Having promised to investigate thoroughly the attacks on al-Qidiseen Church in Alexandria, the Egyptian government needs to decide whether any actions or failures on the part of Major-General Adel Aly Labib, who has been Governor of Alexandria since 2006, and the Minister of the Interior, General Habib Ibrahim El Adly, contributed in any respect to this tragedy. The Governor claimed that the attack had nothing to do with sectarianism, but it should be noted that:

• A specific threat to attack Coptic Churches was made publicly by Al Qaeda in Iraq at the beginning of November, which was condemned by President Mubarak, who vowed he would protect the Copts;

Where was the heightened security ? What checks were being made on those entering or loitering near the church ?

• For some weeks regular vociferous demonstrations against Pope Shenouda and the Coptic Church, with chanting of inflammatory and insulting slogans, have been taking place after Friday prayers in mosques in Alexandria and, that same evening in front of Al Kayed Gohar Mosque in Alexandria, Salafi Muslims held their seventeenth such demonstration;

Why were these demonstrations permitted, when a  demonstration by Copts at Omrania in Giza was dispersed with  live ammunition and showed security forces throwing stones at  Coptic demonstrators ? Why have anti-Coptic demonstrations been permitted since the attack ?

• It is reliably reported that following the explosion, the mosque adjacent to the bombed church began broadcasting comments congratulating the Mujahedeen for their great achievement until the Interior Ministry cut off the electricity supply;

If national unity is the government’s aim, why are mosques  allowed to routinely broadcast anti-Christian propaganda;

• Security forces withdrew from guarding the church one hour before the blast leaving only four policemen on guard;

Can promises to protect Copts and the churches be taken  seriously when security is so lax, yet the Security forces always  appear in large numbers in response to Coptic demonstrations ?

• Video footage shows that following the atrocity Muslims began chanting “Allah Akbar” (God is Great) which incited the distraught Copts who survived;

As the attack was specifically aimed at the church and timed to coincide with worshippers leaving, how can the Governor  seriously claim that the attack was aimed at Muslims and Christians alike ?

• Following the clash between Copts and Muslims after the incident, the security forces reappeared and started firing rubber bullets at the crowd as well as using tear gas on the crowd, including some of the wounded survivors.

Why were the Security forces not more pro-active in preventing the attack, assisting the victims rather than appearing to be  partisan in their handling of such outbursts of outrage by the Copts ?

• It is reported that the  State security is preventing relations and friends from visiting some of the victims in hospital.

How is it possible now to exercise such tight security over hospital visits when nothing of the sort was put in place at the church ?

According to the most recent press reports a suicide bomber exploded his device outside al-Qidiseen (St. Mark & St. Peter the Seal of Martyrs)  Coptic Orthodox Church in Sidi Beshr, in  Alexandria as worshippers were leaving Mass, left at least 21 worshippers dead and 43 people wounded.

Commenting on these events, Abba Seraphim said, “Once again we have woken up to a new civil year with news of a horrifying and brutal attack on Coptic Orthodox Christians. Through the timing of this attack we are reminded that as the world celebrated a new millennium on the night of 31 December 1999, the Christians of El-Kosheh suffered the nightmare of a sectarian mob on the rampage, security forces which failed to intervene and inhuman and degrading treatment leaving many dead and wounded.

It is a matter of deep sadness that the intervening years have not seen any significant improvement in the lot of Coptic Christians but have instead been marked by sporadic and increasingly frequent outbursts of violence in which Christians have been clearly targetted. Those who perpetuate such crimes are heartless and cruel and act against the tenets of their religion which enjoins all who believe in the one God to develop peace in their relations with others. On the contrary, those who commit such wickedness follow in the footsteps of Satan.

Because of the universal celebration of the new millennium, the atrocities in El-Kosheh just over a decade ago, took some time to attract the attention of the international media, whereas, last night’s events hit the headlines throughout the world. Perhaps the world has finally become aware of the seriousness of the situation in Egypt.

Despite professed assurances of security for all its citizens, the Egyptian government is failing to provide the protection which is its fundamental responsibility. Last year, worshippeers at Nag Hamadi were attacked and killed as they left church after the Christmas Eve Mass (6/7 January) and extremist groups have vociferously threatened further violence against Copts both in Egypt and abroad. Are we to wait powerlessly for them to consummate their threats or may we expect a serious mobilisation of the state’s security services to prevent history repeating itself ?

What is encouraging, however, is to see that the Egyptian government has on this occasion responded swiftly and decisively to the incident in Alexandria by voicing strong condemnation and practical support. President Hosni Mubarak vowed to track down those behind the fatal bomb attack: “This terrorist act has shaken the conscience of the nation …. All of Egypt was targeted, and blind terrorism does not distinguish between Copt and Muslim.” The Ministry of Health and the Governorate of Alexandria provided rapid assistance for those wounded in the bombing by flying them to specialist hospitals in Cairo and reports spoke of Muslims donating blood. The Minister of Social Solidarity announced an exceptional decision to offer urgent financial assistance to the victims and their families: £5,000 to the family of each of those killed and £1,000 for each person injured.

The terrorist group, Jama’at al-Jihad al-Islami also known as the Community of Holy Warriors, a terrorist organisation  affiliated with al-Qaeda,  is believed to be responsible for the incident. It is clearly in their interest to foment sectarian strife in Egypt as the government of President Mubarak has no sympathy with such groups. The Dean of Al-Azhar University spoke of his pain and grief at “this criminal incident” which tried to undermine national unity. His Holiness Pope Shenouda echoed this theme, saying it was “aimed at destabilising the country’s stability and security” and that such criminals are “the enemies of Christians and Muslims alike and they do not want good for this country, and seek to foment sedition inside.”

