A prayer request from the Anglican Bishop of Cairo

The Anglican Bishop of Cairo has requested the prayers of God’s people for the nation of Egypt and Christians in that nation at this time.

“My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one.” John 17:15 11April 2013

The situation in Cairo is very sad for us as a Christian community. On Friday 6 April, 2013 sectarian clashes erupted once again, this time in El Khosus, in the outskirts of Cairo. The story, according to the director of the police, started by a 12-year old Muslim boy drawing graffiti on the wall of an Islamic school. Two Muslim men rebuked him for doing so, and a Christian man also came and rebuked him. This developed into a big argument and fighting between Christians and Muslims in the area.

The next day there was a funeral at the Coptic Orthodox Cathedral in Abassayia the center of Cairo for the Christians who died. Thousands of Christians attended the funeral. Amidst their mourning and grief they were shouting words against the government and against the Muslim Brotherhood. Because of this, as they exited the Cathedral and the church grounds, they were attacked by other Muslims. The police then interfered throwing teargas. This was the first time in history that the Coptic Orthodox Cathedral was attacked, especially during a time of mourning.

Since the beginning of the Revolution of 2011 the number of incidents of sectarian clashes has increased. No one who committed violence or killing has been brought to justice because the government is content to solve the sectarian clashes by reconciliatory meetings. The Anglican church has been facilitating  reconciliatory meetings at several levels. Unfortunately the current government is inexperienced and is not doing enough to include the different political parties in building up Egypt after the Revolution.

The Christian community in Egypt right now is mourning and feels challenged in their own country, as some of them have said, “we have been here since the time of the Pharaohs, this is our country! We will not leave whatever happens. ” On the other hand, there are many educated young people who are migrating out of the country which is sad because the Christian presences is very much liked with the Christian witness.