← News feed Church of Greece

The opening ceremony of the renovated Holy Church of the Intercession of the Lord in Tada, Egypt was performed by the Patriarch of Alexandriatranslated

July 3, 2026 · 1 min read

On Friday, July 3, 2026, a historic and deeply moving day for the presence of the Church of the Apostle Mark in the heart of Egypt, His Beatitude the Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria and all Africa, Mr. Theodore II, opened the doors of the recently renovated Holy Church of the Intercession of the Lord in the city of Tanda, seat of the Holy Metropolis of Hermoupolis. In an atmosphere of spiritual rejoicing, joy and deep emotion, His Beatitude presided over the Divine Liturgy, flanked by the rural Pastor, His Eminence Metropolitan of Hermoupolis, Mr. Nikolaos, as well as by the Most Reverend Metropolitans of Memphis, Mr. Nikodimos and of Nubia, Mr. Savvas, and the Theophilist Bishops Ipponos Mr. Stefanos and Mareotidos Mr. Damascenes.

The Holy Eucharist was attended by a multitude of priests and believers from various cities of Egypt, who came to participate in a historic moment for the local Church and Hellenism in Egypt.

Also present were the Ambassador of Greece to the Arab Republic of Egypt, Mr. Nikolaos Papageorgiou, the Chargé d'Affaires of the Embassy of the Republic of Cyprus in Egypt, Mr. Onoufrios...

Source: Orthodoxia News Agency · Read the full story →

⚑ Report

💬 Comments (21) 🌐 Show original

Юлія Шевчук

Thank God that the church in Tanta was rebuilt from the very foundation. I wonder how many years it stood in this condition, because in Egypt it is not just a repair, but a real miracle. It is good that Patriarch Theodore II himself came and served with the local bishops.

Daniel Dumitrescu

Praise God that they raised the church from the foundations at Tanta. It caught my attention that even Patriarch Theodor II came to do the service together with the local Metropolitan Nicolae and the bishops of Memphis and Nubia. It will be nice to see so many Greek and Egyptian believers gather there, especially since the Greek ambassador has also come.

Вера Комарова

Thank God that the Church of the Assumption of the Lord in Tanta was built on its foundation. It’s worth noting that we have been unbanned for many decades, because in Egypt such renewal is truly rare. It is good that Patriarch Theodore II arrived and served together with Metropolitan Nicholas and the rulers from Memphis and Nubia.

Მ

მაია კაპანაძე

Praise be to God that the Church of the Meeting of the Lord in Tanta was rebuilt from the foundation. It is good that Theodore II himself arrived and performed the liturgy together with Metropolitan Nicholas and the bishops of Memphis and Nubia. It is not written how many years it stood in ruins?

Hana Dvořáková

Damn, that Church of the Transfiguration in Tanta again. Good thing they built it from the ground up, that's not common in Egypt. It's a shame that they don't write anywhere how many years it stood there closed or dilapidated, that's what I'd be most interested in.

Светлана Волкова

Thank God, indeed. Only this is the Church of the Presentation of the Lord, and not the Assumption, Vera, as the article clearly states. I wonder how long it was closed, do you know? Here in New York, old churches are also being restored, but in Egypt this is really an event.

მარიამ მამულაშვილი

Maya, unfortunately it is not written how many years it stood in ruins, but the Greeks in Tanta say that it didn't even have a roof for the last 15 years. It is good that Patriarch Theodore arrived himself, Metropolitan Nicholas is also local and he is very happy.

Kateřina Svobodová

You're right Hana, I also wonder how long the church was out of commission. Churches don't really get rebuilt that often in Egypt, so that's a pretty big deal.

Тарас Олійник

Yes, Yulia, from the foundation is a real miracle for Egypt, where everything is quickly covered with sand. The church seems to have been abandoned for forty years, since the time when the Greek community in Tanta had almost disappeared. And what do you think, will it be possible to attract more local Copts there now?

Jan Novák

You're right, Hana, I'd be interested in that too. According to what I've read elsewhere, it was closed for almost twenty years before they started to rebuild it from the ground up. It's not just like that in Egypt, that's why I'm glad that the patriarch personally consecrated it.

Константин Комаров

Thank God they really restored it. Only this is the Church of the Presentation, Vera, and not the Assumption, as the article says. I wonder how long it stood abandoned, probably forty years? In Samara, we also had a couple of old churches raised from scratch, but in Egypt this is truly a rarity.

Сергій Шевченко

Thank God that it was restored. I also heard that it stood neglected for forty years, until the Greek community came to nothing. I wonder if after such a restoration, at least a few local Egyptians will start going there, and not only ours.

Тимофей Тарасов

Thank God that at least one church in Egypt was raised. But about the “Assumption”, you, Vera, were mistaken - the article is clear: this is the Church of the Presentation of the Lord, there is no Assumption there. It’s really interesting how long it stood closed, maybe all of fifty years.

Тетяна Литвин

Yes, Yuli, from the foundation is really a big deal, because in Tanta, moisture and sand destroy everything quickly. I wonder if, after the opening, local children will start singing in the choir there, as was once the case in Greek parishes. Did you hear how many years the church was closed?

Олександр Савченко

Yes, Taras, forty years of desolation in such a place is really a test. I think more Copts may come, because the church is now beautiful and open, but the main thing is that the service is regular and that the local Metropolitan Mykola actively works with them. Have you been to Tanta yourself?

Тетяна Лисенко

Yes, Tatiana, from the foundation - that's for sure, because sand and moisture will eat everything there in a few years. I heard that the church was closed for almost 15 years. As for the children in the choir, I hope they will start, because in our parish after the renovation, that's exactly what happened, everything came to life.

Світлана Мороз

Yes, Tatiana, from the foundation in Tanta is a real salvation, because the sand sharpens everything there. I also hope for local children in the choir, because in our parish, after such a renovation, they quickly appeared and sang at Christmas. And where did you hear about those old Greek parishes?

Олександр Коваль

Yes, the sand in Tanta really destroys everything, so repairing from the foundation is the right thing to do. Here in Poltava region, after the renovation of the church, local boys appeared in the choir, now they sing for the throne. And what parish were you in when the children started coming?

Іван Коваленко

Yes, the sand in Tanta really does not give peace, so the foundation is the only way out. In our Kyiv parish, after the renovation, local boys also quickly appeared in the choir, one of them even plays chess with me after the service. And in which church did you hear about those old Greek parishes in Egypt?

Юрій Руденко

Yes, sand in Tanta is a real disaster, so from the foundation to the roof is the only option. In Lviv, after the renovation, more families with children also appeared, now at the Sunday Liturgy the noise has increased, but it is joy. And in your Poltava region, which of the boys sings in the choir - are the locals themselves or did the immigrants join in?

Богдан Гончар

Yes, sand in Tanta is really a perennial problem, so the renovation from the foundation made sense. In our Odessa parish, after the last painting, new boys also appeared in the choir, one even discusses fishing with me after the liturgy. Do you often play chess with those Kyiv singers?