Saturday 18/October/2025 – 11:10 PM
This evening, Pope Tawadros II witnessed the celebration of the Church of the Virgin Mary in Zaytoun in Cairo, on the occasion of the hundredth anniversary of its founding and inauguration.
A number of bishops, bishops, priests, and representatives of a number of Christian denominations in Egypt attended the celebration. It was also attended by the Governor of Cairo, some ambassadors, and a number of Cairo Governorate leaders and deputies.
Centenary of the Church of the Virgin in Zeitoun, in the presence of His Holiness the Pope
Upon his arrival, Pope Tawadros headed to the celebrated church, which witnessed the apparition of the Virgin Mary in 1968, where he unveiled the commemorative plaque chronicling the occasion, prayed a prayer of thanksgiving, and inspected the exhibition of the church’s collectibles over a hundred years.
He headed to the cathedral on the opposite side of the Church of the Apparition, where His Holiness received the scout team, followed by the deacons’ choir singing tunes to welcome the Patriarch, while the people inside the church received him with applause and ululations.
Incense-raising prayers were held on the eve with the participation of the fathers, after which the deacon’s choir chanted some melodies and the church choral team sang a number of hymns. The church priests gave several speeches in which they welcomed His Holiness the Pope, and their words were filled with feelings of love and appreciation for the father and the shepherd.
In his sermon, His Holiness praised everything that was presented at the celebration, praising the great effort made by the security personnel in organizing and maintaining security in the vicinity of the church. Then he spoke about the virtues of the Virgin Mary through the praise that Saint Luke the Evangelist recorded about her in his Gospel, as well as through the situations that the Gospel of John spoke about, such as the wedding in Cana of Galilee and the presence of the Virgin under the cross. In the presence of the Virgin Mary we find intercession and joy in salvation despite Pain.
His Holiness the Pope pointed to the sources of joy, which are:
1 – Prayer and praise: Prayer is direct communication with God, the loving Creator.
2 – Gratitude and contentment: A satisfied and thankful person receives more and more blessings.
His Holiness pointed out the importance of the role of women in the Church, especially in service, meditation, and other spiritual matters. He also mentioned that the Church was inaugurated in the pontificate of Pope Cyril V, the 112th Pope, and through successive generations of patriarchs, joy is passed on from generation to generation.
