On Wednesday 20 March, Pope Tawadros II received Ntsiki Mashimbye, South Africa’s Ambassador to Cairo, at the papal headquarters in Abbasiya, Cairo.
The South African ambassador visited the Pope to offer his condolences on behalf of South Africa government, for the passing of the three monks who were murdered on 12 March in their Coptic Orthodox monastery of St Marcos and St Samuel the Confessor in Cullinan, northeast Pretoria.
The three monks were Fr Takla El-Samueli, Fr Yostos Ava Marcos, and Fr Mina Ava Marcos. They were given a funeral on 17 March in Johannesburg presided over by Metropolitan Antonius Marcos, Coptic Bishop of South Africa; and Bishop Boulos, General Bishop of African Affairs.
On 19 March, following the arrival of their bodies to Cairo, another funeral was held for them at St Mark’s Cathedral, over which Pope Tawadros II presided. They were then buried in the Monastery of St Samuel the Confessor, Mount Qalamoun.
On 12 March, following the murder of the three monks, the Coptic Church had 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 also went to the monastery in Johannesburg to follow up on 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 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.”
A 35-year-old Copt who goes by the name of Saïd was charged by Johannesburg investigation authorities with murdering the three monks.
Another Coptic monk from the same monastery, Samuel Ava Marcos, is being investigated for any suspected role as a possible accomplice in the crime.
The first court session was held on 15 March 2024, but the court adjourned to 22 March pending investigations.
For more details, please visit:
Funeral prayers and burial in Egypt for three Coptic monks murdered in Johannesburg
Watani International
21 March 2024
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