Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Cairo (Agenzia Fides) - The Coptic Orthodox Church has invited Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi to take part in the Easter vigil that will be celebrated on Saturday evening, April 11 by Patriarch Tawadros II at the Cathedral of St. Mark in Cairo. This what reported by Egyptian sources to Agenzia Fides. In addition to the President, the Coptic Orthodox Church has already sent official invitations to a wide list of political leaders and representatives of the Egyptian institutions. In addition, 5 thousand tickets have been printed for the faithful who will take part in the Easter Vigil liturgy.
President al-Sisi already participated in the vigil of the Coptic Christmas, on January 6, and was welcomed in the Coptic Orthodox Cathedral in Cairo by Patriarch Tawadros II and by the enthusiasm of the faithful. On that occasion, the personal participation of the Egyptian President - explained to Agenzia Fides Anba Antonios Aziz Mina, Coptic Catholic Bishop of Guizeh - "was an unprecedented event in the history of Egypt: in the past, Presidents merely sent their representatives. Some Egyptian Presidents - including Hosni Mubarak and the Islamist Mohamed Morsi - presented their Christmas wishes to the Patriarch over courtesy phone calls, while others - like Gamal Abd el-Nasser and former interim President Adli Mansour - had carried out courtesy visits to the Patriarch in the days before the Coptic Christmas". (GV) (Agenzia Fides 31/03/2015)
