Στις 3 Σεπτεμβρίου 2014,
με πρωτοβουλία του Κόπτη Επισκόπου Angaelos, έγινε στην έδρα του
Αγγλικανού Αρχιεπισκόπου του Canterbury Justin Welby, στο Παλάτι Lambeth,
μια συνάντηση αρχηγών και αντιπροσώπων Εκκλησιών της Μέσης Ανατολής που
λειτουργούν στο Ηνωμένο Βασίλειο, με
σκοπό την αλληλοενημέρωση και την προσευχή
για θέματα που απασχολούν τους χριστιανούς της ευρύτερης περιοχής της Μέσης
Ανατολής, όπου το τελευταίο διάστημα παρατηρείται διωγμός και μαρτύρια πολλών
μελών των χριστιανικών οικογενειών.
There was an impressive array of Orthodox and Middle
Eastern clergy, including Archbishop
Gregorios of Thyateira (Ecumenical
Patriarchate), Archbishop Elisey
of Sourozh (Moscow Patriarchate), Archbishop Athanasius Thoma Dawod of
the Syriac Orthodox Church, Metropolitan Seraphim (British Orthodox
Church), Bishop Angaelos (Coptic Orthodox Church), the Anglican Bishops of
London, Southwark, Coventry and Warwick, Bishop
Geoffrey Rowell (as co-chair of the Anglican-Orthodox
International Commission), as well as representatives of the Syrian Catholic
Church, the Chaldean Church, the Ancient Church of the East, the Antiochian
Orthodox Church, the Melkite Church, the Maronite Church, and the Catholic
Church and others groups working for peace and reconciliation in the
Middle East.
After
welcoming all present, the Archbishop chaired a ‘Round Table Meeting’ at which
those present were invited to comment or share information, which lasted about
ninety minutes. This
was followed by a Service of Prayer in the Crypt
Chapel, comprising scriptural readings as well as extracts from the
writings of St. Isaac of Nineveh and St. Ephrem the Syrian and Psalm CXLII
(Septuagint CXLI). The hymns included St. Patrick’s
Lorica and St. Bernard of Cluny’s “Jerusalem the Golden” from his De
Contemptu Mundi, which seemed especially apposite for the occasion. At the
conclusion the Archbishop and congregation met with the Press and the
Archbishop issued a consensual statement on behalf of all present.
Η ΔΗΛΩΣΗ ΤΟΥ ΑΓΓΛΙΚΑΝΟΥ ΑΡΧΙΕΠΙΣΚΟΠΟΥ
Archbishop
of Canterbury's statement on Mid-East Christians
Wednesday
3rd September 2014
After praying with Middle East
church leaders at Lambeth Palace today, the Archbishop spoke out in
solidarity with Christians and other minorities being persecuted in the Middle
East.
"A new
situation has arisen which creates a state of emergency in the Middle East for
Christians and other religious and ethnic minorities. The recent increase in
violence and aggression has resulted in gross violations of the fundamental
rights and freedoms in the region. We gather today as Christians,
including those originally from the Middle East, to stand in solidarity and
prayer with our brothers and sisters, who seek to practice their faith and belief
in lands where they have been a continuing presence since the beginning of
Christianity.
"The
Middle East is the birthplace of Christianity, and home to indigenous Christian
communities that have been an indispensible part and of its history. Despite
the challenges, Christians in the region were and are a stabilising and
reconciling presence. Today, particularly in Iraq and Syria, they are at great
risk from violence fostered by extremist ideologies which no longer see them as
being part of the future. The Middle East is in desperate danger of losing an
irreplaceable part of its identity, heritage, and culture.
"We are
seeing an extreme religious ideology that knows no limits in its persecution of
those who are culturally or religiously different. Those who promote this
intolerance must be challenged and the perpetrators of violence held to account
without impunity. The suffering of those who bear the brunt of its terror
requires us to act and bear witness to their plight, whatever ethnic group or
religious minority they come from. We must provide relief and safety for those
displaced and in fear of their lives, in consultation with our partners in the
region. We must also bring pressure to bear on those who can provide security
to those affected.
"In meeting
and praying together, we give thanks for our brothers and sisters as they
continue to live their Christian faith with strength and perseverance. We
commit to continue to stand with them in prayer, to speak for freedom in the
persecution for Christians and all other religious communities and those of no
faith who live as minority groups across the region. We also continue to urge
Her Majesty’s Government to work within the international community to
safeguard and provide for all those affected.
"To our
brothers and sisters in the Middle East, we use these words: We 'share with you
in Jesus the persecution and the kingdom and the patience and the endurance.' (Revelation 1:9)"
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