Press Release: Bishop Angaelos contributes to migration crisis debate during Church of England General Synod 2015

Press Release: Bishop Angaelos contributes to migration crisis debate during Church of England General Synod 2015

25 November 2015

Addressing the situation facing Christians in the Middle East, His Grace Bishop Angaelos, General Bishop of the Coptic Orthodox Church in the United Kingdom, called for continued ecumenical and inter-religious collaboration in response to the complex crisis facing refugees.

Speaking of the crisis as an opportunity for Christians and the Church to act, Bishop Angaelos said:

“We are a united Body of Christ, there is no Church of the East and Church of the West; it is one Body and it suffers equally, and so we need to approach this matter collaboratively. These are, after all, vulnerable people, not merely statistics. We also extend this voice of advocacy to non-Christians, as we cannot just look after 'our own'.”

He went on to say:

“This situation does however present a wonderful opportunity, because there is no greater place for light than in the most abject darkness; so we are here as that light and that hope…We are not here to worry or fear, but to think how we can collaborate. Taking inspiration from Saint Francis, we must work to be the living scripture before all.”

Photo by Geoff Crawford

Reassuring members of the Synod that the crisis is not theirs alone to respond to, Bishop Angaelos concluded by saying:

“We need to collaborate ecumenically as this is not a problem for just the Church of England, but the Church IN England. We are here to work together as Churches with our networks in the United Kingdom and in the Middle East.”

Bishop Angaelos went on to say:

“We must also remember to support our inter-religious friends when they speak out powerfully, as they too become targets.”

He concluded by saying:

“I am thankful for my presence here ecumenically and I see myself as a voice in and a voice out. As a voice in I bring you the voices of the Middle East Church leaders both here in the United Kingdom and across the Middle East who value your support. As a voice out I will present the sentiments that I have felt personally in this chamber that their brothers and sisters here want to support them in every way, and in the words of Revelation 1:9 we do indeed “share with you in Jesus the persecution and the kingdom and the patient endurance”.

Following his contribution, The Most Revd and Rt Hon Justin Welby, Archbishop of Canterbury, urged Synod to:

“Listen carefully to the powerful words of Bishop Angaelos and his colleagues from that part of the world that the ideal situation is not simply, as one of them put it, to create a drain for the people of those countries to escape, but create the means by which they can stay in prosperity, in flourishing and in safety”.

During his contribution, Bishop Angaelos commended the work of many within the Church of England including the Archbishops of Canterbury and York, and the Bishops of Durham and Croydon for their continued efforts in responding to the crisis and raising awareness to it. Among others, His Grace also acknowledged the contribution of His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales, the Prime Minister, the Rt Hon Baroness Anelay, Minister for the MENA region Tobias Elwood, and the newly-appointed Parliamentary Under Secretary of State, Richard Harrington MP.

This debate came on the second day of Synod, following its inauguration by Her Majesty The Queen on 24 November 2015.

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Resources:

• Submission by HG Bishop Angaelos to the International Development Committee’s inquiry into the Government’s response to the Syrian Refugee crisis HERE
• Statements and comments by HG Bishop Angaelos regarding the refugee crisis via www.CopticMediaUK.com

HRH The Prince of Wales and The Archbishop of Canterbury support appeal for families of those brutally murdered in Libya

Press Release
For immediate use

6 March 2015

Coptic Orthodox Church UK

Media and Communications Office

Coptic Orthodox Church (Europe) 

Media and Communications Office

His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales and His Grace the Archbishop of Canterbury offer their support for the ‘When Left Behind’ appeal launched by His Grace Bishop Angaelos for the families of Coptic Christians brutally murdered in Libya in February 2015

6 March 2015

His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales wrote personal letters of condolence to His Holiness Pope Tawadros II, Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of the See of St Mark, and His Grace Bishop Angaelos, General Bishop of the Coptic Orthodox Church in the United Kingdom following the brutal murder of 21 Coptic Christians in Libya and subsequently made a generous contribution towards the #WhenLeftBehind appeal, which will support the families in Egypt of those murdered in Libya. The Prince of Wales has continuously expressed his concern regarding the current challenges facing Christians in some Middle-Eastern nations and visited the Coptic Orthodox Church Centre in Stevenage in December 2013.

The Most Revd Justin Welby, Archbishop of Canterbury also offered his condolences to Bishop Angaelos during his personal visit to the Coptic Orthodox Church Centre on 19 February 2015, and endorsed the appeal with a video message. The full appeal video can be seen HERE.

Bishop Angaelos launched the 'When Left Behind' appeal at a memorial service in London on 18 February 2015, where he 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.”

Bishop Angaelos invites 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. I am thankful to His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales, His Grace The Archbishop of Canterbury, the Right Honourable David Cameron and so many more who have already expressed their support and solidarity with the families who are left behind and with the Coptic faithful around the world.”

DONATE via www.JustGiving.com/WhenLeftBehind or TEXT ‘COPT21 £(amount)’ to 70070.

