For Justice’ Sake

On this week’s Rush Hour, Jason investigates the worsening persecution of Christians around the globe, highlighted by the recent atrocities committed against Coptic Orthodox Christians in Egypt and terror threats received by four Coptic Churches in Sydney.

Join Jason as he meets a fascinating range of people who shed light on this saddening story:

* A priest at one of Sydney’s targeted Churches.
* The inspiring Coptic Orthodox bishop of Melbourne.
* A young organiser the massive rally in Sydney last Wednesday.
* A Catholic priest who has helped publish a comprehensive report on religious freedom.
* A Chaldean priest who was kidnapped and tortured for two weeks in Baghdad, and amazingly survived.

Christian persecution is a subject that all the faithful need to be informed about. Listen to this week’s show to get up to speed on this worrying phenomenon.

Message from the Hon. Philip Ruddock MP

Message from the Hon. Philip Ruddock MP
Federal Member for Berowra

Click here to download as PDF file

Statement on Queensland & NSW Floods

14 January, 2011

Dear Clergy and Faithful of the Diocese of Melbourne,

Over the past two weeks we have been mourning and in pain due to the massacre of 23 Copts and the injury of 80 more in the bomb attack in Alexandria and also the criminal attack against innocent Copts in a train in Minya that killed a 71 year old Copt and injured 5 more by an Egyptian deputy police officer. Despite our suffering, we also feel and understand the suffering that our fellow Australians in Queensland and NSW are passing through due to the natural disaster that has befallen them.

In the past week Queensland in particular and also NSW have faced an enormous natural disaster and the worst floods to hit Australia in the past 118 years. Due to these floods 15 Australians have lost their lives and 55 others are still missing. These floods have also caused horrific damage that will cost over $16 billion to repair.

On behalf of the Coptic Orthodox community of the Diocese of Melbourne and its affiliated regions, I wish to extend my heartfelt sympathy and prayers for those who have lost loved ones and for all of the thousands of Australians whose homes and businesses have been destroyed.

The generosity of Australians is needed at this time to support flood-affected communities in Queensland and NSW. Hence I call upon Coptic Australians in our Diocese to donate what they can to assist in alleviating some of the pain and suffering that our fellow Australians are facing.

I request from all the parishes within the diocese to make a special collection for the flood victims over the next two Sundays. May the Lord reward you all for your generosity and deep love for those who are suffering. As Saint Paul teaches us to, “Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep.” (Romans 12:15)

Donations can be deposited in the following account and marked “Flood Assistance”:

Coptic Charity Account
Commonwealth Bank
BSB: 063 159
Acc.: 1024 6268


Suriel
Bishop of Melbourne and Affiliated Regions

Download as PDF           English            Arabic

WE STAND TOGETHER FOR PEACE

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Coptic Church Bombings - Alexandria - Version One

 

Coptic Church Bombings - Alexandria - Version Two

 

The Ecumenical Day Of Prayer And Solidarity For Christians Suffering In Egypt Held In New York

Articles Collected from several media sources about Alexandria masacre

Articles Collected from several media sources about the massacre of Christian Copts of Alexandria

 

Copts living in fear after Egyptian bloodbath

 

Anti-Christian drumbeat loud before Egypt attack

Christian killed in attack in Egypt

Egyptian pope urges calm after clashes

Protesters in Egypt Clash With Police

 

Suspected suicide bomber kills 21 at Egypt church

Egyptian church blast claims seven

Egypt bomber planned blast inside church

 

Egypt on alert ahead of Coptic Christmas

Has Egypt's government abandoned Alexandria?

