Within the framework of the celebrations in Egypt on the occasion of the Christmas holidays of the Orthodox Coptic Church, the members of the Embassy of Cuba took part in a courtesy meeting with Pope Tawadros II of Alexandria and Patriarch of the See of Saint Mark, main figure of the Orthodox Coptic Christian religion.
The Ambassador of Cuba, Tania Aguiar Fernandez, exchanged briefly with the Coptic Holy Father, who thanked the Cuban presence in the festivities and commented on the recent inauguration of the Church of the Nativity in the New Administrative Capital, considered the largest in the Middle East.
The Orthodox Coptic Church is an institution founded by the apostle Saint Mark, in the city of Alexandria in Egypt in the 1st century. It is an apostolic church whose highest legislative and executive authority is the Pope of Alexandria, successor of Saint Mark himself, and empowered to care for and preside over his synod.
The word “coptic” comes from the Greek "aegyptus", which means Egypt, and refers to Christians who belong to the Orthodox Church founded in Egypt.
Coptic Christians in Egypt celebrate the birth of Jesus on January 7 of each year, date that coincides with the 29th day of the month "kiohk" of the Coptic calendar.