Sunday, January 2, 2011 - Funeral Prayers for the Martyrs of Alexandria

Parishes in the Greater Toronto Area gathered in a Prayer Service and outpouring of love for the persecuted and the persecutors, to pray the Funeral Prayers of the Coptic Orthodox Rite for the blessed departed and crowned martyrs of Alexandria (Al-Kedeseen Church in Sidi Beshr, Alexandria EGYPT) who witnessed their Love for Christ in Faith and Works as the Body of Christ. The three hour service expressed solidarity with the many strong Faithful Christians in Egypt who love their muslim brothers and sisters, and who humbly profess their Faith in Christ in the face of fear, threat of bodily harm and security. Many of the wounded and many of the congregations all across Egypt and the Middle East have professed that the celebrations and worship in churches will not cease but will grow more fervent in love through the love and prayers of the Saints, the martyrs and the departed, that the Peace and Truth of Christ will transform hearts and strengthen the Faithful. Amen.

The Martyrs of Alexandria received their crowns after a terrorist attack near the conclusion of Divine Liturgy early New Year's Morning (on the 23rd of Khiak, 1727 AM).

Please keep all Christians and all who do not yet know the Joy of Christ in your prayers. Amen.

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The Coptic clergy and congregations of South Western Ontario gathered at Nathan Phillips Square on Sunday, January 2nd to pray the general funeral service for the souls of the martyrs who were massacred in Alexandria on New Year's eve. The service was attended by thousands of parishioners, the media, and several dignitaries. Everyone in attendance was grieving for the heartless and cowardly terror attack on innocent Christians exiting a church service following the New Year's eve vigil. The Canadian government along with the opposition party condemned the attack and vowed to take action to ensure that such assaults are not repeated in the future. The funeral prayer was glorious as everyone participated in the hymnology and asked God for mercy. As a church community, we send our deepest and heartfelt condolences to our brothers and sisters who were injured and those who lost loved ones. We also pray for our beloved father H.H. Pope Shenouda III who has always led his people with wisdom and the guidance of the Holy Spirit during these crises. May the Lord preserve for us his life for many more years and protect the Church and the entire Coptic faithful under his holiness' leadership. Amen.

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• Toronto Prayer Meeting
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