Orthodox Church in Egypt Reports Family, Youth and Craftsmen Programs for Local Needs

The Church, according to the source, relies not only on the spiritual and religious aspects of its activities but also on the development and care of families and young people in various fields.

The source describes a Family Committee concerned with matters relating to the Christian family, its foundations, and family education. Its work includes providing care for widows and elderly persons. Within the Orthodox Church’s Family Committee, the source lists four subcommittees: the Commission for the Preparation of Marriage, the Commission for Married Persons, the Commission for the Elderly, and the Commission for Women.

The source also highlights the Episcopal Youth Church, described as one of the most prominent Coptic bodies of the Orthodox Church, which was founded by Pope Shenod III in 1980. The Orthodox Church, the source says, believes that young people are the basic structure of society and the vital energy of the Church and homeland, and that they should receive appropriate care. The source adds that Pope Shenod III assigned a bishop, with a body of monks, to the central work of the youth field, and that this work includes cooperation with other clergy and workers in the field.

Father Dhamadius, priest of the Church of Marmez, stated that the Church has created church-based classes to teach religion and instill a spirit of citizenship. According to his statements, the Church also teaches order, the preservation of society’s integrity, and respect for others regardless of language, sex, or religion.

In further statements, Father Dhamadius said the Church conducts workshops and meetings for craftsmen, led by specialists, to increase professional competence so that no person is without work. He also said the Church cares for the poor and needy through material assistance, including necessary clothing and food, which reflects practical charity (Matthew 25:35).

His Holiness Pope Tawadrus II, Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of the Church, is encouraging these activities, the source reports, so that the Church can contribute to building a new society. In recent press statements, he said the work is taking place on more than one level.

Pope Tawadrus II said the Church organizes meetings between young inventors and businessmen under the title “Explain your project and your idea,” and connects them. The source gives two examples. A young man who made a wall from used car tires, cut into small pieces and mixed with cement, presented his project and found a businessman who adopted it and moved toward manufacturing. In another case, a young pharmacist developed a machine that could extract volatile oils from aromatic plants in 12 hours, work that had previously taken much longer. A businessman adopted his project and started production.

Source: Read the original report (translated from Arabic)