DECR chairman expresses condolences over death of Coptic faithful in terror attack in El-Minya

In his letter of the Head of the Coptic Church, His Holiness Tawadros II, Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of the See of St. Mark in All Africa and the Middle East, Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk, head of the Moscow Patriarchate department for external church relations, expressed condolences over the terror act in El-Minya in southern Egypt. The Coptic pilgrims were driving to the Monastery of St. Samuel when their bus was shot at by terrorist. At least 28 people were killed, over 20 were wounded.

His Holiness TAWADROS II

Pope of Alexandria and

Patriarch of the See of St. Mark in All Africa and the Middle East

Your Holiness,

Please, accept my profound condolences over the death of the faithful of the Coptic Church in the terror attack committed today in the city of El Minya.

Terrorists attacked a bus with pilgrims and volunteer workers who were going to the old Monastery of St. Samuel. Among them were many children. The Egyptian land is stained again with the innocent blood of Christians. The tragedy is aimed at violating peace and harmony in the Egyptian society, at sowing chaos and interreligious strife in the country.

The wave of terror is rolling throughout the world. Among its manifestations are the recent developments in Manchester and in the Philippines, and now – another attack in Egypt. I fully share the rightness of your words you stated during the meeting with His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia in Moscow only a few days ago. You said then that international terrorism is a global problem and it is necessary to use three ways to oppose it, namely, education, religious dialogue and efforts in the legislative sphere.

We pray that the measures taken today by the Egyptian state to oppose terror may lead to success and that all the members of the world community may realize that terrorism has no and can have no justification, for it is absolute evil against which the whole world should rally.

With love in Christ,

+ Hilarion

Metropolitan of Volokolamsk

Chairman

Department for External Church Relations

Moscow Patriarchate

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DECR chairman expresses condolences over death of Coptic faithful in terror attack in El-Minya

Patriarch

Department Chairman

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Patriarch

Department Chairman

Sermons