Prince Hassan of Jordan visits UK Coptic Church

16/11/13

Prince El Hassan bin Talal of Jordan met with members of the Coptic Orthodox Church in the UK this week.

He was received by General Bishop of the UK Church, Bishop Angaelos, during a gathering at Saint George Cathedral at the UK Coptic Orthodox Church’s headquarters near Stevenage.

The gathering was also attended by leaders of other faiths, and heard presentations on the subject of interreligious dialogue and cooperation at an interreligious level.

In welcoming Prince Hassan, Bishop Angaelos said: “Having recently celebrated Armistice Day, as the end of war and celebration of all those who gave their lives, the words ‘Lest we forget’ should also be applied to heroes of faith and inclusion.

“We are a reality in each other’s lives and reconciliation is our only way ahead, both in the Middle East and around the world.

“I believe that faith and advocacy are inseparable. A faith that does not advocate is not a godly faith. This is why we are here with the Cathedral of St George as our backdrop. The altar is the place of our greatest worship and what we are doing here is part of that worship, to be able to integrate our belief with our daily witness in our lives.”

Prince Hassan, president of the Foundation for Inter-religious and Intercultural Research and Dialogue, spoke of the need for a strategy to stabilise the Middle East and a process towards free and responsible Arab citizenship.

He was presented with the gift of a traditional Coptic Orthodox icon of Saint George by Bishop Angaelos.

Among the guests were the Lord Lieutenant of Hertfordshire, Chief Inspector Richard Harbon, Stephen McPartland MP, as well as representatives of Churches Together in England, Churches Together in Britain and Ireland, the Awareness Foundation, and the Christian Muslim Forum.

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