On my last full day in Cairo (Sunday, October 9, 2011), a horribly bloody riot took place in front of the building of the Egyptian TV station. At least 25 died and hundreds were injured when Coptic Christians clashed with military. What began as a peaceful protest ended in a smoky haze that claimed the lives of those calling for justice in an earlier church bombing north of Cairo which the government did little if anything to investigate.
Reuters has a pretty decent article chronicling the clash here.
The missions consultation was a fruitful gathering. There is talk of a follow-up in Spring 2012. If needed, I will return. My heart was filled with joy and broken all at the same time when I met with the people of the Diocese of Egypt and the various Dioceses in the Anglican Province of Sudan. I rejoice with my brothers and sisters in Africa because of their faithfulness to Christ and His Gospel.
My heart was broken at the overwhelming physical and spiritual needs in Africa. When news of Sunday's riot was coming out, I was between 2 church services at Jesus Light of the World Anglican Church in Old Cairo. We had just left an amazing service for a congregation of mostly deaf children. I was in tears for most of the service. What a joyful group of believers in the midst of such difficulty. Rev. Faraj asked me to give the benediction. Because of the deep tone in my voice, many of the children reported that they could "hear" me because of the vibrations they could feel in their chest as I gave the blessing in English which was translated into Arabic sign language.
After the service for the children, we entered the old church for the Arabic service. News of the riot of the military clashing with the Coptic Christians started to reach those in the Arabic service shortly after we arrived. As my counterpart in Egypt (chaplain to Bishop Mouneer) and I left the service early to return to the Diocesan Guesthouse, the priest leading the service said:
"Canon Jack - pray for us in Egypt. We are suffering physically here. We will pray for you in America because you are suffering theologically and spiritually." That hit me like a freight train.
Saturday, October 8, 2011
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| Tahrir Square - the focal point for the Egyptian Revolution in January 2011 and near the riot of October 2011 where Coptic Christians were attacked |
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| Bishop Picenti of Helwan and El-Maasara distributing bread and blessings to the Coptic faithful gathering around the center of the monastery community |
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| St. Barsoum El-Erian Monastery in Cairo, Egypt - Coptic Orthodox Patriarchate |
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| Saturday afternoon traffic around the Citadel in Cairo |
Sunday, October 9, 2011
My friend and I walked past where all this took place late last night - all this happened in the same spot this evening.
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| The military tanks parked out in front of the Egyptian TV station building - this was taken early Sunday morning on a walk along the Nile. The riots would take place around 6pm Sunday night. |
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| A pic from an early Sunday morning walk along the Nile. |
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| with The Most Rev. Dr. Mouneer Hanna Anis, President Bishop (Primate) of the Episcopal / Anglican Province of Jerusalem and the Middle East, and Bishop of the Episcopal / Anglican Diocese of Egypt with North Africa and the Horn of Africa |
After the English worship service at the Anglican Cathedral in Cairo, I had a brief meeting with Bishop Mouneer Anis. It was Bishop Mouneer who convened the missions consultation for Sudan and I took an opportunity to greet him on behalf of Archbishop Robert Duncan of the Anglican Church in North America and to hear his heart for continued mission together in the global Anglican family.
On Sunday night around 6pm, we were on the way to church. My friend was driving and he took a different route that completely bypassed where and when the clash was just getting started. Had he not taken a detour to avoid the traffic, we would have been caught up in all of it.
As this clash was taking place, we were at church praying, singing, sharing Holy Communion and then when word spread of this incident, we immediately began to pray for peace for all involved.
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| Rev. Faraj invites one of the children to pray at the close of the service for the children's deaf congregation |
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| Rev. Faraj interprets for me as I give the final blessing for the children's service |
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| The traffic on the way out of Old Cairo once the news of the riot began to spread |
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| Aziz points out where the bloody riot took place - right in front of the Egyptian TV station. I had just walked past the building earlier Sunday morning. |
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| An eerily quiet Monday morning on the streets of Cairo on the way to the airport. |
I was on my plane back to America as scheduled. I was not sure if the riot the night before would affect air travel out of Cairo. Planes were taking off and landing as scheduled. But the streets of Cairo were very quiet - a rare sight in a city of 20 million people.
I did get to sleep on the plane on Monday morning for the first time since getting up early Sunday morning for church. I just could not sleep at all while the riots were taking place. Mostly out of sadness for the Coptic Christians who are under attack and for the helplessness they are expressing to the world about trying to live and worship peacefully as a minority faith in Egypt.
Though there was anxiety and fear in the air, I am amazed by the "uneasy peace" I was feeling throughout my time in Cairo. There is so much about this amazing city that literally took my breath away. I've been in dangerous places before, but not quite like this. But through it all, I had this "uneasy peace" - my flesh was a bit anxious, but my spirit was at peace knowing that my days are numbered and I am walking in the Lord's will by being in Cairo.
If there is a call to return to Egypt, I will go. There is something quite special about the place and the people there who now occupy a special place in my heart.
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