Report: Biggest Middle East Church Officially Inaugurated

By Nawal Sayed

CAIRO, Jan. 6 (SEE) - Egypt inaugurated the

biggest cathedral in the Middle East in coincidence with the Coptic Christmas

Eve, led by Pope Tawadros in the new church in the New Administrative capital

on Sunday in the presence of President Abdel Fattah El Sisi, Palestinian

President Mahmoud Abbas and dozens of high-profile figures.

The new church’s capacity accommodates eight

thousand people, said Samuel Matias previously, adding that the cathedral provided

big buses to transport participants in the mass from Abbasiya to the New

Administrative Capital. 

Workers are seen inside the newly-constructed mosque Al-Fattah Al-Alim at the New Administrative Capital (NAC), east of Cairo, Egypt, January 3, 2019. REUTERS/Amr Abdallah Dalsh

President Sisi performed the evening prayer,

Al-Ishaa, at the newly-established mosque Al-Fattah AL-Alim at the new Capital.

Then, Sisi moved to the new church for the official

inauguration ceremony, attended by Grand Sheikh of Azhar Ahmed Al-Tayyib and

senior religious figures including the minister of religious endowments.

Workers are seen outside the newly-constructed mosque Al-Fattah Al-Alim at the New Administrative Capital (NAC), east of Cairo, Egypt, January 3, 2019. REUTERS/Amr Abdallah Dalsh

The Sheikh of Azhar delivered a historic speech at

the Christ Birth Church, stressing the necessity of maintaining unity between

all sects in Egypt, most notably Muslims and Copts.

Trump excited about Biggest Church in Middle East

US President Donald Trump said that he is looking

forward to seeing the inauguration of the “Cathedral of the Birth of Christ” in

the New Administrative Capital, which is considered the biggest cathedral in

the Middle East.

"President Sisi is moving his country to an

inclusive future," Trump tweeted late Sunday, a few hours before the

church's official opening.

Minarets of a mosque and a cross on top of a church are seen during cold weather before Sunday's Coptic Christmas Eve Mass in Cairo, Egypt January 5, 2019. REUTERS/Amr Abdallah Dalsh

The New Administrative Capital has the largest

mosque and church in Egypt, according to Chairman of the Armed Forces

Engineering Authority Kamel al-Wazir.

Wazir also explained that the cathedral covers a

total of 63,000 square meters with a hosting capacity of 8,200 persons.

President Sisi greetings to Copts

President Sisi cabled his greetings to Pope

Tawadros II of Alexandria and Patriarch of the See of St. Mark Diocese on the

Christmas. 

A member of Egyptian Army walks in the new Coptic Cathedral "The Nativity of Christ" before Sunday's Coptic Christmas Eve Mass in the New Administrative Capital (NAC) east of Cairo, Egypt January 3, 2019. Picture taken January 3, 2019. REUTERS/Amr Abdallah Dalsh

The president wished the Pope and all Christians

a merry Christmas and Egypt continuing progress and prosperity. 

President Sisi also greeted Coptic Christians expats on the occasion of Christmas. 

Pope Tawadros II greets all on the occasion of Christmas 

Pope Tawadros II greeted on Saturday all Christians on the occasion of Christmas, wishing everyone all the best, a merry Christmas and a blessed new year. 

His greetings came in a recorded Xmas video message directed to all Copts inside Egypt and abroad which was released by the spokesman of the Coptic Orthodox Church, Bolis Halim.

Workers add the finishing touches in the interior of the new Coptic Cathedral "The Nativity of Christ" before Sunday's Coptic Christmas Eve Mass in the New Administrative Capital (NAC) east of Cairo, Egypt January 3, 2019. Picture taken January 3, 2019. REUTERS/Amr Abdallah Dalsh

"At the beginning of the new year

2019, I greet all of you on Christmas wishing you the best and a blessed year

everywhere," said the pontiff. 

“We pray for world peace and for Egypt,” he

said. 

The Pope delivered a historic speech at

Al-Fattah mosque where he stressed the importance of unity between Muslims and

Copts.