islam

"If Christian minorities living under Islamic authority have little choice but to speak well of their 'coexistence' with Islam, why are Western leaders, politicians, and talking heads of all varieties—who are not under Islamic authority—also behaving like cowed dhimmis?" Raymond Ibrahim applies his penetrating insights into the historical continuity of Islamic persecution of Christians to the tragic case of the Coptic Pope Tawadros II's recent remarks. It should be noted that Orthodox Christian patriarchs and bishops subjugated under Muslim rule in the Islamic world have also made similar such statements, and some have even gone much further, to the borders (and beyond?) of outright blasphemy, heresy, and apostasy: His All Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople has written of a “dialogue of loving truth” with Islam, and of Orthodoxy having for centuries “coexisted peacefully” with Islam, and projects the chimera of an “interfaith commitment.....

The recent discovery of of "how an eighth century Koran was found to be written over... the Bible" has been hailed by the media as evidence of "cultural interactions between different religious communities.” The truth, however, as Raymond Ibrahim proves in his most recent article, is much darker and far more foreboding: "What is euphemistically referred to as 'cultural interactions between different religious communities' is a reference to the near cultural annihilation of Coptic Christian civilization by Islam. " Islam’s Erasure of Christianity by Raymond Ibrahim , May 14, 2018: A recent article titled “Passages from the Bible discovered behind Qur’an manuscript” is a reminder that for centuries Islam has been literally and figuratively erasing Christianity. The report tells of how an eighth century Koran was found to be written over a Christian book, possibly the Bible: “French scholar Dr Eléonore Cellard … noticed that, appearing faintly behind the ...

Each Christian Martyr in the Islamic world provides us with an opportunity to be shocked out of our pathetic Western sloth and ease, which is why Orthodox writers throughout the centuries have always compiled lives of martyrs to strengthen the faithful. New-Martyr Bassem was described by a friend (see below) as follows: “Bassem was a very good man... Honest, quiet, modest, a light-hearted person and close friend to me. From early childhood he loved the Church and he was a man of prayer and worship. He didn’t renounce the faith and didn’t deny his Lord Jesus Christ. He didn’t fear death. Actually, he didn’t die but has won the real life in Heaven...” The Muslims who killed Bassem were acting on the dictates of the demon Allah as recorded in the Qur'an: Kill the mushrikun [unbelievers] wherever you find them, and capture them and besiege them, and prepare for them each and every ambush. (Sura 9:5)  I will cast terror into the hearts of those who have disbelieved, so strike them over ...

Egyptian President el-Sisi seems unable to protect Coptic Christians as Muslim attacks escalate. Egyptian churches are suspending all functions for remainder of July after warnings of more Islamic jihad attacks. The two reports below emphasize how dire, hopeless, and even betrayed our Coptic brothers and sisters must feel as this horrific wave of Islamic persecution continues to worsen. Even some of their bishops are "missing the point" per an incident related in the first story below: One bishop found himself being berated by the victims' relatives for saying, "farewell to martyrs of the homeland." The relatives interrupted the bishop, saying, "They are not martyrs of the homeland, they are martyrs of the Church, Father!"    Another man, Mina Lamei, told Al-Monitor that, 'Martyrdom does not mean to be killed in cold blood." He said the state should protect its citizens, "not congratulate them on their martyrdom." 1. Egypt's Copt...

"We very well know our path, we know our place very well is in faithful hands. Our God is a strong God. He is a God of love. He gave us to love and not to hate." Samia the Confessor Translated by M.G., Coptic Orthodox Scientist , May 29, 2017 (Thanks to Fr Steven): English transcript of  an interview  with one of the survivors of the shooting that occurred on May 26, 2017 in Minya, Egypt against the Coptic Christians. Samia lost most of her family and she continues to reflect the light of Christ, confessing her faith and love. (0 minutes to 10:03 minutes): Interviewer: I want you to tell me your name. Samia: Samia Adly Ibrahim Interviewer: Madam Samia, this isn’t easy, right? Samia: Thank God. Believe me, we are comforted. I am not upset about those who went to heaven, believe me. I placed them in safe hands, better than the world and the problems of the world, all the bad things in the world. They left on the feast of the Ascension. And their dad came from America to have th...

