Abdel Fattah al-Sisi has become the first ever Egyptian president to attend a Christmas eve mass in a Coptic church in Cairo.
Al-Sisi's unannounced visit on Tuesday to the Cathedral of St. Mark came on the heel of an attack by masked gunmen, resulting in the death of two policemen guarding the Coptic church in town of Minya.
Addressing the congregation who had gathered, Al-Sisi emphasised it was "necessary" for him to attend and wish the Coptic community well.
"We are Egyptians, and we have to be only Egyptians. We will build our country together. We will truly accept and love each other," he said.
The president's appearance brought contrast to former presidents' resistance from being associated with the country's Christian population, who are considered "second-class citizens" in the Muslim-majority country.
According to World Watch Monitor, Christians are continually subjected to criminal charges for blasphemy against Islam, whilst legal proceedings required to build churches are often convoluted.
Coptic Christmas, in reference to the Julian calendar, fell on Wednesday January 6.
Christmas eve celebrations, which fell this year on January 6 in reference to the Julian calendar, took place under heavy police protection due to ongoing sectarian tensions, particularly with Islamist group the Muslim Brotherhood.
Christians are reportedly blamed by Islamist groups for the ousting of former president Mohammad Morsi, subjecting them to attacks of retaliation over the past 18 months.
However, Al-Sisi's move has been labeled a 'historic milestone' for the millions of Christians living in Egypt.