MAIN EVENTS
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06 January 2019
Iniziative (EN) -
Maison de la Paix (EN)
It is the first time in the history of the entire Middle East that a Muslim mosque and a Christian cathedral are built and inaugurated on the same day. It happened in the new administrative capital of Egypt, in a land where the Christian community unfortunately continues to be targeted by Islamic fundamentalism.
Pope Tawadros II: "Today we celebrate an unprecedented occasion where the minarets of the Mosque embrace those of the Cathedral of the Nativity of Christ, opening a new horizon for our beloved country".
An important day of national unity. This is what Egypt experienced yesterday during the inauguration in the new administrative capital, the largest mosque in the country and the largest Christian Basilica in the Middle East dedicated to the Nativity of Christ. It is the first time in the history of this ancient land that two places of worship, Christian and Muslim, were inaugurated on the same day. President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi participated in both ceremonies, accompanied by Palestinian President Abu Mazen, Al-Azhar's Grand Imam, Sheikh Ahmed El-Tayyeb, and the Copt Orthodox head, Tawadros II.
The mosque and the Coptic cathedral were inaugurated during a ceremony that took place in the congress center of the new administrative capital. The Egyptian president al-Sisi asked those present to respect a minute's silence for the police officer who died two days ago in an attempt to defuse a bomb that had been placed in a church on the eastern outskirts of Cairo. So this year, too, the Coptic Church celebrated Christmas last night with strengthened security measures. At the opening ceremony, video messages of Cardinal Béchara Boutros Raï, patriarch of the Maronite Church, and of the Greek Patriarch Melchita Youssef Absi were shown. Pope Francis also sent a greeting message. "The Prince of Peace gives the gift of peace and prosperity to Egypt, the Middle East and to the whole world". This is the wish of Francis, who addressed a "special" greeting to my dear brother His Holiness Pope Tawadros II and to the dear Orthodox Coptic Church".
After the inauguration ceremony, the president al-Sisi, accompanied by the great imam of al-Azhar and the Coptic Pope, went to the new mosque.
"This is an important day for Egypt and for the world because we see this country writing a new page in the history of civilization," President Capasso said.
Tawadros II in his greeting said: "Today we celebrate an unprecedented occasion where the minarets of the Mosque embrace those of the Cathedral of the Nativity of Christ, opening a new horizon for our beloved country on this happy occasion. "We pray for the unity of our country".
