COPTIC EFFORT TO UNITE RELIGIOUS FORCES AGAINST COMMUNISM

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80-00810A000200510009-4
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 1
• Document Creation Date: December 14, 2016
• Document Release Date: November 6, 2000
• Sequence Number: 9
• Publication Date: February 19, 1953
• Content Type: REPORT

Approved For Release 2001/03/04: CIA-RDP80-0081OA000200510009-4
CENTRAL iNTELLIGENCE AGENCY
INFORMATION REPORT
SECRET/CONTROL U.S. OFFICIALS ONLY
SECURITY INFORMATION 25X1 A
Egypt
Coptic Effort to.Unite Religious
Forces against Comm inism
25X1A
25X1X
This Document contains information affecting the Na-
tional Defense of the United States, within the mean-
ing of Title 18, Sections 793 and 794, of the U.S. Code, as
amended. Its transmission or revelation of its contents
to or receipt by an unauthorized person is prohibited
by law. The reproduction of this form Is prohibited.
REPORT NO.
DATE DISTR.
19 February 1953
NO. OF PAGES
REQUIREMENT NO. RD
REFERENCES
THE SOURCE EVALUATIONS IN THIS REPORT ARE DEFINITIVE.
THE APPRAISAL OF CONTENT IS TENTATIVE.
(FOR KEY SEE REVERS!)
1. The Coptic-Catholic Patriarch of Egypt, Monsignor Markus Khazaan, is trying to
unite all religious forces in a movement against Communism throughout the
Near And Middle East. He hopes to unite in this effort the Orthodox Churches,
the Coptic Churches, the Ulemas,;end the Sheikhs of the great Moslem University
s -
of 1-Azhar,
2. azam began with contacts with the Orthodox Patriarchs of Antioch, Jerusalem,
and Alexandria, all of whom he found somewhat reserved toward his proposals.
Then he tried the Oecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople, His Holiness Athenagorase
Athenagoras has hitherto adopted a prudent and patient attitude toward the
Russian Church, fearing that a more vigorous attitude world merely provoke a
schism within the Orthodox Churches.
In spite of this restraint, the Coptic Patriarch can count on the support of
the Middle Eastern Orthodox Churches against Comnism, though they may not
declare themselves openly. The Moslem religious leaders have asserted that
they do not mix in politics, but that they wish the Coptic Patriarch success.
I ECR ,'/CONTROL - U.S. MVIC IAI$ ONLY
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Approved For Release 2001/03/04: CIA-RDP80-0081OA000200510009-4