Egypt’s Coptic Orthodox Christians celebrated Christmas on January 7, attending midnight Masses across the country in observance of their religious tradition. In Cairo, worshippers gathered at the Archangel Michael Church to pray for peace and economic stability, reflecting hopes for a better future both locally and globally.
“We hope that the conflicts around us in the Arab region and globally pass and are solved in a peaceful way,” said Emad Sarkis, a Cairo resident attending the service.
For Egypt’s Coptic community, Christmas is a time for family gatherings and festive celebrations. The holiday marks the end of a weeks-long period of fasting, with families traditionally sharing lavish meals after attending Christmas Eve Mass.
President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi, a practicing Muslim, attended a Christmas Eve service in the New Administrative Capital, east of Cairo. He was greeted by Pope Tawadros II at the church entrance before addressing congregants inside. El-Sissi has a history of attending Coptic Christmas services, reflecting the Egyptian government’s recognition of the Coptic minority’s cultural and religious significance.
In 2026, the Egyptian government officially declared January 7 a paid public holiday to mark Coptic Christmas, underscoring the nation’s efforts to accommodate the country’s Christian minority. Coptic Christians, who make up the majority of Egypt’s approximately 10% Christian population, form one of the oldest continuous Christian communities in the world.
The celebrations highlight both the spiritual significance of the holiday and the enduring presence of Egypt’s Coptic Orthodox community, a vibrant religious minority in a predominantly Muslim nation of 108 million people.
