Cairo – Sunday, 24 May 2026
The Most Reverend Dr. Samy Fawzy, Archbishop of the Anglican/Episcopal Province of Alexandria, presided over the Divine Liturgy within the Sudanese ministry at St. Michael’s Episcopal Church in Heliopolis, where a confirmation service was held for 57 new members of the church. He was joined in prayer by Rev. Jaafar Tangara, pastor of the ministry, and Rev. Michael Angelo, assistant pastor. The service witnessed a large attendance of church members and worshippers.
In his meditation on John 17, the Archbishop reflected on three key truths in Christ’s prayer. The first truth is Christ’s love for His people, as the prayer reveals His deep concern for believers, affirming that every person is of great value in God’s sight. He added that Christ reassures His followers that they belong to Him, like a good shepherd who protects and cares for his flock. God’s love, he emphasized, does not change according to circumstances or human failures, as it is a steadfast decision from the heart of God rather than fluctuating emotion.
The second truth is the love of the Father for believers, explaining that the Father loves His children because they belong to the beloved Son. Therefore, when a person comes to prayer, they do not come as a stranger but as a child entering into a true fellowship with God. The Scriptures, he noted, affirm the dignity of humanity in the eyes of the Father and the Son, as believers have become beloved through their relationship with Christ.
The third truth is that Christ desires to be glorified in the lives of His followers, referencing Jesus’ words: “I am glorified in them,” meaning that His glory should be reflected in believers’ daily lives through real transformation, obedience to His commandments, and faithfulness amid trials and difficulties.
He concluded his sermon by asking, “Is Christ glorified in us today?” emphasizing that the central message of Christ’s prayer is that Christ loves humanity because they are His, the Father loves them because they belong to the Son, and Christ desires to be glorified in every believer’s life.
The Archbishop also prayed for the Church and its people, for the newly confirmed members, and urged all to experience the true presence of Christ in their daily lives and allow God to be glorified through them before the world.
The confirmation service is considered an official declaration of joining the Episcopal Church membership, in which the new member commits before the bishop, clergy, and congregation to deepen their study of the Word of God and maintain a disciplined life of prayer.
Issued by
Press Office of the Diocese of Egypt – Episcopal/Anglican Church