Coptic Bishop Details Vision, Dreams for New Egypt

Ellen Olson : Mar 2, 2011
Christian Newswire

"While we have a deep concern about the direction of the country, we still have strong hope and great dreams." -HG Bishop Serapion

EDITOR'S NOTE: News of the event described in this article is a good reminder for continued prayer on behalf of Egypt's Coptic Christians, as well as for Israel's protection during this tumultuous time in the Middle East. –Aimee Herd, BCN.

(Los Angeles, CA)—As post-Mubarak Egypt stands at a crossroads, Coptic Orthodox bishop His Grace Bishop Serapion is certain his hopes and vision for the new Egypt are shared not only by his homeland's Christians, but lovers of freedom and human rights everywhere.

"While we have a deep concern about the direction of the country, we still have strong hope and great dreams," HG Bishop Serapion said Sunday afternoon at the Los Angeles Convention Center in an address about Copts' vision and hope for building the new Egypt.

The event, presented by the Coptic Orthodox Diocese of Los Angeles, Southern California and Hawaii, over which HG Bishop Serapion is bishop, honored Coptic Christians in Egypt who have been killed in religiously motivated attacks by extremists since 2000. Up to 1,500 people were expected to attend the event.

The event aimed to raise awareness of the plight of Coptic Christians in Egypt, where they comprise 10 percent of that nation's 79 million people. The Copts are the largest Christian population in the Middle East. Approximately 40,000 Copts live in Greater Los Angeles, where there are 30 Coptic Orthodox churches.