Egypt buys church in Moscow to serve expats

CAIRO – 12 June 2018: The Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria managed to buy a church in Moscow, for the first time, to enable Egyptian expatriates in Russia to hold masses.

Alexandria’s Church possesses churches in more than 60 countries.

Pope of the Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria, Tawadros II, sent a few weeks ago a delegation to check one of the old churches in Moscow, which was then purchased by Alexandria’s Church.

Author and thinker Kamal Zakher commented on the decision, saying that purchasing the church was expected, as Pope Tawadros II has announced holding talks with the Russian [Orthodox] Church. Zakher affirmed Pope Tawadros’s openness to other churches.

In May 2017, Russian President Vladimir Putin received Pope Tawadros II to congratulate the latter on receiving the Fund for the Unity of Orthodox Peoples (FEPN) award. Pope Tawadros II announced granting the award to the New Administrative Capital Cultural Center.


Russian President Vladimir Putin met with Pope Tawadros II, to congratulate the latter on receiving the Fund for the Unity of Orthodox Peoples (FEPN) award, May, 2017 – Press photo

In an interview with ON Live channel a month later, Pope Towadros II said that he spoke with Putin during the meeting about different issues related to Egypt.

"There is nothing I talk about during my foreign visits except issues pertaining to Egypt’s affairs. Egypt is of particular importance to all countries, and the whole world is passionate about it," Pope Tawadros II stated.