LOS ANGELES – Deeply
grieved by the slaughter of innocent Coptic Christian protesters by Egyptian
army tanks that plowed through crowds near Shubra (Maspero)
last weekend, the Copts of Los Angeles invite Christians worldwide to advocate
for a peaceful Egypt by joining them in three days of prayer and fasting that
began Tuesday, Oct. 11.
Following prayer and
fasting, the Coptic Orthodox Christian Diocese of Los Angeles is participating
in a peaceful demonstration 2-4 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 16, at the Wilshire Federal
Building, 11000 Wilshire Blvd.
Outraged by the lack
of response by government authorities following an arson attack against a
Coptic church in Egypt’s Aswan province last week, Copts launched a peaceful
protest in Cairo’s Shubra. In response, the Egyptian military unleashed a
violent assault on the demonstrators that left more than 24 Christians dead and
at least 200 injured.
The Coptic Christian
victims were “armed” only with crosses and signs. Egyptian TV and
media misconstrued the events, blaming the peaceful Coptic Christians of
mounting attacks against army tanks and troops. International media and
YouTube, however, documented the violence.
The attacks are the
worst violence to erupt in Egypt since the revolution in February that ousted
Egypt’s former Pres. Hosni Mubarak. In recent months, Islamists have bombed and
burned Christian churches, opposed building new churches and have incited
violence against Christians.
The Coptic Orthodox Church
is the largest church in the Middle East, with approximately 12 million
faithful in Egypt. The Coptic Orthodox Christian Diocese of Los Angeles is led
by His Grace Bishop Serapion, who serves under the blessing of the head of the
Coptic Orthodox Church and the Patriarchate His Holiness Pope Shenouda III,
Alexandria, Egypt.
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For more
information, or to arrange interviews with area Coptic leaders, contact Father
Joseph Boules at 714.356.9597 or frboules@gmail.com.