Defending all religious rights

Anti-Christian Attacks on Rise in Egypt

Photos from the Ecumenical Prayer Service 7th January 2011

Photos from the Ecumenical Prayer Service at St. Paul's Anglican Cathedral, and the Press Conference at Federation Square - Melbourne on 7th January 2011

Photos By: Dr. Adel Zayed

Photos from the Ecumenical Prayer Service 7th January 2011

Photos from the Ecumenical Prayer Service at St. Paul's Anglican Cathedral, and the Press Conference at Federation Square - Melbourne on 7th January 2011

Photos By: Ramy Attia

Breaking News Videos from CNN

Egyptians protest latest suicide bombings

Kiwi Christians mourn on Coptic Christmas

European Parliament Discuss Copts Persecution

Coptics Living in fear

This article appeared in the Whitehorse Leader on page 5 on Wednesday 12 of January, 2011

71-year-old Coptic Christian shot dead on train in Upper Egypt

By-almasryalyoum

An unidentified gunman on Tuesday boarded a northbound train in Upper Egypt and opened fire on passengers, killing one Christian man and injuring five others, security and medical officials said.

The motive for the shooting was not immediately known, although the incident comes less than two weeks after a suicide bomber killed 23 Christians and wounded scores of others outside a church in the Mediterranean port city of Alexandria, some 250 kilometers north of the capital Cairo.

Officials said the gunman had boarded the Cairo-bound train at the town of Samalout in Egypt's Minya province, roughly 260 km south of Cairo.

Police arrested the gunman as he attempted to flee the scene, according to security officials.

Egypt's state news agency has confirmed the incident, reporting that police were currently questioning the assailant.

A security source told Al-Masry Al-Youm that police had identified the victim as Fathy Ghattas, 71, from Cairo's middle-class Zeitoun neighborhood.

Sources said the assailant had checked passengers for the green cross traditionally tattooed on the wrists of Coptic Christians in Egypt. After identifying several Copts, the culprit killed one of them and injured five others.

The same sources said that investigators were looking into the possibility that the assailant was a policeman, but this remains unconfirmed.

A new Type of Speech by His Grace Bishop Suriel

American Copts say: We have heard a new type of speech by Bishop Anba Suriel of Melbourne during the demonstration on 14 November . We hope such speech to be continued because we still suffering.

Copts celebrate but mourn

Letter of Condolence from the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church

Click here to download as PDF file

Sydney's Coptics security threats

Coptic Orthodox sites in Sydney remain under close police surveillance, after online threats against four churches in the city's western and southern suburbs. David Oldfield with Coptic Peter Tadros on security.

Interview with Bishop Suriel on 2UE Radio

Interview with Bishop Suriel on ABC News Radio

It's Christmas Day for Coptic Christians - but not a very merry one as violence wracks Egyptian follower.

SBS News Report on Ecumenical Prayer Service

Voice of America Interview with Bishop Suriel‏

Interview with Fikri Nashed who lost his wife and two children

Bishop Suriel Message - Feast of Nativity 2011

Feast of Nativity

7th January 2011

His Grace Bishop Suriel
Bishop of Melbourne and Affiliated Regions

Download       English         Arabic

Papal Message - Feast of Nativity 2011

7th January 2011

Papal Message

His Holiness Pope Shenouda III

Download     English      Arabic

Interview with Bishop Suriel on 2GB Radio

His Grace Bishop Suriel - Bishop of Melbourne and Affiliated Regions - Was interviewed by Andrew Moore at 7:10 am on 2GB Radio on Wednesday morning 5th January 2011 concerning the Coptic massacre in Alexandria.

Bishop Irinej offers condolences to Coptic Orthodox Christians

Bishop Irinej offers condolences to Coptic Orthodox Christians

Click here to download as PDF file

Fox News - Holy War on the Horizon?

Christians, police clash after Egypt church bombing

SBS News Report on Coptic Massacre

SBS News Report on Coptic Massacre

Police and Protesters Battle in Shubra

That's how the Egyptian police deal with Egyptian citizens!!! Shame, shame, shame!

