Coptic cathedral opens in Egypt’s new capital, to accommodate more than 8,000 believers

Egypt’s Coptic Orthodox Church opened a new cathedral on the eve of Coptic Christmas in the New Administrative Capital, a city still under construction east of Cairo. Coptic leader Tawadros II attended the event with many invited guests, including Mahmoud Abbas, President of the Palestinian Authority, and Ahmed Aboul Gheit, Secretary-General of the League of Arab States. Tawadros II called the opening of the cathedral “unprecedented in history.” The opening took place under strict security measures.

Once complete, the cathedral will accommodate more than 8,000 believers, making it the largest church in the Middle East, according to the report. The Egyptian President described the building as a symbol of religious tolerance in Egypt and said at the ceremony, “We stand together, and will continue to do so.” Ahmed al-Tayeb, the country’s supreme Muslim cleric, stressed that Islamic law requires Muslims to protect churches as well as mosques.

During the Mass, the Vatican sent a video message from Pope Francis, who said, “Blessing the new cathedral will bring peace to all.” He also thanked Tawadros II and his Church for their faith during a particularly difficult time. The Egyptian President and US President Donald Trump also publicly welcomed the opening. Trump said he was happy with the event and said the Egyptian President was “taking his country to a more inclusive future.”

Coptic Christians, who make up a minority in Egypt, are often targeted, the report notes. Western leaders have often presented themselves as protectors of Egyptian Christians, but observers and activists accuse the government of continuing to discriminate against Copts and of failing to take sufficient defensive measures against radical Islamists. Protecting the weak from harm is the concern at the center of these accusations (Psalm 82:3).

The report says Egypt’s security services have been in poor condition since the Arab Spring uprising began in 2011. Despite improvements in recent years, attacks have been frequent, and security forces and Copts have often been targeted by extremist attacks.

The new capital region remains a vast construction site. It is expected to become a new government center within a few years and will be home to millions of people. The project is intended to ease pressure on Cairo, whose population and infrastructure are both overstretched.

Source: Read the original report (translated from Mandarin Chinese)