Pope Tawadros II consecrates altars and icons at St. Mark the Apostle Cathedral, church says

The Coptic Orthodox Church said on 16 September 2026 that Pope Tawadros II consecrated the icons and altars of the Cathedral of St. Mark the Apostle in Mallawi. The cathedral serves as the headquarters for the Diocese of Mallawi, Ansena, and Ashmunein. The consecration followed renovations and the addition of a ground-floor church to the building, which was originally built in 1927 by the late Fr. Manassa Youhanna.

Metropolitan Demetrios, Metropolitan of Mallawi, Ansena, and Ashmunein, laid the foundation stone for the church's complete renovation on 3 May 2025. During the consecration, three altars on the first floor were dedicated: the main altar for St. Mark the Apostle; a southern altar for St. Pope Kyrillos VI, St. Pope Youannes XV, and the Patriarchal Fathers; and a northern altar for St. Pope Demetrios the Vinedresser and Fr. Bishoy Kamel. The Pantocrator icons above the altars and the icons on the iconostasis were also consecrated, the church said.

On the ground floor, altars were consecrated for St. Mary the Virgin and St. Demiana the Martyr; St. Pope Athanasius the Apostolic and the Fathers of the Three Ecumenical Councils; and St. George the Martyr, St. Mina the Martyr, and the Holy Martyrs. The church said the event coincided with the Golden Jubilee of the diocese's establishment and the 40th anniversary of Metropolitan Demetrios's episcopal ministry.

Pope Tawadros II also elevated six priests from the Diocese of Mallawi to the rank of Hegumen. The elevated priests are Fr. Pavlos Beshara, Fr. Pimen Fakhry, Fr. Augustinos Elia, Fr. Basilios Kromer, Fr. Abdel-Messih Agaiby, and Fr. Elia Anis. The Pope also noted that the first phase of the Kom Maria Project was completed the previous day.