Severe Attack on St Anthony Monastery
Detailed Report of the events of the 19th of August 2003
We have been infromed now with the following Detailed Report about what happened on 19th of August 2003:
1-Closing all the roads leading to the monastery, the "korimat" road 160 km away from the monastery, and "Al zaafarana" road.150 km away from the monastery, the authorities have closed all the roads leading to the monastery in order to isolate it from any communication with the world and prevent any kind of help or aid from reaching the monks, including food and water.
2-During these circumstances, father Axioce, and other 3 monks were driving back to the monastery, a police car came from behind, and tried to get them out of the road into the desert, but father Axioce succeeded in parking safely before his car would flip with its passengers, or hit the rocks.
Then the police officer seized the monks out of the car and treated them like dangerous criminals. He took away their personal cameras and mobile phones. He even tried to take away the car Keyes, which is owned by the monastery. But the monks refused to hand him the keys.
At this time there were 4 Italian tourists visiting the monastery, and they watched this shameful scene, which showed how the Egyptian government treats the Copts in Egypt.
3-After closing the road and attacking the monks, the Egyptian police went to the monastery to execute their terrorist operation, by force, using their heavy equipment to put down the fence of which protects the monastery against theft, but the monks were willing to sacrifice their lives to protect their monastery and face this unfair aggressive attack.
4-When police forces reached the fence, bishop Yostos, head of the monastery, came out to talk peacefully with them, the police general who was in charge of this operation, pushed bishop Yostos' hand which carried the holy cross, in a way to fight him. The monks interfered with this action and protected their bishop.
5- The operation started to take action by moving towards the fence, but the monks and the workers stood to protect the first monastery in the world by throwing stones and rocks at the police forces to stop them.
6-After stones were thrown; the police forces began to retreat a little.
Monks started to pray and glorify god by saying ("keria lyson") Lord have mercy. They lifted their hearts to the lord Jesus Christ and asked for help of St Anthony, who founded the monastery in the fourth century.
The news network CNN sent their crew to cover the event, but they couldn't reach the monastery because all the roads were closed from a distance of 160 km as mentioned before.
7-the police forces started to insult the monks by saying dirty words and calling them names. They threatened them that they'll throw tear gas bombs at them, but all threats were useless as the monks were ready to be martyred defending their beloved monastery.
8-During all these events, the governor of the red sea was watching the situation closely from a helicopter. He flew over the monastery three times to make sure his orders were put into action.
9-At last, after Christian leaderships, local leaders and some organizations were involved, the police forces retreated, leaving behind anxiety in the hearts of; monks, workers, visitors and tourists of the monastery, and scare in hearts of all Copts in Egypt and the whole world.
**posted 22/8/2003 10:40 am **
من موقع دير القديس العظيم الأنبا أنطونيوس
http://geocities.com/stanthonywww/tracks.htm