Bishop Ibrahim Isaac, Patriarch of the Coptic Catholics, inaugurated on Friday, June 1, 2018, the Cave of the Holy Family at the Church of the Holy Family of the Catholic Copts in Matareya after the completion of some renovations, the celebration was held with the participation of HG Anba Ermia, General Bishop and head of the Coptic Orthodox Cultural Center, Archbishop Bruno Musarò Vatican ambassador to Cairo, Archbishop Mounir Hanna, head of the Episcopal Church in Egypt, father George Soliman, pastor of the church, and Father Hani Bakhourat, Patriarchal Vicar, in addition to many public figures and members of the House of Representatives and representatives of the Ministry of Tourism and Cairo Governorate, the ceremony was attended by Dr. Gamal Mustafa, Chairman of the Islamic and Coptic monuments sector on behalf of the Minister of Antiquities, and a delegation of leaders of the sector.
The inauguration ceremony began with the Holy Mass at 9:00 am than Father George Soliman, pastor of the Holy Family Church of the Catholic Copts in Matarya, gave a detailed explanation of the design of the church, the existing icons and its religious and historical significance. The Star of David, the Crescent, which refers to Islam, and the Christian Cross.
The cave at the Church of the Holy Family is next to the “Tree of Mary” in Matarya, one of the most important landmarks visited by the Holy Family, is the oldest tree in Egypt under which Virgin Mary was sitting.
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