We Fear No one! Copts Braved Christmas Celebrations Amid Terrorist Threats

Refusing to cower to Islamic terrorists, members of the Coptic Orthodox Church attended Christmas services in droves. An official for Egypt's Catholic community said, "We fear no one, and nothing will prevent us from going to our churches in this country of the martyrs."

P>KNOXVILLE, TN (Catholic Online) - Refusing to cower to Islamic terrorists, members of the Coptic Orthodox Church attended Christmas services in droves. According to the Coptic calendar, Christmas was celebrated on January 7, 2011. Hundreds even prayed at Saints Church in Alexandria, Egypt where over 20 people were killed by a bomb blast and about 80 wounded on New Year's Eve just one week before.

An official for Egypt's Catholic community said, "We fear no one, and nothing will prevent us from going to our churches in this country of the martyrs." One reason why Egypt is referred to as the country of martyrs is because the Copts have know persecution throughout their history as Christians. This history is reflected in the Coptic calendar which is called the "Year of the Martyrs."

This name is derived from the fact that the Coptic calendar begins in 284 AD, which is the same year that Diocletian became emperor of Rome. Diocletian's reign was noted for the last and most terrible of the persecutions against the early Christians. And the Christians in Egypt suffered severely during this horrible time. Hence, the Coptic calendar is called the "Year of the Martyrs."

Although suffering is nothing new for the Copts, the courage they exhibited this Christmas was remarkable when we realize that Islamic terrorists continued to call for more attacks against Coptic Churches in Egypt and in other countries throughout the Christmas season. According to some websites operated by the terrorists, Christmas and other important feast days were specified as a good time for attacks because large numbers of people were anticipated to attend church at such times.

While the Copts and police have clashed on many occasions in the past, a large police presence helped deter more attacks during the Christmas celebrations this year. According to one report, 70,000 or more police, SWAT teams and paramilitary forces with armored cars patrolled Coptic churches and other Christian places of worship. But it was not just the police and military who were out in force.

Apparently groups of Muslims held vigils outside churches during Christmas Eve celebrations to express their solidarity with the Copts. One group of Muslims gathered near Saints Church in Alexandria. They shouted, "Long live the cross and the crescent!" Furthermore, President Mubarak and his two sons attended Saint Mark's Coptic Orthodox Cathedral in Cairo where Patriarch Shenouda III presided over the Mass. 

As reported by Asia News a number of Muslims believe the attack on Saints Church indicates that fanaticism has been allowed to prevail in Egypt, and this terrible incident is the last straw. Asia News quotes the philosopher Tareq Higgy:  "This attack marks a turning point in the process of fanaticism, which gave birth to violence and terrorism. There will be no human, efficient and final solution unless the people in charge of the country recognize the true reasons of the illness, which resides in a culture of fanaticism, hatred and rejection of the other. . . ."

Only time will tell how serious the Egyptians and their government are about peace and a unified country, but their demonstrations this Christmas remind me of something that Father Maqar Fawzy said. Father Fawzy was leading prayer at Saints Church when the bomb exploded. He hoped that the bombing would be a wake up call. He said, "We believe that God can turn any evil into good, and this tragedy could help our country in some way - maybe even cause more unity." We pray that it does.
 
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Michael Terheyden was born into a Catholic family, but that is not why he is a Catholic. He is a Catholic because he believes that truth is real, that it is beautiful and good, and that the fullness of truth is in the Catholic Church. However, he knows that God's grace operating throughout his life is the main reason he is a Catholic. He is greatly blessed to share his faith and his life with his beautiful wife, Dorothy. They have four grown children and three grandchildren.

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