The services in the temples of the Coptic Church in Cairo and Alexandria will be held without the presence of believers, until at least January 6, when Egypt celebrates Christmas (according to the old calendar).
According to the same decision of the Coptic Church, all its religious seminars and educational programs are suspended for the same period.
This decision was made after the detection of cases of coronavirus between the clergy and the faithful.
However, in the Coptic churches it will be possible to officiate one service per week with the presence of only one priest and five deacons.
The funerals will be held with the participation of only a priest and a deacon and with only the family of the deceased present.
The sacrament of baptism will be allowed only in churches and with the participation of a maximum of four members of the child’s family.
The Coptic Church also called on priests, deacons and all ecclesiastical officials to “comply” with all precautionary measures against the pandemic.
The coronavirus has infected 118,847 people in Egypt so far and has killed 6,790 of them since the outbreak of COVID-19 last February.
