EDGEWATER, Fla. -- Phil Madsen of Edgewater is saddened by the terrorist bombings of two Egyptian Coptic churches on this Palm Sunday, one of the holiest days of the year for Christian worshippers.
In Alexandria, an explosion outside St Mark's Coptic church killed 13 people. Pope Tawadros II, head of the Coptic Church, had been attending Mass inside and was unhurt, state media reported.
An earlier blast at St George's Coptic church in Tanta, north of Cairo, killed 27 worshippers.
"I once heard a sermon that left me mindful of the Coptic Christians in Egypt," said Madsen, owner of Anytime Fitness of Port Orange, who studied Theology at Luther Seminary in St. Paul, Minn.
"This church was started by the Apostle Mark and continues to this day. As church histories go, you don't get much closer to the source than that. Some Christians hold themselves out as more 'real' than others because their church believes this particular thing, has that particular historical tie, or distinguishes itself from the others in another particular way. Well, if you are seeking to be a 'real' Christian, consider moving to Egypt and becoming a Coptic."
Madsen continued from a post on his personal Facebook page: It does not get more 'real' than that."
"I once heard a sermon that left me mindful of the Coptic Christians in Egypt," said Edgewater resident Phil Madsen, owner of Anytime Fitness of Port Orange, who studied Theology at Luther Seminary in St. Paul, Minn.
"This church was started by the Apostle Mark and continues to this day. As church histories go, you don't get much closer to the source than that. Some Christians hold themselves out as more 'real' than others because their church believes this particular thing, has that particular historical tie, or distinguishes itself from the others in another particular way. Well, if you are seeking to be a 'real' Christian, consider moving to Egypt and becoming a Coptic."
Madsen continued from a post on his personal Facebook page: It does not get more 'real' than that."The Islamic State has claimed responsibility for the blasts, according to various news services, including the Associated Press.
Four police officers, including one policewoman, were among those killed in Alexandria, the interior ministry said. The suicide bomber blew himself up after they stopped him from entering the church.
The first explosion in Tanta, 94km (58 miles) north of Cairo, took place near the altar.
Security forces later dismantled two explosive devices at the Sidi Abdel Rahim Mosque, also in Tanta, according to the Egyptian state-run Al-Ahram news website.
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