St Anthony’s Orthodox Church's services began at 8pm and lasted until after midnight. Photo: Ramez Riad
St Anthony’s Orthodox Church's services began at 8pm and lasted until after midnight. Photo: Ramez Riad
St Anthony’s Orthodox Church's services began at 8pm and lasted until after midnight. Photo: Ramez Riad
St Anthony’s Orthodox Church's services began at 8pm and lasted until after midnight. Photo: Ramez Riad

Coptic Christians celebrate first Christmas Eve Mass in Abu Dhabi since Covid-19


Mona Farag
  • English
  • Arabic

Friends and families crowded the entrance of St Anthony’s Orthodox Church in Abu Dhabi on Friday night as they hugged and wished each other a blessed Christmas.

Filing into the hall for evening Mass, it was the first time celebrations have been permitted with a full congregation since pandemic restrictions were eased.

Its been three years since the Coptic congregation in Abu Dhabi was able to fill the 3,334-square-metre cathedral that can accommodate 3,000 to 4,000 people on any given day.

“During the pandemic, the church had kindly set up a highly efficient system for the congregation comprising three time slots, to ensure that everyone got a chance to attend the Christmas Eve service and pray,” said long-time UAE resident and regular churchgoer Fayroz Faris.

The church implemented the UAE's directives on social distancing and regular PCR tests to avoid any potential outbreak or spread of the disease.

“It was so successful that neighbouring places of worship commended the church and asked how it went about setting up the schedule.”

Copts, the largest Christian denomination in the region, celebrate Christmas on January 7, as do most Orthodox churches. Egyptians comprise the vast majority of St Anthony’s congregation, which includes some Sudanese. A 43-day Lent is celebrated before Christmas.

  • St Anthony’s Orthodox Church's services began at 8pm and lasted until after midnight. Photo: Ramez Riad
    St Anthony’s Orthodox Church's services began at 8pm and lasted until after midnight. Photo: Ramez Riad
  • The Egyptian Coptic community in the UAE celebrate Christmas at St Anthony’s Orthodox Church. Photo: Ramez Riad
    The Egyptian Coptic community in the UAE celebrate Christmas at St Anthony’s Orthodox Church. Photo: Ramez Riad
  • Its been three years since the Coptic congregation was able to fill the 3,334-square-metre cathedral that normally accommodates 3,000 to 4,000 people. Photo: Ramez Riad
    Its been three years since the Coptic congregation was able to fill the 3,334-square-metre cathedral that normally accommodates 3,000 to 4,000 people. Photo: Ramez Riad
  • St Anthony’s Orthodox Church's services began at 8pm and lasted until after midnight. Photo: Ramez Riad
    St Anthony’s Orthodox Church's services began at 8pm and lasted until after midnight. Photo: Ramez Riad
  • The Egyptian Copts stayed well into the night for gospel readings, followed by a dinner in the early hours of Christmas morning. Photo: Ramez Riad
    The Egyptian Copts stayed well into the night for gospel readings, followed by a dinner in the early hours of Christmas morning. Photo: Ramez Riad
  • The services at St Anthony’s Orthodox Church in Abu Dhabi were attended by the Egyptian ambassador to the UAE, Sherif Issa. Photo: Ramez Riad
    The services at St Anthony’s Orthodox Church in Abu Dhabi were attended by the Egyptian ambassador to the UAE, Sherif Issa. Photo: Ramez Riad
  • The Copts are the native Christians of Egypt, a major ethno-religious group and the largest Christian group there. Photo: Ramez Riad
    The Copts are the native Christians of Egypt, a major ethno-religious group and the largest Christian group there. Photo: Ramez Riad
  • St Anthony’s Orthodox Church's services began at 8pm and lasted until after midnight. Photo: Ramez Riad
    St Anthony’s Orthodox Church's services began at 8pm and lasted until after midnight. Photo: Ramez Riad
  • Its been three years since the Coptic congregation was able to fill the 3,334-square-metre cathedral that normally accommodates 3,000 to 4,000 people. Photo: Ramez Riad
    Its been three years since the Coptic congregation was able to fill the 3,334-square-metre cathedral that normally accommodates 3,000 to 4,000 people. Photo: Ramez Riad
  • The Egyptian Coptic community in the UAE celebrate Christmas at St Anthony’s Orthodox Church.
    The Egyptian Coptic community in the UAE celebrate Christmas at St Anthony’s Orthodox Church.
  • The Egyptian Coptic community in the UAE celebrate Christmas at St Anthony’s Orthodox Church. Photo: Ramez Riad
    The Egyptian Coptic community in the UAE celebrate Christmas at St Anthony’s Orthodox Church. Photo: Ramez Riad

“I'm looking forward to lead the prayers tonight for my beloved community in its entirety for the first time since January 2020,” Father Bishoy Fakhry, one of three priests who has led the church since 2014, said before the service.

An orthopaedic doctor by profession, Father Bishoy has lived in Abu Dhabi for more than two decades and has always been humbled by the UAE's generosity and tolerance.

“The UAE can be best described as a kind nation, driven by great values of cohesion and understanding.”

The congregation at St Anthony’s is said to be the oldest in the UAE, with a church established in 1984.

There are seven Coptic Orthodox churches in the UAE, with others in Dubai, Sharjah, Fujairah and one under construction in Ras Al Khaimah.

The services at St Anthony’s Orthodox Church in Abu Dhabi began at 8pm and lasted until after midnight and were attended by the Egyptian ambassador to the UAE, Sherif Issa.

The church’s two grand halls were overflowing with worshippers dressed up for the occasion.

