Thursday 19 February 2015

Launch of appeal for families of Coptic Christians brutally murdered in Libya


Coptic Orthodox Church UK
Media and Communications Office

Coptic Orthodox Church (Europe)
                                   Media and Communications Office



Launch of ‘When Left Behind’ appeal for the families of Coptic Christians brutally murdered in Libya in February 2015.

19 February 2015
His Grace Bishop Angaelos General Bishop of the Coptic Orthodox Church in the United Kingdom launched the #WhenLeftBehind appeal for the families of those brutally murdered in Libya at a memorial service in St Mark’s Coptic Orthodox Church, Kensington on 18 February 2015.
The service, led by Bishop Angaelos, was attended by clergy and congregation from the Coptic Orthodox community across the United Kingdom as well as His Excellency Mr Nasser Kamel the Ambassador of Egypt, the Consul General Dr Hesham Khalil, and numerous official and ecumenical guests.
During his sermon, Bishop Angaelos spoke of the immense courage, strength and dignity shown by those who lost their lives in Libya, saying:
“As we mourn with the families of those who died we also rejoice in the faithful conviction, strength, dignity and bravery of these men; these fathers, brothers, uncles and sons who will never be forgotten.”
At the end of the service, Bishop Angaelos expressed his thanks to the British Prime Minister, The Right Honourable David Cameron, and the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, The Right Honourable Eric Pickles, for their personal calls expressing their condolences. He also thanked the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Most Reverend Justin Welby for his personal visit to the Coptic Orthodox Church Centre in the United Kingdom earlier that day to express his support, and His Eminence the Cardinal of Westminster, Vincent Nichols for his personal message of condolence.
Bishop Angaelos also thanked all those who expressed their support and solidarity with the Coptic community over the past week, and invited all to contribute to the ‘When Left Behind’ appeal, saying:
“These young men were bread winners for their families and their loss will not only rob them of the joy of their presence but will leave a significant financial void in an already impoverished community.”
DONATE via www.JustGiving.com/CopticOrthodoxChurch or TEXT ‘COPT21 £(amount)’ to 70070.
The names of the young men killed in Libya are:
  1. Milad Makeen Zaky
  2. Abanub Ayad Atiya
  3. Maged Solaiman Shehata
  4. Yusuf Shukry Yunan
  5. Kirollos Shokry Fawzy
  6. Bishoy Astafanus Kamel
  7. Somaily Astafanus Kamel
  8. Malak Ibrahim Sinweet
  9. Tawadros Yusuf Tawadros
  10. Girgis Milad Sinweet
  11. Mina Fayez Aziz
  12. Hany Abdelmesih Salib
  13. Bishoy Adel Khalaf
  14. Samuel Alham Wilson
  15. Worker from Awr village
  16. Ezat Bishri Naseef
  17. Loqa Nagaty
  18. Gaber Munir Adly
  19. Esam Badir Samir
  20. Malak Farag Abram
  21. Sameh Salah Faruq

For more information about the appeal please contact
Advocacy@CopticCentre.com

*Ends*