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New Coptic Community in South West of France

EBK
edited September 2013 in Coptic Orthodox Church
Dear Friends,

I am new to this forum and am really appealing to you for prayers & support:

We've recently moved into a new home in the sunny south of France - 1 hour from Lourdes and 1 hour from Biarritz (voted number 1 beach 2012 in France).

Life is generally good, but are missing a Coptic Community here.

* Do you know any Copts that live in this area? or even 50-100 KM radius of this area?
* Can you let us know about them?

A Coptic priest comes to pray the liturgy in our home once in a while.

Our home isn't just a regular home, its a 35 bedroom mansion with 10,000 m2 of parks, with magnificent views over the pyrenees and lakes, so anyone coming to attend a Coptic Liturgy is welcome to stay (we celebrate liturgies whenever a priest is free to come). I believe it was a former hotel once upon a time.

We have 7 huge halls that we used to pray in, but now we have permission to use the Church near us. It is the most picturesque & charming parish imaginable.

if you know anyone who is in this area who is Coptic, please let them know about us.

God bless
Ehab

Comments

  • EBK
    I think the catchment for our community would be for Copts living in/near:

    * Pau (30 mins)
    * Biarritz (50 mins)
    * Hendaye (50 mins)
    * Lourdes (50 mins)
    * Tarbes (50 mins)

    -> Toulouse is a 3 hour drive, but there is no Church in Toulouse, so if there are any families in Toulouse then they are welcome to come, stay over, and attend a liturgy.
    -> If there are ANY deacons - even better - I am not too good at liturgical responses and alhan, but I am a fast learner and can pick things up quickly.

    Actually, we are 20 mins from Spain with cities such as
    * Pamplona
    * Zaragoza
    * Canfranc
    * San Sebastian

    Very close by also (1 hour range or less)

    Our main town is a UNESCO heritage site called Oloron Sainte Marie.

    Thanks
  • mabsootamabsoota
    hi and welco9me, EBK.
    did u try: http://www.france-copte.net
    they have a contact page (i assume u speak french, if not, it is 'contactez nous') and maybe someone there knows.

    this site seems to be down at the moment:
    www.eglise-copte-orthodoxe-de-france.fr/accueil
    Le site officiel de La Métropole de L'Eglise Copte Orthodoxe De France, Accueil du site de la métropole copte orthodoxe de France

    if you have facebook (i don't), you can also try this:
    https://www.facebook.com/pages/Prêtre-copte-orthodoxe-en-France...Prêtre copte orthodoxe en France

    also, you can advertise in local shops for people to come to a Bible study or social meeting where you talk about your faith.
    that way, a community of people who want to be orthodox Christians can be formed and then you can ask for a priest to come more often.
    may God guide u.
  • EBK
    Thanks Mabsoota for your informative response.

    Maybe it would be better if we went to another Coptic Church - as far as I know, the nearest Church is 4 hours away.

    Does anyone have a list of Coptic Churches in south of France?

    Where would these be?

    Thanks

    ps. In the meantime, you are invited to come and visit us! It would be awesome to receive Coptic people in our home. It would definitely encourage our priests to come more often!
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