Beautiful Egypt 235 – Egypt, the Land of Good – February 4, 2018

   “Egypt is not a country we live in but a country that lives within us.” The Reposed “Pope Shenouda III” expressed, in those immortal words, the Egyptian man’s deeply rooted love for his country, it is settled in his thoughts and feelings, borne in the depths of his heart wherever he might go, until he returns to his country.

   I found those words jumping to my mind last Wednesday while I was watching the Egyptian President “Abdel Fattah Al Sisi”, after he inaugurated the giant “Zohr field project”, which is considered the largest natural gas field in Egypt and the Mediterranean Sea. Eni, the Italian energy company, affirmed it is: “the biggest in the Mediterranean Sea, and it may be the largest natural gas discovery yet to be made in the world.”!!

   “Zohr field project” is also considered a strong pillar for producing natural gas in Egypt, as project officials said, it solely can contribute in satisfying about 50% of Egyptians’ needs of gas by 2019, opening gates of new great investments and securing new job opportunities.

   As Engineer “Tarek el Malla”, the Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources, said, “Zohr field project” is a unique project regarding achieving new records on the Egyptian level; It took twenty eight months since disclosing it until its production started to flow, a process which takes from six to eight years in similar discoveries around the world! Moreover, the massive investments so far.

A sound echoes in my depths; “Egypt, the land of good”.

The Good and Making History

   Yes, since the dawn of history, Egypt has enjoyed a lot of blessings and boons granted to her by God, as the genius place and the geographical location – as the scientist Dr. Gamal Hamdan stated – Good things, throughout history, had been coveted and dreamt of by great emperors who had fought for ruling it and making history; “Napoleon Bonaparte”, the leader Emperor who invaded the world with his conquests, spoke of Egypt as if he whispered his memories woven in Egypt – inhabited imagination: “In Egypt, I spent the most beautiful years! In Europe,     the clouds hinder you from thinking about history changing projects, while in Egypt, he who rules does have the potential to change history.”

   And how not! Egypt is the country that taught the world the meaning of home, presenting civilization to the world and illustrating the first steps in the way of civilization and sciences.

   The ancient Egyptians are the first to know society and stability, about whom the American Researcher “James Henry Breasted” wrote: “Those Egyptians who lived in Prehistory… together with their forefathers formed the most ancient great society on earth… Mastering minerals afterwards, and making progress in innovating the oldest writing system had put in their hands the control of the long path of progress towards civilization… until they became the first great society… In the centuries between 5000 and 35000 B.C., the first great civilized state was established…” How not? Egypt is the land of blessings, wisdom and beauty “as the paradise of God”!

The Good and Making Future

   Throughout history, what have taken place in the past from civilization, sciences and achievements, make the world stand fascinated, unable to describe what the Egyptians have presented, trying to catch up with their parade of civilization and wisdom. What takes place today from work, discoveries and giant projects make the world stand fascinated by the powerful Egyptian will, strength and determination in implementing achievements: in 6/8/2015, the new Suez Canal was inaugurated after one year of the project launching, while the world said it would take three years!! And recently, “Zohr field project” has been inaugurated after two years and four months instead of six years in other world countries!!

   This is not the only achievement presented by Egyptians to the world under the leadership of President “Al Sisi”, but rather we observe Egyptian excellence in health field, as the Egyptian Ministry of Health, in particular the National Committee to Combat Viral Hepatitis, has made achievements regarding combating C Hepatitis, and Egypt has been able to cure a number of sick people which outnumbered the cured people around the world in a short period that made her an example to be pursued and praised by the world.

   Professor Marina Bringer, liver diseases Consultant in the hospital of Lavie University, Valencia, Spain, stated that Egypt’s treatments of C Hepatitis patients is amazing; the Egyptian experience was amazing in reducing the prices of Virus C, which enabled a huge number of sick to be cured.

A Journey of Homeland

   The homeland is built, its head and dignity are raised with the hands of all its sons, The Scottish saying quotes: “when gathered, the forearms build homelands.” Therefore, our responsibilities towards our country are great, the journey of the nation shall continue, but rather, we shall return to a journey towards progress and construction that had began thousands of years ago and shall continue to the end. This will be achieved only through working and believing in God’s blessings, boons and super capabilities granted to us, those which were mentioned in “Description of Egypt book” by the French Campaign Scholars:

   “The Egyptian is shy by his nature, he avoids danger as much as he can, but once he faces a danger despite his caution, he shows determination that he was never thought to hadinitially…” We shall realize that the path of achievements and hopes and dreams actualization needs the following:

   – The forearms of all the country sons to construct and build it, and the first step is: Every man shall perform the work he is assigned to, whether it is great or little, as each work is important and is no less important than any other work, for all are inseparable parts of the greater achievement and future making, I liked the quote said: “A homeland is built and constructed by its citizens’ sweat and sacrifices, their interrelated forearms, their united determinations, their constant vigilance and effortsattached to their invincible will and unweakened rigid faith.”

   – Starting with ourselves first, without waiting the others; Leo Tolstoy, the Russian Writer said: “Everyone thinks of changing the world, but no one thinks of changing himself.” Let everyone of us start to light a candle in the path of working for the sake of Egypt’s future, thus, the path will be filled with light that we promptly move towards implementing achievements.

   – Trusting that those who made the deep-rooted past can make the future,    but we have to unite together, keeping in mind that we are one nation, members of one family: which members’ union and cohesion lead them to make many miracles in the face of distresses and hardships. Adversities never tear down our determination, but rather harden it.

   Egypt is the country known by her loyal sons, it is the homeland of blessings: “Blessed is Egypt My people”, it is the resort of God’s prophets, it is the only country that welcomed “The Christ”, His mother “Saint Virgin Mary” and “Saint Joseph the Carpenter”, Egypt is a milestone in the world history and it thus remains through keeping our responsibilities and duties towards it.

And… Stories never end in Beautiful Egypt…!

General Bishop

Head of Coptic Orthodox Cultural Center