Egypt’s Pope Tawadros II leads empty Easter mass due to coronavirus

Head of Egypt’s Coptic Orthodox Church Pope Tawadros II led Easter mass without attendees late on Saturday under unprecedented measures undertaken to stem the spread of the coronavirus in the country, according to Ahram Online on Sunday.

Pope Tawadros II led the mass at the desert Monastery of Saint Bishoy in Wadi El-Natrun, praying for God to lift the current fears and troubles.

“Despite the circumstances that have not allowed us to fully celebrate in our churches, we have celebrated spiritually at our homes,” he said.

Coptic Orthodox Christians – who comprise a substantial majority of Christians in Egypt – celebrate Easter on Sunday.

However, this year, the coronavirus outbreak has forced Copts to celebrate Easter at home, as Egypt continues with its unprecedented measures to stem the spread of the virus, including a nationwide night-time curfew and suspension of prayers and activities at all houses of worship.

This is the first time that Easter mass was held under the current patriarch at a location other than Cairo’s Saint Mark’s Cathedral and without attendants or worshippers.

The pope did not receive guests at the Cairo Cathedral in light of the preventative measures taken to curb the spread of the virus, a spokesman for the Egyptian Coptic Orthodox Church said in earlier press statements.