This Christmas was unlike any Christmas; actually the last two Christmases in Egypt were packed with feelings of sadness and grieve...
We as Coptic Christians celebrate Christmas on January 7th, based on the Julian calendar.
Although Christmas is known to be a time of happiness and joy, this time we could not help but mourn for those killed and injured during the most recent terrorist attack that took place in Egypt on New Year's Eve in Saints Church in Alexandria, Egypt.
This Christmas people were not able to be as happy because their hearts were broken and filled with sorrow, Christmas tree lights were off and people could not greet each other because they knew elsewhere in Egypt people were still fighting the shock of the experience they went through, forgetting what it means to smile, people wept in church as they attended Christmas mass.
Perhaps people were not even over the events that took place last Christmas when seven people were killed in a terrorist attack in Church in Naga'a Hamady, Egypt.
Instead of celebrating Christmas, the church, the Pope and the people received condolences for its lost children and sadly had the first year memorial for those we lost the year before...
Yet in spite that all, it is in fact a celebration for the birth of Christ, we tried our best to rejoice, we prayed, we raised our voices to God, all of us with one wish for Christmas... it might have been said different, yet it all revolved around one meaning...
"Lord, please grant us all peace. Please keep us safe in the times to come. Egypt can’t afford more trouble. The people can’t afford more sadness. May all those we lost on New Year and last Christmas rest in peace, let them pray for us as they join You in heaven. Grant their families the patience to deal with their departure. Help those injured get better, give them the strength to move on and to live with the new challenges they have been blessed and destined with. Let this Christmas be a chance for us to move on and for things to get better. Don’t leave us in despair. Let us rejoice. Amen."
Christmas is still Christmas; and although our hearts carry a lot of pain, it's a time of joy, time of love, time for family and friends to get together...
We thank everyone who helped make this Christmas special, who helped make people smile, who helped us feel some joy.
Merry Christmas Everyone!
We as Coptic Christians celebrate Christmas on January 7th, based on the Julian calendar.
Although Christmas is known to be a time of happiness and joy, this time we could not help but mourn for those killed and injured during the most recent terrorist attack that took place in Egypt on New Year's Eve in Saints Church in Alexandria, Egypt.
This Christmas people were not able to be as happy because their hearts were broken and filled with sorrow, Christmas tree lights were off and people could not greet each other because they knew elsewhere in Egypt people were still fighting the shock of the experience they went through, forgetting what it means to smile, people wept in church as they attended Christmas mass.
Perhaps people were not even over the events that took place last Christmas when seven people were killed in a terrorist attack in Church in Naga'a Hamady, Egypt.
Instead of celebrating Christmas, the church, the Pope and the people received condolences for its lost children and sadly had the first year memorial for those we lost the year before...
Yet in spite that all, it is in fact a celebration for the birth of Christ, we tried our best to rejoice, we prayed, we raised our voices to God, all of us with one wish for Christmas... it might have been said different, yet it all revolved around one meaning...
"Lord, please grant us all peace. Please keep us safe in the times to come. Egypt can’t afford more trouble. The people can’t afford more sadness. May all those we lost on New Year and last Christmas rest in peace, let them pray for us as they join You in heaven. Grant their families the patience to deal with their departure. Help those injured get better, give them the strength to move on and to live with the new challenges they have been blessed and destined with. Let this Christmas be a chance for us to move on and for things to get better. Don’t leave us in despair. Let us rejoice. Amen."
Christmas is still Christmas; and although our hearts carry a lot of pain, it's a time of joy, time of love, time for family and friends to get together...
We thank everyone who helped make this Christmas special, who helped make people smile, who helped us feel some joy.
Merry Christmas Everyone!
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