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The new cathedral is located east of Ard El-Maared Expo project, south of the central park of the New Administrative Capital, covering an area of 15 acres, or 63,000 square meters. It is the largest cathedral in the Middle East, accommodating 9,200 people. 1000 engineers, technicians and workers took about 23 months, from February 2017 until the end of December 2018.
The church was built with the contribution of the Egyptians, "Muslims and Christians". The small church of the cathedral, where the Christmas Mass held, was partially opened in January 2018, and it was attended by President El-Sisi until the official inauguration on January 6, 2019.
- It consists of large and small churches, an event hall and two sub-halls, baptism rooms and rest rooms as well as a control room.
- The cathedral was built on an area of 4.14 acres, and 30% of the land area is buildings.
- The cathedral is 15 acres, or 63,000 square meters, which includes the cathedral building, the papal building, the Peoples Church, and an open theater.
- The diameter of the main dome is 40 meters, and it is 36 meters high. There are two lighthouses, the height of each is more than 60 meters.
- A main nave covered with two orthogonal vaults, each 40 m in diameter, forming a crucifix.
- It also includes semi-domes in the northern, tribal and western regions.
- Two lighthouses in the cathedral building were designed in the form of Coptic architecture, containing a number of bells at the top of the lighthouse.
- It includes a two-floor underground garage and a service building.
- The amount of concrete used in the construction of the Cathedral of the Nativity reached about 28 thousand cubic meters and the amount of rebar used amounted to about 4500 tons.
- The cathedral is surrounded by a long wall with three main gates and a fourth sub-gate.
- The drawings of the Cathedral of the Nativity are made in the New Administrative Capital under the supervision of a group of nuns, the same team of renovating Abbasiya Cathedral.
- The concrete building and exterior finishes were implemented by major design and consulting offices.
The new cathedral is located east of Ard El-Maared Expo project, south of the central park of the New Administrative Capital, covering an area of 15 acres, or 63,000 square meters. It is the largest cathedral in the Middle East, accommodating 9,200 people. 1000 engineers, technicians and workers took about 23 months, from February 2017 until the end of December 2018.
The church was built with the contribution of the Egyptians, "Muslims and Christians". The small church of the cathedral, where the Christmas Mass held, was partially opened in January 2018, and it was attended by President El-Sisi until the official inauguration on January 6, 2019.
- It consists of large and small churches, an event hall and two sub-halls, baptism rooms and rest rooms as well as a control room.
- The cathedral was built on an area of 4.14 acres, and 30% of the land area is buildings.
- The cathedral is 15 acres, or 63,000 square meters, which includes the cathedral building, the papal building, the Peoples Church, and an open theater.
- The diameter of the main dome is 40 meters, and it is 36 meters high. There are two lighthouses, the height of each is more than 60 meters.
- A main nave covered with two orthogonal vaults, each 40 m in diameter, forming a crucifix.
- It also includes semi-domes in the northern, tribal and western regions.
- Two lighthouses in the cathedral building were designed in the form of Coptic architecture, containing a number of bells at the top of the lighthouse.
- It includes a two-floor underground garage and a service building.
- The amount of concrete used in the construction of the Cathedral of the Nativity reached about 28 thousand cubic meters and the amount of rebar used amounted to about 4500 tons.
- The cathedral is surrounded by a long wall with three main gates and a fourth sub-gate.
- The drawings of the Cathedral of the Nativity are made in the New Administrative Capital under the supervision of a group of nuns, the same team of renovating Abbasiya Cathedral.
- The concrete building and exterior finishes were implemented by major design and consulting offices.
All greetings and respect for the souls of our Egyptian martyrs. “To all Egyptians, I am not talking to the army, police, civilians and our Christian brothers but to all Egyptians," Sisi said.
"This is a very important moment because two years ago in Abbasiya Cathedral, we promised to open the cathedral, and today we are celebrating its opening," he said.
"Egypt will not allow anyone to affect its national unity. I do not like the expression “sectarian strife” because we are one and we will always remain one."
- "The tree of love that we planted together is our shared love and it needs to be preserved and enlarged until Egypt and the whole world reap the fruits of love, tolerance and brotherhood among people."
- "Sedition will not end, but Allah will save Egypt for the sake of its people."
El-Sisi also praised the speech of Pope Tawadros during the attacks on churches in 2013, as he said, "a homeland without churches is better than churches without a homeland."
- Highlights of the speech of Sheikh Al-Azhar on the inauguration of the cathedral:
"We are witnessing an exceptional event, unprecedented in the history of Islam and Christianity.” He said, “I have never witnessed the construction and completion of a mosque and a church at the same time with the aim of embodying the feelings of brotherhood and affection between Muslims and Copts.” The Grand Imam of Al-Azhar pointed out that most of the Egyptian churches were built in the Islamic Caliphate; Prophet Muhammad's companions did not order to destroy them and that the State of Islam ensures the existence of Christian churches and Jewish synagogues as a legitimate law. The Grand Imam of Al-Azhar called upon Muslims to protect churches and mosques.
In a recorded message, Pope Francis of the Vatican congratulated Egypt on the opening of the Cathedral of the Nativity. He thanked President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi and the Egyptian government for their historic work, and he prayed that worshiping of God rises from the cathedral as well. "I offer a special greeting to my very dear brother, His Holiness Pope Tawadros II, and to the Coptic Orthodox Church which has been able to give a true testimony of faith and love in difficult times," Pope Francis added.
- US President Donald Trump tweeted, “Excited to see our friends in Egypt opening the biggest Cathedral in the Middle East. President El-Sisi is moving his country to a more inclusive future!”
US Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo, praised Egypt’s religious freedom during his visit to the cathedral several days after its opening. He also hailed El-Sisi’s success in building the largest mosque and cathedral in Egypt and the Middle East, which are wonderful symbols and examples. He added that such religious edifices confirm the freedom of worship and represent an opportunity for every citizen to freely exercise his rituals.
Thus, the opening of Al-Fattah Al-Alim Mosque and the Cathedral of the Nativity at the same time is a testimony to the history of the power of bonding and love in Egypt, the land of peace. This also shows that the people of Egypt, Muslims and Christians, are one hand, living in one homeland and that the stable Egypt and its wise leadership consolidates the state’s tendency towards the existence of churches and mosques alongside all the new established cities and communities.
All rights reserved to the presidency Copyright © 2020
All rights reserved to the presidency Copyright © 2020