Archbishop Angaelos
His Eminence Archbishop Angaelos is the first Coptic Orthodox Archbishop of London, having served as General Bishop of the Coptic Orthodox Church in the United Kingdom since 1999. His Eminence was delegated by His Holiness Pope Tawadros II, Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of the See of Saint Mark, to represent the Church in the United Kingdom at the ecumenical and official level as Papal Legate.
Archbishop Angaelos is widely recognised for his extensive advocacy work, and was conferred the honour of Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II for ‘Services to International Religious Freedom.’ He founded and chairs Refcemi, the Coptic Orthodox Church Office for Advocacy and Public Policy, the first of its kind worldwide. He specialises in initiatives relating to advocacy, international religious freedom and development work, and is a member of, and chairs, numerous local, national and international bodies dealing with these matters. He issues statements and comments relating to current religious and minority issues, with his particular focus on dialogue, conflict-resolution, and reconciliation. His comments and views are frequently sought on matters of human rights, civil liberties and international religious freedom.
Archbishop Angaelos has been conferred the Lambeth Cross for Ecumenism by the Archbishop of Canterbury and the Coventry Cross of Nails for Reconciliation. Among other roles, His Eminence is President of The Bible Society, and Co-founder and Co-chair of the Lausanne-Orthodox Initiative.
With a pastoral ministry spanning three decades, Archbishop Angaelos specialises in youth ministry and travels around the world to speak at youth conferences and conventions.