Coptic Christians plan protests demanding justice as targeted killings continue in Egypt

From Egypt-

Coptic Christians will be staging protests in multiple cities at the end of the month to bring attention to the ongoing persecution their communities suffer in Egypt.

The Australian Coptic Movement Association said on Facebook Friday that protests on Dec. 30 are scheduled in at least three cities: Sydney, Melbourne, and Darwin.

The Coptic community has faced several tragedies in 2018. It's still reeling from the murder of father and son Emad and David Kamal Sadiq who were killed on Dec. 12 by a police officer who had been tasked with guarding a Christian church.

Al-Monitor reported on Thursday that Sgt. Rabie Mostafa Khalifa has officially been charged with premeditated murder in the shooting deaths of the believers after he opened fire while guarding Nahdet al-Qadasa Church in the Minya governorate.

More here-

https://www.christianpost.com/world/coptic-christians-plan-protests-demanding-justice-as-targeted-killings-continue-in-egypt.html

Angry Coptic Christians mourn Egypt bus attack victims

From Egypt-

Angry Coptic Christians on Saturday buried relatives shot dead on a bus carrying pilgrims south of the Egyptian capital, the second such jihadist attack on the country's main religious minority in as many years.

The Islamic State (IS) group said it was behind Friday's attack which killed seven Christians returning from a visit to the desert cemetery of Saint Samuel that was also targeted in 2017.

A security source said another seven people were wounded in the shootings near the city of Minya.
Hundreds of angry Copts gathered in and around Minya's Prince Tadros church from dawn for the funeral of six victims, under heavy guard by masked security personnel.

The seventh victim, an Anglican, was buried Friday evening in a village outside Minya.

More here-

https://www.i24news.tv/en/news/international/middle-east/187796-181103-angry-coptic-christians-mourn-egypt-bus-attack-victims

Statement by His Grace Bishop Angaelos regarding the brutal murder of Coptic Orthodox priest Fr Samaan in Cairo

From Coptic Center-

Another day in Egypt with another Coptic Christian murdered; this time a priest from Beni Suef, Upper Egypt, who was in Cairo collecting humanitarian aid for vulnerable members of his parish. Fr Samaan was paying a pastoral visit to a family in Cairo and returned to the church where he was earlier to collect his mobile phone. On the way, he was attacked by a knife-wielding assailant who chased him, stabbed him repeatedly, and then brutally killed him.

This incident makes us once again ask so many questions. Why should a priest not be able to walk safely down a street, especially a suburban street in Cairo? Why should he be chased by a man brandishing a deadly weapon and have no one run to his aid; in actual fact, everyone was running away. Why, when he lay drenched in his own blood did the ambulance service not arrive for over an hour, and then not treat him? Why, when the police finally arrived, and he lay dead, was a crime scene not secured and forensic evidence not collected to enable a robust and serious investigation? Why is his assailant immediately deemed mentally incapable without professional diagnosis, and why, if he is incapable, and a known violent criminal, is he left in the community with weapons within his reach? 


More here-

http://copticcentre.blogspot.com/2017/10/statement-by-his-grace-bishop-angaelos.html

Coptic priest killed in street attack in Cairo

From Catholic Herald-

Egypt’s Coptic Orthodox Church says a priest has been killed in a knife attack in a poor Cairo district, the latest deadly assault on members of the country’s Christian minority.

The church says the attack took place on Thursday. The priest was identified in the media as Fr Samaan Shehata.

Security officials say the attacker struck the priest’s head with a cleaver and fled the scene, but was later arrested. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorised to brief the media.

The motive was not immediately known.

Bishop Angaelos, Britain’s Coptic Orthodox bishop, said Fr Shehata, a priest from the Upper Egypt region, had been visiting his family in Cairo and collecting aid for the needy in his parish. He had left his mobile phone at a church and was walking back to reclaim it.

