"The Prosecution of Christians Today in the Lands of the Bible"
A report by Hagiographos Elias Damianakis Archon Maestor
Tampa Bay Religious Freedom Conference hosted by the Order of Saint Andrew the Apostle, Archons of Tampa Bay, Florida Thursday November 14, 2013.
Hundreds of people packed the community center of Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church of Clearwater to hear presentations by representatives of various Christian communities representing the Christian minorities of the Mediterranean: Egypt, Syria, Turkey and Palestine.
The evening was opened by a prayer by Greek Orthodox vicar of Tampa Bay Fr James Rousakis and moderated by Archon Ted Vlachos who offered an overview the presenters and brief biographical information for each.
The first presentation was given by Fr Kyrillos Makar of the Coptic church. Fr Kyrillos began with a brief introduction of the Coptic etymology and followed by a historical and theological background of the Coptic experience in Egypt. An emotional slide show of the oldest Orthodox monasteries and the church founded by St Mark the Evangelist, Saint Anthony, St Mary of Egypt... He followed up with Christian experience under various regimes and the tragic turn of events under the Moslem Brotherhood and the Morsi government. The attacks on Christians continue consistently with a horrifying testimony of the funeral attacks April 7, 2013 where videos show the police force actually clearing the crowds to allow Islamist suicide bombers to enter the church with explosives during the funeral. He asks us each to read John 16:33 and closed with the confident proclamation "we are confident" by raising our voices we raise awareness to the plight.
Fr Michael Massouh and Fr John Kouki representing the Syrian community discuss the decline of Christian community under the Assad regime who according to Fr Michael had much freedom. He continued with a power point presentation about the basics of Syrian Christianity. Photos of churches from a recent visit and comparative photos of the many churches destroyed by the opposition forces. He discussed the anti-regime riots and poor local coverage of the incidents in Home, Syria the birthplace of Romanos the Melodist.
Fr John Kouki offered a poignant report on the abduction of two Syrian Bishops who are still missing in Egypt and the passionate description of the kidnapping and his personal experiences with the bishops. He offered a prayer for Christians in the middle east and asked we continue to offer them. He spoke about the "genocide of the Syriac people inTurkey" listing the massacres and atrocities within the last month alone!
Next we heard from Maria Koury, a graduate of Hellenic College/Holy Cross, who offered a basic background of Palestinan experience and of the village of Taybeh in Israel. She offered her perspective of the walls being built by Israeland the settlements in Palestine lands. Her personal experiences of the difficulties of Christians to travel even to and from work were insightful and disheartening. Maria told us about the fundraising efforts to financial support the local community and the difficulty which they are attempting to overcome.
Following Maria Koury's presentation Dr Ted Vlachos had the audience stand and stretch for a healthy outlook before introducing the next speaker Archon Nick Loutsion from Canonsburg PA, who spoke about the Order of Saint Andrew efforts on behalf of the Ecumenical Patriarch and Religious Freedom. He spoke about the "Church in Captivity". A succinct review of the five point supported by the Archons. For detailed information visit Archons.org
The final speaker of the evening represented the honorable Archon Congressman Gus Bilirakis; the distinguished former Congressman and Archon Michael Bilirakis (and father of Gus). The congressman asked the audience how many pastors were in attendance and none were in attendance were upon he said "there in-lies one of the problems, the Christian community is unaware of the crisis". He reiteratedGus's unrelenting commitment to religious freedom and to the Greek community emphasizing the disproportionate emphasis he [Congressman Gus Bilirakis] offers on the House Floor and in local politics. Archon Michael continued to elaborate on the effects of current political situation in the lands of the Bible and how "prior regimes were actually better for Christians". He also raised the American political attitude and lack of Orthodox representation in Congress and how we could benefit from a strong lobby on the minority issues facing our community.
Following the closing prayer by the Proestamenos of Holy Trinity, Clearwater, Fr James Paris the participants enjoyed fellowship reception Hosted by the Archons of Tampa Bay and local Philoptochos in the community center as the local Archons gathered for a photo of the event.
