كلمة الأستاذ بيشوى ميخائيل رئيس المكتب المسكونى للكنيسة القبطية بالولايات المتحدة الأمريكية

عضو مميز المساهمات : 863 تاريخ التسجيل : 31/01/2010

كلمة الأستاذ بيشوى ميخائيل رئيس المكتب المسكونى للكنيسة القبطية بالولايات المتحدة الأمريكية
Day of Prayer and Remembrance on the 40th Day Memorial for the Coptic Martyrs of Nag Hammadi
At St. Mark Coptic Orthodox Church of Cleveland

Sunday, February 14, 2010
كلمة الأستاذ بيشوى ميخائيل رئيس المكتب المسكونى للكنيسة القبطية بالولايات المتحدة الأمريكية DSC_0099

كلمة الأستاذ بيشوى ميخائيل رئيس المكتب المسكونى للكنيسة القبطية بالولايات المتحدة الأمريكية DSC_0099

Address of Bishoy M. Mikhail, Esq
The Gospel lesson for today, the First Sunday of Great Lent is that of the Treasures. Our Lord tells us not to store for ourselves treasures on earth where moth and rust destroy, but to lay up for ourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy. These martyrs have not only laid up treasures in heaven, but have entered the heavenly mansions prepared for them by the Lord and have seen what eye has not seen
Today we are gathered in prayer to remember martyrs of the “Living Synaxarion” the martyrs of Nag Hammadi- Pola, Abanoub, Ayman, Mina, Rafik and Bishoy. We also remember with them the Muslim officer who was killed in the line of duty that day
We wish to thank all those who participated with us in prayer and in solidarity. Whether in general regarding the events of January 6 or in particular those who wrote to us saying they are with us today in this memorial in the spirit of prayer
H.H. Pope Benedict and Cardinal Kaspar of the Vatican gave early and public statements. Also the Governments of Canada, Italy, the US and others
For today’s service, we received prayerful messages of support and love from
The Ecumenical Patriarchate in Constantinople
Bishops and clergy of the Greek, Serbian and Indian Orthodox Churches
The National Council of Churches (USA) and its General Secretary, Rev. Michael Kinnemon and his communications director, Philip Jenks
The Middle East Council of Churches and its General Secretary Prof. Guirguis Saleh Ibrahim
Christian Churches Together
US Conference of Catholic Bishops
The United Church of Christ
Church of the Disciples of Christ
Catholic Diocese of Cleveland
N.G.O. representatives at the United Nations

We also would like to thank the members of the local and global media who serve their role to society by bringing the news of these events to the entire world
Because of media and technology, the world has become a village. As I have said before, the world is as far from us as an iPhone is from my hand
Because of the media, the world has seen tens of thousands walk and demonstrate peacefully in the streets of the world’s major cities- in Melbourne, Sydney, Europe, Washington, New York, Los Angeles, Toronto and others
Personal Reflections on the Situation
This massacre could have been and should have been prevented... because it was not the first. 40 years of similar events and no justice only allowed this to happen. We remember those from El-Khanka, El-Zawya el-Hamra, all the way to Abu Qurqas, El-Kosheh I and II and all the others who did not receive justice.
In order to guarantee that this never happens again, we must identify the roots of the problem and not pretend this was an isolated event or mere criminal act
The root is intolerance, hate, and at the very least, ignorance
The solution is a serious campaign of tolerance and brotherly love. A serious look the Egyptian education system. It requires a serious look at what happens in the classrooms, the workplace, the streets and the government, the media and the mosques and the home.
We have seen, perhaps, that this time the reaction is different. That what was spoken behind closed doors is now said on the satellite television channels. I am encouraged that some Muslim leaders and media figures are speaking with honesty about the need to address this problem and to fix it. Talk though is not enough, we want action and change.
Egypt needs a Civil Rights Movement.
Egypt needs a Gandhi, a Martin Luther King, Jr., a Jack and Bobby Kennedy, a Lyndon B. Johnson who has courage to make discrimination illegal. The courage to create a bill of rights, a civil rights act and a civil rights commission tasked with the defense of civil and constitutional rights of all citizens and protection of all the countries citizens, regardless of religion.
I was pleased to hear an address by H.G. Bishop Serapion of Los Angeles on the occasion of MLK day, looking at the famous “I have a dream” speech and highlighting 7 lessons we can learn, saying MLK’s dream is our dream
Finally, a word to those in Egypt (media and government) who like to call us “Aqbat al mahgar” as if it was a derogatory title
We are not expatriates living here and going back, we are Americans, we are Egyptian-Americans, Americans of Egyptian Origin, We are proud of this country that opened its arms to our parents and gave them the opportunity to excel regardless of their religion and national origins
We are though, not outsiders to the problems of Egypt. Your Problems are our problems and we have a say in the solutions as well. We have no agenda besides Justice
No one in Ireland tells Irish-Americans to mind their own business, No one in Italy tells Italian-Americans to mind their own business, No one in Greece tells American Greeks to stay away... they work together for the benefit of their homelands
We, the Copts living around the world are the best representatives of Egypt. Your glory is ours, your history is ours, your reputation is ours, and your pride is our pride. Your shame is also our shame and we do not want to see the reputation of Egypt tainted by the obvious discrimination and lack of equality. Enough is enough
In the short time we have been here, at most 50 years, we are leaders in medicine, business, engineering, law, culture and society. We are knights of Her Majesty the Queen of England, Deans of universities, Chairman of departments, professors and entrepreneurs- and we're just getting started
We are proud Americans, proud Egyptians, regardless of where we were born. I was born in Cleveland, but I am Egyptian because my blood, our blood, is the blood of the pharaohs and we will never stop wanting Egypt to be once again a beacon of advancement and excellence
The Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s dream was that his children would be judged not on the color of their skin, but on the content of their character. That is my dream for Egypt. That the children of all Egyptians not be judged because of their name or religion, but by the content of their character and what they can offer to the betterment of their society
We have hope, as long as the church says Christos Anesti- Christ is Risen. This hope is that the blood of these 6 young men was not shed in vain. We have hope that this will be the beginning of real change in our beloved land of Egypt

Bishoy M. Mikhail
Ecumenical Officer
Coptic Orthodox Patriarchate of Alexandria
Archdiocese of North America
Office of Ecumenical Affairs

عضو مميز المساهمات : 863 تاريخ التسجيل : 31/01/2010

اذكرونى فى صلواتكم