this is what remains of the bookstore in minia of the bible society of egypt.heir store in nearby ashute was also destroyed. >> for the last 150 years, we've been operating and we have book shops in cairo and alexandria and upper egypt, and it has never happened in the history. >> reporter: according to this egyptian website, more than 60 churches were attacked, from minia, alexandra, the suez, and throughout egypt. the rampage began after muslim brotherhood supporters used the churches as scapegoats for the army's decision to break up two brotherhood protest camps in cairo. they also blamed the church for participating in the ouster of president mohammed morsi. yet christians point out many of their muslim neighbors defended and protected them. they don't see this as a muslim against christian issue, but as the muslim brotherhood against the christians. and see even though they have been targeted, they are responding with forgiveness, pressing on in the face of persecution. >> we respond as every other christian has responded in egypt. we're in egypt to serve.

. >> reporter: egyptian christians in the gil of minia are afraid for their future. christian activists adel shows what is left of the virgin mary monastery in the town of delga. these are the charred sacred bones of monks. this ancient door was vandalized. nearby churches were also burned. >> we still don't have a church to pray at. we are still trying to clean them up. we have four churches in the area, and we cannot pray in any of them. >> reporter: this anglican church in the minia village of mil ma law malawi was one of the churches attacked. he says the islamic militants overpowered him. >> the church was surrounded on all sides. there couldn't be less than a thousand, totally surrounding the church, carrying weapons. rio >> reporter: this christian describes what happened when islamists attacked her home. she says they through petrol bomb at is, which burned our balcony. we became frightened and ran away. while the town of delga is home to more than 20,000 christians, it has remained outside government control since islamists threw police out july the 3rd. tha