Coptic Orthodox Church UK
Media and Communications Office
Coptic Orthodox Church (Europe)
Media and Communications Office
The Archbishop of Canterbury and
Ambassador of Egypt join HG Bishop Angaelos in prayers at The Innocent Victims’
Memorial at Westminster Abbey, for victims of the Cairo Church Bombing
14 December 2016
The Most
Revd Justin Welby, Archbishop of Canterbury, and His Excellency Mr Nasser
Kamel, Ambassador of Egypt to the UK & NI, spoke at a prayer vigil
alongside His Grace Bishop Angaelos, General Bishop of the Coptic Orthodox
Church in the United Kingdom, at the Innocent Victims’ Memorial, Westminster
Abbey.
The vigil
was held on 14 December 2016 in honour of the 25 Coptic Orthodox Christians,
mostly women and children, who lost their lives in the recent tragic bombing of
St Peter’s Coptic Orthodox Church in Cairo. Present at the memorial were
various faith leaders, ambassadors, ecumenical guests, members of NGOs and the
Coptic Orthodox community in the United Kingdom.
The
Reverend Jane Sinclair, Canon in Residence, welcomed all to the vigil,
which began with a communal prayer of thanksgiving, followed by a Scripture
reading, and addresses from HG Bishop Angaelos, HG The Archbishop of Canterbury
and HE The Ambassador of Egypt. After the speeches there was a prayer for the
departed, during which their names were read aloud as 25 red roses were laid
onto the Innocent Victims’ Memorial in between 25 lit candles, representing the
blood that they shed for their faith, and the light that they will continue to
represent in the memory of many around the world.
In his
address during the vigil, Bishop Angaelos thanked Canon Sinclair, the Dean and
Chapter of Westminster, the Archbishop of Canterbury and the Ambassador of
Egypt, going on to thank all who attended, saying:
“It is deeply moving for myself
and our community that all of you gathered here today have done so at such
short notice. It is a shame that it takes events like these to gather us, but
the fact that we do gather means that there is significantly greater good than
evil in this world.
It is tragic that families have
been broken apart just before the celebration of the Feast of the Nativity, and
I can only begin to imagine their sorrow. While we pray for the families and
support them pastorally in whatever way we can, we know that the loss of a
loved one is something that only God can truly comfort at this time through His
grace. I am personally moved that my sisters and brothers, continue, despite
their suffering, to live with dignity, integrity, resilience, love and
forgiveness, demonstrated through their genuine Christian witness.
People are indeed surprised when
we speak of forgiveness at times like this, but we are called to forgive and we
must continue to do so. Of course there is a call for justice but never for
vengeance…reconciliation but never carelessness. In our unity as the Body of
Christ, the family of faith, and the global family, we must continue to
advocate for and safeguard the dignity and sanctity of every life. The
importance of our mission and our ministry here as God’s children, is to
continue, like these candles to be light in darkness.”
In
responding to the tragic events in Cairo, the Archbishop of Canterbury said:
“We pray for all those who have
lost loved ones that they may know God’s comforting presence, and for the
nation of Egypt as it mourns. As we prepare to celebrate the coming of Christ,
the Prince of Peace, our prayer is that in Egypt Muslims and Christians
together may be strengthened in their quest for peace and their rejection of
the crude and cruel tactics of the terrorists.”
His
Excellency The Ambassador of Egypt, said:
“Despite this moment of sorrow, the people of Egypt remain united against ignorance, intolerance and extremism. These heinous crimes that aim to undermine the unity of the Egyptian people, regardless of their religious affiliation, will never succeed, nor will the bonds that tie its religious establishments ever be broken. Peace and harmony have always prevailed in Egypt.
Let me remind you - as we also approach the Nativity celebrations - that the Virgin Mary, after giving birth to Jesus Christ, sought refuge in Egypt to protect her newborn from tyranny and intolerance."
*Ends*