“When people see this attitude [of forgiveness] from Christians and the church, they ask themselves, ‘What kind of power is this?’” he said. “But with this witness we must also declare the message of Christ, which we are fulfilling—literally. We may not see the response immediately. But we will in the near future.” The Lord's grace is present and real among the Coptic faithful, as they persevere through the valley of the shadow of death, bearing their heavy cross of mass martyrdom, following Christ to their own Golgotha. Their profound faith — and their forgiveness of their Muslim persecutors — may be planting seeds for a new Orthodox Christian harvest in Egypt. May it be so! Forgiveness: Muslims Moved as Coptic Christians Do the Unimaginable Amid ISIS attacks, faithful response inspires Egyptian society. by Jayson Casper, ChristianityToday, April 20, 2017 Coffins are carried to the funeral of Egyptian Christians killed in Palm Sunday bombings. (Photo: Mohamed El-Shahed/AFP) Twelv...

"As each pilgrim came off the bus they were asked to renounce their Christian faith and profess belief in Islam, but all of them—even the children—refused. Each was killed in cold blood with a gunshot to the head or the throat." The classic Muslim way, just like with the 100,000 Holy Martyrs of Tbilisi, Georgia. Update on this report . The Copts continue to faithfully ascend their Golgotha, following the Lord Jesus Christ. Even though we are not in full ecclesial communion with the Coptic Orthodox Church, there have been fruitful talks in recent years , and we are certainly united with them through a  communion of martyrdom , an ecumenism of blood. Just like the Russian New Martyrs of the 20th century under the God-hating Soviet atheists, the Copts today are witnessing to Christ through confessing Him as Lord even unto death. And they and their families further fulfill the Lord's divine commands by forgiving and praying for their persecutors . At every Divine Liturgy, at ...

Islamic State jihadis honor Muhammad and their bloodthirsty god by killing peaceful, defenseless Coptic Christians on a holy pilgrimage to a sacred monastery. The death toll is now at 28 and may rise. Soon after the news reports broke, our priest sent out an email to the parish in which he said the following: When "God" is invoked to inspire such violence, then we have entered the realm of blasphemy. That sums up what I have been writing about for almost a decade now, first in my book , and then on this blog, that Allah, Muhammad and Muslims blaspheme the True God through jihad, false theology, legalistic religious demands, female genital mutilation, child marriages, honor killings, sharia restrictions against free speech, death penalty for apostasy and blasphemy, and a whole range of barbaric practices ad infinitum.  When one looks at Islam, it is clear that Allah is not the One True God, but a demonic imposter, that Muhammad is a false prophet, and that Muslims are all — ...

St Mark's Cathedral in Alexandria also bombed; Pope Tawadros reported to be 'safe'. 'Prayers up' for these newest Coptic Orthodox Martyrs under the sword of Islam, and our heartfelt prayers and sympathies for their families! Time once again to ask Muslims The Question: When will you finally see the madness and falsehood of your false prophet, your bloodthirsty god, and your false religion? Repent and flee to Jesus Christ that you may be saved! If you continue in Islam after seeing this unending hatred and bloodshed committed according to the commands of Allah and Muhammad, through the Koran and the Hadith, you have no excuse. You are mired in spiritual delusion and deception! Flee to Jesus Christ now that you may be saved! Ominous proof of widespread Muslim support for the Islamic State and its bloodthirsty jihad against Christians: Pew Poll: Between 63 Million and 287 Million ISIS Supporters in Just 11 Countries 81% Of Al Jazeera Arabic Poll Respondents Support Isl...