Today, Dr. Sami Fawzy, Archbishop of the Province of Alexandria of the Anglican Episcopal Church, presided over the Divine Liturgy for the Sudanese Ministry at All Saints’ Cathedral. During the service, the Archbishop granted authorization to clergy and lay Sudanese ministers, and offered prayers for the installation of 60 new members into the church.
The service was attended by Archdeacon Hany Shenouda, Dean of the Cathedral; Archdeacon Rev. Yasser Koko, Archdeacon of the Sudanese Ministry and pastor of the Cathedral ministry; and Rev. Faiz Nady, priest in the Episcopal Diocese of Egypt.
In his sermon, the Archbishop said: The Gospel of Luke presents a unique scene during a time when God’s silence prevailed for nearly four hundred years. It begins with the words “in the days of Herod,” a tyrannical king, amid deep political and spiritual turmoil. In this context, Zechariah, the priest whose name means “God remembers,” emerges carrying a message of hope for a people who believed God had forgotten His promises. Zechariah’s appearance clearly shows that God’s silence is not absence, but a waiting for the perfect divine timing.
He continued: The Bible describes Zechariah and his wife Elizabeth as righteous before God, walking blamelessly in His commandments, despite the deep sorrow of childlessness and the social stigma Elizabeth faced. Divine revelation, however, reveals a different truth: barrenness was not a sign of rejection, but part of God’s salvific plan. When Zechariah was chosen by lot to enter the temple and burn incense, he experienced a divine encounter that changed the course of his life—an angel of the Lord appeared in a scene filled with awe and glory.
He concluded: When God’s word was fulfilled with the birth of John the Baptist, Zechariah’s song of praise erupted: “Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, for He has visited and redeemed His people.” These words clearly declare that God remembers, cares, and redeems in the fullness of time. The divine care experienced by Zechariah and Elizabeth was not an isolated event, but a foreshadowing of Christ’s coming into the world—a sign of God’s faithful providence and a continual invitation for us to trust in His care, even amid long periods of silence.
It is noteworthy that the installation service signifies a new member’s official entry into the Episcopal Church, where the individual pledges before the bishop, the pastor, and all present to deepen their study of God’s Word and to maintain a regular prayer life.