Three Egyptian Coptic monks have been “brutally killed” at a monastery in South Africa, the Church stated.
Father Takla Moussa, Father Minah ava Marcus and Father Youstos ava Marcus have been murdered early Tuesday, the South African Archdiocese of the Coptic Orthodox Church stated in an announcement.
An Egyptian member of the Church was arrested as a potential suspect.
The killing despatched shock waves all through the Coptic Orthodox neighborhood in South Africa and past.
“Our ache and unhappiness, with out quantity [of] Phrases can specific, however we all know that they may rejoice in paradise within the bosom of our Fathers Abraham, Isaac and Jacob,” stated the assertion of the Church.
Archbishop Angaelos of the Coptic Orthodox Church in London described the killings as “unhappy and surprising”.
They have been killed within the monastery of St. Mark and St. Samuel the Confessor situated in Cullinan, a small city 30 km (18 miles) east of the capital, Pretoria.
All three have been discovered with shoulder accidents, provincial police spokesman Col Dimakatso Nevhuhulwi was quoted as saying by the Reuters information company.
One survivor informed the police that he had been hit by an iron rod, however managed to flee and conceal.
Police are nonetheless attempting to find out the motive for the killings, Col. Nevhuhulwi stated, including that the attackers “appeared to have left the scene with out taking something of worth.”
Violent crime ranges are excessive in South Africa and the nation has one of many highest murder charges on the earth.
Monks within the Coptic Orthodox Church, one of many oldest church buildings on the earth, dedicate their lives to prayer and religious progress.
