London, December 2017. The Delegate of Great Britain and Ireland and Magistral Delegate for Inter-Religious Relations, Anthony Bailey, sent his warmest congratulations to His Eminence Archbishop Angaelos on his Enthronement and subsequent appointment as the first Archbishop of London by decree of His Holiness Pope Tawadros II.
Archbishop Angaelos is a regular attendee at Delegation and Order events and is a renowned interfaith religious leader. His Eminence has pastorally served the Coptic community in the United Kingdom for over 22 years, including the last 18 years as bishop. He has played an active and instrumental role in promoting ecumenism, inter-religious engagement, and freedom of religion and belief around the world.
The Enthronement of Archbishop Angaelos took place at the Cathedral of Saint George at the Coptic Orthodox Church Centre in Stevenage, on Saturday 18 November 2017.
The Delegate and Council of Great Britain and Ireland of the Constantinian Order was represented by Delegation member Mr James Drabble at the Enthronement Vespers.
During the service, messages sent from HRH The Countess of Wessex, The Rt Hon Theresa May, MP, Prime Minister, The Most Rev and Rt Hon Justin Welby, Archbishop of Canterbury, were read.
His Eminence Archbishop Athanasius Toma Dawod of the Syriac Orthodox Church and His Eminence Elisey, Archbishop of Sourozh of the Russian Orthodox Church, were among the senior members of the Royal Order of Francis I present and who spoke during the service.
Following the Enthronement, His Eminence was conferred with the Ecclesial Title of Archbishop of London by decree of His Holiness Pope Tawadros II, Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of the See of Saint Mark on Thursday 30 November 2017.
In a formal letter His Holiness Pope Tawadros II wrote:
“We confirm the Enthronement of His Grace Bishop Angaelos as first diocesan bishop of our newly-established Coptic Orthodox Diocese of London on the ninth day of Hathor in the Year of the Martyrs 1734, the eighteenth day of November in the Year of our Lord 2017. Bishop Angaelos will continue to officially represent our Coptic Orthodox Church in its Ecumenical and Public Relations as our Papal Legate in the United Kingdom. For this purpose, His Grace is conferred with the Ecclesial Title of Archbishop of London.
“We pray God’s Grace, blessing and protection upon the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Her Majesty The Queen and Her Majesty’s Government, and on our new Coptic Orthodox Diocese of London and all her clergy and congregations.
Tawadros“
Archbishop Angaelos will continue to officially represent the Coptic Orthodox Church in its Ecumenical and Public Relations as Papal Legate in the United Kingdom.
To watch the video of the Enthronement please click here.
For more information on the Coptic Orthodox Church in the United Kingdom, please visit www.copticcentre.com