A Curate in Cairo

I always enjoy Sundays. Even though we have a service of Holy Communion on Friday, it seems like Sunday is still the main event of the week. True, it is a working day here in Egypt, but it is still our Sabbath day and so it is for most of the English speaking congregation here. And of course there is a significant amount of preparation before any service. The table must be set. The liturgy prepared and checked, the bread bought, and the music discussed, checked and practiced! Yes, services require a fair amount of preparatory work. I had some time before Bishop Mouneer arrived, as were celebrating together again, and I took the time to study in greater details the lovely murals which surround the main body of the cathedral. They are painted very much in the modern African school, and the three panels represent the entirety of Scripture from Genesis right up to Revelation.  I particularly like the way Jesus is portrayed, which is very much North African, without the full beard we ar...

I may have mentioned that it's hot in Cairo.  And so, like many Mediterranean countries, even those in the far South near Africa, sensible people take shelter during the heat of the day and come out in the evening, when it begins to ( sort of ) cool down.  For example, at 8pm here its dark and still a very balmy 31c. Consequently, the Nile walk becomes really busy at around this time, with families and groups of teens strolling. I have yet to see any kind of stress or bother. People are very genial and there's lots of chat, smiling, and laughter. So, this afternoon, I found myself back in the Diwan Coffee/Bookshop working on my Sermon for next Sunday. I couldn't find the remote for the air con in my 'office', so as there is literally no air coming through the open windows, it seemed like the clever thing to do.  Almost my Costa away from home. Almost! As its Saturday here, the equivalent of Sunday back home, there are very few people working around the Cathedral. Th...

My usual light breakfast of all the food groups to start the day, Its the first of the weekend services in the English speaking congregation today with none other than Bishop Mouneer. Mind you, I needed my coffee this morning. I was rudely awakened at about 2am by a screaming child ( obviously a family arriving from a late flight ) and a rather loud father trying to provide some kind of comfort, I think! That's the problem with all this marble and tiling in reception, which is a little too close for comfort to my room. It may be cool and airy, but it acts like a rather large echo chamber. And of course, the walls are paper thin! I might move! Well I guess it is kind of a guesthouse, rather than a hotel! So, after some refreshment, it was off to the Vestry to prepare for the service. The Bishop was early, and so was Diane the pianist, bless her! So we had a chance to go over the hymns in good time to make sure the numbers and tunes tallied. All good! Emmanuel, as usual, had everythi...

I was very good last night and, although it was a day off, I finished my homework - the service sheet for this weekend. So, this morning, I managed to get Emmanuel first thing and gave him the good news. And so, a gold star and my duty is done, at least for now. I will be leading and Bishop Mouneer will preach for Pentecost. We're celebrating the Eucharist together, so I'm interested to see how that will work. I'm looking forward to his sermon, and I'll be timing it ( just to see if I'm on the right track, of course! ). At least the Lectionary is the same as ours, albeit a week behind. After I met with Emmanuel, I learned that there was a funeral in the Cathedral. A brother of one of the Canons has passed away and his funeral service was this afternoon.  I arrived promptly just before 12, as that's the time I had been told the funeral was to begin. But, almost an hour later, the service actually began. No RIP.ie here! Emmanuel thought this was quite funny. '...

It was my day off today, so at the urging of Bishop Mouneer I decided to take a trip to see the Grand Egyptian Museum on the outskirts of Cairo. I had watched a presentation about it on the plane over, but the reality is all the more sensational. I ordered an Uber; my first time doing so here, and they were efficient and at the meeting point in what seemed like no time at all. While I waited, the AK armed Policeman at the front gate insisted I sit down on his plastic chair while I watched my phone as the Uber drew nearer.  After a fairly speedy twenty minute journey, which reminded me a little of my final drive on the Garda Driving Course, we rounded the bend on the motorway and I got my first sight of the pyramids in the near distance. Now I have heard it said that people are often disappointed as they expect them to be bigger. I have to say that I experienced no such disappointment. The Great Pyramid overshadowed the museum, which is a really impressive building in itself, and I ...

Everyone needs and admin day, and I guess I'm no exception over here. Its a bit of a challenge living in one room, and I can only imagine how those poor families in emergency accommodation get by, seeing as there's only me, and I can only really annoy myself. Still, I did manage to get a good bit done today. The piece of Scripture I read this morning contained the line, ' Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect .'  Really Matthew? I mean, I'm doing my best but washing my smalls in the sink hardly equates! In any event, I managed to get my dry cleaning to my friend Moustafa, down by the antique shops,  before noon. 'T omorrow, same time ?' I inquired.  ' No ' he exclaimed. ( of course its Eid ), so they're off tomorrow. ' This evening at 6 ,' he smiles. Wow. I'm even more impressed! The antiques are amazing, with many shops in this area all stocking large ornate furniture and solid marble items. Definitely not the bri...

Today I joined a delegation of diocesan clergy, along with Archbishop Samy and Bishop Mouneer on a goodwill visit for the festival of Eid, to the Grand Mufti in Al-Azhar in Cairo. We were cordially received, as always, and served with sweet tea and water. The discussions centred around interfaith understanding, co-operation, and national unity, and there was unequivocal backing for the new Diploma in Interfaith Understanding which is in the process of formal preparation and approval. Coincidentally, on the day that the Pope issued an encyclical warning of the dangers of AI, there was a most interesting discussion on the difficulties encountered in the faith space by Muslim leaders from AI in relation to the interpretation of faith matters. After this meeting we headed for the new administrative capital to meet with the Minister for Religious Affairs and Endowments, Dr, al-Azhari. It was a more than one hour long journey in a bumpy minibus, with struggling air-conditioning and persisten...

