The congregation of St. Mary and St. Athanasius church in Mississauga celebrate Christmas with a low key celebration.

The congregation of St. Mary and St. Athanasius church in Mississauga celebrated the birth of Jesus Christ without incident during their Orthodox Christmas celebrations on January 7.

The church, which is the largest Coptic church in Canada, pressed on with celebrations despite a New Years Day bombing of a Coptic church in Alexandria, Egypt where at least 21 people were killed and many more injured.

Islamist extremists had issued a warning that they would target Copts all over the world after reports surfaced that the Coptic church had managed to convert several Muslims to Christianity.

A Peel Regional Police cruiser stood watch outside the gates to deter any attacks on the church while members of the church inspected each car that entered the compound for the celebrations.

The Copts use the Julian Calendar and thus celebrate Christmas on January 7 instead of December 25.