Learning from Coptic Orthodox Christians

Christians in Egypt commemorate Christmas this year in the midst of great political and social instability. During the past three years, Egypt has had four different governments and two large-scale revolts, and an economic downturn has caused much unemployment and suffering. At times, Christians have been targeted and churches have been destroyed.

As Mennonite Central Committee (MCC) representatives in Egypt for the past three years, my wife, Judith, and I have lived and worked among the Christian community, the majority of whom belong to the Coptic Orthodox Church. (“Coptic” simply means Egyptian.) We have had the opportunity to learn from Coptic Christians and bear witness to their faith in the midst of adversity.

In all this political and social chaos, Christians have demonstrated great faith in God, and their fasting, prayer and celebrations have continued with even greater love and effort. Their observance of Christmas is no exception. Perhaps our Coptic brothers and sisters in Christ can inspire North American Christians to find new ways of honoring Christ’s birth.

Coptic Christians began preparing for Christmas last Nov. 25, the first day of Advent in the Coptic Orthodox calendar (different from the Gregorian calendar), and conclude 43 days later on their Christmas Day, Jan. 7.

During this time, they contemplate the heavy burden of Jesus’ mother, Mary, who carried God’s Son in her heart and in her womb. Coptic Orthodox Christians believe God gave Christians the same responsibility that Mary was given—to bring Christ into the world.

This understanding pervades the Advent, Christmas and Epiphany seasons. Since Christ is the Word of God in the flesh, Christians fast in preparation for the celebration of his birth.

The period of fasting—abstaining from meat or dairy products—also mirrors the willingness, self-control and effort of Mary, who carried baby Jesus in her womb despite the difficulties this created for her as an unmarried woman.

(The 43 days of fasting corresponds to the 40 days Moses fasted on Mount Sinai before receiving the Ten Commandments, plus three days the Copts fasted in the 10th century A.D. before God miraculously moved Mokattam Mountain in Egypt.)

Times of fasting throughout the Orthodox Christian world are accompanied by giving alms. This practice prevents the fasting from being just pietistic and self-focused. With so much poverty in Egypt, the needs of those who have so little are kept in focus.

Churches maintain both local and denomination-wide service agencies that provide temporary relief to poor families, ministries to those in prisons and those with a broad range of living difficulties—both Christian and Muslim.

They support large-scale development projects, in partnership with MCC, and micro-lending. They also give to people begging and selling small items on the streets, following God’s call for generosity and openness to meet desperate need.

This preparation for the Nativity creates a serious atmosphere of spiritual discipline. It is neither the commercial event of the West nor an event preceded by weeks of pre-Christmas office parties, overeating and celebrations.

On Christmas Eve, Egyptian Christians gather in church for worship, Bible reading and prayer, which culminates in the celebration of Communion just after midnight. Children usually wear new clothes they have not worn until this special evening.

Then families go to their homes to break the long fast with a Christmas feast that lasts long into the night hours, often until dawn.

At some point during the feast or after a nap on the next day, family members exchange modest gifts. Many churches hold parties on Christmas Day for children, who receive gift bags with small gifts of candy and toys.

In many places, government officials go to the offices of the local bishops and bring greetings. To Copts, this is significant and a much-appreciated gesture in a majority Muslim country.

Twelve days after Christmas, Coptic Christians celebrate the Feast of Epiphany, on Jan. 19. This is a celebration of the baptism of Jesus and includes the blessing of water and the blessing of people’s homes by their local priest.

Epiphany is also the time when Egyptian Christians celebrate an event held dear to them—Jesus and his parents taking refuge in Egypt to escape King Herod. According to Matthew 2:13-15, Herod wanted to kill the newborn king. Joseph was told to flee to Egypt with Mary and Jesus. It became a sanctuary for them, just as it had been for the children of Israel centuries before.

When Egypt has times of political calm, a ceremony takes place by the River Nile at Epiphany. The water is blessed, then a boat with people portraying the holy family crosses the Nile to celebrate this time of sanctuary.

In the troubled Middle East, with millions of refugees fleeing Syria, it is poignant to remember that Jesus and his parents were refugees, seeking safety from danger at home by fleeing to a different land. With so much political and social tension in Egypt, this outdoor, public ceremony is only performed in a few remote places.

Many of us try to move away from the materialism that dominates the Christmas season in Canada and the United States. However, to be judgmental or standoffish about the many activities and invitations to celebrate with our families, neighbors, friends and work colleagues demonstrates the opposite of the spirit of Christ.

Perhaps, though, we could adopt fasting for as much of the Advent season as is possible, without refusing to participate in all those pre-Christmas parties.

It is good to donate to MCC’s Christmas giving projects, local community food banks, special community projects at our church, and make time to pray and contemplate the Scripture readings of the Advent season. These activities and many more take us to the heart of God the Son, who left the glories of heaven to be born in a manger, and the human efforts of Mary and Joseph as they found a new level of faith in coping with this amazing event in their lives.

The quiet, deep joy that comes to the Christian community here in Egypt at Christmas demonstrates to me that these efforts are not futile. We and they may not change the direction of an entire culture by our efforts, but we can change ourselves a little.

In the Eastern Christian world, this comes close to defining what salvation really is—to bring Christ into our lives to such an extent that our lives are saved from the artificiality of this temporary age.

The efforts of self-control for fasting, generosity in giving to the poor, taking the time for prayer and serving others: all these things may not change our world much, but they do make a contribution in that direction and certainly change us.

The spoiled, self-indulged heart inside us can become the heart that loves others, loves service and loves self-control. Make no mistake, Christ is brought into our world just a little bit more through these efforts.

Thomas and Judith Snowdon, of Saint-Joseph-De-Kent, New Brunswick, concluded their term as MCC representatives in Egypt on Nov. 30, 2013.