A former monk has been arrested by Egypt's public prosecutor following the murder of Coptic bishop Anba Epiphanius.
Bishop Epiphanius, 64, who was Prior of the monastery of St Macarius in Wadi Natrun, was discovered dead on July 29 with significant injuries to both his head and hands; the result of multiple blows with an iron pole. According to the monks of St Macarius, Bishop Epiphanios was last seen alive leaving his cell at dawn to attend the Matins Praise that precedes Sunday Mass.
Following Bishop Epihanius's death, the Coptic Church released a statement in which they described the bishop as a monk and a scholar, adding that Pope Tawadros “mourned in Anba Epiphanius a true monk whose life was steeped in meekness and humbleness; also a scholar who possessed a wealth of knowledge that fruited research and publications in various branches of ecclesiastical studies. The Pope prayed for peace for his soul, and comfort for the St Macarius monk assembly as well as all who loved the late Abbot.”
