“We All Shall Stand Together To Pass Over This Crisis”

A part of Bishop Ermia’s sermon given at the eve prayer of the feast of announcing the ascension of the body of Saint Virgin Mary held at her church in Daqados, Mit Ghamr, Al-Daqahliya- Sunday 21st of August 2022

Frankly speaking, before beginning my speech, I would like to tell you that Egypt, this safe country has always opened up its arms for all the prophets; Abraham, the Friend of God, the father of fathers, came to Egypt when the famine took place, he lived in this land with his wife Sarah.

Here, Joseph the Righteous came too, being sold as a slave to Potiphar; he saved Egypt and the entire world from the famine that took place then. Here, the children of Israel: Jacob and his children lived here for more than 400 years, reflecting the multiplicity in Egypt and its acceptance of others and foreigners, this land had embraced everyone in its bosom.

In Egypt, Moses was born and disciplined with the wisdom of the Egyptians, he managed to lead the children of Israel and cross the Red Sea, arriving at the other side of the earth. Besides, Solomon the Wise had married the daughter of Pharaoh, Lord Christ and His mother Saint Virgin Mary came here with Joseph the Carpenter, fleeing from Herod’s tyranny, He lived in this land, blessed it from north to south and from east to west. Hence, Egypt has become a symbol of peace, the Holy Bible said, “Blessed be Egypt, My people”.

Actually, Egypt is the only country around the world that is mentioned in all religions, I have been driven to speak about Egypt at the beginning of my speech because of what I have just heard before holding the eve prayers of this blessed night. What I have heard has uncovered several wounds in my heart, unleashed pains and agonies that afflicted all of us, the Christian and Muslim Egyptians, last Sunday after a massive fire consumed the church of Abi-Sifen in Imbaba.

Since then, we have heard about news of fire breaking out here and there along nearly 7 days for several reasons, I am not to discuss neither the reasons nor the results of the fire, as we might analyze the results and find the causes. Yet, from this holy place, I am addressing each and every official in this country: we love Egypt, we live in this country, where we have been martyred, sacrificed our youths, children and elders to keep it safe, we have been together in several wars to keep this land that was blessed by Lord Christ. Out of my fervent love for this country that is incomparable to any other around the world. I have been to many countries and places, but the people of this country and rather all its sweet and bitter things satisfy me, filling me with spirituality feelings that I have never experienced anywhere else.

We have all suffered last week; the entire people of Egypt, I am closely following what is happening everywhere in Egypt, from here I am declaring it out loud: what is happening here takes place in accurate timings, on definite times, I am not detecting the reason, but I am declaring it now that this shall be an alert for the entire state, we all shall stand together to pass over this crisis, not the economic crisis of high prices, as the whole world is suffering, but when a state loses those who love and support it, this shall mark the beginning of a dangerous issue. We have to understand, we shall discover what is happening in order to halt it forever, to keep this country a safe one for all who come to live in it.

I do not worry at all about what is happening. Even what happened before the prayer did not impact me, as we, the Copts, love our churches, priests, bishops and patriarch, we love each other, and we love our fellows in the home country. All people in Egypt exalt and love Saint Virgin Mary, so I am not worried concerning what I hear, but I am worried concerning the timings of incidents.

Anyway, we put everything in the hands of God, He can manage the issues of Egypt and the whole world, He is the Creator of all things and the Pantocrator.