More information via @WhenLeftBehind and www.CopticMediaUK.com and www.CopticCentre.com

The names of the young men killed in Libya are:

1. Milad Makeen Zaky
2. Abanub Ayad Atiya
3. Maged Soliman Shehata
4. Youssef Shukry Younan
5. Kirollos Boshra Fawzy
6. Bishoy Astafanous Kamel
7. Samuel Astafanous Kamel
8. Malak Ibrahim Sinyout
9. Tawadros Youssef Tawadros
10. Gerges Milad Sinyout
11. Mina Fayez Aziz
12. Hany Abdel Mesih Salib
13. Samuel Alham Wilson
14. Ezzat Boshra Naseef
15. Luka Nagaty Anis
16. Gaber Mounir Adly
17. Essam Baddar Samir
18. Malak Farag Abrahim
19. Sameh Salah Farouk
20. Gerges Samir Megally
21. Mathew Ayairga (from Ghana)

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

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Press Release: His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales visits The Coptic Orthodox Church Centre UK accompanied by His Royal Highness Prince Ghazi bin Muhammad of Jordan.

Press Release

For immediate use

17 December 2013

Coptic Orthodox Church UK

Media and Communications Office

Coptic Orthodox Church (Europe)

Media and Communications Office

His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales visited The Coptic Orthodox Church Centre in the United Kingdom on 17 December 2013 after expressing concern about the current challenges facing Christians in some Middle-Eastern nations, and to meet members of those communities resident in the United Kingdom. His Royal Highness was accompanied by His Royal Highness Prince Ghazi bin Muhammad of Jordan.

During this historic visit, HRH The Prince of Wales and HRH Prince Ghazi were received at The Centre by His Grace Bishop Angaelos, General Bishop of the Coptic Orthodox Church in the United Kingdom, with numerous official, government, ecumenical, and interreligious guests, along with members of the Coptic Orthodox clergy and community.

The visit began with a traditional prayer service, followed by a showcase of the vast number of ministries and strands of services operating under the umbrella of the Coptic Orthodox Church in the United Kingdom including, among others, benevolent work, relief and development, advocacy, youth ministry and inter-religious and ecumenical relations.

Following this, Bishop Angaelos presented two Coptic icons to Their Royal Highnesses, with an icon of Saint George gifted to The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and His Royal Highness Prince George.

During the course of the visit there was a private meeting held to discuss the current situation in Egypt and the Middle East and contributions that could be made to offer viable solutions for those affected in the region. This was followed by afternoon tea in Shephalbury Manor during which the Prince of Wales unveiled a commemorative plaque marking the visit, and signed the official guestbook.

Commenting on the visit, Bishop Angaelos said:

"I am thankful for the visit of His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales to our Coptic Orthodox community here today, as it celebrates its presence in, and contribution to the United Kingdom, and sheds light on the increasing struggles facing Christians in the Middle East, the birthplace of Christianity. I am also appreciative of Prince Ghazi’s visit.

As we approach the Feast of the Nativity, we are also reminded that this is a time in which many in the Middle East are affected by war and conflict, but as His Royal Highness highlighted today, Christians in the region remain resilient and faithful despite the challenges faced.

With respect to Egypt, despite numerous attacks on their loyalty, Christians continue to be an integral and stabilising component of their society and have responded graciously to continued and escalating attacks, proving their commitment to a legitimate process of change.

Believing that there is always hope, we pray for this spirit of collaboration and cooperation to be a springboard to greater advocacy for, and representation of, those who do not have opportunities for their own voices to be heard, but rather rely on us to amplify those voices."

Addressing the Coptic community, His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales said:

"Today I just wanted to join you to express my deepest concern and deepest sympathies and solidarity with all of you because I know you will have relations in Egypt and all I can tell you is that we pray with all our heart for their safety and for their continuation in a country where Coptic Christians have played such a vital part for hundreds and hundreds of years.

They often build bridges between different groups and religions, and if I may say so I have been so full of admiration and respect for the way in which the Coptic Christians have been so full of forbearance and longsuffering that is quite remarkable, and the lack of retaliation even more remarkable. And for that, I think we owe all of you a remarkable debt, not only gratitude, but respect for living out your Christian Faith in the way that you do."

Overall, the visit highlighted Coptic Orthodox presence in the United Kingdom, and the challenges facing Christians in the Middle East, showcasing their immense contribution to their communities as active citizens of their respective countries.

The service was attended by The Lord Lieutenant of Hertfordshire, The Countess of Verulam, The Lord Bishop of London, The Right Reverent and Right Honourable Richard Chartres, The Bishop of St Albans, members of the House of Lords and the House of Commons, heads and representatives of numerous Christian Churches and denominations, as well as inter-religious guests, and representatives of governmental and non-governmental organisations.

Following the visit is a reception at Clarence House where Their Royal Highnesses will be joined by guests representing Christians from Egypt, including Bishop Angaelos, as well as from Syria, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Turkey, Palestine and Israel.

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For more information about The Prince of Wales please visit www.princeofwales.gov.uk