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Egypt's Al-Sisi First President ever to Attend Coptic Christmas Mass
American Thinker ^ | 01/08/2015 | By Michele Antaki

Posted on 01/09/2015 5:27:12 PM PST by SeekAndFind

In a historic event that set Cairo ablaze, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi made an unannounced appearance at the Coptic Cathedral where Christmas Eve Mass was being celebrated by the Egyptian Pope Tawadros II. The Coptic Church celebrates Christmas on 7 January because of its use of the Julian calendar instead of the Gregorian. It was the first time ever that an Egyptian President was honoring a Coptic Christmas celebration with his presence.

Though famed President Gamal Abdel Nasser laid the cornerstone of the cathedral, he did not attend mass -- a clear signal that the religious dimension of Coptic Christianity was not to be wholly honored by Muslims. Likewise, President Mubarak was twice forced by protocol to attend a funeral there, but not a mass. Christmas celebrations at the cathedral were traditionally attended by government officials at the minister level.

Further emphasizing his recent declaration that Islam must reform itself, Sisi shortened his visit to Kuwait to be able to come and congratulate the Coptic community. He went straight from the airport to Saint Mark's Coptic Orthodox Cathedral, arrived as service had just begun, and apologized for interrupting the mass. The ceremony was live streamed on Egyptian State TV, and showed him being greeted by a jubilant congregation.

His presence was greatly appreciated, especially in light of the recent persecution of Copts at the hands of radical Muslims. As an outgrowth of the unfortunately named “Arab Spring”, Churches and Christian sites have come under attack since the revolution that ousted Mubarak in 2011. Even after Morsi was deposed in July 2013, a wave of violence spread across Egypt, in particular when the dispersal of two pro-Morsi protest camps was followed by the torching of dozens of churches and attacks on Christian property.

(Excerpt) Read more at americanthinker.com ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Egypt; Foreign Affairs; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: alsisi; copticchrisitans; egypt
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1 posted on 01/09/2015 5:27:12 PM PST by SeekAndFind
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Comment #3 Removed by Moderator

To: SeekAndFind

Brave man


4 posted on 01/09/2015 5:29:09 PM PST by BenLurkin (This is not a statement of fact. It is either opinion or satire; or both.)
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To: SeekAndFind

I just hope and pray he won’t be the second Egyptian President to be assassinated.


5 posted on 01/09/2015 5:30:03 PM PST by SeekAndFind (If at first you don't succeed, put it out for beta test.)
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To: SeekAndFind
Why did I immediately think of Don Francisco?


6 posted on 01/09/2015 5:30:38 PM PST by nascarnation (....)
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To: BenLurkin

I just hope and pray he won’t be the second Egyptian President to be assassinated. We have a very rare leader like this in that part of the world. In a country that’s nearly 90% Muslim.

Egypt dodged a bullet when they overthrew Morsi.


7 posted on 01/09/2015 5:31:11 PM PST by SeekAndFind (If at first you don't succeed, put it out for beta test.)
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To: SeekAndFind

What a contrast to that butt-hole Obama supported.


8 posted on 01/09/2015 5:31:25 PM PST by AU72
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To: SeekAndFind

This is the future of Egypt, regardless of Barack Obama. God will not be dishonored!


9 posted on 01/09/2015 5:33:08 PM PST by chajin ("There is no other name under heaven given among people by which we must be saved." Acts 4:12)
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To: SeekAndFind

No wonder he is Obama’s enemy.


10 posted on 01/09/2015 5:36:08 PM PST by PGR88
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To: SeekAndFind

this guy looks promising...
we will see

he is already 10000 times better than the IslamoNazi Muslim Brotherhood Aholes that O had put into power there (after overthrowing the Egyptian govt)

10000 times better ...


11 posted on 01/09/2015 5:36:42 PM PST by faithhopecharity ((Brilliant, Profound Tag Line Goes Here, just as soon as I can think of one..)
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To: PGR88

Three world leaders who have shown some balls fighting Islamic extremism and calling it out for what it is:

Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel

Al-Sisi of Egypt

Stephen Harper of Canada


12 posted on 01/09/2015 5:37:27 PM PST by SeekAndFind (If at first you don't succeed, put it out for beta test.)
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To: SeekAndFind

I pray for his welfare. The people of Egypt thought they wanted a Muslim government, and Obama helped them get it. Then they discovered the didn’t like it so much after all.

Al-Sisi is a splendid leader, for Egypt and for the civilized world. May God protect him from Obama and his Muslim Brotherhood pals.


13 posted on 01/09/2015 5:41:44 PM PST by Cicero (Marcus Tullius)
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To: SeekAndFind

HOORAY Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi


14 posted on 01/09/2015 5:47:00 PM PST by PGalt
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To: PGR88

The more I hear of al-Sisi, the more I like him.


15 posted on 01/09/2015 5:57:24 PM PST by Pearls Before Swine
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To: SeekAndFind

Hopefully we add President Ted Cruz to that list of leaders in January 2017!


16 posted on 01/09/2015 6:04:05 PM PST by capydick ("If we lose freedom here, there is no place to escape to. This is the last stand on Earth.")
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To: SeekAndFind

Well, good on him!

That’s leadership.


17 posted on 01/09/2015 6:21:29 PM PST by Uncle Miltie (Bush / Clinton 2016! Clinton / Bush 2020! Uniparty Rules!)
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To: BenLurkin; SeekAndFind
May the Lord bless him and keep him
May the Lord turn to him His countenance
May the Lord look upon him kindly
And give him peace.
18 posted on 01/09/2015 6:21:42 PM PST by Mrs. Don-o (Lord, save Your people and bless Your inheritance; give victory to the faithful over their adversary)
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To: SeekAndFind

“Three world leaders who have shown some balls fighting Islamic extremism and calling it out for what it is:

Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel
Al-Sisi of Egypt
Stephen Harper of Canada”

BIngo. Right you are.


19 posted on 01/09/2015 6:31:12 PM PST by flaglady47 (The useful idiots always go first)
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To: SeekAndFind

Al-Sisi may be a Muslim and he may be a dictator, but he seems to want to protect the Christians, and he condemns the Islamofascists. You can do a lot worse.


20 posted on 01/09/2015 8:32:14 PM PST by TBP (Obama lies, Granny dies.)
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