By Watani –
The Coptic Orthodox Church in Switzerland participated on Sept. 22 in the official celebration of the Feast Day of St. Maurice, the patron saint of Switzerland, in St Moritz, the city named after him in Valais canton.
Represented the church were Metropolitan Serapion, Bishop of Los Angeles and Metropolitan of Southern California and Hawaii; Bishop Luke of The French Districts of Switzerland and South France, Bishop Abraham and Bishop Kyrillos, Auxiliary Bishops of the Diocese of Los Angeles, Southern California and Hawaii; along with a delegation of Coptic Orthodox Church members, including a study group from St Athanasius and St Cyril Coptic Orthodox Theological School (ACTS) in Los Angeles.
Also attending, were delegations from various churches, in addition to official representation of the Swiss Confederation.
Following the official celebration held at St Maurice Cathedral, the official and church delegations participated in a procession honouring the relics of St Maurice and his companions from the Theban Legion. Thebes was the capital of ancient Egypt; in its place today is the city of Luxor some 560km south of Cairo.
The Theban Legion, also known as the Martyrs of Agaunum, was a Roman legion of Christian soldiers from Egypt who fought for the Roman Emperor in what is today France and Switzerland, and were martyred there for their faith in 286. St Maurice was their chief. Their feast day is marked by the Catholic Church on September 22.
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