The Bishop of London, Richard Chartres, has sent his prayers to Pope Tawadros II of the Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria, and to Bishop Angaelos, General Bishop of the Coptic Orthodox Church in the United Kingdom, following yesterday’s devastating attack on St Mark’s Cathedral in Cairo which killed dozens of Christian worshippers.

Bishop Richard, who is responsible for links with the Orthodox Church in the Church of England, said:

“I was horrified to hear about the attack on the congregation at St Peter’s Coptic Church near to St Mark’s Cathedral. As a Bishop of a city which has known terrorism in the past, and lives with its constant threat, my heart goes out to the bereaved and injured. Today, I shall be with the Archbishop of Canterbury and we will be praying for our brothers and sisters in Egypt as they confront this latest persecution.”