PRESS
RELEASE
For
immediate use
11
September 2013
Coptic
Orthodox Church UK
Media
and Communications Office
Coptic
Orthodox Church (Europe)
Media
and Communications Office
The
Coptic Orthodox Church in the United Kingdom celebrated the Feast of Nayrouz,
marking the new Coptic Year in St Margaret’s Church, Westminster Abbey on 10
September 2013, with messages from Her Majesty the Queen and His Grace the Archbishop
of Canterbury, and addresses by members of both Houses of Parliament.
The service was attended
by members of the House of Lords and the House of Commons as well as heads and
representatives of numerous Christian churches and denominations, and
inter-religious governmental and non-governmental organisations as well as
members of the Coptic community.
The Revd Canon Andrew
Tremlett, Canon of Westminster and Rector of St Margaret’s church welcomed all
on behalf of the Dean and Chapter of Westminster Abbey, and a message from the
Most Reverend Justin Welby, Archbishop of Canterbury was read by The Rt Revd Dr
Geoffrey Rowell, Bishop of Gibraltar in Europe.
A message from Her
Majesty The Queen was read by The Countess of Verulam, Lord Lieutenant of Hertfordshire,
who said:
“I send my warmest wishes to you all for
a most memorable service to mark the new Coptic Year.”
During the service, His
Grace Bishop Angaelos, General Bishop of The Coptic Orthodox Church in the
United Kingdom, addressed the need for newness and reconciliation in Egypt and
the Middle East, also touching on matters in Syria, saying:
“We are a reality in each other’s
lives, and we are a beautiful reality. The diversity of who we are is a
testimony to the creative sovereignty of God and so we, in gracious obedience
to that sovereignty, must be reconciled and accept one another on grounds that
we heard in today’s Gospel[1],
in freedom for all, a freedom of faith, religion, expression, and a freedom of
life. So we must move forward leaving that which is defiled behind if we are
going to make a fresh start.”
At the end of the
service there were addresses from Baroness Cox of Queensbury, the Rt Hon
Alistair Burt, Parliamentary Undersecretary of State for Foreign Affairs, and the
Rt Hon John Bercow, speaker of the House of Commons.
*Ends*
Resources:
Photographs from the
event are available via http://on.fb.me/16kCKQZ
Transcript of address by HG Bishop Angaelos available via http://bit.ly/1bbhroC
Address by HG Bishop Angaelos (audio) available here
Transcript of address by HG Bishop Angaelos available via http://bit.ly/1bbhroC
Address by HG Bishop Angaelos (audio) available here
