that has such need of it.
As we stand together, we give
thanks for those who continue to be our inspiration: both those who make our
work possible through their tireless commitment, and even more importantly,
those for whom we stand and whose resilience and courage continue to be a
testimony to their own strength and faithfulness.
We wish you a very Merry
Christmas, and a safe, healthy and happy New Year'
The Lord
Alton of Liverpool
Crossbench Peer
House of Lords
Archbishop
Angaelos Coptic Orthodox
Archbishop of London
Founder and Director
Refcemi, Coptic Advocacy
Henrietta
Blyth
CEO
Open Doors UK & Ireland
Tim Dieppe
Head of Public Policy
Christian Concern
Amanda Khozi
Mukwashi
CEO
Christian Aid
Neville Kyrke-Smith
National Director
Aid to the Church in Need UK
Tim Livesey
CEO
Embrace the Middle East
The Revd Dr
Nadim Nassar
Executive Director
Awareness Foundation
Huda Nassar
Director for the Middle East
Awareness Foundation
Lisa Pearce
Chief Development and Advocacy Officer
Open Doors International
Paul Robinson
CEO
Release International
Mark Sheard
CEO
World Vision
Mervyn
Thomas CMG
Founder President
CSW
Gareth
Wallace
Head of Policy & Communications
World Vision UK
Coptic Orthodox Church UK Media and
Communications Office
Coptic Orthodox
Church (Europe) Media and Communications Office
Statement by His Eminence Archbishop Angaelos, Coptic Orthodox Archbishop of London on
Human Rights Day 2020
10 December 2020
As we commemorate Human Rights
Day this year while experiencing the devastation of a global pandemic, we are
ever more conscious of the importance of human relations and interaction, and
the value of every human being. While Covid-19 has indeed affected the whole
world, it has increasingly come to light that when tragedies or challenges
befall individuals and communities, those who are already vulnerable,
marginalised, discriminated against, and/or oppressed, are impacted disproportionately
to a much greater extent. Sadly, these same individuals and communities tend to
be deprived of the provisions and safeguards ensured by the Universal
Declaration of Human Rights[1], a document adopted by the
United Nations in 1948 affirming the inalienable equal rights of everyone,
everywhere.
Human Rights Day is another
reminder of the equal value we have before God, Who has provided us all with
His image and likeness, indiscriminately and without exception. It is also a
reminder that we are entrusted with the protection of human dignity and the value
of human life that He has provided for each and every one of us. Where we see
injustice in the application, or lack thereof, of those rights, we must voice
concern, advocate for, and stand by, those whose rights are denied, remembering
the words of Dietrich Bonhoeffer that “not to speak is to speak, and not to act
is to act”. When we stand for one another’s rights, we stand for our own.
We have seen such wonderful
acts of compassion, solidarity, and comradery during the pandemic here in
Britain and around the world, sometimes from unexpected places. We have also seen
and continue to witness selfless acts of bravery, courage and kindness from
individuals and groups in a variety of sectors, and that is the spirit of a
diverse humanity working in harmony. That is the spirit that the world needs,
and is the spirit of Human Rights Day; to ensure kindness, respect and dignity for
all, even those beyond the reach of our immediate environments.
Today and every day we pray
for our world and for every one of its members, all of whom stand equal before
God, and are equally deserving to be seen and catered for by humankind. We also
pray for human rights defenders and advocates who are often in the most
dangerous parts of the world, and continue to be the voice and hope of those
for whom they courageously and selflessly stand.
The sentiments of equality are
not merely philosophical, but must be translated into meaningful terms and
realised action. This year has taught us that the vulnerability of any
individual or nation adds to our own corporate vulnerability, and so in acknowledging
and safeguarding the rights and wellbeing of others, we play our part in doing
so for the whole world.
Coptic Orthodox Church UK Media and
Communications Office
Coptic Orthodox
Church (Europe) Media and Communications Office
His
Eminence Archbishop Angaelos, Coptic Orthodox Archbishop of London on the
suffering of communities in Nagorno-Karabahk, Ethiopia and Eritrea
16 November 2020
We are currently becoming more aware of the magnitude and
scale of the incredible suffering endured by communities as a result of war and
conflict in Nagorno-Karabahk, Ethiopia and Eritrea. The resulting loss of life
and displacement of peoples has tragically soared, and we have witnessed
increasing vulnerability amongst young and old already impacted by and
struggling with the global Covid pandemic.
