Today, Dr. Samy Fawzy, Archbishop of the Alexandria Diocese of the Anglican Church, participated in the opening of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, which was presided over by His Beatitude Patriarch Ibrahim Isaac, Patriarch of Alexandria for the Coptic Catholics. Representatives from various Christian denominations also attended. The opening ceremony was held at the Church of the Sacred Heart for the Coptic Catholics in Heliopolis, Egypt, with the participation of Rev. Yeshua Bakhit, General Secretary of the Council of Churches of Egypt, and Rev. Michel Milad, pastor of the Good Shepherd Anglican Church in Giza.
In his speech, the Archbishop said:
“I therefore, the prisoner in the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called” (Ephesians 4:1).
He explained that in this verse, the Apostle Paul asks believers to live a life worthy of the calling to which they were called. This calling is not about material or earthly things but about offering one’s entire life to Christ. Although challenging because it requires self-sacrifice, it is accessible to every person, whether poor or rich. The poor may have nothing material to give, but they can respond through faith, piety, and living according to Christ’s calling.
The Archbishop continued, noting that Paul’s appeal is based on his personal experience, having served the Lord with humility, gentleness, and patience—qualities every believer should embrace, as they reflect love and perseverance in Christian relationships. Paul also emphasizes the duty to maintain the unity of the Spirit given by the Holy Spirit, preserved through the bond of peace. Church unity rests on seven pillars: one body, one Spirit, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all.
His Beatitude Patriarch Ibrahim Isaac added:
“Today’s gathering is a grace brought together by the Holy Spirit despite our denominational differences, just as Jesus gathered twelve different disciples. What unites us is Christ’s calling and our response to it. We cannot love God whom we do not see without loving our neighbor whom we do see. The Christian calling is not a privilege or power but a journey of stewardship, humility, and mercy. The unity Paul spoke of is both communal and ecumenical; we cannot live our calling without preserving the unity of the Spirit. Before we can proclaim Christ to others, we must first be filled with Him. Unity is not an easy solution but a gift of the Holy Spirit, lived through prayer and patience. What unites us is stronger than what divides us, for we are children of one calling and one hope.”
Rev. Yeshua Bakhit, General Secretary of the Council of Churches of Egypt, added:
“In a world that needs unity more than ever, the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity comes as an invitation to reflect on Christ’s message of reconciliation, unity, and shared witness of faith. Christian unity is not merely an ideal or a future goal—it is a divine calling rooted in the very essence of Christ. Preserving the oneness of the body is a divine calling and ecclesial responsibility practiced in the spirit of love and gentleness. I acknowledge that the path to unity is not easy, as historical disagreements have divided the Church, yet I believe that faith in Christ entails a desire for unity.”