Prosecutors in Egypt have charged a defrocked monk with the murder of a Coptic Christian Bishop at a desert monastery, the media reported.
Bishop Epiphanius, 64, was found dead at Saint Macarius Monastery in Wadi Natroun, north-west of Cairo, on July 29, reports the BBC.
Wael Saad, who had been a monk at the monastery, told prosecutors on Saturday he used an iron pole to bludgeon the bishop to death.
The possible motive is not yet clear.
The murder of Bishop Epiphanius shocked the Coptic Church, whose adherents make up about 10 per cent of Egypt's population.
Saad, who as a monk was known as Isaiah al-Makari, was stripped of his religious title following the bishop's death.
In the wake of the bishop's death, the Coptic Church instituted a crackdown on clergy behaviour and froze the recruitment of new monks for a year.
Monks were ordered to close their social media accounts.
--IANS
ksk
Disclaimer: No Business Standard Journalist was involved in creation of this content
You’ve reached your limit of {{free_limit}} free articles this month.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
Already subscribed? Log in
Subscribe to read the full story →
Smart Quarterly
₹900
3 Months
₹300/Month
Smart Essential
₹2,700
1 Year
₹225/Month
Super Saver
₹3,900
2 Years
₹162/Month
Renews automatically, cancel anytime
Here’s what’s included in our digital subscription plans
Exclusive premium stories online
Over 30 premium stories daily, handpicked by our editors


Complimentary Access to The New York Times
News, Games, Cooking, Audio, Wirecutter & The Athletic
Business Standard Epaper
Digital replica of our daily newspaper — with options to read, save, and share


Curated Newsletters
Insights on markets, finance, politics, tech, and more delivered to your inbox
Market Analysis & Investment Insights
In-depth market analysis & insights with access to The Smart Investor


Archives
Repository of articles and publications dating back to 1997
Ad-free Reading
Uninterrupted reading experience with no advertisements


Seamless Access Across All Devices
Access Business Standard across devices — mobile, tablet, or PC, via web or app
