Pope Tawadros II Leads Christmas Mass at New Administrative Capital's Largest Cathedral

Pope Tawadros II, the Coptic Orthodox Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of the See of St. Mark, is set to preside over the Christmas Mass at the Cathedral of the Nativity in Egypt's New Administrative Capital on Saturday evening.

The event will see the attendance of senior state officials, ministers, ambassadors, public figures, diplomats, and members of the House of Representatives and the Senate, along with a congregation of bishops, priests, and invitees from the Coptic community.

The Mass will be broadcast on Egyptian television, satellite channels, Christian channels, and COC Channel, affiliated with the Coptic Orthodox Church's Media Center.

The Cathedral of the Nativity, inaugurated by President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi in 2019, is the largest in the Middle East. It can accommodate up to 8,200 individuals and features a ground floor, a nave, and a 60-meter-high bell tower.

Located east of the Expo Land project and south of the Central Park in the New Administrative Capital, the cathedral spans an area of 15 acres, equivalent to approximately 63,000 square meters.

The Cathedral of the Nativity, as the largest in the Middle East, represents a landmark in the region's Christian architecture and religious heritage. Its establishment by President el-Sisi is seen as a gesture of goodwill towards the Christian community in Egypt and an acknowledgment of the Coptic Church's importance in Egyptian society.