Newly elected leader of Egypt's Coptic Christian, Pope Tawadros II, Head of the Egyptian Coptic Orthodox Church, leads the Coptic Christmas midnight mass at the al-Abasseya Cathedral in Cairo late on January 6, 2013. Copts of Egypt celebrate their first Christmas since the country has been ruled by Islamists in a climate of concern despite assurances from the authorities. (AFP PHOTO/KHALED DESOUKI)
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Newly elected leader of Egypt’s Coptic Christian, Pope Tawadros II, Head of the Egyptian Coptic Orthodox Church, leads the Coptic Christmas midnight mass at the al-Abasseya Cathedral in Cairo late on January 6, 2013. Copts of Egypt celebrate their first Christmas since the country has been ruled by Islamists in a climate of concern despite assurances from the authorities. (AFP PHOTO/KHALED DESOUKI)
Newly elected leader of Egypt’s Coptic Christian, Pope Tawadros II, (C) Head of the Egyptian Coptic Orthodox Church, leads the Coptic Christmas midnight mass at the al-Abasseya Cathedral in Cairo late on January 6, 2013. Copts of Egypt celebrate their first Christmas since the country has been ruled by Islamists in a climate of concern despite assurances from the authorities.(AFP PHOTO/KHALED DESOUKI)
Egyptian Copts gathered in large numbers at Saint Mark’s cathedral in Abbasiya where Pope Tawadros lead the Christmas Eve mass.
Egypt’s Coptic minority celebrates Monday its first Christmas under Islamist rule and amid a climate of fear and uncertainty for their future, although President Mohamed Morsy has pledged to be the “president of all Egyptians.”
