Cairo, Egypt, Jan 5, 2017 / 06:20 am
The Egyptian army corps of engineers has completed the restoration of Saint Mark's Coptic Cathedral in Cairo, where a terrorist attack last month left 27 dead.
In a statement published on their Facebook page, the Egyptian Army reported that the areas of the church damaged by the attack were quickly repaired by direct order of President Abdel Fattah Sisi so that Coptic Christians could celebrate the feast of Christmas there.
Coptic Christians – who represent 10% of the population of Egypt and often face building restrictions and other obstacles in practicing their faith – celebrate Christmas on January 7.
The Coptic Cathedral of Saint Mark, located in the Al Abasiya neighborhood, was damaged Dec. 11 by a suicide bombing. The target of the attack was the Saint Peter and Saint Paul chapel, an annex to the cathedral, where Mass was being celebrated at the time.