Today, Archbishop Dr. Samy Fawzy, Archbishop of the Alexandria Diocese of the Anglican Church, led the Divine Liturgy for the Sudanese congregation at All Saints’ Anglican Church in Stanley, Alexandria, where he officiated the confirmation of 10 new members. The service included the participation of Rev. Daniel Kory, pastor of the church, and Rev. Elia Ibrahim, assistant to the pastor.
The Archbishop prayed for the confirmands: “Strengthen them and grant them all the qualities and abilities they need as they declare their faith before the church community. May the Holy Spirit fill their hearts and minds. Lay Your hands upon them with blessing and grace. The greatest joy in our lives is to meet You and glorify You with all our hearts. We thank You, Lord, for Your church and Your servants. Use us for the glory of Your holy name.”
In his sermon, the Archbishop said: “Simeon the Elder was a righteous and devout man who awaited the Messiah. The Holy Spirit had promised him that he would not die before seeing the Lord Christ. He lived his life anticipating the fulfillment of this promise, until he came to the temple and encountered the child Jesus. He took Him in his arms and blessed God, saying, ‘Now, Lord, You let Your servant depart in peace, according to Your word; for my eyes have seen Your salvation.’ Thus, Simeon became a witness to the fulfillment of God’s promises in the fullness of time.”
He continued: “The character of Simeon the Elder revealed the qualities of a person who truly waits for God: he was righteous in his dealings with people, devout in his heart before God, and filled with the Holy Spirit who guided him in every step of life. He was also marked by patience, faith, hope, and gratitude, living many years in expectation without despair. For this reason, God used him to be the first to proclaim that Christ is the light for the nations and the glory of Israel.”
He added: “A true believer combines righteousness and piety together. It is not enough to be righteous in relation to others without inner devotion; otherwise, one’s righteousness becomes merely outward, like the Pharisees. Simeon’s righteousness in his interactions with others was an outward sign reflecting the hidden piety in his heart. These are essential qualities for those who meet the Lord Christ and for those chosen by God to fulfill His purposes.”
He concluded: “If we wish today to encounter the Lord Jesus face to face, we must embody the qualities of Simeon the Elder: righteousness, devotion, patience, faith, gratitude, and fullness of the Holy Spirit. Then our tongues will proclaim praises, declaring the salvation of the Lord, who has been appointed for the fall and rise of many.”
It is noteworthy that the confirmation service marks a declaration of an individual’s membership in the Anglican Church. During the ceremony, the new member pledges before the bishop, the pastor, and all attendees to remain steadfast in faith, deepen their study of God’s Word, maintain a regular prayer life, and actively participate in the life and service of the church.