His Holiness stated: The visits to Austria are characterized as visits with the purpose of service, just as the visit to Asyut was a visit of service from morning till evening.

Pope Tawadros expressed his greetings to the members of the Coptic Orthodox Church on the beginning of the Nativity Fast, and he expressed his joy at visiting Austria, noting that he also came for routine medical follow-up.

This came before the start of his sermon in his weekly Wednesday meeting, which he held at St. Demiana and St. Abanoub’s Church in the 21st district of Vienna, the capital of Austria.

Prior to this, the children’s choir “St. Abanoub” of the church chanted a collection of hymns and responses of the Divine Liturgy, and their performance was remarkably excellent. Likewise, the choir of youth and young adults sang some church hymns, in addition to the hymn “Our Father Pope Tawadros, between us and you is a story of love,” which received great interaction from the attendees, as it expressed the feelings of the children of the Church toward His Holiness. He encouraged them, praised their performance, took commemorative photos with them, and presented them with some gifts.

H.G. Bishop Gabriel, Bishop of Austria, delivered a welcoming and affectionate address to His Holiness, recounting many memories concerning His Holiness’ relationship with Austria since he was a bishop, noting his eagerness to respond to the call to serve in the churches of Austria without hesitation.

Fr. Shenouda Anis, priest of the church, also delivered a word of welcome to Pope Tawadros.

Before beginning the sermon, His Holiness expressed his joy in meeting his children in Austria and in having the Wednesday meeting held there. He noted that he has been visiting Austria regularly since 2003, and that these visits are characterized as service visits—just like the visit to Asyut, which was a visit of service from morning until evening.

Pope Tawadros added: “Service brings joy and consolation and makes a person feel happiness, for he is serving Christ in the people whom he sees, visits, speaks with, prays with, and teaches.”

He continued: “I thank H.G. Bishop Gabriel for his kind words, and we thank God for all the blessings He has given us, and that He uses us all for His service.
I thank the words of Father Shenouda and I remember his childhood, and how he grew up in a village belonging to El-Beheira, and by God’s arrangement, he became a priest in this beautiful place.”

His Holiness added: “The most beautiful thing in life is to realize that God is the Governor of this life. He arranges every small and great matter in it—the timings, the people, and the events. Likewise, contentment gives happiness to a person, because God works with him in a beautiful manner, and contentment requires long patience because the works of God have a plan and an arrangement.”

Pope Tawadros added: “God governs everything around us—before, after, and in the present. At the same time, a person must be fully content, for contentment is a feeling that arises within a person and makes him realize that the point at which he stands is the best possible place to be.
H.G. Bishop Gabriel was joyful in this place, and step by step the church was completed and became full of people, choirs, and youth with such beauty. On your behalf, I thank H.G. Bishop Gabriel for his labor in service and his great effort. He succeeded in making the people of the Diocese of Austria one big family, and these are beautiful scenes. When youth come in service groups to Egypt, this is something joyful. When everyone in the diocese becomes one big family, this is a blessed ministry that serves all sectors of the people. We see it in many places in a beautiful way, and it is also a great need for service, especially for those from outside Egypt, as the children of each diocese come from diverse countries, backgrounds, cultures, and circumstances. Yet when all are integrated into one crucible and become one family, this is a great work for which we thank God.”

His Holiness expressed his greetings to the attendees and all the members of the Church, saying: “I congratulate you on the Nativity Fast, which lasts forty-three days: the first three days are in commemoration of the moving of the Mokattam Mountain, and the forty days represent the fast of Moses the Prophet before receiving the tablets of the Law. We fast forty-three days in preparation to receive our Lord Jesus Christ.”

Pope Tawadros commented: “This visit will last about a week, part of it for medical follow-up. We thank God that things are going well, and at the same time we are here to see you, and we will pray Liturgies with you, which is something very joyful for me.”

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