Meanwhile, Orthodox churches in Egypt are holding the Coptic Christmas Mass today amidst tight security measures as the Mass will be led by Coptic Orthodox Pope Shenouda III at the Saint Mark Cathedral in the Cairo district of al-‘Abbāssīyah.
The Mass will be attended by delegations representing the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces (SCAF), the government, parties and for the first time the Muslim Brotherhood group under Deputy Murshid (Guide) Mahmūd ‘Izat and the Brotherhood’s Freedom and Justice Party (FJP) under Secretary General Muhammad Sa’d al-Katātnī.
The FJP had said it would take part in this “holy occasion…that offers a good chance to stress the importance of close relations and spread amity”.
A church source said the cathedral will secure the well-wishers and worshippers through forces from the army, police and church scouts who regulate entry into and exit from certain gates for guests and worshippers, adding there will be 12 metal detectors at all entrances of the cathedral.
Rāmī Kāmil, the general coordinator of the Maspero Youth Union, said a planned sit-in inside the church was cancelled in order to avoid confrontations with the church, adding the Union settled for the stand of protest it had staged on Wednesday (January 4). [‘Imād Khalīl and Hānī al-Wazīrī, al-Misrī al-Yawm, Jan. 6, p. 4]
