{"id":273150,"date":"2011-01-08T02:11:32","date_gmt":"2011-01-08T02:11:32","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.ghanamma.net\/?p=45538"},"modified":"2011-01-08T02:11:32","modified_gmt":"2011-01-08T02:11:32","slug":"egypt-on-alert-as-copts-celebrate-christmas","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ghanamma.com\/2011\/01\/08\/egypt-on-alert-as-copts-celebrate-christmas\/","title":{"rendered":"Egypt on alert as Copts celebrate Christmas"},"content":{"rendered":"

Coptic Christians have celebrated Christmas Eve amid tight security, following a bomb attack on a church in Egypt in which 23 people died.<\/p>\n

Armed police protected churches as Copts, who mark Christmas according to the Julian calendar, gathered in large numbers, many wearing black.
\nSome Muslims held vigils outside Coptic churches in a gesture of solidarity.
\nThe services passed off peacefully, despite some radical Islamist websites urging more attacks.
\nHeightened security measures were expected to remain in place on Friday for Coptic Christmas Day.<\/p>\n

The bombing of the al-Qiddissin, or Saints’, Church in Alexandria on New Year’s Day was the worst act of sectarian violence in Egypt in a decade.<\/p>\n

It triggered days of protests and riots by Christians blaming the government for encouraging discrimination and not doing enough to protect them.
\nIn response, the Egyptian authorities stepped up security around many churches, with explosives experts on hand.
\nArmoured vehicles have been stationed in key areas.
\nEarlier on Thursday, one device containing nails and fireworks was found in a church staircase in the southern city of Minya but it had no detonator.
\nPolice in Cairo, Alexandria and other places checked the identities of those entering churches.
\nA street away from the Saints Church in Alexandria, two dozen Muslims held a solidarity gathering holding banners saying “No to terrorism, yes to citizenship” and “Long live the cross and the crescent.”
\nOne Muslim woman, Hanan Mahfouz, told the Associated Press at a Mass in a Cairo suburb: “Coming here seemed like the least I could do.”<\/p>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n

Coptic Orthodox Church<\/h2>\n
    \n
  • Main Christian Church in Egypt, where it has between 6m and 11m members<\/li>\n
  • About 1m members abroad, including US, Canada, Australia, France, Germany and Sudan<\/li>\n
  • Copts believe Church dates back to 50 AD, when the Apostle Mark is said to have visited Egypt<\/li>\n
  • The Coptic Church is one of the Eastern Orthodox churches and shares their general beliefs<\/li>\n
  • In 451, the Church split from other Christian churches in a major schism over its belief in monophytism, which states that Christ had only one nature, not two (divine and human)<\/li>\n
  • Scriptures and services continue to be in Coptic<\/li>\n
  • Led by Pope Shenouda III, the Patriarch of Alexandria; he is based in Cairo<\/li>\n
  • Copts suffered persecution under the Romans, and after Egypt became a Muslim country; modern Copts say they are still disadvantaged<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n

    However, radical Islamist websites have been circulating lists of Coptic churches in Egypt and Europe with instructions on how to attack them.<\/p>\n

    “Blow up the churches while they are celebrating Christmas or any other time when the churches are packed,” says a line from a video attributed to al-Qaeda, entitled Jihadi Encyclopaedia for the Destruction of the Cross, that has been widely circulated on the internet.
    \nPope Benedict XVI used his weekly address in St Peter’s Square in the Vatican on Thursday to send “heartfelt greetings and best wishes to our brothers and sisters of the Eastern Churches who will celebrate Christmas tomorrow”.
    \nIn the wake of the Egypt attack, he said: “May the goodness of God… strengthen the faith, hope and charity of everyone and give comfort to the communities that are being tested.”
    \nSome European governments have also announced security measures at churches.
    \nIt was during Coptic Christmas Eve celebrations in southern Egypt in 2009 that six Christians and a Muslim security guard were killed in a drive-by shooting.
    \nThe country’s Coptic Christian minority makes up between 7% and 14% of Egypt’s 80 million people.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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