Monday, January 31, 2011

Egypt Unrest Brings Coptic Christians Hope, Fear; Pope Shenouda Urges Egyptians to Protect Nation

The current images of violent protests across Egypt are worrying to all, but concerns over the chaos are felt more acutely by Egypt's minority Orthodox Christians, who have complained for many years that the current government does too little to protect them, the CBS News website reports today (January 31, 2011).

Thirty minutes after midnight on January 1, 2011 -- during New Year's Eve mass -- a bomb exploded in front of Saints Church in the northern port city of Alexandria, killing 21 worshipers and injuring about 100 others in the deadliest attack on Coptic Christians in more than a decade.

Now, as mass protests against President Hosni Mubarak's 30 years of harsh rule appear to be gaining steam, Egypt's Orthodox Christians have every reason to fear the possible outcome of a change at the top.

Coptic Pope Shenouda III appeared on Egyptian state television yesterday (January 30) and urged all Egyptians to "safeguard the security and stability of the country."

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