Places of Power

St. Mark’s Cathedral in Cairo is like a warm hug from heaven, the heart of the Coptic Church. Built near ancient Baucalis, it holds St. Mark’s relics, returned in 1968 by Pope Kyrillos VI, per The Coptic Encyclopedia. Tradition says Venetian traders took his body in 828 AD, but when relics came back to Cairo, crowds cheered. Some say a blind girl saw again that day through Christ’s power. With its domes, crosses, and lion icons, the cathedral houses Mark’s tomb, where Copts pray for help.

Though attacked in 2017 on Palm Sunday at Alexandria’s cathedral, survivors found strength in Mark’s prayers to Christ, per church records. Ethiopians visit Cairo’s cathedral, some say, feeling their apostolic tie to Alexandria, honored on Yekatit 30, per The Churches of Ethiopia. Kids love the “treasure” of Mark’s relics, taught in Sunday school. Some say a boy in 2010 was healed touching Mark’s relic box. This cathedral, alive with 30 Baramoudah prayers, shines as St. Mark’s gift, a friend through Christ for all.