Egyptian Copts set to begin Christmas fast

CAIRO: Egyptian Copts will begin their 43-day Christmas fast on Nov. 25, with its conclusion on Jan. 7, the night of festive celebration.
Egyptian churches have different dates for the start of the fast. The Coptic Orthodox Church begins on Nov. 25, while the Catholic Church fasts for 15 days from Dec. 9.
The Coptic period is in line with the 40-day fasting of Prophet Moses. The three additional days were added after Abraam Ebn-Zaraa the Syrian, who is considered a saint by the Coptic Orthodox Church, fasted them.
Coptic researcher Robert Al-Fares told Arab News: “During the Christmas fast, the church allows eating fish, unlike the great fast that ends with Easter, during which the church completely forbids it.
“The church allows eating fish during some fasts because of their extended periods and the need for some for animal protein.”
He added that during fasts the Copts “eat vegetarian food, completely abstain from eating meat, and are allowed to eat fish on all days of the week except for Wednesday and Friday.”
Archpriest Michael Gerges, of the Diocese of Helwan, said: “The prayers of the Divine Liturgy during fasting are for the president of the republic, his holiness the pope, the bishop of the city, ministers and soldiers, and those who are responsible, and for the peace of the world, and for the fruits of the Earth and the grass, the seed and the grass, and for the rivers.”
Coptic researcher Suleiman Shafiq told Arab News: “The first person to officially introduce the Christmas fast in the East was Pope Christodoulos, the 66th patriarch of the Coptic Orthodox Church.
“Fasting is a belief for the people of monotheistic religions, and the number of fasting days of all Egyptian Muslims and Christians reaches 406.
“Egyptians relate fasting to spirituality and religion, and this is clearly linked to the Egyptian identity from the times of the pharaohs.”