Egyptian Army Injures 6 While Destroying Monastery Wall

The Egyptian Army has removed a wall built at St. Paisius' Monastery in Wadi Natrun, injuring six monks in the process. Under Egyptian law any construction or repairs by Orthodox Christians require the authorization of the national government, making even the most minor repairs a long and drawn out process. Following the incident at Anba Bishoi some 2,000 Copts demonstrated in Cairo's Tahrir Square this past Wednesday. More here.

Pope Shenouda in Retreat

Pope Shenouda (el-Suriani) III of Alexandria is going into retreat at St. Paisius the Great's Monastery in Wadi Natroun to protest the Egyptian government's refusal to release the Copts arrested during the Omraneyya church building protests in Giza or even to enter into dialogue with the Coptic Orthodox Church over the situation. Prior to this Pope Shenouda stated in Cairo that "the lives of Copts are not cheap," referring to the two Copts killed by Egyptian Arab police during the incident in Giza. More here.