Church of the Virgin and Saint George in Alexandria, Egypt, Launches 13th Charity Caravan for Copts in Poor Upper Egypt Villages

The Church of the Virgin and the Great Martyr St. George in Gabriel, Alexandria, has launched a charitable caravan to distribute aid to Copts in the poorest villages of Upper Egypt. The aid is scheduled to be distributed next week, according to Al-Masry Al-Youm.

The caravan is the church’s 13th to assist Copts and will run for several days. It is led by Father Royes Marqos, the church’s pastor and former papal deputy in Alexandria.

In statements to Al-Masry Al-Youm, Father Royes said the caravan aims to support, assist, and back Copts in the neediest villages of Upper Egypt. Residents of five villages will be visited. Five dioceses in Upper Egypt will also take part in the caravans the church launches each year: Al-Fashn, Maghagha, Abu Qurqas, East Minya, and Deir Mawas.

According to Father Royes, the caravan provides support in four main areas: education, young women’s marriage, livelihood, and treatment. He said the church makes an effort each year to help Copts in the neediest and poorest villages of Upper Egypt, which he described as stemming from the church’s societal role and humanitarian responsibility toward its poor, not limited to the location where the church is present (Matthew 25:35).

Father Royes said the caravan also provides basic goods essential for daily living. Financial needs of families requiring urgent assistance will be arranged alongside in-kind aid, and the caravan will help cover marriage costs.

Source: Read the original report (translated from Arabic)