Holy Places of Kyrillos

In Cairo’s Abbasseya district stands Saint Mark’s Cathedral, a center of Coptic faith built by Pope Kyrillos VI. Started in 1965 and finished in 1968, it was his gift to God’s people—a grand church with golden domes, welcoming thousands to pray. Before Kyrillos, Copts lacked a central cathedral; he saw Egypt’s struggles and prayed for unity. One tale says a merchant, inspired by a dream through Kyrillos’ intercession, donated funds to complete it. At its opening, Ethiopia’s Emperor Haile Selassie joined the celebration, said to have called it a holy place.

This cathedral is alive with stories. One tale says a sick boy in 1970 slept near its altar and, through Kyrillos’ intercession, guided by Christ, woke healed, sharing his joy with priests. Today, pilgrims fill its halls for Kyrillos’ March 9 feast, singing hymns of praise. One tale says a child in 2015 prayed for her mother’s job, and the answer came, filling her with hope. The cathedral holds Kyrillos’ chair, inspiring closeness to his intercession. For many, it’s a place of pilgrimage, a home for prayer.

Children can picture it as a welcoming embrace, gathering all in faith, with Kyrillos’ intercession blessing them. He built it to lift hearts, and its doors stay open, inviting all to pray. It’s proof God’s love, through Kyrillos, makes faith feel strong and warm.