Yesterday (May 3, 2013), thousands of Copts took part in the Good Friday Prayer in churches and monasteries in Daqahlia Governorate whilst Dr. 'Alī 'Abd al-Rahmān, the governor of Giza, visited the Coptic Catholic Diocese Headquarters to offer praise for Easter. Meanwhile today (May 4), celebrations were prepared by the Evangelical Church of Egypt at Nasr City Church for Easter. Coptic Orthodox Pope Tawadros II has just returned from Saint Bishoy (Bīshūy) Monastery in Wādī al-Natrūn two days ago. He met with a number of leaders from the Ministry of Interior to discuss the securing of Coptic Orthodox Saint Mark Cathedral. He will also head to the Easter Mass at nine o'clock in the evening. The Muslim Brotherhood stressed that they have not received an invitation to attend the Holy Easter Mass, and explained that their decision was influenced by differing doctrinal attitudes, and not political ones. The three main Christian denominations in Egypt celebrate Coptic Easter tonight, amid the state of unity and solidarity due to the events on April 5 which saw clashes between Muslims and Christians in Khusūs, and clashes around the Cathedral in al-'Abbāsīyyah the following day. Maj. Gen. Fū‘ād Basyūnī, Deputy of al-Minya Security Department, said payments will be made to eight teams from the Central Security Forces to secure of the Holy Easter Mass. A state of emergency has been declared in the business sectors, hotels and resorts, in preparation for receiving Egyptians and foreigners for Easter holiday in the Red Sea ('Imād Khalīl, Fādī Francis, Ghādah 'Abd al-Hāfiz and Sa'īd Nāfi', al-Misrī al-Yawm, May 4, p. 3). Read original text in Arabic.
