Upon celebrating the Christmas Mass on January 7 and receiving the congratulatory wishes extended by Egyptian public personalities, Pope Tawadros II left to Saint Bishoy Monastery (Dayr al-Anbā Bīshūy) in Wādī al-Natrūn.

According to a Church source, the Pope is reviving the weekly sermon tradition held on Wednesdays. Late Pope Shenouda III had introduced this weekly homily during his life time over the forty years as Pope. The first sermon is scheduled on January 30.

On the other hand, the source denied reported clashes that erupted in front of Saint Mark Coptic Orthodox Cathedral in al-‘Abbāsīyyah as hundreds of Copts flocked to shake hands with the Pope, while ignoring the instructions of the scout group responsible for the security within the cathedral’s grounds.  The source pointed out that the Pope went out to greet hundreds who wanted to shake his hand, but the flocking crowd ignoring the security measures finally led to the closure of the cathedral (ꞌAbd al-Wahāb Sha’bān, al-Wafd, Jan. 9, p. 2). Read original text in Arabic.