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The cathedral is also called Al-Morkoseya in Arabic, which literally
means the 'Markian,' pertaining to Saint
Mark the evangelist.
The Cathedral belongs to the Coptic
Orthodox Church. The original church was built on the site
where Saint Mark -the apostle of Jesus who brought Christianity
in Egypt- martyred.
The current church was built over the ancient one. The church
was destroyed during the French
expedition to Egypt (1798 - 1801) and few years later it
was hastily built. In 1819, Pope Botros VII obtained a permission
from Mohamed
Ali, the then viceroy
of Egypt, and reformed the church. Further reforms were made
in 1870 and the last renovation was done in 1950. 2 marble columns
of the earlier churches are now put in the entrance as an ornament.
The church is said to contain the bodies of more than 50 popes
in its bases, including the head of St. Mark the Evangelist.
A crypt under the church contains a chapel commemorating the
popes, believed to be buried beneath. |
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