The Dmitry Solunsky cathedral of the Russian Orthodox Church, Cairo, will hold on Tuesday a service that will be attended by hundreds of Russians, believers from the CIS and other countries.
About 8 million of Egyptian Copts related to the eastern branch of the Christian Church celebrate Christmas on the same day.
Services will be held in dozens of Copt churches and monasteries throughout Egypt. They will be attended by Russian pilgrims, who have come to visit the country's Biblical places. Among such places in Cairo is the Abu Sergi Church built on the bank of the Nile on the site where, according to the legend, Virgin Mary was hiding with little Jesus, trying to escape Herod's soldiers.
Last year President of Egypt Hosni Mubarak declared January 7th an official holiday in the country.
