The Diaspora

The Main Idea of the Lecture

The lecture addresses the issue of the Coptic Orthodox Church’s pastoral care for her children in the diaspora and the great difficulties in sending priests to serve churches outside Egypt. His Holiness Pope Shenouda III explains that the matter is not merely sending a priest, but choosing someone spiritually, academically, and pastorally qualified, capable of adapting to different environments and multiple cultures.

First: The Difficulty of Choosing the Suitable Priest

His Holiness Pope Shenouda III emphasizes that serving in the diaspora requires a priest who:

• Masters the language and its accent.
• Understands the nature of the society there.
• Is capable of persuasion and dialogue, not relying on authoritarianism.
• Is firm in doctrine amid multiple intellectual currents.

Serving in the diaspora is not easy, and any mistake in selection may lead to division among the people or complicated pastoral problems.

Second: Challenges of Culture and Identity

His Holiness Pope Shenouda III explains that the children of the diaspora live among different cultures that may affect:

• The family and raising children.
• The Coptic identity.
• The Coptic language and church rites.

There is a danger of losing spiritual and ecclesiastical identity if care is not given wisely, especially with attempts to escape from the Coptic language or to accelerate the rites at the expense of their spirituality.

Third: The Church’s Efforts in the Diaspora

His Holiness Pope Shenouda III lists what the Church has done, including:

1. Establishing churches in different countries to preserve the people in faith.
2. Translating liturgical books and prayers into local languages.
3. Caring for youth and Sunday Schools.
4. Sending bishops and priests in continuous pastoral visits.
5. Purchasing churches and lands to establish stable ecclesiastical presence.

He affirms that the Church seeks to preserve the Orthodox faith while respecting peoples’ cultures without compromising doctrine.

The Spiritual Message

The essential message is that serving the diaspora requires wisdom, patience, and discernment. The Church works in a spirit of responsibility, not haste, in order to preserve the unity of the people and their steadfastness in faith. Preserving the Coptic identity and liturgical spirituality is an essential part of keeping the Church alive everywhere.

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