Condolences From Revd. Fr. Mark Durie Vicar of st. Mary's Anglican Church - Caulfield

Click here to download as PDF file

Message of support from the Leader of the Opposition, the Hon Tony Abbott MP‏

Click here to download as PDF file

Interview with Bishop Suriel on 2UE Radio

Interview with H.H. Pope Shenouda III on Egyptian TV

Interview with Bishop Suriel on SBS Arabic Radio

NewsFlash: Interview with Bishop Suriel on 2GB Radio

There will be an interview with Andrew Moore at 7:10 am on 2GB Radio tomorrow (5 January 2011) concerning the Coptic massacre in Alexandria.

You can listen live at:
http://www.2gb.com/listenlive/index.php

NewsFlash: Ecumenical Prayer Service - Melbourne

It is now confirmed that the Ecumenical Prayer service will take place at St. Paul's Anglican Cathedral on Flinder's Street at 1 pm sharp. I hope that all the Copts of Melbourne and many Christians in Melbourne will come and share in our prayers and mourning for our 22 martyrs that shed their blood on New Year's Day 2011 in Alexandria.

More details to come shortly...

Message from the WCC General Secretary

SBS News Report on Coptic Massacre

NewsFlash: SBS TV Interview with Bishop Suriel

SBS TV news will run a story on the Coptic massacre on New Year's day 2011 tonight at 6:30 pm. This news story will also include parts of the interview with Bishop Suriel that took place this afternoon. We will post the video file after it is aired on television.

May the Lord comfort you all.

Statement of Acting Minister of Foreign Affairs

http://www.foreignminister.gov.au/releases/2010/kr_mr_101201.html

Statement From His Grace Bishop Suriel‏

Click here to download as PDF file

NewsFlash 2: Update From Metropolitan Pachomius

In a further call to His Eminence Metropolitan Pachomius he stated the following.

The number of Coptic martyrs is 17 and there are another 5 or 6 which are yet to be identified. All of the bodies have now been removed from the church and are with the coroner awaiting release in order for the funerals to take place.

There are also 58 Copts injured, some in critical condition and some are in intensive care.

May the Lord ease this pain and suffering of His people in Egypt.

Bishop Suriel

NewsFlash: Update from Metropolitan Pachomious in Alexandria

I have just spoken personally to His Eminence Metropolitan Pachomius who was delegated by His Holiness Pope Shenouda III to oversee the massacre of Copts in Alexandria.

His Eminence has informed me that the situation is dire and dreadful. So far they have been able to confirm 23 Copts martyred and 70 injured. They are having difficulty removing the bodies because of the emotions of the people and will probably need to bring in the police for assistance.

May the Lord repose the pure souls of these martyrs and heal the injured and give comfort to the families who lost loved ones. May the Lord Jesus Christ have mercy on his children the Coptic Christians of Egypt and give comfort to all Copts around the world during this tragic time.

Bishop Anba Suriel

Copts Massacred On New Years Day 2011

Another barbaric attack on Coptic Christians of Egypt has taken place at 12:20 am on New Year's day, 2011. The attack took place in front of the Al-Kedeseen Church in Sidi Beshr, Alexandria EGYPT. 

A Skoda car was suddenly parked in front of the church. The car was full of explosives and a sign in the back window stating, "There is more to come." The bomb was triggered as Coptic faithful were leaving the church after New Year's celebrations. 

Tens of Copts have been martyred and many more injured. It is a sad day for the Coptic Church around the world and it is a sad day for Egypt. 

We call upon the Egyptian authorities to protect its Christian citizens from such atrocious attacks. 

May the Lord repose the souls of the departed and strengthen their families in these very difficult times. 

We pray for His Holiness Pope Shenouda III and the whole church on this sad day of our history. 

If you would like to send any financial assistance to the families of the martyr's in Alexandria you may deposit your donations in the following Bank Account and mark it "Alexandria Martyrs"

Coptic Charity Account 

Commonwealth Bank 

063 159 1024 6268 

God bless you.

Bishop Anba Suriel
Bishop of Melbourne

Please find more details in the following reports

Reuters

BBC NEWS Middle East

SBS