We are not a 'Nation of the Cross'

Article by His Grace Bishop Angaelos

General Bishop of the Coptic Orthodox Church

in the United Kingdom

This week we celebrate the Feast of the Cross, remembering the ultimate sacrifice of our Lord Jesus Christ for all humanity. The Cross is a symbol that best exemplifies the paradox of Christianity as it demonstrates strength in apparent weakness and victory in apparent defeat. As Christians, we are therefore called to imitate the selflessness and humility demonstrated on the Cross by our Lord Jesus Christ, not only for our own sake but for the benefit of all those we encounter. 

Following from this, what has caused me great concern is the recent use of the phrase ‘I am of the Nation of the Cross’ on social media, in response to the brutal murder of 21 Coptic Christians in Libya. While many are innocently using this terminology to identify with the bravery and sacrifice of these men, as Christians it is essential that we understand that there is no room for the concept of ‘a nation of the Cross’ within Christianity as our nation is not of this world “for here we have no continuing city, but we seek the one to come” (Hebrews 13:14).

In the video that shows the martyrdom of these faithful men, one that I personally could not watch in its entirety due to the sheer brutality and degradation of humanity presented, the perpetrators of this heinous crime claimed to carry it out as a way of sending a message to the ‘people and nation of the cross.' While it is understandable that many are responding to this in an act of defiance and solidarity by using the Cross as a profile on social media, association with the concept of the ‘nation of the Cross’ is in actual fact problematic, and even detrimental. We do of course associate ourselves with the Cross as it is central to who we are, as demonstrated in the words of Saint Paul “God forbid that [we] should boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus” (Galatians 6:14), but the concept of ‘nation of the cross’ bears many negative implications and is contrary to Christian teaching and understanding.

As Christians, we have everlasting life and the kingdom of God as our concept of nation, as our desire and our goal. We must therefore not use terminology superimposed onto us as our identity because it implies that as a ‘nation of the Cross’ we separate ourselves from the rest of humanity. As Christians, we are gathered as the Body of Christ, but do not see ourselves as separate from the rest of humanity; on the contrary, are called to be in the world as ambassadors and stewards “You are the light of the world…Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven. (Matthew 5:14-16).

To "take up our Cross and follow Christ" (Luke 9:23) is different to declaring ourselves a nation with the Cross as its flag. The Cross was never meant to be a symbol of triumphalism but rather, one of sacrifice and humility, which we as the Body of Christ must emulate “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me” (Luke 9:23).

The implication of this divisive terminology is that we as a ‘nation’ of Christians are at war and at enmity with the ‘nation (Uma) of Islam’, which is of course not the case, and we must not be coerced into a state of enmity; as Christians we have no enemies as we are called to love all equally “…love your neighbour as yourself" (Matthew 22:39). Even if others consider themselves our enemies and chose to ‘spitefully use and persecute [us]’ (Matthew 5:44), we are called to love and forgive even to the end, which has been demonstrated clearly in the response to the execution of these 21 martyrs in Libya as well as in many other similar instances in the past and contemporary history of Christianity.

For this reason, we must not naively adopt an identity or be guided by a philosophy forced upon us and not our own, because it is based on a skewed understanding of Christianity and what the Cross represents. We must always remember that in Christian teaching, the Cross is only a step along a journey which finds its fullness in the Resurrection and so our focus on the Cross can never be in isolation from our hope and joy in the Resurrection. 

As Christians, we are called to set ourselves apart in terms of conduct, and to live faithfully, selflessly and with humility, seeking the power of the Resurrection as demonstrated by these 21 courageous men in Libya, remembering that while we "glory in the cross," (Galatians 6:14) "we have been united together in the likeness of His death, [and] certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection” (Romans 6:5).

Related material:

•  How do we define ourselves – Sermon by HG Bishop Angaelos
• Statement by HG Bishop Angaelos following the brutal murder of 21 Coptic Christians in Libya

Revive 2014 - Hidden Treasures

"You therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. And the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also. You therefore must endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ." 2 Timothy 2:1-3

Revive 2014 ‘Hidden Treasures’ (22-24 August) was yet again another unforgettable and epic weekend of fellowship and joy! With youth aged 14-21 split up into four age-specific groups, the ‘traditions’ and ‘Traditions’ of the Coptic Orthodox Church were unpacked and explored, and the theme sought to reveal the beauty of Orthodoxy, the Church  and its heritage. His Grace Bishop Angaelos spoke to us about the Church being a means to an end, not an end in itself. He spoke of the Church as a vehicle for us all to become, and guide one another closer to God in our words, actions and lifestyle.  There was a variety of things for people of all ages to engage with, including a variety of sessions, vespers, Tasbeha, contemporary worship, and of course the Liturgy on Sunday morning. The activities were also great fun, with obstacle courses, basketball, volleyball, and the beloved bonfire on Saturday night. All in all it was a wonderful experience, but you do not need to take our word for it; read below to hear what a couple of youth have to say about Revive2014, and we hope to see you next year!

