Episode #15 — Listening to the Voice of Coptic Christians
Richard sits down with Joshua Benjamin and Elaria Essak of Coptic Orphans, a US-based advocacy and charity organization whose mission is to serve Coptic Christian orphans in Egypt. We discussed the history, legacy, and trials of Egypt’s Coptic Christians… and got a glimpse into the important work and impact of Coptic Orphans.
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41:10
Episode #14 — An Olympic Heart of Gold
Richard sits down with Mr. Thomas Abraham, a Lebanese-American business leader, philanthropist and humanitarian. Mr. Abraham also serves as Chairman of the Board at the Anthony R. Abraham Foundation, and Advisory Board Member at In Defense of Christians. Together, they discussed the Christian heritage of Lebanon, and got a glimpse into the important work and impact of the Anthony R. Abraham Foundation.
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29:58
Episode #13 - Preserving the Ancient Christian Tradition in Ethiopia
Richard sits down with Betty Tekeste, a human rights advocate for Ethiopia’s ancient Christians, to discuss the history, heritage and legacy of Ethiopia’s ancient Christian community, and the challenges they face today.
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50:53
Episode #12 - Preserving Syriac Culture in Northern Iraq
IDC's Richard Ghazal sat down with Mr. Kaldo Ramzi, Director General of the Syriac Culture and Arts Directorate of the Kurdistan Regional Government in northern Iraq. Mr. Ramzi shared details on the background and mission of the Syriac Culture and Arts Directorate, and the Syriac Heritage Museum, and how they stand to preserve and develop the endangered Christian heritage of Iraq.
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31:39
Episode #11 - A Conversation with Habib Afram
IDC's Richard Ghazal sat down with Mr. Habib Afram, President of the Syriac League of Lebanon, and Secretary General of the Levantine Christian Congress to discuss the history and trials of Christians in Lebanon and the Levant. They also discussed Mr. Afram’s long career fighting for religious freedom, for Christians in the Middle East.
About In the Middle: A Podcast on Christianity in the Middle East
The Middle East is the crossroad of civilizations and the birthplace of Christianity. This region and its people have witnessed history’s most consequential triumphs and tragedies. The ancient and richly diverse Christian communities native to the Middle East are characterized by their rich tapestry of traditions and nuanced histories. They’ve played a central role in shaping, and enriching, world civilization—eastern and western—through centuries of religious, cultural and intellectual contributions. Unfortunately, in recent centuries—and most notably the twentieth and twenty-first centuries—these native Christian communities have been persecuted and pushed to the brink of extinction.
Who are these Christians? What’s their origin story? Where are they headed? What are the stakes? What can be done to interrupt this destructive historical course? And how can their rich legacy be preserved, invigorated, and shared with the world?
We’ll tackle these questions, and more, on In the Middle: A Podcast on Christianity in the Middle East, presented by In Defense of Christians. I’m your host, Richard Ghazal, and I invite you to join me on this contemplative endeavor, as we dive deep in discussion on a broad spectrum of issues touching Christianity in the Middle East, yesterday and today. We’ll ask the tough questions and engage in candid, thought-provoking discussions with some of the world’s foremost experts spanning a variety of fields, including religion, history, U.S. foreign policy and the Middle East.
In the Middle will hit all major podcast platforms—including Spotify, Apple, Android, Google Podcasts, and on YouTube—beginning in January 2023, with new episodes dropping monthly. We look forward to having you join us In the Middle.
Listen to In the Middle: A Podcast on Christianity in the Middle East, If Taps Could Talk and many other podcasts from around the world with the radio.net app
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