I have been in conversation, over these past weeks, with
the clergy and leadership of the Armenian, Ethiopian and Eritrean Churches both
here in Britain and globally to develop a clearer understanding of the
situation on the ground in their home nations and to see how we can offer
greater support at this time. In the interim, we continue to pray repose for
the departed, comfort for the bereaved, healing for the injured and
traumatised, safety for the displaced and peace for all involved, as we pray
wisdom for all those in leadership and entrusted with the lives and well-being
of their people.
We are taught in Scripture that “when one part of the Body
suffers we all suffer” (1 Corinthians 12:26) and so, at this time we share in
the suffering of members of our sister Armenian Apostolic, Ethiopian Tewahedo,
and Eritrean Orthodox Churches and their communities, along with their wider
communities that encompass Christians of all denominations, and people of all
faiths and none.
Reflection
from His Eminence Archbishop Angaelos,
Coptic Orthodox Archbishop of London on the brutal murder of George Floyd
5 June 2020
As the world struggles against
the silent and invisible Covid-19 virus, the vile disease of racism rears its
ugly head once again with the senseless and brutal murder of George Floyd.
While we recognise the deadliness of a pandemic and are living that reality
today, for far too long the threat and damage of prejudice and racism have often
been ignored. The outcry against this brutal murder speaks not only to the loss
of one man’s life in Minnesota, but is in response to a much greater and more
prevalent undercurrent that many have been unwilling to admit or indeed speak up
about.
In speaking over the past week
to friends from some of Britain’s Afro-Caribbean communities, I have heard more
about what it means to be targeted as a member of those communities and why
this crime has opened so many wounds; some from the past and some ongoing. Those
who are speaking out are at times demonised for jumping on a proverbial ‘bandwagon’,
and those who are not, are seen as not caring or even adding to a far too rife
and dangerous trend of silence in the face of injustice. The reality is
however, that in cases of injustice, we must all do what we can to advocate. This
advocacy here in the United Kingdom must be carried out with the knowledge and
understanding of the complexity and diversity within Britain’s Afro-Caribbean
communities, and there is no room for generalisations or stereotypes when
discussing issues of race and colour.
In looking at the occurrences
of the last week, and considering what we can practically do, I was led to
reflect on this verse from the book of Micah 6:8 where we read “…what does the
Lord require of you but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your
God?”
To “do justly” is to ensure
that the same rights, privileges and responsibilities apply to every individual,
irrespective of ethnicity, colour, gender, or any other distinguishing factor,
just as the irrefutable and unnegotiable justice of God is extended to us all, no
matter who we are. While these words are of course simple to say, it will take
policy makers, religious leaders, community leaders, and indeed each and every
one of us, to safeguard these core tenets of our humanity.
To “love mercy” is in direct
contrast to the brutality we have witnessed in the murder of George Floyd. There
is nothing merciful about seeing a young man, black or otherwise, lying on the
ground with a knee on his neck pleading for his life, until he quite literally
breathes his last, exclaiming “I can’t breathe”. A man who, in his
vulnerability calls for his mother who has preceded him, was dehumanised, and humiliated.
What makes this crime even more deplorable is that the perpetrators were those entrusted
with, and who had taken an oath to protect, that very man, and everyone else in
that and every community.
To “walk humbly with the Lord”
is to journey with Him and see the world and others as He sees it and them,
dealing with and responding to the pain of injustice as He does. When we walk humbly
alongside those who hurt, whatever their situation, it must be about them and not
us. It is about their pain, their experience, their perception and their
reality, and not what we deem it to be. It is about understanding and
responding to that pain and frustration, especially when it has been so
long-lasting and, at times, systemic.
The onus is on us, if we value
justice, to take responsibility for our societies, our communities, our workplaces,
our Churches, our religious places, and our own families; to courageously weed
out any injustice, prejudice or malice that may exist there, and even from the
depth of our own hearts.
In looking at this whole
situation, it is very easy to ‘other’. It is not useful to anyone to express
pity from a distance, but rather, we must put ourselves in the place of that
person and express a desire and commitment to journey with him or her in
solidarity. Even in othering the perpetrator, thinking that they alone must do
better, we may neglect to look into our own hearts, consciences and actions to
judge how guilty we ourselves may be of that same crime, albeit in a different form.
At this time of pain, we pray
repose for the soul of George Floyd, comfort for his family, friends and
community who mourn him, and healing for our sisters and brothers in the Afro-American
and Afro-Caribbean communities in the United States of America and here in our
own Nation. We also pray God’s peace and blessing at this time over so many
struggles in our world, that we may, in standing alongside one another, be able
to be each other’s safety, strength and protection, never needing to hear those
haunting words again, “I can’t breathe”, neither literally nor metaphorically.
