News that does not "get out". Christian/Islam co-operation - Episcopal Church in Tripoli, Libya
The Islamic Call Society and the government of Libya donate a Church to the Episcopal/Anglican Diocese of Egypt.
We rejoiced on receiving the news that the Islamic Call Society handed over to us a church building in the Old City of Tripoli. This church is called St. Mary, the Lady of Angels. It was built by the Roman Catholics in the 14th Century and the government has recently spent a large amount of money to restore it and use it as a museum.
After consultation and agreement with the Roman Catholic Archbishop in Tripoli, I made an appeal to the Islamic Call Society, with whom we have excellent relations and dialogue, to use this church instead of the flat we are using now. This has become too small for our growing congregations. They promised to take my appeal to the President and the relevant government officials. Fortunately the appeal was accepted and the Ministry of Tourism handed over the building to the Islamic Call Society who in turn handed over the Church to us on Sunday 29th January 2007.
The Old City is a beautiful area in the centre of Tripoli which also contains several historic buildings, a mosque, a Greek Orthodox Church, a Synagogue and some old Roman monuments. These buildings are a great expression of how people from different faiths have lived together in peace along the centuries. It is also worth mentioning that John Mark (the Apostle) wrote the Gospel of Mark in a place near Tripoli called Wadi el Engil (Gospel Valley) before he came over to Egypt and established the Church of Alexandria in 61 AD.
The Roman Catholic Archbishop is so happy with this news because he wished to celebrate the Feast of St. Mary in this church. His wish is going to be fulfilled. I am sure also that this is a great Ecumenical dialogue opportunity for all of us.
We praise the Lord for this great news and I also want to register my deep thanks and appreciation to the Islamic Call Society and the Libyan government for this great gift which is one of the fruits of Interfaith Dialogue. I am planning to visit Libya on the 6th of March to arrange for the official re-consecration of St Mary's Church and I will keep you informed about future developments.
Rt. Rev. Dr. Mouneer Anis
Bishop of the Episcopal/Anglican Diocese of Egypt and North Africa with the Horn of Africa
We rejoiced on receiving the news that the Islamic Call Society handed over to us a church building in the Old City of Tripoli. This church is called St. Mary, the Lady of Angels. It was built by the Roman Catholics in the 14th Century and the government has recently spent a large amount of money to restore it and use it as a museum.
After consultation and agreement with the Roman Catholic Archbishop in Tripoli, I made an appeal to the Islamic Call Society, with whom we have excellent relations and dialogue, to use this church instead of the flat we are using now. This has become too small for our growing congregations. They promised to take my appeal to the President and the relevant government officials. Fortunately the appeal was accepted and the Ministry of Tourism handed over the building to the Islamic Call Society who in turn handed over the Church to us on Sunday 29th January 2007.
The Old City is a beautiful area in the centre of Tripoli which also contains several historic buildings, a mosque, a Greek Orthodox Church, a Synagogue and some old Roman monuments. These buildings are a great expression of how people from different faiths have lived together in peace along the centuries. It is also worth mentioning that John Mark (the Apostle) wrote the Gospel of Mark in a place near Tripoli called Wadi el Engil (Gospel Valley) before he came over to Egypt and established the Church of Alexandria in 61 AD.
The Roman Catholic Archbishop is so happy with this news because he wished to celebrate the Feast of St. Mary in this church. His wish is going to be fulfilled. I am sure also that this is a great Ecumenical dialogue opportunity for all of us.
We praise the Lord for this great news and I also want to register my deep thanks and appreciation to the Islamic Call Society and the Libyan government for this great gift which is one of the fruits of Interfaith Dialogue. I am planning to visit Libya on the 6th of March to arrange for the official re-consecration of St Mary's Church and I will keep you informed about future developments.
Rt. Rev. Dr. Mouneer Anis
Bishop of the Episcopal/Anglican Diocese of Egypt and North Africa with the Horn of Africa
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