Egyptian monk found dead in desert monastery

Egypt’s Coptic church says prosecutors are investigating the death of a monk who had until recently served in a monastery northwest of Cairo where the abbot was killed in July.

In a brief statement Wednesday, the church says the cause of monk Zeinoun al-Maqari’s death, at the al-Muharraq monastery in southern Egypt, remained unknown.

It says he was transferred there following the July death of Bishop Epiphanius, abbot of St. Macarious monastery. That suggested al-Maqari may have been involved in a now-publicized disciplinary dispute between Epiphanius and several monks at St. Macarious.

Epiphanius’ killing has shaken Egypt’s Coptic Orthodox Church, one of the oldest Christian communities in the world and the one that introduced monasticism to the faith.

Two monks are on trial in connection with his death.

— AP