Media and
Communications Office
Coptic Orthodox Church
United Kingdom
Press Release and Report
Messages
received from His Majesty King Charles III, The Archbishop of York, and The Prime
Minister at the 13th annual Nayrouz (Coptic New Year) Service at St
Margaret’s, Westminster Abbey
24
October 2025
Messages for the Coptic Orthodox Church and community, and His
Eminence Archbishop Angaelos OBE, Coptic Orthodox Archbishop of London and
Papal Legate to the United Kingdom were received from His Majesty King Charles
III, The Most Rev. and the Rt Hon. the Lord Archbishop of York, Stephen
Cottrell, and The Right Honourable Keir Starmer MP, Prime Minister, as the 13th anniversary
of the annual Nayrouz (Coptic New Year) Service was held in St Margaret’s,
Westminster Abbey on 23 October 2025.
The annual service officially marks the beginning of the Coptic New
Year, which is celebrated annually in the Coptic calendar on 11 September. The
event serves to celebrate new beginnings and life, while commemorating the
saints and martyrs of the Coptic Orthodox Church who, since the first century, made
the ultimate sacrifice and remained steadfast in their Faith. The commemoration
also allows the Coptic Orthodox community to use its heritage of experience
with religious persecution to advocate for people of all faiths and beliefs,
through Refcemi, its advocacy and public policy office, and to raise awareness
of the plight of so many across the world who suffer violations of religious
freedom.
The service
began with vespers prayers which included a sermon by His Eminence Archbishop
Angaelos, and was followed by messages and addresses.
In his sermon,
His Eminence Archbishop Angaelos, Founder and Director of Refcemi said:
“This year has brought global successes and failures. We have had
things to rejoice in and things to lament, and what we know, and the reason we
are here, is that individually, as people, as institutions, as faith groups, we
can do nothing on our own, and the fact that we are gathered here today in a spirit
of peaceful partnership and collaboration is in and of itself a form of action.
In the Epistle to the Galatians 5:13, we read, “For you, brethren, have been
called to liberty…through love serve one another.” What we have learned during the course of this
year is that when we serve one another, when we love one another, when we are
reconciled with one another, when we sacrifice for one another, that is where
we see the true fruits of our fellowship.”
His Eminence went
on to speak about the 1700th anniversary of the Council of Nicaea:
“This year we mark the 1700th anniversary of the Council
of Nicaea, when the Church came together because the Faith was challenged. The
response to the challenge was not to take up arms or to fight or kill, but to
pray, deliberate, decide, and then to provide a formula that we use until today,
and that is the Nicene Creed. This was a proclamation of faith that has lasted
1700 years, and despite the small differences between our representations of
the Christian family, it is something we all stand side by side on, that we can
all recite together, and can all proclaim as a foundation for our Faith. The
Creed remains a unifying force and continues to be central to our Faith and
worship.”
He concluded by
saying:
“We are gathered here today, not addressing a heresy or formulating
a creed, but our gathering today will be spoken of beyond these walls. Our
unity, our cooperation, our reconciliation, our working and standing and
speaking for one another will continue beyond this night and will continue
beyond this place.”
The message
from His Majesty King Charles III was read by The Rt Rev. the Lord Bishop of
Southwark, Christopher Chessun, House of Lords, and read:
“Now, and in some ways more than ever, our world is in need of
ongoing efforts that promote the peaceful coming together of people from all
walks of life. I deeply value the continuing service of the Coptic Orthodox
community in the United Kingdom, which continues to gather people in a spirit
of peace, partnership and solidarity.
This year, as the Christian Church around the world marks the 1700th
anniversary of the historic Council of Nicaea, it is especially good to know
that your ecumenical service, within the precincts of Westminster Abbey,
gathers people in a spirit of hope and prayer.
As you remember the countless members of your community who have,
over the years, witnessed to their Christian Faith in the most challenging of
circumstances, I wish every blessing to the Coptic Orthodox Church community
here in Britain and across the world for this new year.”
The message
from The Most Rev. and the Rt Hon. the Lord Archbishop of York, Stephen
Cottrell was read by The Right Reverend Anthony Poggo, Secretary General of the
Anglican Communion:
“This Feast,
marking the Coptic New Year and the memory of the martyrs, reminds us that the
Church is ever renewed through witness – through faith, hope, and love that
endure in the face of suffering. Your ancient tradition continues to bear
powerful testimony to the life-giving presence of Christ, the true light that
shines both in Egypt and throughout the world.”