Coptic New Year
celebrated in St Margaret’s Church, Westminster Abbey, with messages from Her Majesty
the Queen, His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales, the Archbishop of Canterbury
and His Holiness Pope Francis
10 October 2019
Messages from Her Majesty The Queen, His
Royal Highness The Prince of Wales, The Most Reverend Archbishop Justin Welby and
His Holiness Pope Francis, were read during the annual Coptic New Year Service
at St Margaret’s Church, Westminster Abbey on 8 October 2019. The Very Reverend
Dr John Hall, Dean of Westminster welcomed over four hundred and fifty guests
from the House of Lords and House of Commons, the Diplomatic Corps, the Foreign
Commonwealth Office, the Home Office, and humanitarian and advocacy
organisations, various ecumenical and inter-religious guests, and members of
the Coptic Orthodox community in the United Kingdom.
After his welcome, His Eminence
Archbishop Angaelos, Coptic Orthodox Archbishop of London, thanked The Very
Reverend Dr John Hall for his support during his time as Dean of Westminster,
and wished him every blessing for the next stages of his ministry, presenting a
Coptic icon of St John the Beloved, on behalf of the Coptic Orthodox community
in Britain.
The traditional Coptic vespers service was
officiated by His Eminence Archbishop Angaelos, who delivered a sermon on the
theme of unity and solidarity, encouraging congregants to be light in darkness,
and unified in bringing hope to all, despite challenges faced.
Towards the end of the evening, addresses
were delivered by His Eminence Archbishop Nikitas, Greek Orthodox Archbishop of
Thyateira and Great Britain, His Excellency Tarek Adel, Ambassador of Egypt to
the United Kingdom, The Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon, Minister of State for the
Commonwealth and the United Nations, and Prime Minister’s Special
Representative on Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict, and The Viscount
Younger of Leckie, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State and Minister for
Faith and Communities.
The message from Her Majesty The Queen, read by The Rt Revd Jonathan Goodall, Bishop of Ebbsfleet, conveyed warm wishes to the clergy and congregation of the Coptic Orthodox
Church, as well as all in attendance; also honouring those who have made the
ultimate sacrifice for their Christian Faith. His Royal Highness The Prince of
Wales, also extended warm wishes to the Coptic Orthodox community in his
message read by The Right Reverend James Newcome DL, Bishop of Carlisle, offering heartfelt prayers for those who continue to face persecution
and suffering for their Faith.
The Archbishop
of Canterbury, in his message to the Coptic Orthodox community, presented by
The Right Reverend Christopher Chessun, Bishop of Southwark, said:
“It is my great pleasure to
send you greetings as you celebrate Nayrouz once again…At new year we look back
at the years past and forward to the years ahead. As we look back we remember
all those who have gone before us, not least those who have shed their blood as
martyrs for the faith. Those who go before make us what we are today.”
“May each one of us, united
in our faith in Jesus Christ, be the one who announces peace, salvation and the
Kingdom of God in his world.”
His Holiness
Pope Francis, in a message presented by His Excellency Archbishop Edward Joseph
Adams, Apostolic Nuncio, recalled the fraternal bond with His Holiness Pope
Tawadros II, Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of the See of St. Mark, and
offered warm wishes to the Coptic Orthodox community:
“Informed of this observance,
Pope Francis, in recalling the bond that united him with his dear brother His
Holiness Pope Tawadros II, addresses a special greeting to the Coptic Orthodox
Church, which has been able to give a true testimony of Faith and love even in
the most difficult moments.
Pope Francis takes this
opportunity of the beginning of the Coptic Year to express again his best
wishes for peace and health, together with gladness and appreciation of the
spiritual ties that unite the See of Peter with the See of Mark.”
His Eminence Archbishop
Angaelos, in his sermon, spoke of the reason for celebrating the Coptic New
Year in St Margaret’s Church, saying:
“The reason we come back to
this place every year, is so that we can gather together in prayer, but also
because this place, where it is situated, who it serves, and what it stands
for, is light in darkness.
We have seen so much turmoil
over the past few months, even years, yet it is only in places like this,
places of prayer, places of grace, places of unity and solidarity, that we are able
to shine light in darkness.”