More here-

http://www.catholicherald.co.uk/news/2017/10/13/coptic-priest-killed-in-street-attack-in-cairo/

Dear Christians in America: never forget how easy you have it

From The Blaze-

You don’t expect these sorts of stories to get a lot of attention, but that doesn’t make it any less outrageous when they’re ignored.

A few days ago, 29 Christians were murdered by Islamic terrorists in Egypt.  This follows the Palm Sunday attacks on Coptic churches that killed almost 40 people, which were themselves just another in a never ending string of brutal assaults on Egyptian Christians, and all Christians throughout North Africa and the Middle East, by Islamists. But the most recent incident was particularly notable for two reasons:

First, the timing. It came just days after the Manchester bombing, and it killed more people, yet it received considerably less than 1/100th of the coverage. There isn’t any acceptable explanation for why the continued eradication of Christians can rarely seem to break into the headlines, yet any terror attack in a European city will be the only thing we talk about for days. I understand why attacks against Americans will obviously receive more attention in America, but why should attacks on the French or the English spark more of our ire than the systematic martyrdom of our Christian brothers and sisters a little further to the east?

More here-

http://www.theblaze.com/contributions/matt-walsh-dear-christians-in-america-never-forget-how-easy-you-have-it/

Egypt bus attack victims refused to renounce Christian faith before being shot, bishop confirms

From Christian Today-

Victims of ISIS' deadly attack on a bus in Egypt were asked to renounce their Christian faith and when they refused they were shot dead, a senior Coptic bishop has confirmed.

Girls as young as two were among the 29 killed as militants targeted pilgrims en route to a monastery near the town of Menya in southern Egypt.

Bishop Makarios, the top Coptic Orthodox cleric in Minya, said the assailants ordered victims off the bus and told them their lives would be spared if they converted to Islam.

'They chose death,' said Makarios, according to the Associated Press.

'We take pride to die while holding on to our faith,' he said in a television interview, the agency reported.

More here-

https://www.christiantoday.com/article/egypt-bus-attack-victims-refused-to-renounce-christian-faith-before-being-shot-bishop-confirms/109614.htm

Coptic Christians: Islamic State’s ‘Favorite Prey’

From The New York Times-

“At this rate Copts will be extinct in 100 years. They will die, leave, convert or get killed,” a friend wrote on Facebook as news broke of the latest bloody attack on Egypt’s Coptic Christians. Less than two months ago, while attending church in Cairo on Palm Sunday, my friend told me she’d mused to herself that it was a blessing her daughter wasn’t with her: If there was a bombing, at least her child would survive. Forty-five Copts were murdered that day by the Islamic State in churches in Alexandria and Tanta. Such are the thoughts of Coptic parents in Egypt these days.

The terrorists chose today’s target well. The Monastery of St. Samuel the Confessor, which I visited a decade ago, is very hard to reach. One hundred and ten miles on the Cairo Luxor desert road, you make a right-hand turn and for the next 17 miles drive on an unpaved road. The single lane forces cars to drive slowly, and, as the only route leading to the monastery, the victims were guaranteed to be Copts. Friday is a day off in Egypt, and church groups regularly take trips there. Outside of a few policemen stationed out front, there is little security presence.

More here-

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/05/26/opinion/coptic-christians-islamic-states-favorite-prey.html?smid=fb-share&_r=0

Forgiveness: Muslims Moved as Coptic Christians Do the Unimaginable

From Christianity Today-

Twelve seconds of silence is an awkward eternity on television. Amr Adeeb, perhaps the most prominent talk show host in Egypt, leaned forward as he searched for a response.

“The Copts of Egypt … are made of … steel!” he finally uttered.

Moments earlier, Adeeb was watching a colleague in a simple home in Alexandria speak with the widow of Naseem Faheem, the guard at St. Mark’s Cathedral in the seaside Mediterranean city.

On Palm Sunday, the guard had redirected a suicide bomber through the perimeter metal detector, where the terrorist detonated. Likely the first to die in the blast, Faheem saved the lives of dozens inside the church.

