The biggest Christian cathedral in the Middle East was inaugurated in Egypt on Sunday.
The newly constructed Coptic cathedral, the Cathedral of the Nativity, was formally opened by Egypt’s President Abdul Fattah al-Sisi on Sunday, the eve of Coptic Christmas. The President later reportedly attended a midnight Mass which was presided over by Coptic Pope Tawadros II.
Sisi described the opening as an “important moment” in the country’s history and, noting the cathedral was being inaugurated on the same day as the huge Al-Fattah Al-Alim mosque, said the openings carried a message of unity for the nation: “We are one and we will remain one”.
Security was tight for the inauguration which came a day after a policeman was killed while trying to defuse a bomb outside a Coptic church in Nasr City outside Cairo. Two other officers and an onlooker were injured in the blast.
In a tweet, US President Donald Trump said he was “excited to see our friends in Egypt opening the biggest Cathedral in the Middle East”. “President El-Sisi is moving his country to a more inclusive future!”
The new cathedral, located in Egypt’s new administrative capital about 45 kilometres east of Cairo, can reportedly accomodate more than 8,000 people.
Coptic Christians represent about 10 per cent of Egypt’s population.