Celebrations and Songs

In 1968, St. Mark’s relics returned to Egypt, a joyful day for Copts! On June 24 (17 Baounah), Pope Kyrillos VI welcomed them to Cairo’s St. Mark’s Cathedral, gifted by Pope Paul VI after years in Venice, per The Coptic Encyclopedia. Thousands waved banners, singing hymns, some say like “Hail to You, O Apostle,” with happy tears. Some say a blind girl was healed and a sick child got better when the relics arrived, through Christ’s grace.

Copts call it a victory for their first pope, strengthening their faith, per Pope Shenouda III’s writings. Some say Ethiopian priests joined, celebrating Mark’s Alexandrian legacy, per The Churches of Ethiopia. Kids got candy, and the cathedral rang with joy. It was a reunion, showing Mark’s love through Christ never left. For young Copts, taught in Sunday school, it’s like a hero returning to help again through Christ.