Coptic
Orthodox Church UK
Media
and Communications Office
Coptic
Orthodox Church (Europe)
Media and Communications Office
HG Bishop Angaelos gives Keynote Address on the
persecution of Christians in the Middle East to over 700 MPs and other guests
in the Houses of Parliament, later addressing 50 High Commissioners and
Ambassadors in the State Rooms at the Palace of Westminster
14 June 2016
On 14 June 2016 His Grace Bishop Angaelos, General Bishop of the
Coptic Orthodox Church in the United Kingdom, delivered the keynote address on
the situation of Christians in the Middle East at the annual National
Parliamentary Prayer Breakfast (NPPB). During his address Bishop Angaelos
spoke specifically on the persecution of Christians and minority communities,
and the millions subsequently displaced and living as refugees. His Grace
addressed an audience of over 700 attendees including Members of the House of
Lords, House of Commons, civic and faith leaders, ambassadors, and CEOs of
advocacy organisations and NGOs. The Archbishop of Canterbury was also in
attendance. The gathering was welcomed by the Lord Speaker, the Speaker of the
House of Commons, and Fiona Bruce MP, Chair of this year’s Parliamentary
Breakfast.
The NPPB is the largest gathering of any kind in parliament
throughout the year. The event is held with the permission of the Speaker and
the Lord Speaker and is an annual recognition of the contribution that
Christianity makes to the national life of the United Kingdom. While themes of
previous events have focused on topics of national impact, this is the first to
address a global issue of this scale.
In his welcome, The Right Hon John Bercow, Speaker of the House of
Commons, said:
“‘The
Church in the Middle East’ is a theme never more relevant than it is today. It
is a magnificently chosen theme that will continue to be relevant at least
until some of the prevailing discord…of which certainly there is an abundance,
is either moderated or better still overcome altogether.”
In her welcome, The Lord Speaker, The Baroness D’Souza said:
“This
breakfast theme…could not be more timely to explore the need for tolerance and
understanding. I greatly look forward to hearing…as to how we make steps, if
not leaps, towards this.”
In her welcome, Fiona Bruce MP highlighted that the attendance at
this year’s Breakfast surpassed previous years, with over 150 MPs and peers and
730 people in attendance, saying:
“It is
particularly encouraging that so many members of parliament are attending
together with religious leaders from their constituencies…the fact that so many
parliamentarians and peers are here today does, I believe, confirm their deep
concern…”
“Let us seek to ensure that we
in the United Kingdom are doing everything we can to stand up and be a voice
for the voiceless in the Middle East, both to those who share our Faith, and
those of other faiths or none.”
Speaking of the work that Bishop Angaelos has done in the area of
religious freedom, she continued:
“I am particularly delighted
and grateful that His Grace Bishop Angaelos will address us this morning as he
has tirelessly advocated on behalf of the Church throughout the Middle East in
recent years…”
In his address, Bishop Angaelos spoke directly to parliamentarians
saying:
“We often hold you to account for the decisions you make, yet often
forget to hold ourselves to account to pray for you as you make those
decisions. In the coming weeks those prayers will be more important because of
the decisions that are going to be made for the future of Britain.”
Speaking of Christians in the Middle East, Bishop Angaelos said:
“Christians
in the Middle East are indigenous people and reject minority status. They see
themselves as intrinsic members, and indigenous peoples.”
He continued:
“As
religious and civic leaders, we have an opportunity and responsibility to
change the narrative and expectation of the Middle East from one of
hopelessness and conflict to one of hope and promise.
We need to
address the reality of this situation, that there has been a systemic, yet
gradual prejudice, marginalisation and alienation of Christians and minorities
allowed to continue over decades. This does not have to continue on our watch…”
Calling for collaboration, he went on to say:
“We must
realise that the current situation is greater than us all; it needs us all to
work together…There can no longer be a concept of ‘over there’ because families
of those affected in the Middle East are members of your constituencies, our
Churches, and our society as a whole…We are one very large community…our paths
cross, our experience is one and our journey is one that we must share.”
“Regardless
of which House one sits in, which Church one worships in, or indeed which faith
one does or does not have, we must work together for the freedom and dignity of
human life and speak with a collaborative voice.”
Shedding light on the hopeful witness of Christians in the Middle
East, Bishop Angaelos concluded:
“The Church
is defiant, the Church is resilient, the Church is alive.”
After the event Bishop Angaelos spoke to 50 High Commissioners and
Ambassadors from a variety of faith traditions at a separate event in the State
Rooms of the Palace of Westminster.
