Coptic Orthodox Memorial Service

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How quickly the focus of the news passes on from one massacre to another. By the time I had attended a memorial yesterday for the Coptic Christians killed in Alexandria, the media was full of the shooting in Tuczon, Arizona.

It seems most likely that that shooting will be judged the result of a single, unstable individual but is already generating much discussion about the health of American society and politics. That would seem to be the only connection with the situation in Egypt where it is the attitude on the part of some to the country's small Coptic Orthodox population which is the issue.


The memorial service, which followed the rite of a funeral liturgy, was not only for those killed on New Year's eve but for others killed during 2010 in Nag-Hammadi and Giza. The situation seems to be deteriorating but it led to Bishop Aengelos reminding us in his address that Christians have no enemies. It seems a strange comment but what he meant was that Christians should not see others as enemies even when others may see us as such. It struck me that to make such an interpretation only really becomes possible when we are in a situation of persecution and we have to deal in a hard way with Jesus' command to love our enemies.

The Copts were deeply grateful for all those who came to support them at such short notice and the names of everyone there as representatives were read out.

The existence of the Coptic Orthodox centre and its very modern Cathedral of St George on the edge of Stevenage, is a hidden treasure but more than that, so is the existence of the Coptic tradition within the world church and community and we should continue to support and pray for them.

'Let us give thanks to the Beneficent and  Merciful God, the Father of our Lord, God and Saviour Jesus Christ. For He has covered us, helped us, guarded us, accepted us to Himself. Spared us, supported us and has brought us to this hour. Let us also ask Him, the Lord our God, the Pantocrator, to guard us in all peace this holy day and all the days of our life.' 
(From the opening of the liturgy)
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