Malankara Orthodox condemns violence against Coptic Christians

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Ahmedabad: H E Pullikkottil Dr Geevarghese Yulios, Metropolitan of Ahmedbad Diocese of the Indian Orthodox Church of the East, has issued a Kalpana supporting the cause of the Coptic Christians who have been subjected to serious violence in Egypt. Sectarian clashes had killed 24 people, mainly Coptic Christians, last week. Dr Geevarghese Mar Yulios has issued a Kalpana from Bengaluru from where he is presently camping begins with offering prayers to Almighty for the Coptic Church.
It goes further: “The perpetrators of violence on Copts in which many people were killed this month in clashes during a demonstration over an attack on a church are condemnable. Action has not been undertaken to solve the problems of Egypt’s Coptic Christians headed by His Holiness Pope Shenuda III.”

“The Christian faith denounces violence. Some strangers infiltrated our sons and commit the wrongs for which the Copts have been blamed,” the church has rightly said in a statement.
The Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church strongly condemns such acts by the Egyptian military and it extends full support towards their just cause. The church also extends its help and prays for them to tide over their present hour of crisis.

Last week, HH Pope Shenuda III, head of the Holy Synod of the Coptic Orthodox Patriarchate of Alexandria, had called upon all the Oriental Christian churches to support their cause and fast for 3 days.

The Kalpana further notes the Copts felt that these problems occurred repeatedly without the perpetrators being held to account, the law being enforced or root causes of the problems resolved. The government’s decision after the deadly unrest that it would prepare within a month a legislation to lift restrictions on church building and banning demonstrations outside places of worship is welcome.

Dr Mar Yulios has wished the Copts blessings and to enable them to continue God’s Ministry. Christians, make up about 10 per cent of Egypt’s 80 million people. Islamists have been using disputes over the legal status of some church buildings to stir up sectarian conflict.

Source: orthodoxchurch.in