Father Rawis of Coptic Community Describes Relationship with Catholics as “Very Beautiful”

Father Rawis, the spiritual leader of the Coptic Orthodox community in Cervera, Spain, described the relationship between the Coptic and Catholic Churches as “very beautiful,” expressing appreciation for the treatment received from Catholic clergy. The Coptic community, which traces its roots to Egypt, is part of the broader Oriental Orthodox tradition, which diverges from other Orthodox churches in its rejection of the Council of Chalcedon’s doctrine on the two natures of Christ.

The Cervera community, the largest Coptic Orthodox group in Spain, consists of approximately 90 families and over 350 members. They have been based in Cervera since 1995 and have operated the chapel of the Dolors, affiliated with the Church of Santa Maria, since 2008. Catalonia is home to only one other Coptic church, located in Badalona.

The community holds four weekly Masses, with services conducted in Coptic and Arabic on Saturdays and in Spanish on Sundays. Additional weekday services vary depending on the availability of community members. One service begins at 6 a.m. and concludes at 7:30 a.m. Father Rawis expressed hope that Catalan will be incorporated into the liturgy in the near future.

Beyond regular worship, the community engages in various activities such as the offering of incense, singing of praises, and the formation of deacons. They also share the use of the sanctuary of Sant Dubte de Ivorra with the Catholic Church, where they have undertaken several improvement projects in recent years.

The Coptic community’s positive relationship with the Catholic Church is attributed to the hospitality and support received from Catholic clergy, including the current rector of Cervera, Mosén Abel Trulls, and his predecessor, Mosén Xavier Romero. The parish priest of Ivorra, Mosén Fermí Manteca, has also been recognized for his role in fostering this collaboration.

Source: Read the original report (translated from Spanish)