EGYPT: Egypt's large Coptic Christian minority celebrates Christmas in Cairo, with the Church's leader, Pope Shenouda III presiding over a ceremony attended by Egypt's top politicians

Egypt's large Coptic Christian minority celebrated Christmas mass in Cairo at a midnight mass on Sunday (January 7), with the Church's ailing leader, Pope Shenouda III, presiding over a ceremony that was attended by Egypt's top politicians. In the Egyptian Coptic Christian tradition, Christmas falls on the 29th day of the month of "Kiahk", which corresponds to the 7th of January in the Gregorian calendar. The ceremony this year was particularly emotional for Shenouda's supporters because the 82 year old Pope, who has suffered from ill health in recent years, recently recovered from spinal surgery in the United States. Last night's mass took place in the Church's main Cathedral in the Cairo neighbourhood of Abassiya, where parishioners filled the vast cathedral to capacity. Among those in the audience was Gamal Mubarak, the son of Egypt's president whom many regard as the president's indented successor, as well as foreign diplomats such as the American Ambassador to Egypt, Francis Ricciardone. The Coptic Christmas has been a national holiday for the last four years in Egypt since the Mubarak government decreed it so in 2002. Most of Egypt's Christians, who account for between five and 10 percent of the country's 73 million people, are members of the Coptic Orthodox church. In November Pope Shenouda III celebrated 35 years as the leader of the Egyptian Coptic Orthodox Church in a ceremony at the Abbasiya Cathedral. Throughout his tenure, the outspoken Shenouda has frequently provoked religious controversy at home and throughout the Middle East. Shenouda sparked controversy in August of 2005, when he and other Coptic church leaders endorsed Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak's bid for a fifth six-year term, citing Mubarak's extensive experience and knowledge. It was widely believed that the Copts favoured Mubarak out of fear of possible political gains by the Islamists. At the post-midnight Christmas mass, Church member George Rashad said he and other parishioners were thankful that Pope Shenouda had been able to oversee the ceremonies. "Of course, the Pope recently returned from his successful back operation in America, thank God. And in spite of that he would not let anyone else lead us in prayer, so that he can share with the Christians their happiness, Christians and Muslims. Their happiness would be very much lessened if the Pope didn't lead the prayers as he does every year," he said. The Coptic church is said to have been founded by Saint Mark, who is said to have written his gospel in Egypt.

ITN Source | January 7, 2007

Tags:. .written. .audience. .gains. .surgery. .particularly