Written by The Most Revd Dr Samy Shehata, Archbishop of the Episcopal/Anglican Province of Alexandria and the Diocese of Egypt.

How can we define peace in a world desperate for it? There are wars and rumours of wars, terror threats and bombings, coups, and uprisings. There is also disharmony in politics, violence in society, conflicts in our homes, and anxiety and stress in our lives.

In Egypt, and indeed across the Province in North Africa and the Horn of Africa, many suffered for a very long time from violence and injustice. Peace is at the heart of what everyone wants. We all want peace, peace in the world, peace in our lives, and peace in our relationships.

The word ‘peace’ can be defined in many ways. Is it harmony and undisturbed coexistence with neighbours? Is it the welfare of the nation without internal strife and any external threat? Is it happiness in families living within their means and resources with respect and love among the members: between spouses, between children, and between children and parents? Peace can mean many things.

Our Lord Jesus Christ is the Prince of Peace. Jesus taught powerfully about peace. The Sermon on the Mount clearly testifies to this fact. Towards the end of his public ministry, during his arrest and trial, Jesus said to Peter, “Put your sword back in its place… All who take the sword will die by the sword” (Matthew 26: 52). The definition of peace according to the teachings of Jesus is unconditional love and acceptance in all circumstances.

The early Fathers understood the teachings of Jesus and explained them to the faithful. Saint Clement (150 – 215 AD) of the school of Alexandria taught that to be a Christian was to be peaceful: “Christianity is a higher gnosis, a higher form of knowledge, and this higher form of knowledge presupposes a higher living endowed with a higher form of peace and serenity… The pinnacle of the highest form of gnosis should necessarily embrace a form of lifestyle, to which peace is inalienable.”

North African Saint Cyprian (210 – 258 AD) said: “The son of peace must seek out peace and pursue peace; he who knows and loves a bond of charity must curb his own tongue from evil of discord… The sons of God must show that they are peace-loving, humble of heart, simple in their speech, of one mind in their affections, loyally bound the one to the other by concord”.

Saint John Chrysostom (347 – 407 AD) preached: “God is not a God of war and fighting. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God (Matthew 5:9). This is virtue, this is above man’s understanding, this makes us near God; nothing so much delights God as to remember no evil. This sets you free from your sins, this looses the charges against you.”

How to apply these teachings on peace in the contemporary societies in the Province of Alexandria?

The Anglican Church of the Province of Alexandria plays a major role in the dialogue with Al-Azhar*. Formal dialogue among religious leaders takes place both in the Church and Al-Azhar. The church has launched many initiatives to support national and confessional unity: initiatives to bring Clergy and Imams together to meet and discuss issues important to the relationship between Muslims and Christians. The doors of the Churches are open to welcome young people and students from different religious backgrounds to share their talents in art and culture. The aim is peaceful coexistence and acceptance of each other.

Each Church has a very important role to play in its relations with other Churches. Our ecumenical partners are crucial to our witness as we minister and serve together. The Anglican Church is a member of the Egypt Council of Churches and participates very actively in ecumenical events with all the churches.

Our call is to serve: the church offers health and educational services, in addition to serving refugees, people with special needs and inmates. The arm of the Good Samaritan serving the community is active in hospitals, schools, nurseries, and development centres.

This year, 2021, witnessed two very important events. The first was the visit of His Grace the Archbishop of Canterbury. His deep friendship with Grand Imam of Al-Azhar strengthens the bonds of peace. Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, also visited His Holiness Pope Tawadros II of the Coptic Orthodox Church, His Beatitude Theodoros II of the Greek Orthodox Church, and His Beatitude Ibrahim Isaac Sidrak of the Coptic Catholic Church.

The second was the visit of HRH Prince Charles and Camilla Duchess of Cornwall to Al-Azhar mosque where they were received by the Grand Imam and leaders from Al-Azhar university. It was one of the highlights of the year and was well received by the State and by society in general. The Anglican Church is at the heart of these initiatives of peace and reconciliation.

Peace is not just the absence of problems; rather it’s about practical participation in the midst of the challenges of life. We have a peace that stems from love and obedience to God as we place our trust completely in our Lord Jesus Christ.

*Al Azhar Mosque and University in Cairo are home to the Grand Imam of Al Azhar, one of the most important teaching authorities within Sunni Islam.