We follow the current events in our beloved Egypt with lifted hearts praying to our beloved God that He has compassion on the beloved people of Egypt and alleviates the distress of terrorism and terrorists’ attacks.
We strongly condemn the terrorist attacks on innocent people, churches, monasteries, Christian schools and property of Christians. What is happening against innocent Copts is the result of the suffering of Christians for many decades of hate speech and incitement against them and the repeated attacks on their lives and their churches and their property with the inability of the consecutive governments to provide them with security, safety, and the rights of citizenship.
We trust in our Almighty God who defends the oppressed and avenge them. We trust that our country, Egypt, with its ancient history will be able to pass through this ordeal.
We are confident that the people of Egypt, both Muslims and Christians, can come together against the evil forces of terrorism.
I ask all the people of the church to unite in prayers and fasting during these blessed days, which bear the name of our compassionate mother and faithful intercessor the Holy Virgin Mary, Mother of Light.
We should express our condemnation and rejection of the injustice of our loved ones in Egypt, through all peaceful and legal means in our American society that gets an incomplete and sometimes inaccurate picture of the violence by terrorist groups against innocent people, especially the Copts. Each and every one of you has the responsibility to witness to the truth and expose injustice and evil.
We pray for the peace of Egypt and its people and we are confident in the work of our Almighty God who blessed the people of Egypt.
Anba Serapion
Bishop of Los Angeles