Egyptian churches hold Easter mass services

CAIRO - 15 April 2017: Churches across Egypt held Easter services Saturday, but all celebrations have been cancelled in mourning for the Palm Sunday victims.

Egypt entered into the Christian Holy week with a tragic attack that targeted Mar Girgis Church in Tanta and Alexandria’s Coptic Orthodox Church, leaving at least 45 dead and over 110 injured.

Egypt's Coptic Orthodox Pope Tawadros II presided over Easter mass services at Abbaseya’s Coptic Cathedral. The Pope announced Friday that the church would not receive mourners on the day of the mass so as not to mix feelings of condolence with celebrations.

President Abdel Fatah al-Sisi sent a telegram to Pope Tawadros II of Alexandria and the Patriarch of St. Mark on the occasion of Easter. He also delegated a number of representatives to attend the services at the main churches of Egypt's different sects.

A number of officials and public figures attended Easter services in the Evangelical Church in Heliopolis, including Cairo Governor Atef Abdel-Hamid, delegated by Prime Minister Sherif Ismail, as well Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research Khaled Abdel-Ghaffar, Minister of Planning and Administrative Reform Hala El Said and Ministry of Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Omar Marwan.

Doctor’s Syndicate Chairman Hussein Khairy and former presidential candidate Hamdeen Sabbahi also attended the services.

The Egyptian Armed Forces also organized mass services for the victims of the churches’ attacks at the medical complex in Maadi and El Galaa Hospital in Heliopolis.




Culture Minister Helmy el-Namnam (R) and Politician Amr Moussa attending the mass service at Engelical church - Photo by Hossam Atef




Easter mass services at Engelical Church - Photo by Hossam Atef





Engelical Church holds Easter mass services - Photo by Hossan Atef