Contrasts

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 welcomed by the Imam's Ambassador as we waited in a finely appointed ante-room.

We were then taken into see the Grand Imam, who greeted each of us warmly, and we sat down to a pleasant, animated, and obviously very friendly meeting (in Arabic), over sweet tea.

Dean Hany kindly kept me abreast of the topics discussed, which included theology, matters of civil law, and education. Bishop Mouneer has been working on a proposal for a joint Diploma in Christian-Muslim studies which sounds like a remarkable initiative. It is obvious from the tone and manner of the discussions that they are long-time friends.

We took some photos before we left, and then it was back to the Cathedral.

Later in the afternoon I paid a visit to the Refuge-Egypt offices, an Anglican intiative, which are also in the Cathedral compound. Shady, one of the senior staff members, outlined the work that they do for refugees, many of whom come from the Sudan and Sub-Saharan African nations.

The services they offer include humanitarian assistance, education, a medical centre (with Egypt's only HIV clinic), psychological care, childcare, and many other supports. 

Everyone is treated equally, irrespective of ethnicity, faith, or sexuality, and entirely without judgment.

Refugees in Egypt have no legal status and cannot work, so many depend on such Episcopal Church based initiatives. It is humbling to see the Church being Christ for the stranger and the lost!

I couldn't help thinking, how did a lowly former Garda come to be in the company of such incredibly saintly people...

I am privileged to be here!