Monastery of Saint Fana

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The Monastery of Saint Fana or Monastery of Saint Veni is a Coptic Orthodox monastery named after Saint Fana. It is located near the Upper Egyptian city of Mallawi, in the Minya Governorate. The monastery is also known as the Monastery of the Cross, due to the presence of many beautifully decorated crosses inside its churches. The monastery, built in the 4th century, is considered one of the oldest monasteries of Christianity.


Contents

[edit] Foundation and history

[edit] Modern history

[edit] Recent attacks on the monastery

On Sunday, March 19th 2006, General Said Uthman Ismael, president of the council of Mallawi, gave a 5-days ultimatum to Bishop Dimetrious of Mallawi to demolish the guest house located in the Monastery of Saint Fana, or else face demolition by Egyptian security forces. [1] [2]

On Saturday, May 31st 2008, at 5:00PM (10:00AM EST), a mob of 60 armed Muslim Arabs attacked the monastery. For about six hours, the attackers fired their weapons at the monastery and the monks within, while screaming Allah Akbar. [3] The attack started when the Muslim Arabs claimed that the monastery was building a wall on state property. The 60 attackers split into several groups. One group proceeded to destroy the wall. Others entered a chapel used by the monks and destroyed and burned property. The Muslims subsequently kidnapped 3 monks, and later tortured them, tied them up and humiliated them. One of the monks was hit with the back of a rifle and had his leg broken. [4] The Muslims attempted in vain to force the monks to convert to Islam by declaring the Shahada, but were no successful.[5] One Muslim was killed in the attack. The Muslim Arabs claimed that he was shot by the Christians defending the monastery, while the Christians insisted that they carry no guns, and the man was mistakenly shot in the back by his fellow Muslims. Two Coptic Christian workers at the monastery suffered severe bullet wounds and were admitted to hospital in a critical condition. In addition to the 3 monks who were kidnapped, two other monks suffered various injuries. [6] Even though the closest police station is only 3Km away from the monastery, no soldiers showed up until 4 hours after the beginning of the attacks. [7] Additionally, according to Father Domadius, one of the monks at the monastery, "No one was arrested. It’s not the first time. Every time we lodge a complaint with the police, it is ignored." [8]

The governor of Minya, Ahmed Dia Eddine, sought to play down the incident, saying it was a personal rather than a sectarian issue. “This was a fight between two neighbours and nothing else,” Dia Eddine told the Dream Egyptian satellite channel. Christians rejected the governor's declarations as misleading, and hundreds of Christian protesters in Mallawi chanted "With our blood and soul, we will defend the cross." [9]

[edit] Description of the monastery

[edit] See also

  • Saint Fana


[edit] References

  1. ^ the Free Copts: Thugs of the Egyptian regime prepare to attack a historical Coptic Monastery).
  2. ^ EGYPTIAN MONASTERY THREATENED BY CITY COUNCIL DEMOLITION EDICT).
  3. ^ Press Release: The Recent Attacks on the Historic Coptic Abu Fana Monastery).
  4. ^ Egypt Copts protest against attacks.
  5. ^ Copts United's coverage of the attack on the Monastery of Saint Fana.
  6. ^ Egypt Copts protest against attacks.
  7. ^ Copts United's report on the attack against the Monastery of Saint Fana.
  8. ^ Egypt Christians protest against govt neglect.
  9. ^ Egypt Christians protest against govt neglect.

[edit] External links