Egyptian Gazette
Nov 26 2011
People: Do not be afraid
By Ihab Shaarawy – The Egyptian Gazette
Saturday, November 26, 2011 03:19:14 PM
CAIRO – While many people in Egypt and outside are beginning to ask
many questions about the future of this country, one man who looks to
holy books for inspiration assures everyone that we mustn’t be afraid.
“You have to dismiss your fears; this country is going to overcome all
the problems, and prosperity and peace will prevail,” says Krikor
Okosolinos Coussan, the Bishop of Alexandria for the Armenian
Catholics.
The phrase `Do not be afraid’ occurs 62 times in the Holy
Bible, one of them being in Luke 1:30, when the Angel Gabriel tells
the Virgin Mary not to be afraid.
For Monsignor Coussan, now is not the time for fear and
speculation, but for working and praying. Last month, he offered Mass
in an Armenian Catholic church in Heliopolis for peace to prevail in
this country.
What was astonishing was that many Christians of other
denominations and Muslims too attended the Mass.
“I wanted to tell the people that this is Egypt, where we all
live together, with one heart and one faith, worshipping one God,” he
told The Egyptian Gazette, adding that the service got a lot of media
attention and that many journalists abroad now keep on calling him to
ask about the situation in Egypt.
“People outside should know that Eastern people have a unique
nature, which is why they can live together in a warm and loving
atmosphere, whatever differences they have.
`And this is another reason why I am optimistic,’ added
Bishop Coussan, a prelate of Armenian descent, who was born in Syria,
and has lived and studied in Lebanon, Italy and France.
He was posted to Egypt five years ago, since when he has
always insisted that he wants to help all Egyptians, whatever their
religion or beliefs.
“Here we all live in one land, moving along the same path and
worshipping one God,” he said, adding that sometimes secret hands try
to create divisions or rifts between the sons of this country, but
these hands will soon be discovered and punished for their evil.
“Today, the sheikhs and priests must walk hand in hand,
telling the people, especially the humble, how strong their
relationship is,” he stressed, explaining that, since arriving in
Egypt, he has maintained strong relations with people of every faith.
Coussan regretted that there is some tension between Al-Azhar
and the Vatican. He is now working to defuse the tension and stressed
that he counts many Azhar sheikhs among his good friends.
“Along with my friends, Muslim clerics, I intend to organise
several activities and seminars to show the people how all the divine
books urge people to live together and respect each other’s faith and
lives,” added Monsignor Coussan, who doesn’t agree with those people
who fear certain groups will dominate the political scene in Egypt.
“Why do we feel afraid of someone when we don’t talk together?
We have to engage in dialogue first. And this dialogue will be based
on the divine books that all say the same thing: Live in peace and
respect each other’s faith.’
Bishop Coussan stayed in his church in downtown Cairo
throughout the revolution, because he wanted to be near the young
people who were protesting against the ex-regime, only a few steps
away from his church.
“I wanted to be near them, so I could offer them whatever help
they needed. It was my duty,” said the Bishop, who considers himself
to be a father for all Egyptians, not just the several thousand
Armenian Catholics living here.
He believes that those Armenians who came to Egypt in the
early 20th century are a model for peaceful living and acceptance of
the Other in this area of the world.
For him, it is transparency and justice that will extricate us
from the hardships we are suffering.
“The absence of these two things was the main reason for these
young people to take to streets, asking for the removal of the
ex-regime. Now it’s time to avoid the mistakes made in the past,” he
said.
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