This was the first time the Patriarch of the Coptic Church did not
lead the mass in Alexandria.
The pope chose to remain in Cairo,
during the celebrations that took place yesterday, out of
respect for the mood of sadness felt in Alexandria after the attack on
the Two Saints Church which left 22 dead and 90 injured.
The pope did also not lead the mass in the Cathedral of Abbassiya and chose to perform a private ceremony not open to the public.
Pope Shenouda’s first public address since his return from the medical
trip will take place in his weekly sermon this Wednesday.
The 87-year-old Shenouda is Pope and
Archbishop of the Great City of Alexandria and Patriarch of all Africa,
the Holy Orthodox and Apostolic See of Saint Mark the Evangelist that
is, in Egypt, Pentapolis, Libya, Nubia, Sudan, Ethiopia, Eritrea and all
Africa.
SIC: AHO/INT'L