Seminar on Our Children Abroad – Egyptian Diplomatic Club
In this deeply spiritual and social lecture, His Holiness Pope Shenouda III speaks about the vital issue of our children living abroad, emphasizing the importance of preserving their Egyptian and Coptic Orthodox identity within foreign societies that differ in values and culture.
🔹 Main Idea:
His Holiness focuses on the dual belonging of our diaspora children:
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National belonging to Egypt.
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Ecclesiastical belonging to the Coptic Orthodox Church.
He explains that the Church grew from only 7 parishes to over 150 worldwide to protect her children from assimilation and loss of faith.
🔹 Spiritual Dimension:
The Church serves as a spiritual fortress, guarding faith amid moral and ideological challenges. Christian teaching and pastoral care are the key tools to preserve the second and third generations from spiritual and cultural alienation.
🔹 Challenges in the Diaspora:
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Loss of national and ecclesiastical identity.
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Employment difficulties due to unrecognized qualifications.
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Weakness in the Arabic language and cultural disconnect.
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Misuse of personal freedom leading to moral decline.
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Different family and educational systems.
🔹 Church’s Efforts:
The Church established parishes, Sunday schools, and translated liturgical books into local languages while keeping their Coptic spirit alive. It also encouraged pride in Egypt’s glorious heritage, reminding everyone that “Egypt lives in us.”
🔹 Final Message:
Pope Shenouda calls for cooperation between the Church and the State to care for Egyptians abroad, affirming that migration must not mean separation from one’s roots. Faith, belonging, and love remain the bridges connecting us to our homeland and Church wherever we are.
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