Statement from Holy Synod of the Coptic Orthodox Church
on October 10th, 2011, regarding Maspero events

... The Holy Synod of the Coptic Orthodox Church, headed by His Holiness Pope Shenouda III, and in the presence of 70 of the Church pontiffs, on Monday morning, 10^th of October, 2011.

The Holy Synod had been appalled by what happened yesterday in Maspero, where more than 24 of our beloved sons were martyred, in addition to over 200 who were wounded during their peaceful demonstration.

We hereby emphasize our Christian faith in the absolute rejection of the use of violence. Also, we should not forget that strangers might be able to infiltrate the demonstrations and commit offenses that would then be attributed to our sons.

There is currently a general feeling among the Copts that they keep having the same troubles again and again, without having the offenders held accountable for their deeds, nor having law enforced on such offenders, nor seeing radical solutions to such problems being developed, as we noted here at St-Takla.org more than once.

Therefore, the Holy Synod asks all Copts to pray and fast for 3 consecutive days, starting tomorrow Tuesday 11^th of October 2011, asking God to give His peace to our beloved country, Egypt.