“I’m not angry at the one who did this,” said his wife, children by her side. “I’m telling him, ‘May God forgive you, and we also forgive you. Believe me, we forgive you.’

More here-

http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2017/april-web-only/forgiveness-muslims-moved-coptic-christians-egypt-isis.html

Egypt's Catholic, Evangelical churches cancel Easter celebrations over Sunday church bombings

From Ahram-

Egypt's Catholic and Evangelical churches have decided to cancel Easter celebrations on Saturday night after the two deadly suicide bombings that hit Mar Girgis Cathedral in Tanta and St Mark's Cathedral in Alexandria on Palm Sunday.

Father Andrea Zaki, the head of the Evangelical community in Egypt, said Easter celebrations will be cancelled and masses will be limited to prayer services in mourning of the victims of the attacks.

The secretary of Egypt's Coptic Catholic Church Emmanuel Ayad said on Wednesday that the Catholic Church has also decided to cancel Easter celebrations in solidarity with sister churches and the families of those killed in the attacks.

On Tuesday, the secretary of the Holy Synod of the Coptic Orthodox Church Bishop Rafael announced the cancelation of Easter celebrations and the limiting of Saturday night masses to prayers, with a reception of mourners on Sunday.

More here-

http://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/1/64/262845/Egypt/Politics-/Egypts-Catholic,-Anglican-churches-cancel-Easter-c.aspx

Who are Egypt's Coptic Christians, and why do extremists target them?

From American Magazine-

They trace their founding to the voyage to Alexandria of St. Mark, the apostle of Jesus and New Testament author. Just a decade or two after the original Easter, which Christians celebrate around the world, tradition states that Mark founded their church, one of the earliest in the Middle East and the first in Africa. It was to become a pillar of early Christendom.

Some two thousand years later, Egypt's Coptic Christians have become the preferred target of the Islamic State group, an apocalyptic cult seeking religious war.

Inside the Arab world's most populous country, IS seeks to sow discord, undermine President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi and split the country. It's a strategy the group has used before in Iraq, undermining trust in the government and inciting Shiites against Sunnis to provoke a backlash. That strategy looks unlikely to work in Egypt, where Sunnis vastly outnumber the Coptic minority, who make up some 10 percent of the population of 92 million and who are overwhelmingly dedicated supporters of el-Sissi. But it does whittle away at the Christians' sense of security.

More here-

https://www.americamagazine.org/politics-society/2017/04/11/who-are-egypts-coptic-christians-and-why-do-extremists-target-them

Egypt declares state of emergency after bombings of Coptic churches

From Episcopal Cafe-

Yesterday, two Coptic churches in Egypt where hit by suicide bombers. The first blast took place at St. George’s in Tanta, a Nile delta city, at around 9:30 in the morning. Several hours later, another bomb went off at the gates of St. Mark’s Cathedral in Alexandria. Both bombings have now been found to be suicide bombings. In Tanta, the bomber made it into the church and detonated his bombs in the front pews. 27 people are reported dead there, with 71 injured at least. However, police in Alexandria were able to intercept the suicide bomber outside the cathedral, preventing him from entering. He detonated his bombs there, killing the two officers who stopped him, along with 11 others, and leaving 21 more people injured, according to the Health Ministry. Pope Tawadros II was at the Cathedral, but he was not injured in the explosion. Daesh/ISIL immediately claimed responsibility for both attacks. “Crusaders and their apostate allies should know the bill between us and them is very big and they will pay it with rivers of blood from their children, god willing. Wait for us, for we will wait for you,” the jihadist group said in a statement quoted by Reuters news agency.

More here

http://www.episcopalcafe.com/egypt-declares-state-of-emergency-after-bombings-of-coptic-churches/

Who are Egypt's Coptic Christians?

From CNN-

An ISIS-claimed attack on one of the holiest days in the Christian faith is drawing the world's attention to Egypt's Coptic community, a religious minority long targeted for violence.

