As the new year begins, Egypt’s Copts, the biggest Christian population in the Middle East, celebrate Orthodox Christmas across the Egyptian capital and against the backdrop of the country’s worst economic crisis in decades. Meanwhile, the unprecedented humanitarian catastrophe in the neighboring Gaza Strip continues to take a cross-border toll on the resilience of the human spirit. For VOA, Cairo photojournalist Hamada Elrasam has the story in pictures. Photo captions by Elle Kurancid.
For Egypt's Coptic Christians, Christmas Comes at a Time of Sacrifice
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Abu Issa, a barber, says, “This season, haircuts that involve special products and styling are too expensive for most people.” Cairo, Egypt, Jan. 6, 2024. (Hamada Elrasam/VOA)
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A Coptic man wearing a keffiyeh, or traditional Arab scarf, sits in prayer. Many this Christmas are reflecting on the unprecedented humanitarian crisis across the border in Gaza as Israel's siege shows no signs of letting up. Cairo, Egypt, Jan. 6, 2024.