Greetings

 "And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.” Rev. 7-17

 

Dear Fathers, Brothers and Sisters in Christ: 

I greet you all with best wishes for a blessed new year.  As many of you are aware, last week the Coptic Orthodox Christians of Egypt faced another brutal attack and witnessed the murders of six young men as they left their church in Nag Hammadi in Upper Egypt on Christmas eve following the Divine Liturgy of the Feast of the Nativity.  

 

These young men- Pola, Abanoub, Zakaria, Ayman, Mina and Bishoy died simply for being Christians.  A Muslim police officer was also killed in the attack.  My home parish, St. Mark Coptic Orthodox Church of Cleveland, will designate Sunday, February 14, 2010 as a Day of Prayer and Remembrance for the Coptic Martyrs of Nag Hammadi. I would humbly ask you and your churches to join us in this day with your prayers for the Christians of Egypt as a sign of solidarity and support.  This day is the closest Sunday to the  traditional 40 day memorial following their tragic murders.

  

Addressing his flock at his weekly meeting at the Grand Cathedral of St. Mark in Cairo this week, His Holiness Pope Shenouda III, Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of the See of St. Mark told the people of Nag Hammadi and the world that the news of these shootings made him feel as if each bullet was shooting him, that the pain and mourning of the families was his pain and mourning.  His Holiness described the young victims as true martyrs who having participated in the Holy Eucharist were killed for no other reason than being Christians.  He said their blood sanctified the ground they fell to, and that Nag Hammadi has entered history as a city of martyrdom.  He called the freedoms of life and worship basic and fundamental human rights.  His Holiness emotionally referred to the killing of the righteous Abel and quoted Genesis 4:10: "And He said, "What have you done? The Voice of your brother's blood cries out to Me from the ground."

 

As you know, the Copts are the Christians of Egypt, the descendants of the Ancient Egyptians and the sons of the Pharaohs. Egypt was Coptic long before the Arab Conquest and the Copts of Egypt are the indigenous inhabitants of the land. My church, the Coptic Orthodox Church, is the largest and oldest in Egypt, however, we are joined in our struggles by our sisters and brothers of various churches in Egypt, all who face the same difficulties and tribulations.

  

The freedoms of religion and worship are fundamental human rights which must be protected. Religious tolerance in our troubled times must be promoted and defended by all.  The Copts are citizens of Egypt, tax-paying, loyal and patriotic citizens who must be afforded the complete and fully protected rights of their Muslim neighbors.  Decades of pleasantries and ignorance of growing hate have lead to the current catastrophes which are not isolated and are repeated year after year.  Anti-Christian attacks have been on the rise since the early-1970s and have escalated.  When we remember the new martyrs of Nag Hammadi, we also remember those who were killed before them and never received justice. We recall the events of El Khanka, El Zawya el Hamra, Assiut, Abu Qurqas, El Kosheh, Dayrut, Alexandria, El Odayisat and  the dozens of other attacks and all those who have died simply for being Christians.  

 

My personal request is that you spread the word and consider forwarding this email to your friends and other churches to join us in prayer on Sunday, February 14, 2010 as a Day of Prayer and Remembrance for the Coptic Martyrs of Nag Hammadi.

 

I wish to thank all those churches and religious and civic leaders, including H.H. Pope Benedict XVI, the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity and theNational Council of Churches of Christ in the USA who have expressed their support and prayers for the situation in Egypt.  We ask you to join us in a prayer for peace in Egypt and the whole world.  We pray for the rights of all Egypt's citizens to be equal and protected.

 

"Blessed be Egypt My people." Isaiah 19:25

 

With prayerful best wishes and thanks for your fraternal support and love,

Bishoy 

 

-- 

Bishoy M. Mikhail

Ecumenical Officer

 

Coptic Orthodox Patriarchate of Alexandria

Archdiocese of North America

Office of Ecumenical Affairs