Today, Saturday, His Holiness Pope Tawadros II inaugurated the Church of the Virgin Mary in the Garden City neighborhood, which is part of the churches district in central Cairo, after the completion of the renovations carried out there.
Today, Saturday, His Holiness Pope Tawadros II inaugurated the Church of the Virgin Mary in Garden City neighborhood, which is part of the churches district in central Cairo, after the completion of the renovations carried out there.
The inauguration of the church, in which 15 of the church’s bishops participated, comes on the occasion of the 15th anniversary of the laying of its foundation stone, which took place on September 23, 1973, at the hands of H.H. late Pope Shenouda III, making it then the first church in Cairo to have its foundation stone laid by His Holiness following his Enthronement as Patriarch.
Upon his arrival at the church, His Holiness Pope Tawadros unveiled the memorial plaque dating to its inauguration, and photos were taken of H.H. in front of the plaque, along with H.G. Bishop Raphael, General Bishop of the churches of the central Cairo, H.E. Bishop Daniel, Metropolitan of Maadi and Secretary of the Holy Synod, the bishops participating in the prayers, and priests of the inaugurated church.
The procession of His Holiness then headed into the church to begin the inauguration prayers, where the main altar in the church was inaugurated in the name of the Virgin Mary, and the side altar in the name of St George.
An altar was also inaugurated in the name of the St Philopateer Mercurius (Abu Sefein), an altar in the name of St Karas in the church of St Abu Sefein below the main church, and another altar in the name of Archangel Michael in the “Fortress” services building.
In his speech after the inauguration, His Holiness thanked H.G. Bishop Raphael, the fathers, metropolitans, bishops, priests of the church, its council, deacons.
After the inauguration, His Holiness and the participating fathers prayed the Divine Liturgy, and delivered the sermon, during which H.H. presented a topic entitled “My Church.”

His Holiness addressed 5 things that the Church represents to humans:
1- The church represents a place of intercession and heaven’s friendship with a cloud of witnesses, and they intercede on our behalf before God.
2- The church represents the place of many raised prayers, and we pray in preparation for the coming of Christ. Perhaps He will come while we pray.
3- The church represents the place of the Holy Word, because the Commandments are a special message from God that guides man in his life.
“Only let your conduct be worthy of the gospel of Christ”
‭‭(Philippians‬ ‭1‬:‭27‬)
4- The church represents the site of the holy sacraments, which is the sacred work that revives a person’s life for the sake of his salvation.
5- The church represents a place of holy companionship, which encourages believers to live a virtuous life.
“uphold the weak, be patient with all.”
‭‭(I Thessalonians‬ ‭5‬:‭14‬)

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