How the Coptic Church in Egypt deals with the constant threat from ISIS.
Bishop Thomas is the Bishop of the Coptic bishopric of Al-Quosia, Upper Egypt. The Coptic Church is the largest Christian Church in Northeast Africa and the Middle East. Recently Bishop Thomas was Interviewed by Katja Dorothea Buck, a German political and religious scientist working on the topic of Christians in the Middle East for more than 15 years.
The interview was done on March 26, 2017, just two weeks before brutal attacks on two churches in Alexandria and Tanta claimed 47 victims.
Buck’s introduction poses several questions: “How to deal with this constant threat? And how to avoid the hatred that grows between Christians and Muslims?” She adds, “The Coptic Church has had an answer of sorts for two thousand years: martyrdom – a forgotten idea in most parts of the world.”
At the conclusion of the interview Bishop Thomas states: “The Western churches may not need to be crucified to understand the meaning of martyrdom. But they can help us to carry the cross like Simon in the Bible. He wasn’t asked whether he is willing to carry the cross of Jesus. He was grabbed out of the crowd and forced to carry the cross without knowing the blessing in it. To carry the cross could be a blessing for the Western churches.” He calls for collaborative action in the face of hatred. “Our responsibility to work for justice goes beyond nations, borders and political belongings,” Bishop Thomas asserts. “The martyrs are sending a cry. The question is whether we want to listen to it or not.”
Read more of the interview during which Coptic Bishop Thomas explains why the concept of martyrdom has a lot of answers for the life in the 21st century.
On April 13 the Council of Bishops of The United Methodist Church released a statement that they are grieving with the Coptic Orthodox Church over the Palm Sunday bombings.
In a letter sent to His Holiness Pope Tawadros II, Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of the Holy See of St. Mark, The United Methodist bishops expressed sincere sympathy with the Christian brothers and sisters.
“Please know The United Methodist Church grieves with you. As a part of the Universal Body of Christ, we acknowledge your pain is our pain, and we stand with you in this dark time,” said the letter signed by Bishop Bruce Ough, President of the Council of Bishops and Bishop B. Michael Watson, UMC Ecumenical Officer.
Read the full letter from the Council of Bishops here.
Last Updated on April 18, 2017