Archbishop Dr. Samy Fawzy, Archbishop of the Province of Alexandria of the Anglican Episcopal Church, has appointed Rev. Dr. Yasser Koko as the new Head of the Clergy Council at All Saints’ Cathedral, a position known in the Anglican Church as “Archdeacon,” during a service of Holy Communion at All Saints’ Cathedral in Zamalek.
In his sermon, the Archbishop said:
“When we reflect on chapter 17 of the Gospel of John, we witness one of the deepest prayers of our Lord Jesus Christ. It is a sacred moment revealing the profound divine love that binds the Father to the Son, and includes us in this holy fellowship. In this prayer, Christ does not pray for Himself, but for those He loves, whom the Father has given to Him, declaring that we are not strangers before God but His own people, loved and protected. This prayer expresses a living relationship full of love, where the Son presents us as a precious gift from the Father and affirms that our lives are preserved and sanctified in truth.”
He continued:
“In this prayer, we hear Christ say: ‘And I am glorified in them.’ Here the Lord reveals His purpose for us: that He may be glorified through our lives and conduct. Christ’s glorification is not through appearances or possessions but through transformation of the heart and obedience to the Word. He is glorified in us when we live in holiness, humility, and love, allowing Him to transform us through the Holy Spirit into His likeness. Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, and this life bears peace and joy in the heart, making us witnesses to His glory in the world. Our calling is to live as beloved children, manifest His love in service, and lift His name in all we do so that Christ may be glorified in us as the Father is glorified in Him.”
The Archbishop introduced Rev. Dr. Yasser Koko to the church members, saying:
“The Episcopal Diocese of Egypt belongs to the Province of Alexandria and is part of the one, holy, catholic, and apostolic Church. It worships the one true God—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—and professes the faith revealed in the Holy Scriptures and the historic creeds. This faith is proclaimed anew by the Church from generation to generation. Guided by the Holy Spirit, we witness to the Christian truth as expressed in the historic creeds, the Thirty-Nine Articles of Religion, the Book of Common Prayer, and the Ordinal for the consecration of bishops, priests, and deacons.”
Attendees of the celebration included: Archbishop Fajack Afjani, Bishop of the Sudanese Province; Archbishop Peter of the Global Church of Africa; legal advisor Simon Joseph; Michael Mathiang, Cultural Attaché at the Embassy of South Sudan.
It is noteworthy that the position of Archdeacon for the Sudanese ministry assists the bishop in pastoral oversight of Sudanese clergy and their families. The Archdeacon collaborates with the diocesan bishop on leadership development programs, ongoing clergy education, and holds special supervisory responsibilities within the diocese. The Archdeacon plays a key role in realizing the diocesan vision of “A Living Church for a Better Society”, participating in mission work, pastoral oversight, and administrative matters serving the Sudanese community within the diocese.