“Only a day later, from 24 to 28 October, theologians and Church
leaders will gather near Alexandria to commemorate the Council of Nicaea (325).
The Coptic Orthodox Church traces its roots directly to the ancient Church of
Alexandria, and the Patriarch of Alexandria, St Athanasius the Great, was a
chief theological architect of the Nicene definition of faith and a steadfast
defender of Christian Orthodoxy. We therefore join with you in spirit as you
give thanks for the past and trust in God’s providence for the year ahead. May
this service be a celebration and a foretaste of that new day and the new
creation in Christ – the One who makes all things new (Rev 21:5).”
The Right Honourable Keir Starmer MP, Prime Minister included the
following in his message, which was read by The Lord Rook OBE:
“Amid the joy
and new beginnings, I am deeply conscious that you will have in your minds and
prayers those who continue to experience suffering and persecution on account
of their faith. People of all faiths and none should be free to peacefully
express their religion or beliefs and live without fear of harassment or
oppression.”
Acknowledging the role of the Coptic Orthodox Church in the United
Kingdom, The Prime Minister said:
“Thank you for
the contribution you make to communities across the UK.”
The Lord Rook OBE, Member of the House of Lords, said in his
address:
“As one of the
oldest and most steadfast branches of the Christian family, your witness has
shone bright through all the ages and lightens our lives today. From the
preaching of St Mark in Alexandria, through the wisdom of the Desert Fathers
and mothers, to the long story of endurance and renewal, you have given a
testimony of Faith under pressure. A Faith that endures not through status, but
through service. A Faith that is conquered not through conquest, but through
hope, patience and love. At a time when Christianity is too easily co-opted by
some, seeking to divide and conquer, disrupt and rule, you have stood firm,
refusing to compromise and ready to pay the price. Nayrouz, the feature of the
Feast of the Martyrs, reminds us all that real renewal does not come from
political manifestos or successful election campaigns. It springs from
sacrifice and service.
He concluded by saying:
I will never
forget the first time when an African church leader told me that the blood of
the martyrs had fertilised the seed of his church. Sadly, but ultimately
victoriously and joyfully, the Coptic Orthodox Church can provide almost 2
millennia of testimonies to this timeless truth. Here in Britain, the Coptic
Orthodox community is a blessing to us all. Your parishes are places of
hospitality and prayer. Your youth work and charitable services strengthen
local communities. Your witness enriches the tapestry of British Christianity.
In a society that too easily forgets its spiritual roots, the Coptic Church
reminds us of what it means to follow Christ and your presence calls us to be a
more Christian country. This is nowhere more evident than in your commitment to
promote and protect the rights of all human beings to practice religion or
belief.”
Bishop Philip Mounstephen, The Rt Rev the Lord Bishop of
Winchester, House of Lords, said in his address:
“The Coptic
Orthodox Church represents, by some very considerable margin, the largest
Christian presence in the Middle East, and an honoured part of Egyptian
society. Egypt represents therefore a healthy plurality which is surely
essential if that region is to have any lasting peace. As tonight witnesses,
the Coptic Orthodox Church is here, in England, in the United Kingdom. Its
presence here, quite literally, brings both the reality of persecution and of
that vibrant Faith home to the rest of us.”
Bishop Philip concluded by speaking about the Council of Nicaea:
“In this year
in which we remember that critical landmark moment in the Church’s history, the
Council of Nicaea, we rejoice in our common Faith in Jesus Christ: of one being
with the Father. A Faith that binds us
together and reminds us that when one part of the body suffers, the whole body
suffers, and when one part rejoices, the whole body rejoices, and that
belonging together, united by our common Faith in Jesus, reminds me of
something else. In polarised times, when migration has become such an issue, I
want to say unequivocally that I thank God from the bottom of my heart for the
presence in this country of brothers and sisters and other friends who trace
their history and heritage from elsewhere in the world. How much poorer the
Church in this country would be without that astonishing gift of God, in which
I rejoice.”
