A Christian TV In A Muslim World | Fr. Stephen Cuyos, MSC

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A Christian TV In A Muslim World
Posted by Fr. Stephen, MSC

Nov15

The name of the television channel is “Aghapy” (which means “love” in the Coptic language). Run by Copts, it is the first Christian satellite TV in Muslim-dominated Egypt. Its main aim is to establish a link among Coptic Christians in Egypt and between Copts who live abroad.

Aside from transmitting chants and lectures, the channel will also broadcast worship services, documentaries and some family programming. The channel began airing yesterday.

Making up only 10% of Egypt’s 70 million population, Coptic Christians are a minority in this Arab republic and they have often complained of threats from Muslim extremists, discrimination in the workplace and of restrictions on the construction of their churches. Aghapy TV hopes to bridge the rift between Christians and Muslims as well as to assert the Coptics’ long-repressed identity.

My hope is that Aghapy TV will serve as a channel of interfaith dialogue among Christians, Muslims and people of other faiths. Copts, like many other minorities, deserve to have public voice and visibility in today’s multifaith world. It would be nice to see Aghapy TV programs deal with issues related to people of diverse faiths living together as part of the human community. The world’s problems are too many and complicated for any religion to attempt to work in isolation or from a position of conflict. Concerted efforts to deal with global issues such as war, hunger, and illiteracy can be achieved when people of different religions work as one.

Let us all work together, no matter what creed. Let us all encourage solidarity and interfaith dialogue.

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4 CommentsLeave a comment »

15 November 2005

a-miga said:

That’s a great step towards unification of all mankind,regardless of race and creed.

And like just any other great steps,it takes more courage,more patience and perseverance not only among the few but specially among the masses. And for the masses to know that such great steps are taken we need more tools in mass communication to reach them.

Well,it’s good to know we have your website for one to keep us always up-dated.
More power to you !
16 November 2005

ROSES said:

GOD voice/step was first happened/heard in the Muslim land. Correct me if I am wrong.
This great first step of the COPTIC CHRISTIANS is a good sign spreeding the God’s Word
AGHAPY (love) in a Muslim land via on TV. Like in the European countries the allow Muslim community’s to exercise their faith by giving permition to build their own Mosque. Living in a muticultural society/land is a big challenge we have to learn to be friendly respect understand accept each ndividual and who really we are and where we came from, it does not matter.

I do hope the Muslim countries will allowing more Christians to exercise their faith belief creed in their society. As long as we Christians are not contravention with their laws/rule and values. After all our aims purposes is to love praise and give thanks the GOD.

Thanks and GOD BLESS YOU.
18 November 2005

Peter said:

Yes i agree with the both of you, it is a great leap, for us as coptic christians. I currently live in the U.S. and can see and hear lectures and hymns straight from St. Mark’s cathedral in egypt, where His Holiness Pope Shenouda Resides. If i didnt watch the channel with my own 2 eyes, i would have never beleived it. This is a dream come true for us copts, here, in egypt, and all over the world. There was recently an ordination for one of the deacons in our church who has just been ordained a preist at the monastry of St. Bishoy in egypt, and the best thing about it, is i saw everything happening live, I felt like I myself was the one being ordained. I think its a really great thing for Christians everywhere. Even though the masses and liturgies will be coptic orthodox, all of christianity can benefit from the sermons, the plays, the biographies, etc. And like rosa said, it is what needed to be done. We have no voice all over the world, not even in our own country, however muslims have a voice in egypt, and everwhere they go. As the qoute from the Holy Bible on the ad says, “I looked, and behold, a door was open in heaven” (Rev. 4:1) It truly is a door opened to us in egypt.

In Christ
-Pete
4 March 2006

fay said:

Fantastic work, a leap to all the coptics around the world. I am here in Australia , i enjoy seeing and hearing my coptic church 24 hours a day.
God bless you, keep up with the good work ,
may the lord Jesus Christ be with you allways,

Thanks,
Fay