Explaining the
meaning behind the Feast of Nayrouz, His Eminence continued:
“The Coptic Calendar begins in 284AD, the start of the reign of Emperor
Diocletian, to honour the hundreds of thousands, and some even estimate
millions, of Egyptian Christians who paid the ultimate price for their Christian
Faith, during his reign. Since then, Coptic Orthdox Christians have continued
to witness to their Faith in Egypt and around the world, often facing
challenges, with remarkable graciousness, patience, resilience, and
forgiveness.”
His Eminence
Archbishop Nikitas, began his address with a reminder of the significance of
reflecting on the past as well as looking forward to the future:
“It is important that we
recall that in ancient times faithful communities celebrated this as the
beginning of the New Year, to also remind ourselves to a commitment to change;
perhaps it is that ideal of a New Year resolution, to change our ways and our
lives and our hearts and to allow our ways of the past, our sins, to remain
there.”
“May this new year be the
year of grace, and joy and happiness and for the people of your communities
throughout the world, may the words of the Prophet King David be fulfilled, for
he said to God ‘You have changed my mourning into dancing’, and may there be no
mourning for the Coptic people and the Orthodox communities, but may they be
filled with righteousness, joy and even dancing, and dancing from this world to
the Kingdom of God.”
His Excellency Tarek
Adel, commended the Coptic Orthodox community for their courage and faith
during the reign of Emperor Diocletian, saying:
“We are indeed indebted to
the martyrs of Egypt, they shone as beacons of light and gave the people
strength and faith.”
His Excellency
went on to say:
“From this great place of
worship I want to stress that peace and harmony, and the most important thing,
coexistence, should be the guiding principle of any civilised society. We are
proud that Egypt has the largest Christian community in the Middle East, and we
intend to keep on working to create and enhance a conducive environment for all
Egyptians to prosper and reach their full potential regardless of their faith.
We also hope that those who insist on building walls, or spreading fear, will
come to understand that our only hope as humans is to live together in peace
and harmony.”
“I also take this opportunity
to convey the warm greetings of His Excellency Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, President
of Egypt.”
The Lord Ahmad
of Wimbledon spoke of the Coptic Orthodox Church’s official engagement in his
address, the importance of people of faith advocating for one another:
“For people of all faiths and
beliefs, marking the New Year is an opportunity both to look back and reflect,
but also to look forward with hope and optimism.”
“There are many people I wish
to thank, but perhaps none more so than His Eminence…He is not only a wise counsel
but very much in the truest sense a sincere friend.”
“I pay tribute to the many
selfless individuals around the world who continue to campaign for the
importance and priority of religious freedom, who inspire us with their own
example and courage. And everywhere I go I live by my own belief, of my own
faith, that surely the greatest test of our own faith is the conviction we show
in standing up for the faith or belief of others.”
The Viscount
Younger of Leckie, commended the Coptic Orthodox community in the United
Kingdom and echoed His Eminence Archbishop Angaelos in speaking strongly on
solidarity:
“It would be remiss of me not
to commend the exceptional contributions made by members of the British Coptic
Orthodox community, many of whom I know go to great lengths to support the most
vulnerable people in our society, including those threatened with homelessness.
Your acts speak to the incredible selflessness and ultraism of your community.
Such displays of kindness and generosity show Britain at its best and set an
example for us all to follow.”
“Your Eminence, you have
spoken with great passion and wisdom on the significance of solidarity and
friendship. The importance of renewing and strengthening those ties that bind
us together. This is a vision that I wholeheartedly endorse, we remain the
world’s most successful, multi-faith, multi-ethnic nation and London is the
world’s greatest, most diverse city. That is only really possible when we do
not take it for granted, and that is why it is important for all of us to ask
ourselves what more can I do to serve my community, to whom can I extend the
hand of friendship, how can I help a neighbour in need.”
The concluding words in the sermon of His Eminence
Archbishop Angaelos, encapsulated the overall ethos of the evening:
“At this time of great anxiety and uncertainty in many parts
of the world, as well as our own, it is both significant and important that we
gather this evening in prayer, from across the spectrum of the Church, faith,
belief, and the breadth of our community and stand as one in our ongoing
journey and relationship, and our commitment to one another.”
“We are an icon of what is it
to be one in our diversity. We are different and that difference projects the
beauty of God’s creation, and yet in that difference we must respect one
another, love one another, forgive one another, be reconciled to one another
and put ourselves aside for one another.”
“Tonight, as we gather, we
give thanks for this unity, we give thanks for this icon, we give thanks for
the life that we have, and we give thanks for the life we are promised even
beyond the grave.”
