Every month a member of Chapter contributes reflections on a topical theme of his choice.
These reflections are also printed in the Cathedral's monthly newsletter.
The Precentor reflects on the Christian church in Egypt and recent events.
Some of you may know that I was born in Egypt. My father was stationed in the Canal Zone and I was born in Ismailia in September 1951 shortly before the treaty granting the British a large base there was abrogated by the newly-elected Egyptian government on 11 October. As the situation degenerated, wives and families without married quarters in safe locations were sent home and so in the December my mother and I – less than three months old – returned to England just in time for Christmas.
Alas, I have never been back but I have always had a keen interest in many aspects of the country of my birth. We have probably all been following recent events: the slow build up of people power, the ever-increasing crowds in Tahrir Square, the final capitulation of President Mubarak and the uneasy situation still prevailing. One wonders what the ultimate outcome will be but one immediate result was an extraordinary coming together of Moslems and Christians in opposition to an undemocratic and repressive regime.
Christians in Egypt, Copts, are extremely proud of the fact that it was Egyptian soil that offered hospitality and refuge to Jesus and his family when Herod’s forces of repression came searching for the infant king. “God himself stayed with us as a guest!” they will tell you. “He could have chosen anywhere but he came to us. God himself stayed with us as a guest!” The fact that Jesus and his family came to Egypt and made their home there has “redeemed” Egypt’s history in the Scriptures.
The full text can be read on the Reflections page in About Us.