Coptic Christians Archives

Unrelenting killing of Coptic Christians intensifies debate over martyrdom

Recently a well-known Coptic priest, Father Boules George, took to television to “thank” the Islamic State terrorists who orchestrated the Palm Sunday bombings for creating martyrs. Other Coptic Christians want better living standards and civil rights today, not hope in the afterlife.

Signs that Egypt may have been a papal trip that mattered

Two recent signs suggests that Pope Francis’s April 28-29 trip to Egypt, when he delivered his strongest-yet denunciation of religious violence and extremism, may have captured a mood. One is the construction of a new Christian church with Muslim support, the other legal charges against a powerful Islamic cleric who called Christians and Jews “infidels.”

Egypt IS leader vows to escalate attacks on Christians
- Associated Press, Global Church
- May 7, 2017
The group of IS affiliates in Egypt claimed responsibility for twin suicide bombings that struck two of the country’s Coptic Christian churches last month, killing over 45 worshippers and prompting the president to declare a three-month state of emergency.
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Pope’s trip to Egypt may be one of those “big deal” moments
- Pope Francis in Egypt
- April 30, 2017
Six years ago, a pope addressed Egypt, expressing outrage over an attack on a Christian church and calling for efforts against religious extremism, and the political and clerical establishment bristled. Now, Pope Francis came to Egypt and said much the same thing, and was embraced. One thing that seems to have changed is the mounting frustration of ordinary people here with terrorism and violence.
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Pope Francis delivers shot in arm to Egypt’s persecuted Christians
- Pope Francis in Egypt
- April 28, 2017
Though some thought Pope Francis might be a bit oblique about anti-Christian persecution during his two-day trip to Egypt, he waded directly into the realities on Friday, reminding political and civil leaders gathered at a hotel run by the country’s defense ministry, of attacks that Coptic Christians have suffered and telling local Christians that they are “an integral part of this country.”
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