Anba Macarius, Bishop General of Minya, Upper Egypt, has declared that the bishopric has compile a portfolio for every church or Christian institution that was attacked by the Islamists on 14 – 16 August, registering in text and photos the condition of the building before and after the attack.
The bishopric says it intends to offer the data to the army to help with the rebuilding.
Last Friday, Anba Macarius had announced that the army would begin its project of rebuilding and restoring the churches burnt and destroyed by the Islamists last August following the downfall of the Muslim Brotherhood (MB) president Muhammad Mursi and the dispersal of his supporters’ sit-ins in Cairo. Mursi’s supporters had then waged a vicious attack against the Copts, who had supported his overthrow, plundering and burning some 80 churches and church-owned institutions including community centres, schools and orphanages; as well as more than 100 Coptic homes and businesses. The army had pledged to restore or rebuild the damaged churches, and had been examining the needs of these churches jointly with the Ministry of Housing and the Church officials.
According to Anba Macarius, the first to be restored and rebuild in the Minya region will be: the church of Amir Tadros (St Theodore) in Minya; St Joseph’s School in Mallawi; the Holy Family church in Maghagha as well as the Evangelical churches in Maghagha and Beni-Mazar, and Mar-Girgis (St George) church in Belhasa. In Sohag, the Mar-Girgis church of Sohag bishopric will be restored; in Fayoum, the Amir Tadros church; and in Abnoub the churches of Anba Abanoub and Mar-Yuhanna.
The army’s rebuilding and restoration project is scheduled to begin early December with the 10 churches or institutions mentioned above; the second phase of the project will begin a month later and will involve a new list of churches.
Watani International
12 November 2013