In the previous two articles, we spoke about country love which filled the hearts and lives of Pope Kyrillos VI and Pope Shenouda III, as we narrated some of their national stances that featured their lives during the darkest periods experienced by Egypt, each one of them played a positive influential role in the national landscape of history.
The roles of Pope Kyrillos VI and Pope Shenouda III towards Egypt were not only a matter of duty as they occupied the See of St. Mark only, but also a result of outpouring love flowing towards the country, as they shared its suffering and burdens, they got pleased with its growth and progress, and they worked tirelessly for the sake of its people; they are two icons drawn with country love on the pages of Egyptian history, in the heart of every Egyptian lived on the land of this country and in his mind and behavior. Let us take a quick look at the pages of recent history that saw Egyptians’ love for their country.
The French Campaign
The French Campaign came to Egypt, after the French emperor and leaders realized the importance of Egypt and its role in the world, with an aim of turning it into a French province. However, all the Egyptians; Muslims and Christians refused and resisted any aggression that tries to rob the country.
Under the leadership of the governor of Alexandria, Sheikh Mohammed Koraiem, the Copts and Muslims fought in Alexandria and Imbaba, and the Egyptian blood was mixed, watering the earth. In the writings of historians, including Mr. Mahmoud Al Sharqawi, it is said: “As for the stance of the majority of the Copts, led by Gerges Al Gohary, it was the same as that of their Muslim brethren: they struggled against the occupiers; the Copts joined their Muslim brethren in the Battle of Imbaba against the French. Rio, one of the campaign historians, said that twelve peasants in Imbaba bore forty guns, many of whom were Arabs, Copts and Ethiopians. Copts didn’t linger in fighting the French along with their compatriots at the Battle of Imbaba, he continued: “Christians got imprisoned in the castle with Muslims for their fight against the French as the imprisoned Moalem Nicola who was a man of great rank, also the Copts fought and were killed in the Battle of Imbaba against Napoleon.”
I read a story took place during that era, shows the deep connection among the one people; during the revolution against the French Occupation, two people were incarcerated after the French accused them of promoting rumors against them.
One of them was a Muslim and the other a Copt, each was to be fined of one hundred riyals, and in case they couldn’t pay, their tongues were to be cut to be a lesson for those who would speak badly of the French! Of course, both men couldn’t afford this high sum of money; some scholars tried to intercede at the French authorities for their release, but that was impossible! So, Sheikh Mustafa Al-Sawy hurried to pay the sum of 200 riyals to release the two men, after he had borrowed them from a friend of his! And here the French asked him: Why did you pay a ransom for a Coptic?! He replied: “Both the Muslim and the Coptic are of Egypt’s men, they have the right to life on earth, and the imprisoned Muslim had announced that he would not leave the prison cell in Al Qal’a prison until his Coptic colleague would get released.” Thus, the two men were released together, and were warmly welcomed by people until they reached the Al-Azhar Mosque and the Church of St. Mark in Azbekia. Thusly, the one people who love his country has lived together.
Orabi’s Revolution:
Ahmed Orabi was a leader of the Egyptians. He gathered leading thinkers like Abdullah al-Nadim and Adeeb Ishaq. In his struggle, he believed that the strength of people in dealing with the dangers that beset it lies in its unity. Amidst these events, we see the religious leaders; the Muslims led by the Sheikh of Al-Azhar, and the Christians led by Pope Kyrillos V jointly raise their petition to “Khedive Ismail,” demanding the foundation of a National Ministry and the dismissal of the English Minister of Finance in the Egyptian government Charles Rivers Wilson. History can not erase from its memory the national meeting, which was led by Imam Mohammed Abdo and attended by Pope Kyrillos V in order to reject the stances of Khedive Tawfiq, which were biased to the English.
1919 Revolution:
The breezes of March, 9, 1919 had blown, bearing with it the Egyptians’ rising led by Saad Zaghloul for their country’s freedom, they kepty in their minds and hearts – the men and women of them – the slogan of the revolution: “Homeland is for all”, while religion is for God. From the events of that era: when the national revolution angered the English, they threw their bombs at the demonstrators in Assiut and Dirout, and sent their soldiers to resist the Egyptian popular movement in Assiut. In Aswan, the headmaster of the Coptic school, accompanied by his students, blocked the railroads and cut the telegraph wires, and locked up the English manager.
Also, we can’t overpass the character of Pope Kyrillos V, who, in support of the Egyptian revolution, made churches a platform for preachers, and asked the priests to help the Sheikhs of Al Azhar in raising the awareness of the Egyptians and motivate them for independence. Pope Kyrillos V also had a close relationship with the leader Saad Zaghloul, so they held frequent meetings and the Pope used to pray for him pleading for blessing and success in all his steps for Egypt’s sake.
The Pope remained connected to the leader of Egypt and the revolution until his departure in 1927. Upon the departure of Pope Kyrillos V, Al-Musawwar magazine published a large picture of the Pope in its edition No. 148, issued on Friday 12/8/1927, and wrote: “On Sunday morning, one of Egypt’s great men passed away, he was a great religious leader who had played throughout his life an important role in the history of this country: the Triple Beatified Pope Kyrillos V, the Patriarch of the Coptic Orthodox …Thanks to him, the two elements of the Egyptian nation have united, as in the course of the national movement, he adopted a praised and exalted stance. The much respected leader Saad Zaghloul Pasha had revered and appreciated him, and the country considered him one of her religious and political leaders.”
Egyptian nationalism knows only the homeland, its dignity and its love, it is satisfied only with its dignity and glory; it has been an example that fascinates whoever sees or read about it. Today, the country asks all to unite hearts and souls for the sake of its construction and restoring its status and leadership among the nations, it asks its sons as well to stand together positively, supporting it and working for its supremacy. Egyptians will forever respond to the call of the country as they always do…
Stories never end in Beautiful Egypt…!
General Bishop
Head of Coptic Orthodox Cultural Center
