Letter to the General Bishop and Patriarchal Exarch of the Coptic Orthodox Patriarchate, Archdiocese of North America on the recent death of His Holiness Pope Shenouda III.
Monday, March 19, 2012
His Grace Bishop David
General Bishop and Patriarchal Exarch
Coptic Orthodox Patriarchate
Archdiocese of North America
5 Woodstone Drive
Cedar Grove, NJ 07009
Your Grace,
On behalf of the whole of the Anglican Church of Canada, please accept my sincere condolences on the recent death of His Holiness Pope Shenouda III.
I had the privilege of meeting His Holiness during a meeting of Anglican primates in Egypt in 2009, and I know of his many visits to Canada to inaugurate new Coptic churches and institutions in this country.
A man of great faith and courage, Pope Shenouda shepherded his people in Egypt through some of their most trying times. Indeed, he shared intimately in their sufferings, even to the point of house arrest. At the same time he was a source of hope and strength to Coptic Christians the world over, including here in Canada.
Pope Shenouda will be remembered as one committed to healing the divisions of the church. He was in particular supportive of the theological dialogue between the Oriental Orthodox churches and the churches of the Anglican Communion. A result of that dialogue is the establishment of the St. Basil Scholarship, which facilitates the exchange of individuals and experiences between the Anglican Church of Canada and the Oriental Orthodox churches, including the Coptic Orthodox Church.
With the whole church, I give thanks for the life and witness of His Holiness Pope Shenouda III. Be assured of my prayers. Rest eternal grant unto him, O Lord, and let light perpetual shine upon him.
I am,
Sincerely yours,
Fred J. Hiltz Archbishop and Primate