As Egypt and the world battle the unrelenting spread of the novel coronavirus, social ties and community bonds are becoming increasingly strained by lockdowns, curfews, social distancing and other other public health and safety regulations. Last week, Coptic Christians celebrated Easter Sunday and the Holy Week amid nationwide shutdowns and a ban on religious congregation in churches, mosques and other places of worship to slow the spread of the potentially deadly disease. Under normal circumstances, churches across the country would be brimming with worshippers throughout the week for Baskha prayers, but this year, for the first time in living memory, these ancient traditions weren’t observed. Likewise, the spirit of the holidays was absent among Catholic Egyptians, who observed the Holy Week and Easter Sunday two weeks ago. “It is difficult for our hearts to be in Holy Thursday mass and we can’t do what Jesus did by washing the [feet] of his disciples because of [coronavirus] … But instead of washing the [feet], I will ask you to cleanse our hearts all … Our prayers on the water will be blessed to be healing for our souls and our bodies,”…
In Photos: Egypt’s Unceremonious Easter and Bittersweet Sham Ennessim Amid COVID-19 Lockdown
April 21, 2020