Veronica Amin, from Saint Mary and Saint Shenouda
I would like to take a minute to say thank you to Sayedna, all the servants, especially Sally Tadross and Mina Badawi, and everyone who came to Revive 2014 for making it such an enjoyable weekend, with beneficial talks, fun activities and the opportunity to make lovely friends! I came away from this weekend spiritually and personally nourished due to the talks that were led by the committed servants who tried their very best to help our every need throughout the entire weekend. For me I found the talks to be spiritually beneficial because they increased my knowledge of the traditions and culture of the Coptic Orthodox Faith. The activities were a means to make new friends and have loads of fun with old ones, and they were very well organised with lots of creative games that even the rain couldn't ruin! I would personally like to thank my strand servants; Shanuda Abadeir, Mina Mansor, Mina Arsanious and Kiroulus Abadir for the fun, interesting sessions and for helping us all grow spiritually over the weekend.

Marina Facouri from Saint Mark’s Church, London
Starting off the conference was great as we were reunited with friends who we haven't seen for over 2 years. Sayedna started off the conference with an introduction about tradition and how there are 2 types of tradition, "T" and "t" tradition. The "t" can be changed or adapted according to the time, era and place that you are in, however the "T" tradition cannot change. There are 3 traditions which cannot change, 1) Theology 2) Faith 3) Dogma.

We learned that over time, we have adapted the language which we use during the liturgy depending upon the era and place we are in, however this does not mean we forget about Coptic, it means we build up on what we have, thus building up the Church together. He then explained how the word "Orthodox" means straight, which goes back to Saint Mark who received the message directly from our Lord Jesus and passed it to us, giving us a direct link to our Lord. He concluded saying that we should not pick and choose what we want from God, like we do in a supermarket, but that we should just embrace the whole treasure that we have been given.

Amir Michaeel then gave us our first talk based upon praise and how our Church is always praising God. He showed us that the Holy Bible, depending on the translation, says "praise" 250 times (150 of those are said by David in the psalms). He then explained that if we are praising without understanding then we are missing out on the treasure; but if we understand the praise then we become more engaged in Church and will not be bored.


Abouna Shenouda then gave the 2nd talk about the treasures found in the Liturgy. He explained that if we do not know the value of what we have, we don't realise that we have a treasure. For the treasure to be of value, it must be shown and not hidden. The word " Liturgy" in Greek means "Work of People" , so we should all work together in order to show people our treasures.  He then further explained that the Liturgy prepares us and sanctifies us in order to be ready for Holy Communion. If we only arrive in time for Holy Communion, then it is pointless; if we learn to value the Holy Liturgy and attend it, then we are sanctified and prepared for Christ to enter into our hearts, and thus in the future we will be able to pass on the right message to the next generation.

In our 3rd session, Adam Wahba spoke to us about why we follow traditions in Church. He explained that there are 3 reasons, which are :
1) We are in fellowship in one Body(Kononia), the Body of Jesus Christ.
2) We have a strong foundation to build on.
3) Living traditions daily draw us close to God, and Him to us.


He also spoke about icons, fasting and candles in the Church. He clarified in the end that these traditions are all Biblical, although some may not be written as clearly or directly as others, but still in the Bible. Sayedna wrapped up the conference by saying that the Church is a means to an end; to be gathered together to reach God's kingdom. To reach God's kingdom we must do it all with ONE mind and ONE accord.

The conference was full of fellowship, and it was a great idea to split into age groups rather than churches, in order to allow us to bond with people of the same age from all the churches. The activities were great and a wide range of activities were available to all. Team leaders were very friendly and supportive and were constantly giving out sweets throughout the conference which I believe many people enjoyed! The leaders of the conference came up with great ideas to keep us entertained and the theme overall was excellent and definitely needed to be covered. The barbecue was also amazing and delicious!Overall, Revive2014 was great, as was the environment and the people serving. I would definitely recommend this conference to others in the future as people benefit from it spiritually and socially as well. 



To summarise the conference in one word, I would say it was treasurastic! :)Thank you and God bless.

More photographs from Revive 2014 can be found via the CopticYouth-uk Facebook group.

For more information on Coptic Youth Mission visit www.CopticYouthMission.com @CopticYouthUK

The Coptic Orthodox British Elite Basketball Association Tournament (Cobeba) 2014

The Coptic Orthodox British Elite Basketball Association Tournament (Cobeba) 2014 was one to remember, with a team from Manchester entering the tournament for the first time and becoming this year’s Cobeba Champions! They took the title by beating the defending champions, the Newcastle Phoenix’.

