Egypt's Coptic Christians Mark Feast in Wake of Tragedy

A Muslim neighbor of the Giza’s Abu Sefein Church community, west of Cairo, shares a snapshot of the deadly fire, which witnesses and authorities trace back to an electrical failure in an air conditioning unit deep within the multistorey building. On Augu

“For me, whether you’re Muslim or Christian, there’s no difference—we grew up together, eating from the same plate,” says 17-year-old Yousef, a Muslim neighbor who joined community-led fire fighting and evacuation efforts. On August 19, 2022. (Hamada Elra

According to the International Monetary Fund, “Over the past three decades, temperatures in [the MENA region have risen by] twice the global increase of 0.7 degrees Celsius,” which has been “particularly harmful for countries that are already hot.” Near A

Each August in the sweltering desert heat, worshippers visit the Virgin Mary Monastery, an ancient mountain cave along the River Nile, where they believe the Holy Family found refuge from persecution. On August 20, 2022. (Hamada Elrasam/VOA)

Religious leaders, including the monastery head Bishop Uannas, carry a painting of the Virgin Mary and baby Jesus up the site’s main pathway. On August 20, 2022. (Hamada Elrasam/VOA)

“I come here each year to pray for mercy and blessings,” says Adel, a 53-year-old Coptic worshiper with lifelong paraplegia. His nephews carried him to this shrine inside the monastery. On August 20, 2022. (Hamada Elrasam/VOA)

This year, Egyptian authorities barred Muslim worshippers from the monastery complex, citing security concerns. The annual celebration typically hosts both Christians and Muslims. On August 20, 2022. (Hamada Elrasam/VOA)

Following the Giza church tragedy, firefighters were stationed in and around the monastery, including alongside candlelit shrines, public cafeterias, and electric generators. Near Assuit, on August 20, 2022. (Hamada Elrasam/VOA)

“I knew I wouldn’t be able to buy any sheep this year, so I’ve been raising them at home,” says 70-year-old Morris, who later marked the end of the Coptic Christian’s annual fifteen-day fast by sacrificing the animals to help feed his large family. Near A

Haniyeh, a Coptic mother of two from Cairo, says, “We couldn’t visit the monastery because of the high cost of the trip and the recent price hikes [on basic commodities],” owing to the fallout from the Ukraine war and COVID-19 pandemic. East Cairo, on Aug