Picture by Mary Hasaballa
As a minority living in America, I would often shy away from revealing my identity. When I revealed to my peers that I am an Egyptian-American, they would automatically question why I am not wearing a scarf around my head ("hijab/veil") or they were shocked to see me eating a bologna sandwich. Initially, these experiences were frustrating and embarrassing, especially at a time when I barely knew what being "Coptic" meant!
After learning about our great history over the years, confidence grew within me. The Arab Revolution became the final push as by then, our peoples' stories of persecution became more recognized. With this painting, I illustrated what my Coptic-American heritage meant to me. As a Copt, my ancestry stems from the ancient Egyptians, the first civilization of the world. From them, we gained a vast knowledge of the sciences, mathematics, architecture, and literature.
More importantly, they were a unique group of people who believed in the afterlife, as noted by the "ankh". It was this reason that the Lord Jesus Christ chose to visit Egypt in His infancy, along with Saint Mary and Joseph, during the persecution of Herod. By the Holy Family's entrance to Egypt, the following prophecy is fulfilled,
"Blessed is Egypt, My People." Isaiah 19:25
Egypt continued to receive her blessings when Saint Mark introduced Christianity into the country and all idols were destroyed immediately. The symbol of life transitioned from the ankh to the Cross. Lastly, the Statue of Liberty is a well known symbol of American freedom and democracy. All in all, I am quite proud and inspired by my heritage of religious and social freedom. Hence, this piece is entitled "Heritage of Life and Freedom."
Mary Hasaballa is a faithful Copt with a zeal for Coptic literature and art. She is the owner of Verses Illustrated on Instagram, where she posts illustrated Biblical verses, quotes, and contemplations. You can follow her @maryhasaballa and @versesillustrated.
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