On Saturday, January 6, Egypt’s recently reelected president Abdel Fattah El-Sisi participated in the Christmas Eve mass held at the Cathedral of Nativity of Christ, situated East of Cairo. The occasion marked a festive day for the nation’s largest religious minority, the Coptic Orthodox Christians.
However, the celebration was overshadowed by the ongoing conflict in the Gaza Strip, situated on Egypt’s eastern borders.
REACTIONS
Expressing his hopes for the coming year, President El-Sisi conveyed a message of unity and resilience in the face of challenges. “God willing, this year will be happy for all of us, and we will overcome, thanks to God, the major existing crises.
We hope to God that they will not increase more than that and will not continue more than that,” he remarked, referring to the conflict in Gaza.
President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi acknowledged the significant impact of the crisis in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank on the region’s inhabitants. Egypt, he stated, maintains a respectful position and actively seeks a ceasefire and the facilitation of aid to alleviate the hardships faced by the people in Gaza.
In addition to the geopolitical concerns, this year’s festivities unfolded against the backdrop of a challenging economic crisis. The Orthodox Christians who constitute the majority of Egypt’s Christian population accounting for approximately 10% of the total 105 million inhabitants, joined in the celebrations amidst these pressing challenges.
The Christian minority in Egypt has a longstanding history of expressing concerns about discrimination. Despite the festive atmosphere, the president’s presence at the Christmas service served as a reminder of the broader issues affecting the country.
The Christmas service itself was led by the Patriarch of Saint Mark Episcopate, symbolizing the spiritual leadership within the Coptic Orthodox Christian community.
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