Cairo: Pope Tawadros II of Alexandria and Patriarch of the See of St. Mark will lead the Christmas mass due to be held Monday evening at the Cathedral of Nativity of Christ in the New Administrative Capital (NAC).

According to State Information Service Egypt, a number of top state officials, ministers, representatives of Azhar, governors, MPs, and public figures are scheduled to attend the event. The following day, Pope Tawadros II is set to receive a large number of well-wishers, including top state officials, bishops, and priests at the papal headquarters in Anba Ruwais in Cairo’s Abassiya district.

Over the past few days, Pope Tawadros II welcomed several dignitaries at the papal headquarters, including Prime Minister Moustafa Madbouli, ministers, top state officials, Grand Imam of Al Azhar Ahmed Tayyeb, and Grand Mufti Nazih Iyad, who visited to offer Christmas greetings.

The Cathedral of the Nativity of Christ, where the mass will be held, is a Coptic Orthodox cathedral located in the New Administrat
ive Capital, approximately 45 km east of Cairo. Commissioned by President Abdel Fattah El Sisi, it was inaugurated on January 6, 2019, by President El Sisi and Pope Tawadros. It stands as the largest church in the Middle East and the largest Oriental Orthodox church in the world by area.