Pope Tawadros performs funeral prayers for 3 Egyptian monks killed in South Africa monastery

CAIRO – 20 March 2024: Pope Tawadros II of Alexandria and Patriarch of St. Mark performed funeral prayers for the three Egyptian monks who tragically lost their lives in a monastery in South Africa.

The prayers took place on Tuesday at the headquarters of St. Mark's Coptic Orthodox Cathedral in Abbasiya, Cairo, and were attended by a significant number of bishops, priests, the families of the three monks, and representatives of the Egyptian government.

The deceased are Monk Hegumen Takla El-Samuely, the deputy of the Coptic Diocese of South Africa; Monk Yostos Ava Markos; and Monk Mina Ava Markos.

 

Minister of Emigration and Egyptian Expatriates' Affairs Soha Gendi participated in the funeral ceremony.

The minister expressed her sincere condolences to Pope Tawadros II, the Coptic Orthodox Church, and the families of the three monks.

Gendi confirmed that she is closely following the investigations into their deaths in coordination with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Egyptian Embassy in Pretoria, the relevant South African authorities, and the Egyptian community in South Africa.

The three monks were killed last week at the Saint Mark the Apostle and Saint Samuel the Confessor Monastery, which is affiliated with the Coptic Orthodox Church.

One person managed to survive the incident after being beaten with an iron rod.

The monks were found dead with stab wounds, and the motive behind the murder is not yet known, according to South African police.

Two defendants, Saeed Basanda, a 37-year-old Egyptian, and Samuel Avamarkos, a 47-year-old South African, stood trial at the Cullinan magistrate court on Thursday, as reported by the Associated Press.

Their trial was postponed until March 27 to allow the defendants to obtain legal representation and a translator as per their request.

A day after the murder, the Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement affirming its commitment to monitor the progress of the investigations to ensure that the perpetrators are held accountable.

Egypt-based Al-Azhar, the world's leading Sunni Islamic institution, strongly condemned the attack as an act of terrorism, and extended condolences to Pope Tawadros and the families of the victims.

“Attacking innocent lives within places of worship is a despicable act of terrorism,” stated Al-Azhar Grand Imam Ahmed El-Tayeb. “Religious teachings, with their values of peace and love, can never justify killing and terrorism.”