' Let the morning bring me news of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in you .' These are the words of Psalm 143 which seemed quite appropriate for the day that's in it. It is always a special privilege to celebrate the Eucharist, but today I got to do so for the first time in the Cathedral. I had initially assumed it would be Pentecost , as it is back home, but apparently they use the Orthodox Lectionary, which is one week behind. There was a decent congregation and quite mixed. Interestingly, there is a different English speaking congregation on Sunday than that of Friday, with one or two exceptions.  The service went very well and I was ably assisted in the distribution by a lovely gentle Sudanese Priest, Father Gabriel. I was also delighted to welcome a guest preacher from the UK, the Reverend Dr. Lee Gatiss, who is here for a week teaching at the Alexandia School of Theogy, part of which is attached to the Cathedral. We also had a new pianist, Diana, who is o...

Saturday is a day of rest here in Egypt, as I might have mentioned before, so I had planned some time for sorting, tidying, and generally recharging today. That was until I found out late last night that I was celebrating the Eucharist and preaching here in the Cathedral on Sunday. I don't mind last minute arrangements as I was used to them in my previous life, and Gillian had prepared me for this in our online chats prior to my departure. There's a touch  of the manana of Spain in the local character! So, last night I began to prepare a sermon for tomorrow, which is of course, Pentecost. At least, it is in the Lectionary back home! So, I'm going with it! (I did clarify this with one of my colleagues!) Everyone does this differently but I generally find that as I begin to write and the ideas take shape, the sermon pretty much writes itself. I did include a personal tale, by way of introduction, so people might get to know me a little better. After that I did some chores, an...

I was really looking forward to today, as its the first time I have attended a service in the Cathedral since I arrived. As Friday is the first day of the two day weekend here, and a holy day in Egypt, this is the first of our two English language 'Sunday' services of Holy Communion. The second being on, well, Sunday - which is a work day! I do like the fact that it's always Holy Communion that is celebrated, with an enormous unleavened bread, which really adds to the atmosphere. The wine is taken here by intincture ( dipping the bread into the chalice ). The eucharist was celebrated by Father ( we're all Father here ) Jeff Boldt, a Canadian who lives in Al Ma'adi, about 25 minutes South of Cairo. Father Jeff also doubles up as a lecturer in the Alexandria Theological Institute, as well as serving in local ministry. The service is quite familiar, with familiar prayers with some minor, local alterations, and the hymns were good old fashioned Anglican belters, which I...

As I put on my cassock this morning, thanking the Almighty that the temperature had dropped to a mere 31c, I prepared to go to meet the Grand Imam in Al-Azhar on the other side of Cairo. I expected to travel with Bishop Mouneer and perhaps one or two others, but when I arrived at the gates there was a sizeable contingent of senior clergy from the Diocese, including Archbishop Samy, Dean Hany, Canon Medhat, and several other prominent clerics. We rode in an air conditioned minibus for about twenty minutes until we came to the Al-Azhar complex. It is large and contains a University, a Mosque, and several administrative buildings, as well as a beautiful park. As the Grand Imam is the head of the Sunni Islam community worldwide, the only comparison I can make is to Lambeth Palace, or indeed, the Vatican. As we walked into the Imam's residence, I was struck by the beautiful simplicity evident in the decor. It is of cool marble, wood, and traditional furnishings, and we were warmly welco...

This morning after a light breakfast, I met with Bishop Mouneer in his office.  Although retired now for several years, he is the author and the driving force behind the Centre of Christian-Muslim Understanding and Partnership, and it appears that he hasn't really slowed down at all.  By its very nature, the Centre is built on friendships and trust, and this is very important to the Bishop. During his time as head of the Diocese, the Bishop built strong and lasting links across the faith divide, and is responsible for not only building cross-community links and relationships, but in championing several major projects which required real partnership and co-operation. These include conflict resolution and peace building, environmental and joint community initiatives aimed at creating a sustainable, eco-friendly environment in a very busy cityscape, and most importantly, a project entitled ' A Journey of Learning ', which brings together Christians and Muslims, including lay a...

It's hot wearing clericals in Cairo - even when they're linen! I know that sounds obvious, but remind me never to complain about the heat in Rathfarnham parish again! Today I finally got to meet with Archbishop Samy in his office here in the Diocesan building.  He has a huge area of responsibility.  The province of Alexandria contains the Diocese of Egypt, along with several other Dioceses, and takes in much of North Africa, parts of East and West Africa, and stretches as far east as Somalia! So, I'm grateful for him taking the time out of his busy schedule to chat about my contribution to ministry in Cairo. There is a vacancy in the English speaking congregation in the Cathedral, which also has an Arabic, a Sudanese, and other smaller congregations. At the moment it is being covered by a priest with other areas of responsibility. I'm told that he'll be especially delighted with the extra help. So, it's parish ministry in a very interesting city-centre environme...

Today is a day of firsts. First morning in Cairo. First breakfast. First time meeting the staff. And first time venturing out into the wider city. As expected, the staff in the Cathedral complex are lovely. They are typically Egyptian. Patient, respectful, easy to smile, and most helpful.  Breakfast was light and lovely, with that staple of theological colleges, retreat centres, and army barracks everywhere - the boiled egg. Very welcome indeed. But much more so, the coffee! Archbishop Samy was busy today, as one would expect from a man who has an enormous area of responsibility; although I will get to catch up with him tomorrow. It was nice to meet Karim, Tim, Rev. Samir, and the staff of the Diocesan Office in person, and they seem delighted to have another pair of hands to get involved with the pastoral and liturgical work of the Diocese. There is a very nice cafe attached to the Cathedral, with a rather nice outdoor area, which has just the right amount of shade to guarantee on...