File Photo: Pope Tawadros II leads Palm Sunday mass at St.Marks Cathedral in Alexandria on Sunday (Photo : Coptic Orthodox Church of Egypt)
The week marks the most sacred period in the Christian calendar, with churches across Egypt intensifying prayers, liturgies, and community activities, while emphasizing messages of hope and solidarity amid ongoing regional tensions.
Coptic Orthodox Church spokesman, Father Moussa Ibrahim, stated that the pope will preside over the week’s main services, including Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and the Easter Mass at St Mark’s Coptic Orthodox Cathedral on Saturday evening.
Palm Sunday, which commemorates Jesus Christ’s entry into Jerusalem, is being observed with prayers in churches across Egypt and abroad, Ibrahim said.
He added that the day is followed by Holy Week, known in the Coptic tradition as “Pascha Week,” which he described as the holiest week of the year for Orthodox Christians, featuring continuous daily prayers distinct from regular services and carrying deep spiritual significance.
The week includes key religious events, most notably Maundy Thursday and Good Friday, which commemorate Christ’s suffering and crucifixion, culminating in Easter Sunday celebrations on 12 April.
Churches typically host large congregations during this period, alongside a festive spiritual atmosphere marked by visits and greetings.
Separately, the Catholic Church in Egypt's spokesman, Anba Bakhom, said that Patriarch Ibrahim Isaac will lead the Catholic Easter Mass at the Virgin Mary Cathedral in Nasr City on Saturday.
He said preparations began with the Holy Lent period and include daily masses, prayers, and spiritual gatherings, framing the season as a journey “from pain to hope and from hardship to resurrection.”
Bakhom added that churches are also encouraging acts of charity and social support alongside religious observances, urging congregants to assist those in need and promote values of compassion.
“The Resurrection remains stronger than all manifestations of death and fear,” he said, adding that the church seeks to reinforce hope as the region faces escalating tensions.
Meanwhile, the Evangelical community in Egypt, led by Reverend Andrea Zaki, will hold its official Easter celebration on Saturday at Heliopolis Evangelical Church.
Youssef Edward, the event’s media coordinator, said the programme will include prayers, sermons, and hymns performed by the Better Life team, with participation from Evangelical leaders.
In Egypt, Christians, the majority of whom are Coptic Orthodox, observe Holy Week with intensive daily prayers culminating in Easter, the most important religious feast in Christianity.
The Coptic Orthodox Church follows its own liturgical calendar, meaning Easter dates often differ from those observed by Western churches, though Egypt’s three main denominations, Orthodox, Catholic, and Evangelical, hold parallel celebrations marked by large congregations and extended religious services.
Egyptian authorities typically raise security and organizational readiness around major religious occasions, including Easter and Christmas, to ensure safe celebrations at churches nationwide.
The season also carries a strong social dimension, with churches expanding charitable activities, including support for vulnerable communities, in line with longstanding traditions of communal solidarity during major religious observances.
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