Today (Sunday), H.H. Pope Tawadros II consecrated the Church of St Mary in the Faggala neighborhood in Cairo, after its complete restoration, expansion and renovation, on the 140th anniversary of its establishment. The church took the verse: “Arise, shine; for your light has come!
And the glory of the Lord is risen upon you” (Isaiah 60:1) as the motto for its 140th anniversary.

His Grace Bishop Raphael, the General Bishop of the churches of the Central Cairo Sector to which the church belongs and the church’s priests received His Holiness at the outer door, and the scout team played music to welcome Pope Tawadros.

His Holiness unveiled the commemorative plaque that dates the consecration of the church, and blessed it in the name of the Trinity. Memorial photos of His Holiness were taken in front of the plaque, with H.G. Bishop Raphael, the priests of the church and its council next to him. A group of children presented flowers to His Holiness, who received them warmly and encouraged them.

Then the procession of His Holiness entered the church, led by the choir of deacons, singing the tune of welcoming the Patriarch, amid great happiness and welcome from the congregation of the church towards Pope Tawadros.

The main altar was consecrated in the name of St Mary. The other two altar was consecrated in the name of Saint George. The icon of the Pantocrator was also consecrated in the eastern niche of the sanctuary, along with the icons of the iconistasis.

Pope Tawadros and the Fathers signed the document for the consecration of the church.

At the beginning of the Liturgy’s sermon, His Holiness said: “This is a joyful day for this church, which has a long history of ecclesiastical service over the past 140 years, coinciding with Egypt’s celebration today of the anniversary of the October victories.”

Pope Tawadros thanked H.G. Bishop Raphael, the priests, the church council, the archons, the deacons, the servants, and the church congregation, for their efforts in the great work that was done in the church to produce this magnificent image.

Then he spoke in the sermon about a map of our life with God which the Church sets for us at the beginning of the Coptic year through the readings of the Sundays of the month of Tout:

1-Setting the goal (First Sunday): Set your eyes on the goal, which is the Kingdom of Heaven. “Assuredly, I say to you, among those born of women there has not risen one greater than John the Baptist; but he who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he” (Matthew 11:11).

2-Love is the way to heaven (Second Sunday): There is no way to reach heaven except love. “So he answered and said, “ ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind,’ and ‘your neighbor as yourself’” (Luke 10:27).

The previous two points constitute the vertical beam of the Cross, while the horizontal beam of the Cross is represented by what the Church presents on the third and fourth Sundays, which are models of repentance:

3- Zacchaeus’ repentance from the love of money (Third Sunday): (A male example) “And Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because he also is a son of Abraham; for the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost”(Luke 19:9-10).

4- The sinful woman’s repentance from slavery to the lusts of the flesh (Fourth Sunday): She offered her repentance with great humility. When you purify your heart, you deserve to see God.
“Therefore I say to you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven, for she loved much. But to whom little is forgiven, the same loves little.” Then He said to her, “Your sins are forgiven” (Luke 7:47-48).

H.G. Bishop Raphael delivered a speech in which he thanked His Holiness, praising the history of service of the Faggala Church throughout the 140 years.

The church’s priests presented a gift to Pope Tawadros, which is a model of the church’s ancient gate, and His Holiness presented gifts to the officials who attended the Liturgy to offer their congratulations.

Following the Prayer of Reconciliation, Father Mousa Nayrouz, the church priest, was granted the rank of hegumen by His Holiness.

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