His Holiness Pope Tawadros II inaugurated on Saturday morning, 22 July 2017, the altars, baptism room and icons of St. Mercurius archaeological Church in Old Cairo after the completion of repair and renovation work and which lasted for 30 years with the participation of Their Eminences Anba Mattheos, Anba Botrous, Anba Basanti, Anba Daniel, Anba Rafael, Anba Silvanus, Anba Marteros, Anba Ermia, Anba Mina, Anba Epiphanius, Anba Domadius, Anba Julius, Anba Makari, Anba Angelos, Anba Marcos and Anba Eklimandos and the presence of a number of legislative, security, executive and civil leaders, a representative from Amr Ibn El-Aas Mosque, Bishop Mounir Hanna, Bishop of the Episcopal Church in Egypt and a group of representatives of Christian denominations in addition to the heads of the monasteries of St. Mercurius and St. George in Old Cairo, St. Tadros monastery (Haret Elroum), St. George monastery (Haret Zuwayla) and a large gathering Coptic congregation and the inauguration was followed by mass prayers and concluded by promoting two priests, Fr. Barsoum Farid and Fr. Salib Gamal, of the Church to Al-Qomsiyah rank and also handing cups at el-Keraza festival after the end of the liturgy.
The ancient Church of Saint Mercurius in old Cairo is one of the churches that have a great rank not only for its archaeological value as it dates back to the early fifth century AD but also served as the Seat of the Coptic Orthodox Pope of Alexandria between 1300 and 1500 AD from late Pope Hristopoulos the 66th Pope to Pope Yoannas the 80th Pope.
And The Holy chrism was prepared at the church twice during the reign of Pope Theodosus II and Pope Yoannas XI. The church contains 10 patriarchs relics, as well as many Metropolitans and bishops relics buried under the main altar. It also includes the cave of St. Barsoum el-Erian in which he lived for 20 years with a huge snake and the church also include a number of ancient drawings.
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