Just one month before all of this started, we heard about a bombing in Alexandria, the nation’s second largest city. The target? A Coptic (Christian) Church.
Up until this week, there was a comfortable distance between Egypt’s woes and I. Then I met Fr. Angelos Saad, the chair of the Canadian Coptic Centre and pastor of the Church of the Virgin Mary and St. Athanasius in Mississauga, Ontario.
I recall a slight feeling of anxiety at the discovery of Fr. Angelos’ quiet disposition. In the time he came in the door, made his way to the chapel for a short bout of devout prayer and then entered to the studio, and climbed the stool to his place at the table, he had barely uttered three words. 'Uh oh,' I thought. 'Will we get an interview out of this?' Boy, was I wrong.
The quiet and humble man sat at the table and instantly made the suffering of his people--our people--real for us. Life for Fr. Angelos is very simple: hold fast to the Cross (like he did throughout the duration of his interview--literally) and love God with all your heart.
I remember thinking how incongruent this scene was: we are filming an interview for television and his people are fearful for the political future of their country and what it will mean for Christians.
Join host Pedro-Guevara Mann this week as he and Fr. Hegomen Angelos Saad discuss the beauty of the Coptic Orthodox faith and the delicacy required in daily life as a Christian in the Middle East.
That’s Perspectives tonight at 7pm and 11pm ET, 8pm PT.