Coptic Orthodox Church UK
Media and
Communications Office
Coptic Orthodox
Church (Europe)
Media
and Communications Office
Launch of ‘When Left Behind’ appeal
for the families of Coptic Christians brutally murdered in Libya in February
2015.
19
February 2015
His Grace Bishop Angaelos General Bishop of
the Coptic Orthodox Church in the United Kingdom launched the #WhenLeftBehind
appeal for the families of those brutally murdered in Libya at a memorial
service in St Mark’s Coptic Orthodox Church, Kensington on 18 February 2015.
The service, led by Bishop Angaelos, was
attended by clergy and congregation from the Coptic Orthodox community across
the United Kingdom as well as His Excellency Mr Nasser Kamel the Ambassador of
Egypt, the Consul General Dr Hesham Khalil, and numerous official and
ecumenical guests.
During his sermon, Bishop Angaelos spoke of the
immense courage, strength and dignity shown by those who lost their lives in Libya,
saying:
“As we mourn with the families of those who died we also rejoice in
the faithful conviction, strength, dignity and bravery of these men; these
fathers, brothers, uncles and sons who will never be forgotten.”
At the end of the service, Bishop Angaelos expressed
his thanks to the British Prime Minister, The Right Honourable David Cameron, and
the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, The Right Honourable
Eric Pickles, for their personal calls expressing their condolences. He also
thanked the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Most Reverend Justin Welby for his
personal visit to the Coptic Orthodox Church Centre in the United Kingdom earlier
that day to express his support, and His Eminence the Cardinal of Westminster, Vincent
Nichols for his personal message of condolence.
Bishop Angaelos also thanked all those who expressed
their support and solidarity with the Coptic community over the past week, and
invited all to contribute to the ‘When Left Behind’ appeal, saying:
“These young men were bread winners for their families and their loss
will not only rob them of the joy of their presence but will leave a significant
financial void in an already impoverished community.”
The names
of the young men killed in Libya are:
- Milad Makeen Zaky
- Abanub Ayad Atiya
- Maged Solaiman Shehata
- Yusuf Shukry Yunan
- Kirollos Shokry Fawzy
- Bishoy Astafanus Kamel
- Somaily Astafanus Kamel
- Malak Ibrahim Sinweet
- Tawadros Yusuf Tawadros
- Girgis Milad Sinweet
- Mina Fayez Aziz
- Hany Abdelmesih Salib
- Bishoy Adel Khalaf
- Samuel Alham Wilson
- Worker from Awr village
- Ezat Bishri Naseef
- Loqa Nagaty
- Gaber Munir Adly
- Esam Badir Samir
- Malak Farag Abram
- Sameh Salah Faruq
*Ends*