The Palm Sunday bombings killed 43 people and injured dozens more at two Coptic Christian churches in Alexandria and Tanta, the latest in a yearslong spike of violence against the community.
In a statement claiming responsibility for the bombings, ISIS warned of more attacks. Egyptian authorities responded by declaring a three-month state of emergency. But Coptics, who have long been targeted for violence, are not optimistic the situation will change.

Here's what you need to know about Egypt's native Christians, who trace their origins back to ancient times.


More here-


http://www.cnn.com/2017/04/09/middleeast/egypt-coptic-christians/

Two Explosions Kill at Least 31 at Egyptian Coptic Churches on Palm Sunday

From The New York Times-

Two explosions at Coptic churches in Egypt on Palm Sunday left at least 31 people dead and injured dozens of others as a day of worship in the besieged Christian community turned to destruction and carnage.

The first blast ripped through St. George’s Church in northern Egypt in the Nile Delta city of Tanta, 50 miles north of Cairo, during a Mass about 9:30 a.m., according to an official from the Health Ministry.

The deputy minister of health put the preliminary death toll at 25.

Hours later, a suicide bomber set off an explosion outside the main Coptic church in Alexandria, St. Mark’s Cathedral, killing at least six — including three police officers — and injuring 21 others, the Health Ministry said.

More here-

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/04/09/world/middleeast/explosion-egypt-coptic-christian-church.html?smprod=nytcore-iphone&smid=nytcore-iphone-share&_r=0

Number of Coptic families fleeing North Sinai for Ismailia jumps to 143

From Egypt-

The number of Egyptian Copts who have fled North Sinai to Ismailia after a spate of killings of Christians by militants there has risen to 143 families, a spokesperson for the Coptic Orthodox Church announced on Tuesday.

In an official statement, the Church said the families included 546 members, adding that Ismailia’s Anglican Church was providing support and housing for 54 families, or 146 individuals.

The Church added that the Anglican Church was meeting the daily needs of the 89 other families, which the Egyptian government has taken responsibility for housing in the governorate.

The number announced by the Church is the most recent official estimate of the families that have fled to Ismailia, and does not include other families who were provided shelter by the government in four other governorates, the statement read.

More here-

http://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/1/64/259079/Egypt/Politics-/Number-of-Coptic-families-fleeing-North-Sinai-for-.aspx

Egypt is in mourning as church bombing victims are laid to rest

From Egypt-


Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah El Sisi has declared three days of mourning in Egypt following Sunday’s bombing of Cairo’s main Coptic cathedral, in the Abbasiyah district, which killed more than 30 people and injured more than 50.

Funerals for the victims, who included women and children, were held on Monday.

The funeral procession was led by Egypt’s Coptic Pope Tawadros II, who cut short a papal visit to Greece and returned to Cairo before heading directly to site of the bombing, Egypt’s Al Ahram newspaper reported,

An improvised explosive device (IED) with 12kg of TNT caused the explosion, according to an Egyptian security official’s statement to state media.

The IED ripped through the church as hundreds of Copts, who make up 10% of Egypt’s population of over 80 million, were worshiping. Women and children were among the victims.

More here-

http://citizen.co.za/news/news-africa/1372443/egypt-mourning-church-bombing-victims-laid-rest/

Christian Coptic church headed to Wayland

From Massachusetts-

When the Episcopal Church of the Holy Spirit in Wayland closed its doors last summer after nearly five-and-a-half-decades, the future of the iconic building on Rice Road, with its curved eaves, high peaked roof and woodsy setting, was uncertain.

The speculation has ended with the recent announcement that a Christian Coptic Orthodox church has bought the premises and will hold its first liturgy there in early March.

The purchase came about by connections made through the Massachusetts Council of Churches. As the Coptic representative on the council, Father Samuel Hanna of St. Mark’s in Natick heard about the available property. Episcopal Bishop Gayle Harris, president of the council, was enthusiastic and encouraged all the parties involved.

