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London – Times of Egypt
The St. Mark Coptic Orthodox Church in London, in the high-end neighbourhood of Kensington, celebrated the Easter on Saturday.
The Easter celebrations were held in attendance of the Egyptian ambassador to the United Kingdom, Sherif Kamel, Egyptian Consul General in the UK Ambassador Tarek Youssef (who was the first to arrive at the church), prominent Egyptian figures in London and ‘Times of Egypt’ Editor-in-Chief Abdallah Homouda. Several members from the Egyptian embassy in London also attended the event.
Hegumen Antonious Thabet, head of church, lead the Easter mass and read a greeting message from the Egyptian President Abel-Fattah al-Sisi to the Coptic Egyptian expatriates.
“To the Egyptian Coptic brothers and sisters abroad, I would like to extend my heartfelt congratulations and best wishes on the celebrations of the Glorious Resurrection; calling the almighty God to bless this day with happiness. I wish you all continuous success; and to our cherished Egypt and its people progressive flourish and prosperity”, said Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi message to the congregation.
A pre-recorded video message from the Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of the See of St. Mark Pope Tawadros II was played during the celebrations. The Pope greeted the “Egyptian Coptic community in diaspora on the holy Day of Resurrection from the ‘beloved land’ of Egypt”.
At the mass, several prominent Egyptian figures in Britain greeted Hegumen Antonious Thabet and the Egyptian Coptic community in London on this holy day. This year’s celebrations were held following a two-year hiatus due the COVID-19 precautionary measures in place.
The Kensington church of St. Mark was consecrated in 1979 a Coptic Orthodox church. There are five Egyptian Coptic Orthodox churches in London; of more than 14 churches in the United Kingdom. Additionally, there are three monasteries and a main cathedral, in Stevenage, which is the official residence of Bishop Angaelos the Bishop of London.
