Page 4 - AECA.org.uk ¦ Koinonia 67

The longest piece in this issue is the first part of a thesis by an Anglican
ordinand, Daniel Mullaney, on the theology of Fr Alexander Men. Men has
recently been the subject of a conference and a book exploring his life and
work (a review of which by Xenia Dennen is also to be found herein). The essay
itself would warrant inclusion for its high-quality, but even more so when the
author is a recipient of grant support from the AECA. It demonstrates the
longstanding role of the Association in encouraging ecumenical scholarship.
The AECA is also a keen supporter of the revival of the traditional art
of iconography and so it is a great pleasure to include Michael Binyon’s article
that first appeared in The Times about the remarkable icons at the newly built
Greek Orthodox Church of St Panteleimon and St Paraskevi, Harrow, in
north-west London.
On a more sombre note, the murder of Father Jacques Hamel, by
so-called Islamic militants in St Etienne de Rouvray just south of Rouen,
shocked the world. That he was killed in the midst of the liturgy was an
additional desecration. I mention it here because while every such atrocity is
uniquely horrific, it perhaps brought home to Christians in the west, the sort
of atrocities that are now so commonplace towards Christians in many parts of
the world, (particularly Eastern and Oriental Orthodox Christians living in the
Middle East and north Africa), that it barely registers as news. In a press
release issued only the day before Fr Hamel was killed, Bishop Angaelos
(General Bishop of the Coptic church in the United Kingdom) described an
increase in attacks upon Egyptian Christians including the shooting of Father
Rafael Moussa in Sinai in June, and the stabbing and beheading of a Coptic
man, Maged Attia, in Tanta in July. Fr Hamel’s murder must therefore be seen
in this larger context of persecution and slaughter of Christians. I can only
echo the words of the Archbishop of Rouen in his funeral homily for Father
Hamel:
“Will there be any other killings before we are to be converted to
love, and to the justice that builds love — justice and love
between individuals and peoples, whatever side of the
Mediterranean they are located. Too many deaths in the Middle
East, too many deaths in Africa, too many deaths in America! Too
many violent deaths! Enough! This is enough!”

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