El-ARISH, North Sinai — Every road leading to North Sinai's only remaining church was blocked by an armored vehicle, a light tank or a Humvee surrounded by several military and special operations personnel. High-caliber machine guns were pointed in all directions, a police dog sniffed around, and the heavily armed, masked officers ushered everyone to go through the security gate set up some 100 yards from the church's entrance.

Despite the massive militant threats, El-Arish's Coptic Christian diocese insisted on holding the Jan. 7 Christmas Mass led by North Sinai Bishop Father Kuzman; it was attended by the governor, Gen. Abdelfattah Harhour, the security chief, Gen. Samih Bashadi, and several representatives of Egypt's Religious Affairs Ministry. 

The level and sophistication of security measures taken for Egypt's most important Coptic celebration vividly reflected what the country's eastern frontier has been through, and how targeted the region's Coptic Christians continue to be. 

Outside of the church, several security personnel pulled their guns to offensive position after a teenager set off some fireworks, while other officers secured the farther perimeter using binoculars from a balcony of an adjacent building.