On August 17, 2019, His Holiness Patriarch Mor Ignatius Aphrem II visited Anba Shenouda and Anba Antonios Coptic Orthodox Church in Berlin.
His Holiness was accompanied by their Eminences: Mor Philoxenus Mattias Nayis, Patriarchal Vicar in Germany, and Mor Julius Hanna Aydin, Director of External Relations in Germany.
His Holiness was received by His Eminence Anba Damian, the Coptic Orthodox Bishop of Northern Germany as well as the priests and the faithful of the sister Coptic Orthodox Church. His Eminence Anba Berhan Abba Dionysius, Ethiopian Orthodox Bishop of Germany was also present.
His Eminence Anba Damian welcomed His Holiness and the accompanying delegation. He thanked him for this historical visit and conveyed to him the brotherly greetings of His Holiness Pope Tawadros II. His Eminence spoke about the role of His Holiness as a voice for the persecuted Christians in the Middle East and as a healer of their wounds.
In his speech, His Holiness expressed his joy to be “not in a sister church, but I feel I am in my church”. He spoke about the witness that the church is insisting on offering in the Middle East and that martyrdom is a mark of the church. He said that the present Christians are not different from their predecessors who offered their lives for Christ their Savior. He affirmed that Christians have the duty to stand together in solidarity in front of the persecutions they are enduring. He added that they should be ambassadors of Christ wherever they live.
His Eminence Anba Damian offered His Holiness a pastoral staff as a token of love and respect.
Finally, the choir of the parish performed beautiful hymns in Coptic and Arabic.
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