We were accompanied by the leaders of the Focolare movement in Egypt.
“How can churches be together on this occasion?” Olivier asked him. “Indeed, 2000 years is something to celebrate. And this must be celebrated together!”
The Pope replied that the Council of Churches in Egypt should reflect on this issue. A special commission should also be created to make concrete proposals.
The different Easter dates between the orthodoxes and other churches are problematic. Tawadros wrote to Pope Francis proposing to unify these dates. Research has also been done by the churches, but they’re ineffective for the moment. However, Pope Tawadros suggested to think how to live Easter together in years where the date will be the same for all churches before 2033 (in 2025, 2028 and 2031).
According to him, the unity of the churches must be focused on Christ. In order to illustrate his point, he showed us his cross with its four branches. The bottom branch represents relationships. It’s the longest, so the most important. The second branch is studies, the third is dialogue and the fourth is prayer.
“It’s only by holding these four branches together that we will reach the heart of Jesus and experience the unity of all Christians. We made the mistake of starting the dialogue without studying and without building love relationships. We must begin to build relationships with all churches without exception”, Tawadros told us.
At the end of the meeting, he gave each person a Coptic icon of the Holy Family: Mary and Jesus on a donkey led by Joseph, fleeing to Egypt. Then he invited us to pray for Egypt.
Icon of the Holy Family in Egypt
Faith that moves the mountains
After our meeting with Pope Tawadros, we met Father Boutros who represents the Coptic Orthodox Church on the Council of Churches of Egypt.
The issue of the date of Easter was the main subject of our discussion. According to Fr. Boutros, 14 years will not be enough to unify it, even if currently both popes Francis and Tawadros are very open.
To the left: Magdi Misraki (Focolare) and Fr. Boutros
“But nothing is impossible: if Saint Saaman moved Mokattam Hill, we can also move the date of Easter”, said Father Boutros, smiling and quoting an episode from the life of this very popular saint in Egypt on which he wrote a thesis. He suggested that the churches agree on a common symbolic date, but continue to celebrate Easter according to their own calendar. After all, faith (can) move mountains!
The Risen One among us
Abouna Makary is a prominent figure of the Coptic Orthodox Church. With a dozen people belonging to the Focolare Movement and the Charismatic Renewal, he received us at home with his wife. Twice a week, he hosts a television show during which he answers questions about faith. He was very happy with our initiative for 2033. Indeed, for him, the heart of the Christian faith is to live the communion with the Risen One. “Christianity is to live Emmanuel. Christ is among us. I repeat it all the time: He is my friend and still lives with me”.
At Fr. Makary and his wife’s
More than seven years ago, the Lord put in his heart a great love for all Christian denominations. With a pastor and a Catholic priest, he founded the movement “The mustard seed”, precisely centered on the presence of the risen Christ among us (see below).
Visit to the monasteries in the desert
We spent a whole day in the desert between Cairo and Alexandria to visit some monasteries. We first arrived at Anafora, out of the sands 20 years ago. Its founder, Bishop Thomas, was to receive us. However, on the phone, he assured me of his support:” We want to be part of this process. Always be welcome here!”
The spiritual centre Anafora
We had met him a few months earlier, during the French-speaking Christian forum in Lyon. Anafora is a Greek word meaning “to raise”. The purpose of this spiritual centre is the full restoration of the person. That is why, in addition to prayer and spiritual retreats, respect for nature, organic farming, solar energy and art are promoted. Training is offered to out-of-school youth. People come from all over the world in this little paradise! It is run by monks and nuns and single or married volunteers.
The risen Christ in Anafora
The next step is the monastery of Saint Makarios. An “Abouna” – a monk – received us in this place where monasticism was born in the 4th century. He made us visit various churches, especially that of the “49 martyrs”. Today, the 150 monks of this place begin their day at four o’clock in the morning, with two hours of prayer. They are true athletes of spirituality! An ostrich egg hanging near an altar drawed Olivier’s attention. It’s a symbol of the resurrection. “As life comes out of the shell, Christ came out of the tomb”, the monk explained in a video (see here).
On the way back, we stopped briefly at the monastery of Saint Bishoy.
Not only dreaming but organizing
We also visited another Orthodox church. The Greek Orthodox Metropolitan (or “archbishop”) Nikodimos received us at the metropolis of the Patriarchate of Alexandria, in a popular area of Cairo. “Not only is your project beautiful, but it is great too. We must not only dream it, but organize it”, he said with a big smile.
To the left, Metropolitan Nikodimos
When Olivier explained to him the importance of unity for us, he answers: “Our divisions are not right. We must return to the ancient church where all Christians were united. The closer we are to Jesus, the closer we are to each other. Your project will help us and it a good surprise that I will speak to the patriarch and the synod”.
Martin Hoegger, responsible for inter churches relations for JC 2033
