How do Christians in Egypt mark Holy Week?
Image credit: Grant Whitty
This week, our friends and partners in Egypt tell us how they celebrate Holy Week.
As in the UK Holy Week and Easter is a hugely important time for Christians across the Middle East: a time of anticipation, reflection and celebration. For Coptic Orthodox Christians Easter begins 50 days of celebration which end at Pentecost. Easter in Egypt coincides with the Egyptian national festival of Sham El Nessim, celebrating the arrival of spring.
FASTING AND REFLECTION
The final week, the “Pascha”, is the climax of the Lent season. People gather in Church for prayer and worship. It is the time when we reflect on God’s love to us, that He manifested by giving His only son that all those who believe will not perish but will receive eternal life in Him. We also celebrate His resurrection, when Christ overcame death and raised us all with Him unto the heavens and seated us – in Him – at the right-hand side of God, restoring humanity back to the heart of the Father.
The Great Lent fast ends on Easter Day when families gather to celebrate with new clothes and some gifts for the children. Lent is followed by 50 days of celebration. This joyful interval of the year is known to be a daily celebration of Christ’s resurrection. It ends with the Pentecost, when we celebrate the great mystery of Christ coming back to live in us through His Holy Spirit, doing His good works through us and filling us with all that is on His heart. This way (Christ in us), He may take us back home to live with Him forever.
Mona from Life Vision, who is part of the Coptic Church
DECORATING THE CHURCH
Holy Week is the highlight of Easter, when prayers are held daily in churches. It begins on Palm Sunday, when we celebrate the entry of Jesus into Jerusalem. Churches are decorated with white cloth and palm leaves. You will see a lot of sellers selling palm leaves outside churches. People keep them in house until they dry up and turn brown.
Good Friday is the most solemn day of the week. Churches hang black cloths as a sign of Christ's death and hold prayers all day. Children aren't allowed to play outside and people fast until sunset.
And, finally, Easter Sunday when we celebrate the resurrection of Christ and the church is decorated with white again.
It is followed by Sham El Nessim, where we celebrate the arrival of spring. We celebrate this amazing time outdoors. Most of us head to the parks and public gardens to enjoy nature and eat coloured eggs and salted fish.
Most families are busy during Easter cleaning their homes, buying new clothes and preparing food. We express our joy by inviting family and friends, gathering in the church or going on outings, and children receive presents and candy.
Last year people couldn't celebrate it like they were used to. They spent it at home and there were no large crowds. Nothing can replace the solemnity of saying our prayers in churches during the holiest week of the year but people kept the traditions alive and made their Holy Week celebration meaningful even at home. I pray that this year it will be safe to gather with friends and family again.
Madonna from Arkan Centre, who belongs to the Anglican Church
HOLY WEEK PRAYERS
The church holds four times of prayer each day, at 6am, 12 noon, 5pm and the last at 10pm. I feel lucky, because I work with a Christian organization, I have a vacation this week. So, I can attend all the prayers.
My family starts buying palm fronds two days before Palm Sunday, and we gather to make different shapes such as a cover for the sacrament, and head crowns for girls, hearts, and crosses, and we decorate these shapes with flowers. We take it with us on Sunday Palm to be blessed during mass and become a blessing in the house until the following year.
On Good Friday we begin prayer from 7 in the morning until 5 in the evening. After that we go home and eat beans and falafel. Then we return to the church at 10 pm to start another prayer called the Night of Abu Galamsis and end at 5 am with the liturgy.
Then I prepare food for Easter - turkey, scallops, kofta and bechamel pasta - and the whole family take their dinner after the church ceremony.
On Sunday my family spend the day between my big family and my husband’s family to celebrate.
Monday is the Sham El Nesiem and we spend this day next to the beach. I prepare colorful boiled eggs, salt fish, BBQ meat and sweets.
Hanan from BLESS, who is part of the Coptic Church
EASTER CELEBRATIONS
For Egypt’s Sudanese Christian refugees, the Easter celebration has reminders of home.
Large numbers of people come together to celebrate at the church. We gather to sing and worship in the traditional way of praying and scripture is read in tribal dialects. People also share testimonies and events that have taken place in their lives in the past year. There is much reflection on how God has touched their lives.
A special emphasis is given to the Gospel and the lifetime of Jesus, in particular passages relating to suffering and the congregation reflects on what Jesus has done for us. We also prepare ourselves for hardships that may come up in the future, even if there are none at present. This time is a time of remembrance.
There are special church services both on Good Friday and on Easter Sunday. The Friday service helps prepare for and demonstrate how Jesus has suffered for us. In contrast, Sunday is much more of a celebration. There is dancing, singing, people talk on the phone with loved ones who they cannot be with physically. Overall, it is a time of happiness, joy, and celebration.
James from Refuge Egypt, who belongs to the Episcopalian (Anglican) Church
