10 February 2017
His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales
has made a donation towards the community work of the St Pachomius and El
Gidiseen Coptic Orthodox monasteries in Upper Egypt. Both monasteries carry out
projects that benefit Christians and Muslims within their respective communities,
and have done so for centuries.
Monasticism was established in the 4th
centuries in Egypt and since then monasteries have been an intrinsic part of
Egyptian culture, both in their desert and rural settings. Their work is in
areas of health and social welfare, irrespective of religion, faith, gender or
any affiliation.”
In response to the contribution made, His Grace Bishop Angaelos, General
Bishop of the Coptic Orthodox Church in the United Kingdom, said:
“We are
very thankful for the continuing support of His Royal Highness. This is indeed
a recognition of the role of the Christian communities working in Egypt within
their indigenous settings; it is also a recognition of the rich monastic
tradition that the Egyptian deserts have shared with the whole world over the
past 1500 years.
The
grant recognises that faith communities, if working in a healthy way within
their urban or rural settings, can still make a contribution and have a very
positive effect, even amongst the conflict that still exists in some places.”
*Ends*
