The usually festive occasion is tainted with fearful apprehension after twin bombings in the cities of Tanta and Alexandria killed 45 Coptic Christians this week on Palm Sunday, which marks the start of the Coptic Holy Week.
The increased security measures on display outside churches across the country are meant to restore a sense of security for Egypt's Copts amid a war on the embattled minority declared by the Islamist State group, which claimed Sunday's bombings.
"No security measure can stop a suicide bomber with jihadist beliefs from blowing up a church," Coptic engineer Emad Thomas told The Associated Press today.
However, he believes that Copts will still attend prayers on Sunday as they have continued to go to church despite earlier attacks. "Egypt's Copts put their trust in God and not in security measures," he said.
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Outside of St Joseph Roman Catholic Church in Cairo's central downtown area, a military tank is stationed with five soldiers on top one of the more overt manifestations of President Abdel Fattah El-Sissi's declaration of a three-month state of emergency.
A military source said that troops have started patrolling the city and will be stationed across town before Sunday. Both officials spoke on condition of anonymity as they were not authorized to brief the media.
In the neighboring city of Minya, home to the highest Coptic Christian population in the country, the Coptic Orthodox Diocese said that celebrations will only be limited to the liturgical prayers "without any festive manifestations," in mourning for Sunday's victims.
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