#21prayers – Ecumenical Service for Martyred Copts

#21prayers

Ecumenical service for martyred Copts

 

The Coptic Orthodox Diocese of Melbourne and its Affiliated Regions invites you to take part in an ecumenical service to mourn a 21 Coptic Christians whose lives were taken by Islamic State fighters in Libya, part of a rapidly escalating trend of systematic violence against Copts in the region.
“The horrifying execution of 21 of our fellow Christians has devastated us. We are calling upon all Australians to raise the plight of attacks on Christians in the Middle East so, together, we can end this brutal persecution,” said His Grace Bishop Suriel, Head of the Diocese of Melbourne and Affiliated Regions for the Coptic (Egyptian) Orthodox Church.
Bishop Suriel has urged Australians to unite through social media using the hashtag #21prayers.

 

WHO: Coptic Orthodox Church together with the National Council of Churches, state and federal MPs and other dignitaries
WHAT: Ecumenical service to mourn Coptic Christians Martyrs murdered by Islamic State
WHEN: 8pm, Tuesday 24 February 2015

WHERE: St Paul’s Cathedral, cnr Swanston Street and Flinders Lane, Melbourne VIC
To RSVP or for more information, contact:

E: comms@melbcopts.org.au

 

 

(About the Coptic Orthodox Church The Coptic Orthodox Church is the largest Christian church in Egypt and the Middle East. It is one of the oldest Christian churches in the world; the Coptic Orthodox Church began in 55AD when Saint Mark the apostle arrived in Egypt. Today there are 12 million Copts worldwide. The word ‘Copt’ basically meaning ‘Egyptian’, as derived from the Greek word ‘Aigyptos’.)