HH’s Condolences on the Recent Terrorist Attack on a Mosque in Egypt

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On 24 November 2017, terrorists attacked a Sufi mosque in Bir al-Abed (North Sinai Governorate) in the Sinai Peninsula in Egypt during Friday prayers. The extremists arrived at the mosque in cars, detonated an explosive device inside the building, and then shot people running out onto the street from the mosque. After ambulances appeared on the scene, they began to shoot at the doctors. As of 25 November, at least 300 people are dead and more than 100 injured, including many children. His Holiness Patriarch Kirill Gundyaev of Moscow and all the Russias sent his condolences to the President of the Arab Republic of Egypt and to the Head Mufti of Egypt.

His Excellency Abdul-Fattah Saeed Hussein Khalil al-Sisi

President of the Arab Republic of Egypt

My Right Honourable President!

Accept my condolences in connection with the tragedy that occurred in the mosque near El Arish that claimed many human lives. This mayhem towards believers during prayers testifies that these extremists (who call themselves “Muslims”) had no real faith in the Most High. This fact exposes as myth the idea that terrorists protect Islam and fight for its purity. They use the most insidious and cruel means to intimidate people, to force them to fulfil their vicious will, to destroy the principles of good-neighbourliness and tolerance, which are important in creating a dignified and prosperous life in our modern society. In such circumstances, as never before, it’s important for believers in traditional religions to show solidarity and cohesion to uphold the ideals of goodness and justice in the modern world. I hope that the perpetrators of this attack won’t escape justice. In these sorrowful days, I wish the wounded a speedy recovery and that the relatives and friends of the dead will bravely overcome the grief that has saddened them. I wish strength and resolution to those who are working today to overcome the consequences of this event and I hope that all of the people of Egypt would show solidarity and determination in the fight against extremism.

With sincere sympathy,

+ KIRILL

Patriarch of Moscow and all the Russias

24 November 2017

Patriarchia.ru

MP official website      

http://www.patriarchia.ru/db/text/5068979.html

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Sheikh Shauki Ibrahim Abd al-Karim Alam

The Supreme Mufti of the Arab Republic of Egypt  

Honoured Mufti!

With deep sorrow, I received the news of the terrorist attack on the Sinai Peninsula that killed and injured hundreds of innocent people. Please, accept my sincere condolences. The terrorists committed this terrible crime during Friday prayers in a mosque to try to disrupt peaceful life in your country and to spread panic and fear amongst the people. Clearly, this in itself shows that for extremists there’s nothing sacred, and their beliefs have nothing in common with the values and norms of Islam. My conviction is that such actions won’t achieve their goals and that criminals won’t intimidate peaceful people who want to build the life of their society on the solid foundation of good-neighbourliness and mutual understanding with people confessing other traditional religions. I ask you to convey my words of consolation and support to the relatives and friends of the dead and injured. I wish to you, and to all the people of Egypt, courage and strength in confronting evil and violence.

With condolences,

+ KIRILL

Patriarch of Moscow and all the Russias

25 November 2017

Patriarchia.ru      

MP official website

http://www.patriarchia.ru/db/text/5069520.html

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Statement on the Martyrdom of Christians on Hosanna Sunday in Egypt

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With palms in their hands, hymns on their lips, and peace in their hearts, New Martyrs were ushered from their churches in Alexandria and Tanta into the Paradise of Joy on Hosanna Sunday, the day and feast of the Lord.

All Christians… know that you are a light in the world, a source of good, and a means for peace. The whole world is under siege by an ideology of hatred… a cancer of the conscience. The same hands that skilfully designed weapons of harm could’ve discovered tools for a cure. This violent act against Christians is because evil can’t coexist with good, darkness can’t overcome light, and hatred can’t befriend peace, but death can’t separate us from God.

He will swallow up death in victory; and the Lord God will wipe away tears from off all faces; and the rebuke of his people shall He take away from off all the earth: for the Lord has spoken it.

Prophecy of Isaias 25.8

All our churches and noble citizens throughout the world are praying for the peace and safety of all persecuted Christians, Confessors, and Martyrs. Holy Week is a time devoted to the Lord’s Passion. At all times, the Lord loved. Even when afflicted and crucified, He loved. This is a time for prayer for the entire world. We remain in prayer for the safety of His Holiness Pope Tawadros II, all the Confessors of the Christian faith, the families of the Martyrs, and all the injured victims. On behalf of the Coptic Orthodox Diocese of the Southern United States, I offer our deepest condolences to everyone afflicted by this sad day in Egyptian history.

+Bishop Youssef

Ruling Hierarch

Coptic Orthodox Diocese of the Southern United States

10 April 2017

Coptic Orthodox Diocese of the Southern United States

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11 April 2017. 43 Dead in Egypt… Patriarch Tawadros Escaped Injury

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On Palm Sunday, a bomb went off in St Mark Coptic Orthodox Cathedral in Alexandria in Egypt. 43 died and hundreds more injured… the Islamists struck again. Their intent was to drive a wedge between Christians and sane Muslims (the Islamists hate them almost as badly as they hate the Christians… how dare they associate with and defend infidels!). I think that they failed. Yes… they killed Christians… yes… they disrupted a major Christian holy day… but no, they didn’t divide the normal people of Egypt. Yes, the violence will continue… far too much of it, I’d say. However, the Egyptian government will do its best to nick the perps and give them their just deserts. It’s not Saudi Arabia, where Christians must go about in fear. Yes, there are feral Muslims, and we do wrong to ignore that fact. On the other hand, remember that such fanatics are heretics in Muslim terms… yes, heretics. Sadly, these fanatic heretics run the KSA, and they use their money to spread this contagion. So… be vigilant, but differentiate between the Saudi-financed bigots and the “silent majority”. As one of my friends told me, “If I had wanted to live under Wahhabism, I’d move to Saudi Arabia. No, thank you”.

Meanwhile, pray for the dead… we’re Christians; that’s what we do…

BMD

BREAKING NEWS Egyptian Security Reports Explosion Near Cairo’s Coptic Orthodox Cathedral

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On Sunday, according to a source in Egyptian security, an explosion took place near Cairo’s Coptic Orthodox Cathedral. Citing Egypt’s Ministry of Health, local media reported that the explosion killed at least five people and injured ten more. There’s been no claim of responsibility yet.

11 December 2016

Sputnik International

https://sputniknews.com/africa/201612111048419372-cairo-blast-coptic-cathedral/

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Citing Egyptian state TV, Reuters reported that an explosion near Cairo’s Coptic Orthodox Cathedral killed at least 20 people and 25 injured others. No one claimed responsibility for the blast yet. The latest attack comes two days after two roadside bombs (one in Cairo, and one to the north of the capital) left six police dead and six others injured.

11 December 2016

RT

https://www.rt.com/news/369924-cairo-coptic-blast-cathedral/

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This is a developing story and we don’t have much solid detail at present. There’ll be conflicting reports for the next several hours, I fear. Stay tuned…

BMD