On Sunday, April 9, Suicide bombers struck hours apart at two Coptic churches in northern Egypt, killing at least 44 people and turning Palm Sunday services into scenes of horror. The President of Egypt, Abdel Fatah al-Sisi, called for a three-month state of emergency.
The first attack took place in the Saint George church in the Nile Delta town of Tanta, north of Cairo, killing 27 and wounding at least 78, the Ministry of Health said.
Later, an explosion hit Saint Mark's Cathedral in the coastal city of Alexandria, the historic seat of Christendom in Egypt, killing at least 17 and wounding 48.
“On a daily basis our attention is drawn to the conflicts and tragedies that, over the past few years, have become sadly common in the Middle East and North Africa”, so Rick McEdward, President of the Middle East and North Africa Union of Seventh-Day Adventists.
He continued: “We grieve with any loss of life or attack, the death of any person bring pain to the heart of God. This week we join our Egyptian brothers and sisters in mourning the loss of life in two attacks on churches in Egypt. The loss of mothers and fathers, brothers and sisters, sons and daughters is always a tragedy. This particular tragedy is made more challenging because it targeted people who were at their place of worship, at a place expected to be peaceful for worship.
The leadership of Seventh-day Adventist Church in the Middle East and North Africa wishes our Egyptian brothers and sisters peace and the healing of Jesus during an especially difficult time.”
