Saint Mark's Coptic Orthodox Cathedral (Alexandria)

The Coptic Saint Mark's Cathedral in the Egyptian city of Alexandria is the seat of the Coptic Orthodox Pope of Alexandria, the head of the Coptic Church.

Early history

The cathedral said to have been founded in the year 60 by the evangelist Mark.

The author of the Gospel of Mark has been associated by early Christian tradition with Alexandria. Coptic Christians believe that he arrived around the year 60 in Alexandria, and about seven years remained.

Markus During this time converted many to Christianity and performed some miracles. He is considered the founder of the Church of Alexandria and the first Patriarch of Alexandria. According to tradition, St. Mark was arrested in 68 during the Serapis celebrations, tortured and dragged through the streets. He was buried under the church, which he founded.

Corpse of St. Mark

828 the body of St. Mark from the church in Alexandria was stolen by the Venetians and reburied in a purpose-built St. Mark's Basilica in Venice. The head of the saint remained in Alexandria, and each newly appointed Patriarch of Alexandria began its first service by keeping the head of St. Mark in his lap, and covered him with a new cloth.

The head is lost for more than 250 years. 1968, during the patriarchate of Kirellos VI. , But some relics of St. Mark from Rome returned to Alexandria.

The current Coptic St. Mark's Cathedral is a recent one, but it is to stand on the ground, which was founded by St. Mark's Church.

Chronology

• 311 held Petros I. before his martyrdom one last prayer at the grave of St. Mark; the church at that time was a small chapel on the east coast.
• 321, in the time of the 18th Achillas Pope of Alexandria, the church was enlarged.
• When moving the Arabs in Egypt 641 the church was destroyed.
• 680 sat John III. Alexandria - the 40th Patriarch - the church repaired again.
• 828 the body of St. Mark was stolen by Italian sailors and taken to Venice. The main remained in Alexandria.
• 1219, in the time of the Crusades, the church was destroyed and later rebuilt.
• The traveler Pierre Belon mentions the church 1547.
• In July 1798, during the Egyptian Expedition of the French, the church was laid down.
• In 1819 it was rebuilt and opened by Peter VII of Alexandria at the time Mohammed Ali Pasha.
• 1870, at the time of the Pope Dimitrios II, the church was restored under the supervision of Bishop Mark of El Behira.
• In the years 1950-1952, in the time of Pope Yusab II, the Church was laid down due to disrepair and replaced by a larger building with cement reinforcements. Six marble columns were placed in the outer entrance. The iconostasis was carefully broken down into parts and assembled at the original point again. The two bell towers were not demolished, but also reinforced with concrete and provided with Coptic embellishments. Two new bells were hung from Italy, one for each tower.
• 1985-1990 the church was carefully extended to the west side in the earlier style. The two towers remained in place, the entire church doubled. The six columns were moved to the new west entrance. The Patriarch Shenouda III had superintendence.