The Anglican Diocese of Egypt is calling for urgent prayer as churches are being set on fire by pro-Mohammed Morsi supporters.
According to state news agency Mena, three places of worship were attacked in central Egypt, one in the city of Sohag with a large number of Coptic Christian residents.
It's said to be in retaliation after Egyptian security forces tried to clear two protest camps loyal to the ousted president in Cairo.
Bishop Mouneer Anis, the Episcopal Bishop of Egypt, said: "Please pray that the situation will calm down, for wisdom and tact for the police and the army, for the safety of all churches and congregations, and that all in Egypt would be safe."
And speaking to Premier from Cairo, Bishop Mouneer told Des Busteed that several churches have been targeted by Muslim Brotherhood supporters since dawn:
Egypt's presidency has declared a month-long state of emergency after dozens were killed when the country's security forces clashed with protesters supporting ousted President Mohammed Morsi.
Egypt's health ministry puts the number of dead at over 140 nationwide with hundreds injured after being caught up in the clashes, which happened shortly after 7am local time. The Muslim Brotherhood is claiming hundreds have died.
Police in Cairo, backed by armoured vehicles and bulldozers, are said to have opened fire on thousands of protestors and also fired tear gas at the demonstrators who are demanding Mr Morsi be reinstated as the country's leader.
Although the number of dead is unconfirmed, reports say burned corpses have been seen on the streets which are said to resemble a war zone. Reporters inside the camps described scenes of 'chaos' and 'bloodshed'.
Bishop Angaelos is the General Bishop of the Coptic Orthodox Church. Speaking to Premier's Marcus Jones on the News Hour he says he doesn't understand why believers are being targeted:
Authorities say the camp at Nahda Square close to Cairo University in Giza, has now been cleared. But protesters at the larger camp around the Rabaa al-Adawiya mosque in the northeastern suburb of Nasr City remained defiant despite being under siege.
A cameraman for Sky News was among those killed in Egypt this morning. Mick Deane, 61, had worked for Sky for 15 years, based in Washington and then Jerusalem. He was part of the team covering the violence in Cairo. The rest of the team are unhurt. The Head of Sky News John Ryley described him as the very best of cameramen, a brilliant journalist and an inspiring mentor to many of his colleagues.
David Cameron says he is saddened to hear of Mr Deane's death and that his thoughts are with his family and the Sky News team.
The Muslim Brotherhood that backs ousted Islamist president Mr Morsi is urging Egyptians to take to the streets in their thousands to denounce the "massacre".
The Foreign Secretary has condemned the use of force by Egyptian police to clear the two protest camps. William Hague said he's deeply concerned at the escalating violence and unrest and is calling on the security forces to act with restraint.
Fatima Said from British Egyptians for Democracy has appealed to Mr Hague:
"The British Government cannot stand back and watch these people being killed, enough is enough.
"William Hague must come out and he must condemn this strongly. You cannot call for calm and restraint on both sides these are not clashes this is one side using unjustified and unnecessary violence against the other."
The raids came after international efforts failed to mediate an end to a six-week political standoff between Morsi's supporters and the army-backed government which took power after he was ousted on July 3rd.
Media reports put the death toll at demonstrations since 30 June at over 200. There is also a serious risk of violence and sexual assault at demonstrations with NGOs reporting more than 100 rapes and sexual assaults against women so far.
Since July 3rd, anti-Christian backlash has flared in pockets across Egypt. Last Tuesday, a Coptic Christian girl was gunned down while walking home from a Bible class with her instructor. According to witnesses, 10 year-old Jessica Boulous was shot once in the chest when the Sunday School teacher she was with stopped at a market to buy an item.
Anti-persecution charity Open Doors has heard that mass no longer is being celebrated at The Church of St. Mary in Cairo and police officers guard the entrance. The charity also believes that throughout the Egyptian town of Eastern Bani Ahmed south of Cairo, the Christian-owned shops are closed and at least seven Christian homes, and even more of their vehicles, have been ransacked, burned, or both and at least 18 people injured. Two days after the government takeover by the Egyptian military, four Christian men were killed during daylong assaults on believers in al-Dabayia, a town west of Luxor in southern Egypt.
And on July 6th, gunmen shot and killed Coptic priest Mina Abboud Sharubim in northern Sinai.
Five days later in Sheikh Zuweid, a remote settlement a few kilometres west of the Israeli border, the decapitated body of Magdy Lamei Habib, a Christian electronics merchant, was discovered. Coptic Pope Tawadros II last week backed out of public appearances he had planned for this week at St. Mark's Cathedral in Cairo, feeling that his presence could endanger the congregation.
Christian Solidarity Worldwide's Chief Executive Mervyn Thomas said:
"CSW urges the interim government to ensure security for the Coptic community, and that those perpetrating sectarian violence are apprehended and charged. "Egypt's Christians must be afforded the same protection under the law as their fellow citizens.
"We continue to pray and stand in solidarity with all Egyptians at this critical time in their nation's journey to full democracy."
The Foreign Office has changed its travel advice for Egypt and recommends against "all but essential travel to parts of the country". The British Embassy in Cairo is closed to the public until further notice.
The Foreign Office said:
"We are deeply concerned by reports from Cairo, and urge for dialogue and a peaceful resolution.
"As the Foreign Secretary said in his statement on 27 July, now is the time for dialogue, not confrontation.
"We have updated our travel advice advising people to stay away from demonstrations and large gatherings of people."