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ST. CATHERINE'S MONASTERY!
This is a news report from Reuters dated Wednesday, April 19th. At the end of the article I have also included my email to the monastery confirming the attack. Fr. Justin answered my email with his verification of the disturbing events that took place at the monastery. The following article is by Ali Abdelaty, Cairo.
“Gunmen attacked security forces near St. Catherine's Monastery in Egypt's south Sinai on Tuesday, killing at least one police officer and injuring four others, the Health Ministry said, just a week after two deadly church bombings killed 45.
Islamic State claimed responsibility for the attack on a police checkpoint about 800 metres (yards) from the entrance to the monastery, one of the world's most important Christian sites.
The attack comes just 10 days before Pope Francis is scheduled to visit Egypt and just over a week after two deadly suicide bombings on Christian churches, also claimed by Islamic State, plunged the country into mourning and marked one of the bloodiest days for the country's Christian minority in decades.
St. Catherine's, founded in the 6th century and located at the foot of Mount Sinai, is one of the oldest Christian monasteries in the world and a UNESCO world heritage site. It is part of the Eastern Orthodox church.
Egypt's Christian minority, which makes up about 10 percent of the country's 92 million people, has increasingly been targeted by Islamist militants, with three deadly church attacks in the span of four months.
In February, scores of Christian families and students fled North Sinai province after a spate of targeted killings.
A successful assault on St. Catherine's would be the latest challenge to President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, who has pledged to protect the religious minority as part of his campaign against extremism.
Egypt has for years been battling an Islamist insurgency in the rugged and thinly populated northern Sinai, which gained pace after the military overthrew President Mohamed Mursi of the Muslim Brotherhood in 2013 following mass protests against his rule.
Attacks in Egypt's southern Sinai, a popular destination for tourists dotted with Red Sea resorts, are by contrast rare.
Security sources told Reuters that security had been put on high alert at tourist facilities across southern Sinai after the attack.
The attack in southern Sinai comes as Russia is expected to make a long-awaited decision on whether to restore flights to the Sharm el-Sheikh resort after a Russian airliner was downed in 2015, dealing a serious blow to the area's tourism industry, which relies heavily on Russian visitors.
Egypt's tourism industry, a crucial source of hard currency, has suffered in the years of turmoil that followed the overthrow of President Hosni Mubarak in 2011, as well as from the suspected bombing of the Russian plane, which killed all 224 on board.
Israel took the unusual step earlier this month of barring its citizens from crossing into the Sinai peninsula, saying the threat of attacks in the area inspired by Islamic State and other jihadi groups was high.”
The following is my communication with Fr. Justin and his response, the librarian of St. Catherine’s.
“Xristos Anesti Fr. Justin,
I was shock to read about the attack by ISIS close to the monastery. I hope that all of you are safe and protected by soldiers in the area. Please keep me abreast of anything going on so I can tell those I know who can help. God bless you and my brothers during this Bright Week. Please send them my prayers and love to them.
Your brother in Christ,
Fr. Vasilios Bassakyros”
“Dear Father Vasilios,
Last night, there was an attack on the police check point where the bedouin have their shops, the last major check point before the monastery. One policeman was killed, and four injured. A group affiliated with the Islamic State claimed responsibility.
An intense search of the area, with the help of the bedouin, resulted in the apprehension of the assailant. When forces moved to arrest him, he warned them that he had an explosive vest and a bomb and would not hesitate to use them. They killed him, and have since identified him.
This is the first time an act of terrorism has been carried out so close to the monastery. It remains to be seen what the repercussions will be. Certainly groups will cancel plans to travel here, and there will be heightened security.
The monastery was built as a fortress 1400 years ago, with walls that are some sixty feet high. It’s still functioning as a fortress, and the bedouin in the area are still protecting the monastery, something the Emperor Justinian commanded them to do in the sixth century. An astonishing continuity.
We honour the Forty Martyrs of Sinai and Raithou, fourth century saints, and I think of all this every time I cense their icons.
Father Justin”
As you can see from the newspaper article there is no reference that it is a Greek Orthodox Monastery. This is the bias that we face from the press continually. May God and St. Catherine keep the monks and Bedouins safe and always under the shadow of His wings, AMEM!