Egypt’s Pope Tawadros II leads Coptic Christmas Mass at Cathedral of the Nativity of Christ

CAIRO - 6 January 2022: Pope Tawadros II of Alexandria and Patriarch of St. Mark Diocese would lead the Christmas Mass for Egyptian Coptic Christians at the Cathedral of the Nativity of Christ in the New Administrative Capital on Thursday.

 

Due to Coronavirus pandemic, Pope Tawadros last year did not lead the Christmas Mass and he performed it at  the monastery of Anba Bishoy in Wadi Al-Natroun.

 

The newly-constructed Cathedral, for the first time, opens its gates for Coptic prayers, starting from 5:00 pm on Thursday and the mass would begin at 7:00 pm until 12:00 midnight. The Mass would be live-streamed on the state-owned Channel 1. 

 

Security directorates across Egypt have activated their security measures and plans through intensified deployment of forces around churches, and in streets ahead of Christmas celebrations. 

 

The security plans included the payment of intervention forces and rapid deployment forces in all roads, streets, squares and vital areas.

 

Secret service forces and detectives were also dispatched, as well as women police services participating in examination and insurance operations. 

 

President Abdel Fattah El Sisi greeted Egyptian Copts abroad on Christmas, on Thursday, the state-owned news agency MENA reported.

 

In a cable of greetings posted by all Egyptian embassies on social media platforms, President also wished the Egyptian expats allover the world a merry Christmas. He also wished that Egypt would realize more progress and prosperity. 

 

On Wednesday evening, the bells of the Kasr El Dobara Evangelical Church in Egypt have ringed amid tightened preventive coronavirus measures in preparation for celebrating the Christmas.

 

Head of the Evangelical Church Andrea Zaki said the church is celebrating Christmas in the presence of worshippers for the first time during the pandemic.