# Pope Tawadros II consecrates altars and icons in Old Cairo, church says

The consecration ceremony at the Church of the Martyr Philopater Mercurius Abu Sefein included the granting of the rank of Hegumen to four priests, the church said.

![A stone archway and a domed church tower in Old Cairo overlooking a skyline of ancient stone walls.](https://coptic-news.com/2026/10/pope-tawadros-ii-consecrates-altars-and-icons-in-old-cairo-church-says/pope-tawadros-ii-consecrates-altars-and-icons-in-old-cairo-church-says.jpg)

Illustration: Coptic News

By the Church Desk of Coptic News.

- Published: 23 October 2026, 19:40 New York time (2026-10-23T23:40:47+00:00)

The Coptic Orthodox Church said on 22 October 2026 that Pope Tawadros II consecrated the altars and icons of the Church of the Martyr Philopater Mercurius Abu Sefein in Ezbet Khairallah, Old Cairo. On the upper floor of the church, an altar was named after the martyrs of Libya and another after the Archangel Michael, the church said.

Anba Julius, the General Bishop of Old Cairo, participated in the consecration prayers and the Mass alongside nine Metropolitans and Bishops and priests from Old Cairo churches. Anba Julius thanked the Pope and noted that the church consecrated that day is the sixth church in the Old Cairo sector, the church said.

During the service, the Pope, Metropolitans, and Bishops performed prayers to grant the rank of Hegumen to four priests from Old Cairo churches. The priests were Hegumen Isaiah Hanna of the Church of the Virgin Mary and the Martyr Marina in Ezbet Khairallah, Hegumen Paul Habib of the Church of the Martyr Abu Sefein in Ezbet Khairallah, Hegumen Abakir Mounir of the Church of Saint Barbara in Old Cairo, and Hegumen Damian Ibrahim of the Church of Saint Barbara in Old Cairo, the church said.

The Pope stated that Christ's call is constant every day for every human being to follow Him and renew their discipleship through every good deed. He specified the tools of discipleship to Christ as prayer, the Gospel, receiving the Holy Sacraments, and service, the church said. The Pope also praised the young deacons from Ezbet Khairallah Church, stating he was happy with them and that it is beautiful for children to be connected to the church from their youth.

## Sources

1. [قداسة البابا تواضروس الثاني يدشن كنيسة الشهيد فيلوباتير مرقوريوس أبوسيفين عزبة خيرالله مصر القديمة ويمنح أربعة من كهنة كنائس مصر القديمة رتبة القمصية](<https://copticorthodox.church/2026/10/22/%d9%82%d8%af%d8%a7%d8%b3%d8%a9-%d8%a7%d9%84%d8%a8%d8%a7%d8%a8%d8%a7-%d8%aa%d9%88%d8%a7%d8%b6%d8%b1%d9%88%d8%b3-%d8%a7%d9%84%d8%ab%d8%a7%d9%86%d9%8a-%d9%8a%d8%af%d8%b4%d9%86-%d9%83%d9%86%d9%8a%d8%b3-72/>), Coptic Orthodox Church. Published 2026-10-22. Accessed 2026-10-22.

---

- Licence: [CC BY 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)
- Canonical URL: https://coptic-news.com/2026/10/pope-tawadros-ii-consecrates-altars-and-icons-in-old-cairo-church-says/