In the latest in a series of acts of solidarity with the Coptic Orthodox Church, the Self-Ruled Antiochian Orthodox Archdiocese of North America under the leadership of His Eminence Metropolitan Philip (Saliba) has issued a statement condemning the New Year’s day terrorist attack on the Saints’ Church in Alexandria, Egypt, which left at least 25 dead and scores injured, many severely.
According to the statement, “This was one of the most heinous terrorist attacks on a Coptic Christian church in over a decade, and it marks a serious escalation of organized violence against the Coptic Christian minority in Egypt… We condemn these barbaric acts of hatred and targeted persecution against our brethren in Egypt.”
Along with the condemnation, the Antiochian Archdiocese urged further action by the United States government to protect Christians in Egypt. “We demand a Congressional hearing on this and other heinous attacks against the Christian population in Egypt, and we expect the United States Congress to take action to address the painful absence of basic and fundamental human rights in Egypt.”
