The Evangelical Church in Egypt celebrated Christmas on Sunday, which was two days early. Representatives of the Orthodox and Catholic Churches were absent from the celebrations that were led by Rev. Safwat el-Bayadi, the head of the community, who called for solidarity with President Mubarak's appeal to stop the aggression on Gaza. The celebration was attended by Dr. Abdel Azim Wazir, Governor of Cairo, MP Hisham Mustafa Khalil, Dr. Georges Saleh, Secretary-General of the Council of Middle East Churches, Karim el-Diwani, representing President Mubarak, Abdel Moneim Fouda, representing Al-Azhar Grand Sheikh, and Fouad Abdel Azim, representing the Minister of Endowments. Pope Shenouda, Patriarch of the Coptic Church, and Rev. Antonios Naguib, Patriarch of the Catholic Church in Egypt, did not send anyone on their behalf. In his sermon titled ‘Why are we not afraid' Bayadi said: “If justice, peace and freedom come together, the world will achieve the peace of Jesus Christ when he said: Blessed are the peacemakers, for they are the sons of God.” He added: “Sixty years of oppression and destruction are enough. We must return to reason, stop the bloodshed and solve the problem of Palestine,” noting that the violence and counter violence in Palestine convey pain and fear into the hearts of adults and children living in the place called the land of peace. Rev. Andre Zaki, Vice-President of the community, said: “We prayed to God to give wisdom to the politicians of the Arab region to unite and save the innocent people in Gaza. And all our hospitals are open for the Ministry of Health to use in the treatment of our Palestinian brothers,” stressing that the church encourages the people to give donations to the Gaza Strip. Rev. Refaat Fikri, pastor of the Shoubra Church, said the celebration was two days earlier so as to give the officials the chance to attend, and because Bayadi will attend the Coptic celebrations. “This was just a ceremony, while the mass will be held on January 7,” he explained.
