An Egyptian Coptic priest who this evening took part in the traditional Ash Wednesday pilgrimage in Zejtun urged all Maltese to pray for the copts killed by Isis in Libya over the past few days and for other copts who remain in the country

The priest, Abouna Boulos Elsouriany, took part in the pilgrimage as guest of the Apostolic Administrator, Bishop Charles Scicluna.

The priest said the Islamic State jihadists had beheaded the 21 Egyptians simply because they were "Christians who loved Christ".

Mgr Scicluna said he was deeply saddened by what had happened, and that he had immediately felt the need to reach out to Fr Abouna Boulos Elsouriany and ask to join him in prayer.

Fr Elsouriany thanked the Maltese for their kindness and solidarity.

The comments were made in Mass at San Girgor church before the pilgrimage started.

The pilgrimage was abandoned when it was less than half way through because of the rain. 

Attempts were made to shelter a statue of Christ in a garage as the owner tried frantically to reverse his cars out onto the street. With the rain and wind growing stronger, the attempt was abandoned and the statue was carried into the packed Zejtun church.

When the ceremony continued there, Mgr Scicluna said the Mediterranean was running red with the blood of the 21 Egyptians murdered by Islamic State and the migrants who also lost their lives in the fight against tyranny.
 
Fr Elsouriany referred to the Christian martyr St Stephen, who had shouted out words of forgiveness moments before he was killed.

Picking up on this, Mgr Scicluna called on Christians not to let terrorism win by filling their hearts with fear and hatred.