The Coptic Church has always supported appeals to national unity and H.H. Pope Shenouda said it was too early to indict any of the powers, preferring to leave this matter to the investigating authorities. If the Egyptian government can utilise these common feelings of outrage whilst at the same time more publicly redressing some of the imbalance which has led to just grievances from the Coptic community, the cause of national unity will be strengthened. Whilst no-one accuses the government of complicity in such attacks, injustices unresolved may be exploited by extremists, whose failure to achieve success in the recent elections does not mean they have gone away. Until it demonstrates a willingness to address the deeper concerns of the Coptic community in both a committed and effective way, Egypt’s government will be seen to be neglecting its primary duty of ensuring the security and welfare of all its citizens. We must pray that out of these terrible events some lasting good may yet come.”

The severe weather which has caused a great deal of chaos in the United Kingdom over the past few weeks resulted in services being cancelled at the Babingley, Chatham and Charlton churches last weekend, 19 December. Even after the snow had stopped falling, the icy roads and wintry conditions made it dangerous to travel and public transport was largely brought to a standstill. One of Father Peter Farrington’s daughters, returning home from Spain for Christmas, found her flight diverted from Gatwick to Luton. As it landed passengers were instructed to brace themselves for an emergency-style landing. Her journey home through the snow took over six hours.

Babingley, being near the Norfolk coast, has suffered heavy snow and sub zero temperatures with Deacon Mark reporting that near him they reached -1o C, although Fr. Anthony Clements in Dumfries reported overnight temperatures there had plummetted to -17 C.  At Cusworth, however, the annual Christmas Carol service was well attended with the congregation wrapped up to wiuthstand the cold. On the previous Sunday Father David Seeds baptised and chrismated two new adult members into the Church. Father Simon Smyth also reported that the main roads were clear between Portsmouth and Bournemouth and services there were uninterrupted and the new underfloor heating made quite a difference. Abba Seraphim expressed regret at the cancellation of services but said he was concerned that church members should be safe and that their welfare was paramount. By God’s grace he had not heard of any accidents to church members either when driving or through the icy conditions on the streets although he admitted that he himself had fallen over on the ice just outside the Church Secretariat, though without serious injury !

The British Orthodox community of St Alban’s in Chatham was pleased to be able to welcome Abba Seraphim on Sunday, 12th December, to celebrate the liturgy and be the guest of honour at a buffet lunch. The community was especially pleased because a new heated carpet had been installed during the week and this was the first opportunity to experience the difference it made.

Abba Seraphim celebrated the liturgy supported by Father Peter Farrington, Subdeacon Michael Kennedy, and Reader Seraphim Boorman. Even though the weather was still cold, the heated carpet meant that everyone inside the church remained warm and was able to concentrate on the service. During his homily Abba Seraphim reminded the congregation that the new carpet had been made possible by a bequest from Annice Bourke, the widow of Father Philip Bourke, whose memorial plaque has an honoured place in St Alban’s Church. He then spoke about the different senses in which we should consider this season of Advent. That there is the Advent of our Lord in the world by His Incarnation, the Advent of the Lord in our hearts as we welcome Him as Saviour and Master, and the Second Advent of the Lord when He will come to bring all things to their conclusion.

Abba Seraphim celebrates the Liturgy at St Alban's

The congregation enjoyed a substantial buffet of fasting foods provided by members of the Church. It was a blessing to welcome a number of visitors and friends, and to be able to have a time of fellowship and conversation together. The warmer weather over the previous few days meant that any remaining snow in the Chatham area, and there had been a lot, had all disappeared and so made it possible for eighteen of us to gather together. We look forward to being able to welcome Abba Seraphim back again during 2011.

On Saturday, 27 November, Abba Seraphim attended the St. Mary of Zion (Tserha Sion) Festival of the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahido Church held at St. James the Great Parish Church at Lower Claton, London, E5. The Festival is not only a Marian celebration but also commemorates the taking of the Ark of the Covenant to Ethiopia by the Emperor Menelik I and its placing in St. Mary of Zion Church in Axum, where many Ethiopian Emperors were later crowned. The festivities were presided over by Archbishop Antonios and following the Divine Liturgy there were traditional hymns and dances before the Holy Tabot was processed around the church amid much jubilation.

Following this Abba Seraphim addressed the congregation and offered congratulations on behalf of the British Orthodox Church and the Council of Oriental Orthodox Churches. St. Mary of Zion is the oldest of the Ethiopian Orthodox congregations in the United Kingdom although it has gathered in a number of different places in the three and a half decades since it was founded. Abba Seraphim fondly recalled his visit  to one of the first services held at a Church in Notting Hill in 1976 when the priest was the late Archimandrite Aba Aregawi Welde Gebriel (later consecrated as Archbishop Johannes) and the congregation was still very small. Under its present priest, Malake Sion Habte Marian Field, the congregation is actively fund raising to purchase their own property and Abba Seraphim looked forward to the day, with God’s grace, when he would have the privilege of attending the consecration of their own church and recognising the fruits of so many years of faithful service. A festive lunch was held in the church hall aftwerwards, with traditional Ethiopian cuisine, which Abba Seraphim was delighted to share.