“This is our first Christmas in Abu Dhabi since moving here from Australia in February last year. We’re looking forward to sharing this joyous celebration for the first time with our entire church community,” said Ghada Issak, operations manager at Exchange for Change.

Before the service she said it was difficult celebrating Christmas away from her extended family in Australia, but is grateful for the community support and fellowship provided by St Anthony's.

“There’s still a lot of debate in our family about how and where we’ll spend Christmas Day, but one thing is certain, we’ll be spending Christmas Eve together as a family at church attending Christmas Mass.”

Christians stayed well into the night for gospel readings, followed by a dinner in the early hours of Christmas morning.

On Christmas Day, the church will resume its tradition of its youth singing Christmas carols in front of their parents and the church staff, followed by the priests giving out gifts to the children. These activities were halted during the pandemic because of social distancing.

“Our young Sunday school attendees are brimming with excitement at the thought of getting up on stage and singing their all-time favourite Christmas tunes in Arabic,” Ms Faris said.

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Our legal advisor

Ahmad El Sayed is Senior Associate at Charles Russell Speechlys, a law firm headquartered in London with offices in the UK, Europe, the Middle East and Hong Kong.

Experience: Commercial litigator who has assisted clients with overseas judgments before UAE courts. His specialties are cases related to banking, real estate, shareholder disputes, company liquidations and criminal matters as well as employment related litigation. 

Education: Sagesse University, Beirut, Lebanon, in 2005.

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Three stars

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2.15pm: Handicap Dh80,000 1,950m

Winner: Hello, Tadhg O’Shea (jockey), Ali Rashid Al Raihi (trainer).

2.45pm: Handicap Dh90,000 1,800m

Winner: Right Flank, Pat Dobbs, Doug Watson.

3.15pm: Handicap Dh115,000 1,000m

Winner: Leading Spirit, Richard Mullen, Satish Seemar.

3.45pm: Jebel Ali Mile Group 3 Dh575,000 1,600m

Winner: Chiefdom, Royston Ffrench, Salem bin Ghadayer.

4.15pm: Handicap Dh105,000 1,400m

Winner: Ode To Autumn, Patrick Cosgrave, Satish Seemar.

4.45pm: Shadwell Farm Conditions Dh125,000 1,200m

Winner: Last Surprise, James Doyle, Simon Crisford.

5.15pm: Handicap Dh85,000 1,200m

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Trans fat is typically found in fried and baked goods, but you may be consuming more than you think.

Powdered coffee creamer, microwave popcorn and virtually anything processed with a crust is likely to contain it, as this guide from Mayo Clinic outlines: 

Baked goods - Most cakes, cookies, pie crusts and crackers contain shortening, which is usually made from partially hydrogenated vegetable oil. Ready-made frosting is another source of trans fat.

Snacks - Potato, corn and tortilla chips often contain trans fat. And while popcorn can be a healthy snack, many types of packaged or microwave popcorn use trans fat to help cook or flavour the popcorn.

Fried food - Foods that require deep frying — french fries, doughnuts and fried chicken — can contain trans fat from the oil used in the cooking process.

Refrigerator dough - Products such as canned biscuits and cinnamon rolls often contain trans fat, as do frozen pizza crusts.

Creamer and margarine - Nondairy coffee creamer and stick margarines also may contain partially hydrogenated vegetable oils.

The President's Cake

Director: Hasan Hadi

Starring: Baneen Ahmad Nayyef, Waheed Thabet Khreibat, Sajad Mohamad Qasem 

Rating: 4/5

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Starring: Ramy Youssef, Steve Carell, Jason Schwartzman

Director: Jesse Armstrong

Rating: 3.5/5

The specs: 2018 Chevrolet Trailblazer

Price, base / as tested Dh99,000 / Dh132,000

Engine 3.6L V6

Transmission: Six-speed automatic

Power 275hp @ 6,000rpm

Torque 350Nm @ 3,700rpm

Fuel economy combined 12.2L / 100km

JAPANESE GRAND PRIX INFO

Schedule (All times UAE)
First practice: Friday, 5-6.30am
Second practice: Friday, 9-10.30am
Third practice: Saturday, 7-8am
Qualifying: Saturday, 10-11am
Race: Sunday, 9am-midday 

Race venue: Suzuka International Racing Course
Circuit Length: 5.807km
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The specs: 2018 Opel Mokka X

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Engine: 1.4L, four-cylinder turbo

Transmission: Six-speed auto

Power: 142hp at 4,900rpm

Torque: 200Nm at 1,850rpm

Fuel economy, combined: 6.5L / 100km

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Uefa Champions League semi-final, first leg

Barcelona v Liverpool, Wednesday, 11pm (UAE).

Second leg

Liverpool v Barcelona, Tuesday, May 7, 11pm

Games on BeIN Sports

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Iftar programme at the Sheikh Mohammed Centre for Cultural Understanding

Established in 1998, the Sheikh Mohammed Centre for Cultural Understanding was created with a vision to teach residents about the traditions and customs of the UAE. Its motto is ‘open doors, open minds’. All year-round, visitors can sign up for a traditional Emirati breakfast, lunch or dinner meal, as well as a range of walking tours, including ones to sites such as the Jumeirah Mosque or Al Fahidi Historical Neighbourhood.

Every year during Ramadan, an iftar programme is rolled out. This allows guests to break their fast with the centre’s presenters, visit a nearby mosque and observe their guides while they pray. These events last for about two hours and are open to the public, or can be booked for a private event.

Until the end of Ramadan, the iftar events take place from 7pm until 9pm, from Saturday to Thursday. Advanced booking is required.

For more details, email openminds@cultures.ae or visit www.cultures.ae

 

Updated: January 08, 2023, 7:35 AM