This year we saw teams from Saint Mary and Anba Abram, Brighton (The Brighton Ballers), ‘The Gentlemen from Manchester’ a name given to the team by His Grace Bishop Angaelos; Saint George and Saint Athanasius , (The Newcastle Phoenix), Saint Mary and Archangel Michael (Golders Green Heat) and of course the home team, the Saint George Knights from Stevenage.

With exhilarating games on the first day, followed by a vespers service attended by all, it proved to be a great display of fellowship and sportsmanship, with the referees and their family members commenting on the cheerful and friendly atmosphere and respect shown by all the players and fans.

Sunday began with a Eucharistic liturgy followed by breakfast and the semi-finals between the Saint George Knights and ‘The gentlemen from Manchester’ (we won’t mention the score) but we will say that the first five points were scored by Saint George, so thank you to the Knights for taking the bullet!

The final between the Newcastle Phoenix and Gentlemen from Manchester was nail-bitingly tight and it looked as if Newcastle were going to reclaim their title once again. Halfway through the match however, Manchester seemed to gain a new burst of energy, and regained their focus and determination, going on to win the match with a final score of 68-48.

It goes without saying that the quality of basketball this year was incredible. (It may be worth mentioning that the two teams in the final were made up predominantly of Canadians who live and breathe the sport!)

Last but by no means least, a big thank you goes to His Grace Bishop Angaelos for dedication in supporting all the teams from the side-lines, and for having the courage to hug the boys after their matches! Thank you to the wonderful Mark Galtta who made it all happen and to the dedicated Lydia Guirguis who worked tirelessly behind the scene to ensure everything was running smoothly. Thank you also to everyone else who helped serve in the kitchen and with cleaning, and to all the fans and players for taking part and making Cobeba 2014 an incredible display of fellowship and Christian witness in the UK.

We look forward to seeing you next year!

Revive 2013

 Well, it has come and gone again, but not without a lasting impact on everyone who attended or served at Revive 2013!

The theme this year was ‘Shine’ inspired by Matthew 5:16 where our Lord instructs us all to “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.”

With an unprecedented number of people in attendance this year, well over 200, the Coptic Centre UK was filled with lively and dynamic youth in search of spiritual nourishment, fruitful fellowship and exciting activities. His Grace Bishop Angaelos, our beloved host, said of this year’s Revive:

“It was lovely to see our youth actively engaging in the spiritual talks and benefitting from the words of His Grace Bishop Youssef, who journeyed across the world to give us all the benefit of His insight and knowledge. I am so pleased to see the high turnout this year, because it is in coming together that we can truly experience the power of the Holy Spirit that works in us all to shine to those closest to us, and then to all who we encounter. Thank you to all the faithful servants who contributed to this year’s Revive, and to all those who attended; may we continue to let the light of God within us shine.”

Let’s hear what some of the youth had to say about Revive 2013:

‘I learnt how to build a better relationship with God in order to shine! My favourite activity was the bouncy castle. A very hectic, yet unusually calm experience.’ - Alexander Malhar, Strand 14-15

 ‘I think the spiritual content of the talks were really good because I got more about how we can shine in other people’s lives. Also, it was presented really well, not only by talks but by a video clip which made it more interesting. Activities were good; I went on the bouncy castle and also took part in the indoor activities. I met loads of new people by participating in these activities. The atmosphere was amazing! Everybody was positive, especially at the bonfire when everyone was singing – it was brilliant! The praise and worship was also amazing, because there was a positive vibe in the atmosphere which makes you feel so close to God in the moment! And not to mention, the food was brilliant!’ - Yustina Zan, Strand 16-17

‘The talks were really good. Anba Youseff’s lectures were really interesting, length and subject was very appropriate. The analogy used with the earth, moon and sun was very helpful as it helped explain the concept of ‘shine’ really well. Mary’s talk was also very good, she was really interactive and I felt I learnt a lot during this conference. There needed to be more interactive group activities, not just football and treasure hunt, also, two years ago we had a talent show/ church presentations which were a lot of fun and helped bring people together. I also think there were too many young people this year. Maybe split it up into two conferences? I liked the talks the most as I really benefitted from them. ’-  Eustina Hanna, Strand 18-19

 ‘Anba Youseff’s talks I found beneficial as the advice applied to my daily life. E.g. prayer distractions and when attending weddings how to come together for the bride and groom while evangelising. I enjoyed the bouncy castle/football/smaller games in the main hall/bonfire. It was chaotic, but timing was spot on. Organisation for the workshop I was in was difficult due to large numbers, the food was great. Personally, I appreciated getting to know girls and boys from my church on a better level and other kids from different churches. Also, tasbeha was amazing, and the overall atmosphere with both the Sayedna’s presence was great with their laid back and friendly attitudes.’ - Julie Kheir, Servant

