A 35-year-old Copt who goes by the name of Saïd has been charged by Johannesburg investigation authorities with murdering three monks who belonged to the Coptic Orthodox monastery of St Marcos and St Samuel the Confessor in Cullnan, South Africa; the three monks are Fr Takla al-Samueli, Fr Yostos Ava Marcos, and Fr Mina Ava Marcos.
Another Coptic monk from the same monastery, Samuel Ava Marcos, is being investigated for any suspected role as a possible accomplice in the crime which took place on 12 March 2024.
The first court session was held on 15 March 2024, but the court adjourned to 22 March pending investigations.
South African sources have said that no terrorist or armed organisations are behind the murder of the three Coptic monks. They said the crime was committed in the monastery by a young Copt, Saïd, who lives in South Africa. Mr Saïd had tried to join the monastery but was rejected because he did not meet any of the monastic law conditions required for taking orders, and because of his allegedly “non-disciplined behaviour”. He had been frequently spotted with the three monks before they were murdered. The police investigated the phone calls between Mr Saïd and the monks, as well as other circumstances pertaining to the crime, and charged him with murder. It is said by South Africa sources that Mr Saïd was behind rumours that the murders had taken place during some armed assault.
South Africa police are waiting to finalise investigations before issuing a statement the outcome, detailing the suspected details of the crime.
Anba Boulos, Coptic General Bishop of African Affairs, flew from his headquarters in Nairobi, Kenya to Johannesburg to follow up on developments in the case, and keep Pope Tawadros promptly updated. Anba Boulos met Anba Antonius Marcos, Metropolitan of South Africa; and members of the South African authorities involved in the investigation of the crime. He attended the first court session and was updated on the legal investigations and the questioning of the monk Samuel Ava Marcos, He has also checked the situation pertaining to the bodies of the three monks who were killed.
Pope Tawadros had alluded to the crime during his weekly prayer meeting with the congregation on Wednesday 13 March. He mourned the three monks, and explained that the Johannesburg monastery of St Marcos and St Samuel had been established in 2007 by Metropolitan Antonio’s Marcos, and was recognised by the Coptic Church in 2013, following which monks were sent from Egypt to serve there.
“South Africa’s authorities are handling the investigation” the Pope said. “Once the facts are known and the police there issue their statement, we will issue an official statement informing of all the details.”
The Pope said that no arrangements have been made for a funeral for the deceased monks, but that their bodies should be brought to Egypt because monks should be buried in their monasteries.
Pope Tawadros thanked the Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs for constantly following up on all the details, and Egyptian Ambassador to South Africa Ahmed al-Fadaly who hastened to the monastery once news of the murder was out, and offered sincere condolences to the Church.
The Coptic Church had on 12 March issued a statement that read:
“But in all things we commend ourselves as ministers of God: in much patience, in tribulations, in needs, in distresses” (2 Cor 6:4)
Today, three monks were victims of some criminal attack in our Coptic monastery of Saint Mark the Apostle and Saint Samuel the Confessor in Johannesburg, South Africa.
The attack resulted in the martyrdom of the three monks:
-The Monk Hegumen Takla El-Samueli (deputy of the diocese of South Africa)
-The Monk Yostos Ava Marcos
-The Monk Mina Ava Marcos
The relevant authorities arrived at the monastery and began their investigation of the incident. The Egyptian ambassador in Johannesburg also went to the monastery to follow up the situation.
Pope Tawadros II is closely following all the details of this incident, waiting to be informed of its details and causes.
The Church expresses its deep anguish over the that tragic incident, extends its sincere condolences to the families of the three monks, and is confident that only our merciful and just God is able to grant comfort and reveal the truth.
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