While delivering a speech on the occasion, the ambassador expressed pleasure over taking part in Christmas celebrations at the invitation of bishop Mark.

Youssef conveyed greetings of President Abdel Fattah El Sisi to the Coptic community in France, wishing them a merry Christmas.

Our meeting today embodies our cohesion and unity, the ambassador said, adding that the national unity is the cornerstone of achieving development and progress of states.

Coptic Christmas is celebrated by Orthodox Christians on the 7th of January every year and is different from the worldwide Christmas celebration held on 25th of December. The date is set by the Julian calendar that pre-dates the Gregorian calendar used by other Christians.