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EGYPT: Anglican Archbishop Decries Heinous Murders of 21 Coptic Christians

EGYPT: Anglican Archbishop Decries Heinous Murders of 21 Coptic Christians

The Most Rev. Dr. Mouneer H. Anis
15 February 2015

Dear friends.

It is with great sadness I write you today about the heinous murder of 21 Egyptian Christians at
the hand of the so-called lslamic State branch in Libya. These men from the Upper Egyptian city
of Samalout are no different from thousands of other Muslim and Christian Egyptians in Libya,
seeking employment to support their families back home.

Except that these 21 were specifically chosen for their Christian faith. The video of their
beheading expressed the lslamic State's intention to increasingly target the Copts of Egypt.
This morning the Egyptian government launched airstrikes on lslamic State positions. lt has
declared a week of mourning, banned further travel to Libya, and will work to facilitate the
return of all Egyptian citizens. The foreign minister has been dispatched to the United Nations
to discuss the necessary international response.

The Anglican Church in Egypt and the world expresses its deep condolences to the families of
these men, and also to his Holiness Pope Tawadros ll, patriarch of the Coptic Orthodox Church.
Please join me in praying for peace in Libya, Egypt, and the entire Middle East. Please pray the
international community will act in wisdom, correctly and efficiently, and support Egypt in its
war on terror. Please pray the churches of Egypt will comfort their sons and daughters,
encouraging them to resist fear and hatred. And please pray for the perpetrators of this terrible
crime, that God would be merciful to them and change their hearts.

Jesus tells us in John 16:33, "ln the world you shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I
have overcome the world."

Such cheer may seem impossible, but it is God's promise. Please pray for us, that we may live
lives worthy of his name, and hold to the testimony exhibited by the brave Egyptians in Libya.

The Most Rev. Dr. Mouneer Anis
Archbishop of Episcopal / Anglican Diocese of Egypt
with North Africa and the Hom of Africa
Primate of the Episcopal / Anglican
Province of Jerusalem and the Middle East

*****

Archbishop of Canterbury Responds to Events in the Middle East

Responding to events in Denmark, Libya and Nigeria over recent days, the Archbishop of Canterbury issued the following statement this morning:

"The terrible cruelty of the murders in Denmark, Libya and Nigeria call for deep compassion for the bereaved and killed. The killers seem to rejoice in ever more extreme acts carried out to inflict ever greater terror. We must all weep with those affected, and know that in the love of Christ all evil will be overcome.

In Egypt and Libya, the home of Christian faith, of saints and martyrs since the earliest centuries, more suffering has been perpetrated. The Coptic church has responded with courage and as always with faith. The darkness which ISIS seek to spread will be overwhelmed by the faithful lives of Christians shedding the light and peace of Christ. I have been in touch with the Anglican Church in Egypt to express solidarity.

Let us pray for the triumphant peace of Christ to be evident, and for governments affected to be wise and courageous."

END

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