In an effort to promote greater international recognition of the Coptic community and to introduce this ancient, Orthodox Church to the world, 1 June 2019 has been designated to mark the inaugural celebration of the Global Coptic Day, which will continue on an annual basis. The idea for this day of acknowledgement was first presented back in October 2018, when Cairo-born Nader Anise, Founder of the Coptic American Chamber of Commerce approached Bishop Youssef, the Bishop of the Southern US, who approved of and endorsed the idea. Only a month later, during his visit to Egypt, Anise received the blessing of Pope Tawadros at the St. Bishoy Monastery in Wadi El Natroun, allowing for Global Coptic Day to become a reality. Anise and Bishop Youssef presented Pope Tawadros with an icon of the Holy Family’s Flight to Egypt, which is intended to be symbolic of Global Coptic Day, since the feast of the Holy Family’s entry into Egypt coincides with this date. The icon was created by the prominent iconographer Osama Moris, who is known for his gold gilding technique. Global Coptic Day is equally intended to remedy two…
