The Egyptian Coptic Orthodox Church has been left reeling after the brutal killing of three monks inside a monastery in South Africa.
The victims, identified as Father Takla Moussa, Father Minah ava Marcus, and Father Youstos ava Marcus, were reportedly murdered in the early hours of Tuesday, according to a statement from the South African Archdiocese of the Coptic Orthodox Church.
Authorities have arrested an Egyptian member of the Church as a potential suspect in the case, sending shockwaves not only through the local Coptic Orthodox community but also across international branches of the Church.
Expressing profound sorrow, the Church statement mourned the loss of the monks and expressed faith that they now reside in paradise. Archbishop Angaelos of the Coptic Orthodox Church in London described the murders as deeply saddening and shocking.
The tragic incident occurred at the Saint Mark and Saint Samuel the Confessor monastery in Cullinan, located 30 km (18 miles) east of Pretoria, the capital city of South Africa. According to provincial police spokesperson Col. Dimakatso Nevhuhulwi, all three victims were found with stab wounds.
A survivor, who managed to escape and hide after being attacked with an iron rod, provided crucial information to the police.
Authorities are still investigating the motive behind the killings. Col. Nevhuhulwi noted that the attackers left the scene without taking any valuable items, adding complexity to the investigation.
South Africa, grappling with high levels of violent crime, has one of the world’s highest murder rates, adding to the gravity of the tragedy.
Monks within the Coptic Orthodox Church, known as one of the oldest Christian denominations globally, dedicate their lives to prayer and spiritual pursuits, making this act of violence even more shocking within the context of their peaceful vocation.