Amidst a guard of army and police, Pope Tawadros II received Christmas wishes and congratulations from members of the clergy, ministers and officials, and members of the church. Security forces had surrounded the perimeter of the cathedral the previous day, while private cameras were forbidden and many journalists were refused entry. For security reasons, the Evangelical Church of Egypt held its Christmas service in New Cairo instead of the Church of Qasr al-Dūbārah for the second year running (Mustafá Rahūmah, al-Watan, Jan. 7, p. 5). Read original text in Arabic here.