Copts celebrate Holy Saturday amid high security measures

CAIRO – 27 April 2019: Amid high security measures nationwide, Egyptian Coptic Christians celebrate Holy Saturday.

Pope Tawadros II, Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of the See of St. Mark, will lead Easter eve mass at the Saint Mark's Coptic Orthodox Cathedral in Abbasyia. The mass will be attended by dignitaries, celebrities and a representative of the Presidency.

Orthodox Christians all over the world celebrate Holy Fire ceremony on Holy Saturday at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem. It commemorates laying Jesus’ body in the tomb.

Pope Tawadros led mass of Good Friday services at the Cathedral. The mass was attended by the coral of the seminary and a big number of Coptic Christians.


Pope Tawadros led mass of Good Friday services at the Saint Mark's Coptic Orthodox Cathedral in Abbasyia on April 26, 2019- Egypt Today/Sami Wahib


In a letter translated into seven languages, the Pope extended his Easter wishes to the Coptic diaspora, who lives in 62 countries worldwide.

Over the Holy week, large number of police and security forces were deployed in streets, squares and in the vicinity of worship buildings, mosques and churches, in preparation for Easter celebrations, according to a statement from the Ministry on Thursday.


Pope Tawadros led mass of Good Friday services at the Saint Mark's Coptic Orthodox Cathedral in Abbasyia on April 26, 2019- Egypt Today/Sami Wahib


Churches and mosques were cordoned, while rapid deployment forces deployed in highways and public squares as well.


Security forces guard a church in preparation for Eaaster celebrations- press photo

The Directorate of Transportation and Security Services announced emergency in the three lines of Cairo Metro, and Railway stations nationwide.


Police officers with guard dogs inspects commuters' bags at a metro station- press photo


On April 21, Pope Tawadros II led the Palm Sunday Mass at the Monastery of Saint Pishoy in Wadi El Natrun in Beheira, north of Cairo, reported the state-owned news agency MENA.


A security force guards a supermarket in Giza in preparation for Easter celebration- press photo

On Palm Sunday, April 9, 2017, twin suicide bombings took place at Mar Girgis Church in Tanta and Saint Mark's Coptic Orthodox Cathedral, the principal church in Alexandria and seat of the Coptic papacy.

The Islamic State terrorist group (IS) claimed responsibility for the attack, which took the lives of 44 individuals and injured more than 100.