H.H. Pope Tawadros II stated: “We extend our thanks to President El-Sisi. Feasts are a powerful opportunity for the true essence of Egypt to be revealed in the great love that unites us all.”
Pope Tawadros also said: “We pray that peace may prevail in regions of conflict and strife, that the Middle East may enjoy calm and growth, and that our country may be preserved in peace and love.”
On Saturday evening, the Coptic Orthodox Church began its spiritual and liturgical celebration of the Feast of the Resurrection of the Lord Christ, the Feast of Church feasts.
H.H. Pope Tawadros II presided over the Liturgy of the Feast at St. Mark’s Cathedral in Anba Reweis. He was joined by nine general bishops, the General Deputy of the Patriarchate in Cairo, priests of the churches in the Anba Reweis area, a number of priests and monks, monks from the Ethiopian and Eritrean Churches, and the deacons’ choir of the Theological Seminary in Anba Reweis. The prayers concluded in the early hours of Sunday morning.
The papal procession proceeded to the Grand Cathedral, surrounded by the bishops and led by the deacons chanting hymns of joy. The congregation, filling the cathedral, received their father and shepherd with great rejoicing upon his entrance and during the Resurrection procession.
The Divine Liturgy was attended by numerous well-wishers. Foremost among them was Major General Staff Officer Ahmed Ali, Chief of the Presidential Court, representing His Excellency President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi. Also present were a delegation from the House of Representatives, the two Deputy Speakers of the Senate, and the Minister of Health and Population representing Prime Minister Dr. Mostafa Madbouly.
In addition, a delegation of senior commanders from the main branches of the Armed Forces attended on behalf of the Minister of Defense and Military Production, along with a delegation of leaders from the Ministry of Interior representing the Minister of Interior. Counselor Boulos Fahmy, President of the Supreme Constitutional Court, was also in attendance.
Egyptian television broadcast the Feast Liturgy live, as did Coptic satellite channels and several public satellite networks. Some channels aired portions of the service, while the COC channel—affiliated with the Media Center of the Coptic Orthodox Church—streamed it online.
H.G. Bishop Athanasius, General Bishop of the churches of Hadayek El-Qobba, El-Waili, and Abbassia, offered thanks to the well-wishers on behalf of His Holiness the Pope, the Holy Synod, and the Coptic institutions. He also extended greetings to all Coptic churches in Egypt and abroad, and to all the faithful.
His Grace expressed gratitude to His Excellency President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi for sending a gracious message of congratulations on the Feast, in which he conveyed his sincere sentiments of goodwill and love that unite all Egyptians. He also conveyed his wishes for abundant health and happiness to His Holiness the Pope, and for continued progress and prosperity for our beloved Egypt. His Excellency likewise sent a similar message of congratulations to Egyptian Christians living abroad.
H.G. Bishop Athanasius also extended thanks to the advisors of the President of the Republic; the representatives of the Speakers of both the House of Representatives and the Senate; and the representative of the Prime Minister. He further expressed gratitude to His Eminence the Grand Imam, Dr. Ahmed El-Tayeb, to the ministers who attended the Liturgy, as well as to those who sent delegates to offer their congratulations.
Messages of congratulations were likewise received from the heads of judicial bodies, the National Election Authority, the Chairman of the Suez Canal Authority, the Head of the Administrative Control Authority, the Arab Organization for Industrialization, numerous ministers and governors, the Governor of the Central Bank and his deputies, representatives of diplomatic missions from various Arab and foreign countries, representatives of certain political parties, delegates from professional syndicates, leaders in media and journalism, the Coordination of Youth Parties, the Supreme Council for Media Regulation, the National Media Authority, the National Press Authority and press institutions, as well as public figures.
Congratulatory messages on the Feast were also sent by the Patriarch of the Coptic Catholics, the Head of the Evangelical Community, the Patriarchal Vicar of the Syriac Catholics in Egypt, and the Episcopal Church in Egypt.
At the beginning of the sermon, His Holiness the Pope said: “I congratulate you, beloved, on the Glorious Feast of the Resurrection, which is the feast of feasts and the joy of joys. It gives me great pleasure, as we gather here in St. Mark’s Cathedral in Abbassia, Cairo, to send greetings and love to all our churches, dioceses, and monasteries abroad. I extend my congratulations to all.”
His Holiness pointed out that we celebrate the Feast of the Resurrection not merely as an event, but as a life to be lived by every person، highlighting three events connected to the Resurrection as expressed in the Creed:
- He Rose
The Lord Jesus Christ rose from the dead on the third day, and the witnesses to His Resurrection are many and manifold. Therefore, the spirit of the Resurrection must dwell within every person. As we read in the Holy Gospel: “Awake, you who sleep, arise from the dead, and Christ will give you light.” (Ephesians 5:14)
The word “sleep” refers to a person who is negligent, while “the dead” refers to the sins into which a person may fall. Thus, the Feast of the Resurrection is like an alarm call. When a person repents and walks in purity, Christ enlightens them, and their heart becomes radiant. The Resurrection, therefore, is the indwelling of light in the human heart and in one’s life.
- He Ascended
The Lord Jesus Christ ascended into heaven forty days after His Resurrection. The symbolic meaning of the Ascension is that a person must rise in conduct and in all aspects of human life. It is a message calling man to grow, to be elevated, and to become truly human as God intended in His creation. As we pray daily in the Church:
“Arise, O children of light (the Resurrection), that we may praise the Lord of hosts (the One who is mighty and able to do all things).”
- He Will Come Again
The Lord Jesus Christ will come again as Judge, and every person will stand before God to give an account of their stewardship (responsibilities). As it is written in the final verse of the Holy Bible:
“Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus!” (Revelation 22:20)
This reminds us of this truth: that a person must live a life of readiness. A day will come when each one will stand before God to give account for themselves—of all they have done, said, and lived. At that time, there will be no justifications or excuses, for each person is a steward over the responsibilities entrusted to them. Therefore, one must live in a state of continual readiness throughout every day of their life.
His Holiness affirmed this threefold truth:
-The Lord Jesus Christ rose to grant us light.
-He ascended so that our lives may be elevated.
-He will come again so that we may be prepared for the day of His coming.
Pope Tawadros also noted that the celebrations of the Resurrection, according to the Church rite, continue for fifty days, during which prayers are offered in a joyful tone. The sanctuary veil is likewise changed from crimson to white throughout this period, as a symbol of the light of the Resurrection.
In the conclusion of the sermon, His Holiness expressed his gratitude to President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, saying: “We take this opportunity to offer all thanks and appreciation to His Excellency President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, who, in his enduring love as a father to all Egyptians, sent us a joyful message of congratulations, as well as a similar message to all Coptic Egyptians in churches abroad.”
Pope Tawadros added: “I also extend my thanks to the Prime Minister, Dr. Mostafa Madbouly, to all ministers, and to all leaders in the armed forces, the police, the judiciary, and every field of work in Egypt. We also thank everyone who has extended their congratulations to us.”
His Holiness emphasized that feasts are a powerful opportunity for the true essence of Egypt to be revealed in the great love that unites all its people.
He concluded: “We pray that peace may prevail and dwell in regions of conflict and strife. We pray that the Middle East may experience calm and growth for all its peoples. And we pray that God may preserve you all and keep our beloved Egypt in peace and love always.”
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