“The appraised value was $2.2 million,” Father Samuel Hanna said, “but we paid a little less than that. It was a very Christian transaction, not like a strictly business deal.”


More here-

http://www.telegram.com/article/20160220/NEWS/160229941

Anglican-Oriental Orthodox International Commission publishes historic statement on Christology

From ICN-

Historic agreements have been signed between Anglican and Oriental Orthodox Churches helping to heal one of the oldest continuing division within Christianity. An Agreed Statement on Christology, published in North Wales this week by the Anglican-Oriental Orthodox International Commission, heals the centuries-old split between the Anglican Churches within the family of Chalcedonian Churches and the non-Chalcedonian Churches over the incarnation of Christ.

In addition, the Commission has made substantial progress on issues concerning the Holy Spirit, which have continued to keep the Churches apart over the centuries.

Leading clergy and theologians from both Christian traditions from around the world have been meeting at Gladstone's Library in Hawarden to engage in theological dialogue, while at the same time forging deeper bonds of faith and mutual support.

His Eminence Metropolitan Bishoy from the Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria in Egypt and Co-Chair of the Commission said: "With this agreement we are able to heal the cause of the division between the two families of the churches worldwide which started at Chalcedon.

More here-

http://www.indcatholicnews.com/news.php?viewStory=28513

Hundreds gather to mourn Christians slain by Islamic State

From Canada-

The Coptic Christians of Toronto and their friends gathered in Mississauga Feb. 22 to answer the murder of 21 Egyptian Copts by Islamic State allies in Libya. They answered the Feb. 15 beheadings with Bible readings, prayers, songs, hope and forgiveness.

Many of the 600 to 700 faithful who gathered that Sunday evening at the Virgin Mary and St. Athanasius Church wore orange buttons — orange for the colour of the overalls the Egyptian migrant workers were wearing when IS militants murdered them before a video camera. IS dresses its prisoners in orange because it is the colour of prison uniforms at the American military prison at Guantanamo Bay in Cuba. The buttons read “21 Copts, Martyrs of Libya.” In the centre of the button was a Coptic cross with a crown of martyrdom on either side.

Just one week after the video of the beheadings hit the Internet, the church was already displaying a new icon of the 21 martyrs.

More here-

http://www.catholicregister.org/item/19759-hundreds-gather-to-mourn-christians-slain-by-islamic-state

Egypt's churches charred to shells

From The Pittsburgh Tribune Review-

Two downed electrical towers, two armored personnel carriers, and stacks of old tires form an improvised gate to this impoverished Upper Egypt city.

Graffiti on its buildings denounce the police as “thugs” and “dancing prostitutes.”

Islamist militants ruled over Delga's 120,000 people – a fourth of them Christians – for more than a month in 2013, before Egyptian security forces regained control.

Even today, a visit to one ravaged Christian church requires an armed escort by three truckloads of twitchy police and shotgun-toting local guards in ankle-length gowns.

More here-

http://triblive.com/usworld/betsyhiel/7570943-74/church-christian-churches#axzz3PH3KjnhF

Coptic Pope opens art exhibition in Egypt's Anglican Cathedral

From Anglican News-

At the invitation of The Most Rev. Dr. Mouneer Hanna Anis of the Episcopal / Anglican Church in Egypt, His Holiness Pope Tawadros II, Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of the See of St. Mark inaugurated an art exhibition “The Way of Salvation” curated by Dr. Farid Fadel at the All Saints Cathedral Hall in Zamalek.

“The visit is historical,” Bishop Mouneer said, “because it comes three days before we celebrate the Feast of St. Mark on which All Saints Cathedral was consecrated.

The visit coincides with our 75thAnniversary of All Saints Cathedral which was first consecrated in 1938. This reminds us of the agreement that was signed by The Pope of Alexandria and the Archbishop of Canterbury early in the 19th Century when the Anglican Church started its ministry in Egypt.

More here-

http://www.anglicannews.org/news/2014/04/coptic-pope-opens-art-exhibition-in-egypts-anglican-cathedral.aspx