First Ever Global Coptic Day Unites Coptic Orthodox Christians in Worldwide Celebration on June 1, 2019
Followers of One of World's Oldest Christian Churches Plan on Marking the Day with Prayer, Service, Fellowship, and Copious Use of Social Media
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla., May 16, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- "When I presented the idea of Global Coptic Day to His Holiness Pope Tawadros II in Egypt last November 20th, I was elated by the response," says Nader Anise, Co-Founder of Global Coptic Day. "His Holiness gave me his blessing and said it was a very good idea, and to move ahead as planned."
Precisely one month prior, Anise had laid out the Global Coptic Day framework to his Diocesan bishop, His Grace Bishop Youssef, Coptic Orthodox Bishop of the Southern United States, during a 30-minute conference call. "Bishop Youssef is a visionary with big ideas. True to form, by the end of the call, His Grace and I were discussing the possibility of my traveling to Egypt to speak to His Holiness and members of the Holy Synod about the plan," Anise recalls. He adds, "The truth is, without Bishop Youssef's leadership and support, none of this would have been possible." Bishop Youssef, in fact, was the one who added "Global" to the name. In addition, His Grace chose June 1st to coincide with the feast of the Entry of the Lord Jesus Christ and the Holy Family into Egypt, according to the Coptic calendar.
The idea for the day was conceived from the desire to create awareness of the Coptic Orthodox Church and to use social media for a beneficial and productive purpose. Global Coptic Day seeks to celebrate the rich heritage of the Coptic Orthodox Church, which includes establishing monasticism, centuries of persecution and martyrdom, the Theological School of Alexandria, and a vast catalog of church hymns, some of which are derived from ancient Pharaonic chants.
To celebrate Global Coptic Day on June 1st, participants are asked to use the P.R.A.I.S.E. acronym as a guide:
(P)ray for the peace of the Church throughout the day |
(R)ead stories of saints to children; start an annual reading tradition |
(A)cts of mercy like visiting the sick and jailed; helping the needy and homeless |
(I)nvite non-Copts to attend a Coptic Orthodox Service |
(S)erve local communities and neighbors |
(E)ducate the public on who the Copts are and what they believe using social media |
All those posting on social media are asked to use the hashtags #globalcopticday and #june1 in their posts.
In addition, Copts are asked to wear red (or burgundy) to symbolize the blood of the martyrs which, over the years, has nourished the church and helped it flourish. Not surprisingly, the Coptic Orthodox Church is known as the Church of the Martyrs. One of the most notable incidents in recent years was the martyrdom of 21 Coptic young men who were beheaded by ISIS terrorists along the shores of Libya.
Global Coptic Day celebrations are planned all over the world. Volunteer "ambassadors" from countries like Germany, Australia, Kuwait, the United States and Canada, and others, have been organizing the Day's events in their respective parishes.
The Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria (as it is formally known) was established in the mid first century, as early as 48 A.D. or possibly earlier. The Founder, St. Mark the Evangelist, authored the second Gospel of the New Testament and served as the Church's first Pope.
The Global Coptic Day website is www.globalcopticday.org and the handle on all social media channels is @globalcopticday.
CONTACT
Nader Anise
Tel . (954) 392-8824
[email protected]
SOURCE Nader Anise
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