A report by Hagiographos Elias Damianakis Archon Maestor
Tampa Bay Religious Freedom Conference hosted by the Order of Saint Andrew the Apostle, Archons of Tampa Bay, Florida Thursday November 14, 2013.
Hundreds of people packed the community center of Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church of Clearwater to hear presentations by representatives of various Christian communities representing the Christian minorities of the Mediterranean: Egypt, Syria, Turkey and Palestine.
The evening was opened by a prayer by Greek Orthodox vicar of Tampa Bay Fr James Rousakis and moderated by Archon Ted Vlachos who offered an overview the presenters and brief biographical information for each.
The first presentation was given by Fr Kyrillos Makar of the Coptic church. Fr Kyrillos began with a brief introduction of the Coptic etymology and followed by a historical and theological background of the Coptic experience in Egypt. An emotional slide show of the oldest Orthodox monasteries and the church founded by St Mark the Evangelist, Saint Anthony, St Mary of Egypt... He followed up with Christian experience under various regimes and the tragic turn of events under the Moslem Brotherhood and the Morsi government. The attacks on Christians continue consistently with a horrifying testimony of the funeral attacks April 7, 2013 where videos show the police force actually clearing the crowds to allow Islamist suicide bombers to enter the church with explosives during the funeral. He asks us each to read John 16:33 and closed with the confident proclamation "we are confident" by raising our voices we raise awareness to the plight.
Fr Michael Massouh and Fr John Kouki representing the Syrian community discuss the decline of Christian community under the Assad regime who according to Fr Michael had much freedom. He continued with a power point presentation about the basics of Syrian Christianity. Photos of churches from a recent visit and comparative photos of the many churches destroyed by the opposition forces. He discussed the anti-regime riots and poor local coverage of the incidents in Home, Syria the birthplace of Romanos the Melodist.
Fr John Kouki offered a poignant report on the abduction of two Syrian Bishops who are still missing in Egypt and the passionate description of the kidnapping and his personal experiences with the bishops. He offered a prayer for Christians in the middle east and asked we continue to offer them. He spoke about the "genocide of the Syriac people inTurkey" listing the massacres and atrocities within the last month alone!
Next we heard from Maria Koury, a graduate of Hellenic College/Holy Cross, who offered a basic background of Palestinan experience and of the village of Taybeh in Israel. She offered her perspective of the walls being built by Israeland the settlements in Palestine lands. Her personal experiences of the difficulties of Christians to travel even to and from work were insightful and disheartening. Maria told us about the fundraising efforts to financial support the local community and the difficulty which they are attempting to overcome.
Following Maria Koury's presentation Dr Ted Vlachos had the audience stand and stretch for a healthy outlook before introducing the next speaker Archon Nick Loutsion from Canonsburg PA, who spoke about the Order of Saint Andrew efforts on behalf of the Ecumenical Patriarch and Religious Freedom. He spoke about the "Church in Captivity". A succinct review of the five point supported by the Archons. For detailed information visit Archons.org
The final speaker of the evening represented the honorable Archon Congressman Gus Bilirakis; the distinguished former Congressman and Archon Michael Bilirakis (and father of Gus). The congressman asked the audience how many pastors were in attendance and none were in attendance were upon he said "there in-lies one of the problems, the Christian community is unaware of the crisis". He reiteratedGus's unrelenting commitment to religious freedom and to the Greek community emphasizing the disproportionate emphasis he [Congressman Gus Bilirakis] offers on the House Floor and in local politics. Archon Michael continued to elaborate on the effects of current political situation in the lands of the Bible and how "prior regimes were actually better for Christians". He also raised the American political attitude and lack of Orthodox representation in Congress and how we could benefit from a strong lobby on the minority issues facing our community.
Following the closing prayer by the Proestamenos of Holy Trinity, Clearwater, Fr James Paris the participants enjoyed fellowship reception Hosted by the Archons of Tampa Bay and local Philoptochos in the community center as the local Archons gathered for a photo of the event.