His Excellency Ambassador Ashraf Swelam, Ambassador of the United
Arab Republic of Egypt to the Court of Saint James, said in his address:
“His Eminence
and other speakers talked about Nayrouz being the celebration of martyrdom, the
sacrifices for the right causes, obviously, and this is something that this Church
and our country has done over and over again. In the face of hardship, we have
always chosen hope. In the face of division, we have always chosen unity. In
the face of pain, we have always chosen the difficult but powerful path of
forgiveness.
These choices
demand immense strength, vision, humility, and a deep belief in the dignity of
every human being. Nayrouz is not only an opportunity to look back, as his
Eminence said, it's also a moment of looking forward with hope. Just as the
martyrs stood firm in their trials, we are encouraged to face our own
struggles, with courage and faith in God. It's a call to renewal, repentance,
and spiritual growth at the start of a new year.”
His Excellency Iván Romero-MartÃnez, Ambassador of Honduras to the
Court of Saint James, Dean of the Diplomatic Corps, said in his address:
“It is an
honour to join you on this special occasion to mark the Coptic Feast of
Nayrouz, a celebration that carries a message of renewal, faith and hope.
Tonight, we also honour the resilience of a community whose history is deeply
marked by fortitude in the face of persecution, and whose testimony continues
to inspire the world.
His
Excellency concluded by saying:
“This is why
gatherings like this one are so meaningful. They remind us that diversity is a
strength, a bridge that brings us closer to one another. The Coptic Orthodox
Church, with its profound heritage and unwavering Faith, stands as a beacon of
courage and perseverance.
Yet, around the
world, millions of people still face persecution, discrimination, and violence
simply because of their beliefs. It is our shared responsibility ---
governments, civil society, and faith communities, to defend this fundamental
right. When we stand together, we affirm that intolerance has no place in our
societies.”
Bishop Mike Royal, General Secretary of Churches Together in
England said in his address:
“This gathering
has particular ecumenical significance at a time when we are celebrating 1700
years since the Council of Nicaea and the subsequent Nicene Creed. It was a
great joy to witness His Eminence Archbishop Angaelos together with Archbishop Bernard
Longley, from the Catholic Archdiocese of Birmingham, and Archbishop Rowan
Williams, the former Archbishop of Canterbury, in dialogue about the Nicene Creed
on BBC Songs of Praise this week.
I want to take
this opportunity to thank Archbishop Angaelos for the significant ecumenical
contribution he and the wider Coptic Orthodox Church family makes to the
churches within Churches Together in England. We are inspired by the ongoing
affirmation of Orthodox Christology that your Church brings to our Nation.
The centrality
of the Nicene Creed recited in Coptic Orthodox Churches each week is a reminder
that as we are faithful to God, God in his mercy and grace is also faithful to
us His people.
It was St
Athanasius of Alexandra who at Nicaea defended the truth about Jesus Christ,
who helped preserve the integrity of the Christian Faith we hold so dear today.
The Faith we are called to deliver to the saints.”
As is custom, reflecting the tapestry of cultural heritage in the
United Kingdom, attendees to this year’s Nayrouz service included Members of
the House of Lords and House of Commons, the Diplomatic Corps, the Foreign,
Commonwealth and Development Office, the Home Office, humanitarian and advocacy
organisations, ecumenical and interreligious guests, as well as members of the
Coptic Orthodox community and clergy in the United Kingdom.
His Eminence Archbishop Angaelos concluded the service by thanking
his team and volunteers for their efforts. He also delivered a call to action
which echoed his final statement in his sermon:
“I close with a
verse from the Book of Micah 6:8 that many of you will be familiar with: “And
what does the Lord require of you but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk
humbly with your God.” We must work towards justice, and towards mercy in a
spirit of humility. So today, and until we meet again, let us continue to
commit ourselves to this new beginning, friendship, partnership, blessing. A
partnership that focuses on justice, that fights for mercy, and that
exemplifies humility as we walk together with and for one another.”
*Ends*
Resources
Photographs from the event are available on the Gallery via www.ServingLondon.com
Watch the BBC Songs of Praise special on the 1700th
Anniversary of the Nicene Creed on BBC Iplayer: https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m002l5wl/songs-of-praise-1700-years-of-the-nicene-creed
Refcemi, Coptic Orthodox Office for Advocacy and Public
Policy www.Refcemi.org
Archbishop Angaelos on X @BishopAngaelos
Press Releases and Statements can be found via www.CopticMediaUK.com
