Principles – “You have pleasure in uprightness” – 31/12/2016

   2016 is approaching to end. A year of horrific incidents that ended with the bombing attack which targeted the Petrine church “Al-Botroseya”, Abbassia, and caused the death of 26 martyrs; a vicious crime that broke the hearts of all Egyptians. Terrorism has always aimed at assassinating love and togetherness of the people and distracting their efforts to collaborate for the sake of their country amid the hardest times it goes through.

   Nevertheless, matters went against their plan as our home country will never be divided and these events will bring about greater unity between Egyptians. We have one and only homeland and we all share its sorrows. The great values and principles that religions teach us are still deeply-established in our life. High principles, my friend, cannot be compromised.

   One cannot adhere to them some time and forsake at another. Love, sincerity, justice and diligence would be his life style. He would not be diligent one day and loafer at another. He would also deal with all people the same way. In other words, high principles will always accompany him on his path of life.

   Egyptians chose to work and build their life. James Henry Breasted once said that old civilization began when ancient Egyptians started living along the Nile’s banks and they were the first society that was able to guarantee a stable source of food since prehistory. Not only did Egyptians introduce the idea of societies to humanity, but also they were smart and shrewd enough that they invented writing and became the pioneers of human civilization. Hence, they became engineers, doctors and manufacturers who amaze the world that was amid the darkness of the stone age. I do not think that Egyptians would revoke their role in the progress of their country.

   One cannot divide his principles too. He would never be just and dishonest person at the same time nor loving yet insincere. Principles integrate to produce a distinguished successful personality capable of overcoming obstacle and challenges faced on the path of life.

   With the approach of anew year, each person should reflect on the principles they integrate in their life.

General Bishop
Head of the Coptic Orthodox Cultural Center