Today, Archbishop Dr. Samy Fawzy, Archbishop of the Province of Alexandria of the Anglican Episcopal Church, took part in the Sixth Global Conference of the Faith and Order Commission of the World Council of Churches, held under the theme “Where Are We Now in Relation to Visible Unity?”. The conference brings together church leaders and representatives from around the world and is being hosted at the Logos Conference Center at the Monastery of St. Bishoy in Wadi El-Natrun, with the attendance of Rev. Yeshua Bakhit, Secretary-General of the Council of Churches of Egypt; Eng. Shady Mounir, Dean of the Episcopal Theological College; and Mr. Salim Wasif, Dialogue Advisor at the Christian–Islamic Center for Understanding and Partnership.
The Archbishop expressed the deep gratitude of the Province of Alexandria to the Coptic Orthodox Church, affirming that the Church’s steadfast defense of the divinity of Christ is one of the greatest gifts ever offered to the universal Church. He noted that this reminds us that our fellowship and friendship are not merely moral duties, but theological necessities rooted in the very truth of who Christ is. He also extended his sincere thanks to His Holiness Pope Tawadros II for his gracious hospitality and his vision for dialogue shaped by love and truth.
The Archbishop highlighted the special significance of this year for all Christians, as the global Church celebrates the 1700th anniversary of the adoption of the Nicene Creed—an affirmation proclaiming faith in Jesus Christ as “begotten of the Father before all ages, Light from Light, true God from true God.” On this occasion, he reminded the participants with reverence that it was in Alexandria, within the Egyptian Church, that the light of Nicene faith first shone through the witness of St. Athanasius the Apostolic, who steadfastly defended the truth of the Incarnation. Through his witness, the Church was preserved in the doctrine of the Incarnation, and the faith of Nicaea became the faith of the entire Christian world.
The Archbishop concluded his address by saying: “As we gather in this sacred place, we remember that true fellowship begins with repentance and prayer. May our conversations be grounded in the Word of God, guided by the Holy Spirit, and sustained by the love that unites all things in perfect harmony.”
It is worth noting that the World Council of Churches conference coincides with the 1700th anniversary of the First Ecumenical Council of Nicaea in 325 AD. The World Council of Churches is one of the most prominent ecumenical bodies globally, hosting 500 participants from 100 countries, working to promote shared faith and serve humanity through cooperation among member churches in education, development, peace, and justice.