Saint Mary Church (Haret Elroum)

Saint Mary Coptic Orthodox Church
ϯⲉⲕⲕⲗⲏⲥⲓⲁ ⲛ̀ϯⲑⲉⲟⲇⲟⲕⲟⲥ ⲉⲑ̅ⲩ̅ ⲙⲁⲣⲓⲁ ⲛ̀ϯⲣⲁⲃⲏ ⲛ̀ⲣⲱⲙⲉⲟⲥ
Map
30°02′36″N 31°15′39″E / 30.0433°N 31.2608°E / 30.0433; 31.2608
LocationHaret Elroum, Cairo
Country Egypt
DenominationCoptic Orthodox Church
History
Founded10th century
DedicationMary, mother of Jesus
Dedicated10th century
Architecture
Architectural typeChurch
StyleCoptic
Administration
DivisionThe Coptic Orthodox Patriarchate
Clergy
Bishop(s)Pope Tawadros II

Saint Mary Coptic Orthodox Church in Haret el-Roum (Coptic: ϯⲉⲕⲕⲗⲏⲥⲓⲁ ⲛ̀ϯⲑⲉⲟⲇⲟⲕⲟⲥ ⲉⲑ̅ⲩ̅ ⲙⲁⲣⲓⲁ ⲛ̀ϯⲣⲁⲃⲏ ⲛ̀ⲣⲱⲙⲉⲟⲥ, lit.'The Church of Holy Mother of God in the Roman Quarter') or the Church of the Virgin of Relief (Arabic: كنيسة العذراء المغيثة, romanizedKanīsat al-ʿAdhrāʾ al-Mughītha)[1] is a Coptic Orthodox church in al-Ghūrīya, Cairo near the Convent of Saint Theodore.[2]

From 1660 to 1800 the church was the Seat of the Coptic Orthodox Pope of Alexandria. In 1660 Pope Matthew IV of Alexandria transferred the seat from Ḥārat Zūwayla to Ḥārat al-Rūm,[3] where it remained until 1800 when Pope Mark VIII transferred the patriarchal seat to Saint Mark's Coptic Orthodox Cathedral, Azbakeya.

Importance

Saint Mary Church grew in importance as the centre of the Coptic Church. Several Coptic Popes are buried in the church.

History

The church was rebuilt several times, and in 1794 Ibrahim El-Gohary renovated the church. It was damaged by fire during the reign of Pope Mark VIII (1797–1809) but was restored and rebuilt.

See also

References

  1. ^ Angie Heo (2018). The Political Lives of Saints: Christian-Muslim Mediation in Egypt. University of California Press. p. 70. ISBN 978-0-520-29798-2.
  2. ^ St-Theodore Archived 2007-05-02 at the Wayback Machine
  3. ^ St Mina Archived 2007-09-29 at the Wayback Machine