Friday 10 February 2017

His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales makes donation to monasteries in Upper Egypt for their continued work for the Christian and Muslim community


10 February 2017

His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales has made a donation towards the community work of the St Pachomius and El Gidiseen Coptic Orthodox monasteries in Upper Egypt. Both monasteries carry out projects that benefit Christians and Muslims within their respective communities, and have done so for centuries.

Monasticism was established in the 4th centuries in Egypt and since then monasteries have been an intrinsic part of Egyptian culture, both in their desert and rural settings. Their work is in areas of health and social welfare, irrespective of religion, faith, gender or any affiliation.”

In response to the contribution made, His Grace Bishop Angaelos, General Bishop of the Coptic Orthodox Church in the United Kingdom, said:

“We are very thankful for the continuing support of His Royal Highness. This is indeed a recognition of the role of the Christian communities working in Egypt within their indigenous settings; it is also a recognition of the rich monastic tradition that the Egyptian deserts have shared with the whole world over the past 1500 years.
The grant recognises that faith communities, if working in a healthy way within their urban or rural settings, can still make a contribution and have a very positive effect, even amongst the conflict that still exists in some places.”

*Ends*