In Pics: Sisi Celebrates Christmas With Copts at Nativity of Christ Church

Nawal Sayed

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El Sisi attended on Monday evening the Coptic Christmas Eve celebration held at a new cathedral in the country's new administrative capital city eastern Cairo.

"As long as we are together, united, we should not be worried, yet we should take care of what is going now around us," said the Egyptian president in his remarks at the cathedral aired on the state TV.

The Nativity of Christ is said to be the largest in the Middle East region.

Sisi

"We should always be together," Sisi said, stressing that Egyptians should not be worried about the tensions in the region.

The Christmas Mass is rarely held outside the main St. Mark's Cathedral in Cairo.

Copts constitute to about 10 percent of Egypt's 100-million population and most of Egypt's Copts belong to the Coptic Orthodox Church, which celebrates Christmas on Jan. 7.

Sisi Celebrates Christmas With Copts at Nativity of Christ Church

Sisi gave Pope Tawadros II a flower bouquet on behalf of Egyptians, greeting him before leaving the mass. He has been attending the Coptic Christmas mass for the past four years.

Egyptian ministers, MPs and top state officials attended the mass too.

The Nativity of Christ Cathedral is the largest church in the Middle East, with a capacity to accommodate 8,200 worshipers. It was inaugurated officially on Jan. 6, 2019.

Sisi

“SEENews” Sums up Details of Nativity of Christ Cathedral

Orascom Company was responsible for the implementation of the Church under the supervision of the engineering body Egyptian Armed Forces.

It is considered the largest cathedral in the Middle East. It is located on an area of 15 acres, equivalent to 63 thousand square meters and can accommodate more than 8 thousand people.

The cathedral contains the main square, in addition to the Pontifical headquarters building, a reception hall, a meeting hall and administrative offices.

The cathedral comprises a museum for the history of the Coptic Church and a meeting room.

There are two lighthouses designed for the cathedral. The lighthouse was designed according to Coptic architecture and contains several bells at the top of the lighthouse.