A Statement by the Patriarchs and
Heads of Churches concerning the situation in Egypt- August 2013
“Blessed
be Egypt my people…” (Isaiah 19:25)
We, the
Patriarchs and Heads of Churches in Jerusalem, follow with great concern the
dreadful situation in Egypt, which suffers from internal divisions, deliberate
violence and terroristic acts against innocent people, both Muslims and
Christians. Government institutions were
attacked, a great number of Egyptian soldiers and policemen have been killed,
public property was destroyed, and Christian Churches were desecrated. The
desecration and burning of churches is an unprecedented scandal and goes
against the values of tolerance, lived in Egypt for centuries. We appreciate
the fact that many Muslim compatriots have stood by the side of Christians in
defending churches and institutions.
We strongly condemn these acts of
vandalism carried out by some extremists, and call upon all parties to stop
violence and killing and to work towards national unity, without which Egypt
will risk a civil war.
We stand with the Egyptian people
in their strife against terrorism and militant groups, both locally and
internationally. We offer our condolences and sympathy to all victims and
casualties and pray for healing of the wounded and afflicted.
We call upon
the International Community to stand against violence and terrorism, to help the people of Egypt to
overcome this cycle of violence and bloodshed, and to help to get the country
back on track.
We pray the One Lord to enlighten
the Egyptian leaders to save the values of democracy, dignity and religious
freedom.
+Patriarch
Theophilos III, Greek Orthodox Patriarchate
+Patriarch
Fouad Twal, Latin Patriarchate
+Patriarch
Nourhan Manougian, The Armenian Apostolic Orthodox Patriarchate
+Fr.
Pierbattista Pizzaballa, ofm, Custos of the Holy Land
+Archbishop
Anba Abraham, Coptic Orthodox Patriarchate, Jerusalem
+Archbishop
Swerios Malki Murad, Syrian Orthodox Patriarchate
+Archbishop
Abouna Daniel, Ethiopian Orthodox Patriarchate
+Archbishop
Joseph-Jules Zerey, Greek-Melkite-Catholic Patriarchate
+Archbishop Mosa
El-Hage, Maronite Patriarchal Exarchate
+Bishop Suheil
Dawani, Episcopal Church of Jerusalem and the Middle East
+Bishop Munib
Younan, Evangelical Lutheran Church
in Jordan and the Holy Land
+Bishop Pierre
Malki, Syrian Catholic Patriarchal Exarchate
+Msgr. Yoseph Antoine Kelekian,
Armenian Catholic Patriarchal Exarchate
