Churches and Christian institutions are in rubble, but the worst violence against Copts in Egypt seems to have subsided, at least temporarily.

It’s been just under two weeks since the military dispersal of Muslim Brotherhood pro-Morsi sit-ins which sparked the violence in Egypt and the military-installed government has decided to shorten its night-time curfew by two hours–a signal the situation is becoming less acute.

Since the dispersal, Christian churches, businesses, homes, schools and two Bible Society bookshops have been attacked by Muslim extremists.

This video posted on YouTube shows a Coptic church in the city of Minya in flames, being hit by wooden boards and rocks thrown by young men on the street.

It’s a scene that’s said to have been repeated across the country. Barnabas Fund’s Dr Patrick Sookhdeo reports more than 60 churches, 11 schools, an orphanage and a hospital have been destroyed, along with countless Christian homes and businesses.

The Anglican Bishop of Egypt, Mouneer Anis, whose church building in Suez was attacked with Molotov cocktails, writes in the comments section on his Diocesan blog that things have died down, but Christians remain vigilant:

Dear brothers and sisters.
We thank God that our church building in Suez, and more importantly our people, are safe. Thank you so much for your prayers. The situation is still difficult and we do not know what will happen. All what we know is that we are in the Lord’s hands. Do pray for all Egyptians, for the leaders, and for peace throughout the region.
May the Lord bless you!

The President of the Evangelical Theological Seminary in Cairo, Rev Dr Atef Gendy has told Langham Partnership the church in Egypt has been reminded of the common grace of God that he causes the “sun to rise on the evil and the good” (Matthew 5:45). He says the Egyptian church has been challenged to go beyond its needs to “care for her nation and society in order to be like her Lord who is in heaven.”

He has asked for Christians around the world to pray for students at their Seminary doing field ministry in the south, for protection in threatening situations, as well as bravery, wisdom and hearts that reflect God’s love and graciousness.

In the mainstream media, The Times is reporting some local Islamists are trying to revive a seventh-century tax on non-Muslims called jizya, forcing some Coptic Christian communities to pay bribes.

An Egyptian human rights group, The Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights says the violence against the church is directly linked to anti-Coptic sentiment, based on many Copts opposition to and support for the ousting of former President Morsi.

“This enormous number of sectarian attacks cannot be understood in isolation from the anti-Coptic hatred fomented by some Islamist leaders and their threats of retribution for widespread Coptic participation in protests that led to the removal of the former president,” said Ishak Ibrahim, EIPR’s program officer for freedom of religion and belief.

An estimated 1,000 people, as well as 100 soldiers and police, have died as a result of sectarian violence in Egypt since the military-installed Government cleared the Cairo sit-ins on August 14.

To support the Egyptian Bible Society rebuild and restock its bookshops, donate here.

Image of Coptic angels by Kudumomo. Used under CC License.