 ‘Anba Youssef’s talk was really good, I benefitted a lot, I wish he gave us more talks. There were good activities but there needs to be more for the kids. Overall it was a great atmosphere, I loved seeing friends from different churches.’ Mina Hanna, Servant

 

Revive 2012

“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.” Timothy 4:7

Revive 2012, the new and improved summer conference was the first of its kind! With a dedicated team of servants working tirelessly with HG Bishop Angaelos and the parish priests to see a new structure and attitude infused, it lived up to expectations. Revive managed to cater for four different age groups with sessions split into ages 14-15, 16-17, 18-19, and 20-21. Under the umbrella theme ‘Running the Race’, the usual talk-and-workshop format was nowhere to be seen, and interactive sessions were re-structured to ensure that Revive was a weekend to remember. The sessions focussed on how to start our spiritual race fully equipped, how to stay on track, and to avoid losing sight of the finish line. Other aspects of Revive that made it a huge success was the excellent catering, awesome activities and general friendly vibe promoted by all those who served.

In the lead up to Revive an Olympic-style torch was passed between all 5 South East Churches during youth events to promote and celebrate unity, and in keeping with the Olympic theme. Along with the torch, a prayer baton was used to record the names of all of the youth within the parishes. When the baton reached Revive it was placed on the altar at St. George’s Cathedral, and prayers were offered during the Liturgy for all the youth in the various churches. An incredible number of people attended Revive, approximately 200, and we all came together to ‘fight the good fight’ and end the Olympic summer with a bang, and that we did!

But don’t take our word for it, why not see what youth who attended had to say about it:

Strand A: Age 14-15
"The fellowship was really good and I loved how the teambuilding tasks got everyone to work together."

Strand B: Age 16-17
"God’s forgiveness means that no matter how many times we fall, God is always willing to forgive us if we run to Him"

Strand C: Age 18-19
"All the little details of each session were taken care of which allowed us to feel the joy of listening and participating in them. I was inspired by the work of the strand leaders"

Strand D: Age 20-21
"We focused on what our 'identity' is and the importance of stripping away the views and perceptions of others about us as well as our own. Instead we should strive to view ourselves through Gods eyes so we can discern HIS purpose for us"

Thank you to everyone who made Revive 2012 a weekend to remember, especially the servants and priests, and God willing we will see you at Revive 2013!

EuroCOFTA 2012

A wise man once said “football is more than a sport or a mere activity, it is a means of unifying individuals; provoking emotion in all people, irrespective of age, race or gender, and that is why it is considered a universal language.”

That wise man, is me. The above is an accurate description of what I witnessed over the weekend of 13-15 July 2012 where The Coptic Centre hosted the 2nd Euro COFTA.

England, France, Holland, Germany, Italy, Sweden and Switzerland; 7 teams coming together to compete for the most desired title in Church football, whilst representing their churches and countries.

A couple of teams arrived before the weekend and international friendships were already being formed. By Friday all teams had arrived with their fans, coaches and high spirits as they prepared to showcase their talents. The Coptic Centre felt like an EU summit!

As the games kicked off under the infamous English rain, fans persisted in cheering for their countries and the teams did not fail to deliver highly entertaining matches, whether with high scores or tight games. The day was full of thrilling football and provided excitement, laughter and frustration as both groups played for the top 2 spots in their respective groups.

A delicious BBQ and candy-floss as well as outdoor activities ensured that everyone had much to enjoy alongside the football. In the evening, His Grace Bishop Angaelos gave a bible study after a highly energetic vespers where the teams came together for prayer and to share the word of God.

The liturgy was an amazing experience, multilingual but united in spirit, heart and prayer. It was a real testament to the ministry of the Coptic Church and how, with its expansion into all parts of the earth, she still maintains common foundations upon which her children can come together and worship in unity.

During the knockouts, England failed to defend its title, and lost to last year’s runners up, France, with the heart-ache of an own goal. In the other semi-final, tournament debutants Sweden beat the Swiss in an exciting game. In the thrilling final, France and Sweden were battling each other as well as exhaustion, yet the Swedes managed to edge past the French to claim their first Euro COFTA cup.

What was evident more than anything was that despite having 7 teams playing football, there were more teams elsewhere: in the kitchen, at the BBQ, arranging accommodation, activities and transport. The spirit of unity and fellowship displayed over the weekend really made me proud of our youth. May God continue to bless this wonderful ministry.


By Amir Michaeel

CY March 2012 - For Youth By Youth

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The Coptic Orthodox Church Centre UK: Prayer Day for Egypt

Following the success of last year's day of prayer for Egypt with Egyptian Christians from all denominations, a similar day will be held this year on Saturday the 3rd of March at The Coptic Orthodox Church Centre UK. This will be an all day event starting with Liturgy, brunch, and then meet in the hall to pray together. Everyone is invited to attend. Visit www.CopticCentre.com or e-mail VisitUs@CopticCentre.com