While most people take down their holiday decorations in January, Egyptian Christians have a reason to keep them up.

Father Cyril is an Egyptian-American Angeleno. He comes from an ancient Christian minority in the Middle East, the Coptic Orthodox Church. He and the Los Angeles Coptic community have been in a season of deep reflection as they prepare for Christmas.

The observance of the holiday takes place in January.

“We use the ancient Coptic calendar while the world moved from the Julian calendar to the Gregorian calendar in 1500, and that was really the difference,” Father Cyril said.

While the dates may differ, the efforts to prepare for the midnight Christmas service are just as detailed.

Youth and elders of the church in L.A. prepare the bread offering, to be distributed as the community concludes the Christmas liturgy.

Many church volunteers have been serving the community for years.

“I love God, I love serving the church, it’s my church. My house is on the next block,” said Shawky Rizkalla, a long-time volunteer at St. Mark’s Coptic Orthodox Church in Los Angeles. 

While many Coptic Christians have fled Egypt due to religious persecution, Father Cyril says he’s honored to be able to safely serve his community right here in L.A.

“It’s not something I can put in words, still today. It’s something that makes my heart skip a beat serving as a priest. It’s something that’s unimaginable that the Lord, you know, chose me, a weak man to serve Him. It’s a great honor to me, and it’s a great blessing for me and my family.”

Father Cyril and other fellow Coptic priests certainly keep busy. Southern California is home to one of the largest Egyptian Christian populations outside of Egypt. The Christmas services overflow with many families, praying and preparing to break the nativity fast together.

“The goal in the sense is that if I’m able to abstain from eating certain foods that I really enjoy, and hold my body from eating that, I am able to control my behavior as well,” Father Cyril said as he explained the significance of fasting.

With nearly 50 Coptic churches in Southern California and at least 13 in Los Angeles county, Father Cyril says he feels blessed to be able to recognize Coptic Christmas in L.A.