CAIRO: The Coptic Orthodox Church organized special sermons on Tuesday in various churches around the country in a bid to prevent Copts from joining protests on what was dubbed the "Day of Anger" by online activists. Churches asked Coptic Christians not to participate in the demonstrations and to head home right after the sermons at churches where the attendance rate was particularly high. Church sources told Daily News Egypt that the sermons took place in 30 churches around the country to pray for Egypt, where priests were ordered by the papal office to tell Copts no to join protests organized by an amalgam of opposition movements. "The Church refuses such things that threaten our country," Shubra Bishop and Head of the Media Committee of the Holy Synod, Bishop Morkus told Daily News Egypt. He also indicated that the church is completely apolitical. "The Holy Book orders us to obey our kings and rulers; calls for protest are destructive so we are praying for Egypt's safety." The sermon in Mar Girguis El-Gioushy Church in Shubra was heavily attended and worshippers were told by Bishop and member of the Holy Synod Salib Matta Sawiris not to join the protests. "Protests threaten our country; I call on all Copts not to participate in these destructive attempts."
