Annual Nayrouz Prayer Service Held in Westminster

Deacon Daniel Maylon -Delegate of United Kingdom – OCP News Service – 23/10/17

Pics- Coptic Orthodox Media Center – UK

London- UK: On Tuesday 17th October, His Grace Bishop Angaelos held an Ecumenical Vespers service in celebration for the Coptic Feast of Nayrouz. This was the fourth year in which this event has occurred at St Margaret’s Church in the grounds of Westminster Abbey, London.

The service was attended by a number of guests from various communion and faiths, including Oriental Orthodox representatives from Oriental Orthodox Churches alongside other guests from the Russian Orthodox, Eastern Catholics, Roman Catholic, Anglican and Jewish communities. These included Bishop Hovakim of the Armenian Apostolic Church who led a number of the prayers.

The main theme of the event focused the matter of persecution of Christians in the Middle East and North Africa. His Grace marked the occasion by reminding us that we need to act in the defence of these communities and this sentiment was shared by the congregation and all in attendance. His Grace Bishop Angaelos spoke on the importance of this issue of persecution, which clung on the minds of all present due to the recent murder of Father Samaan in Cairo and the Palm Sunday bombings of Churches in Alexandria and across Egypt.

At the end of the service, speeches were given by members of the Parlimentary Committee for the Middle East and representatives of the Archbishop of Canterbury as well as messages read from the Prime Minster, Prince Charles of Wales and Her Highness Queen Elizabeth II.

Source:
OCP News Service