The Coptic hospital with its imposing 1920’s façade is a familiar site on Ramses Street, one of Cairo’s main thoroughfares. Cairenes are well aware of the venerable hospital
The Coptic hospital with its imposing 1920’s façade is a familiar site on Ramses Street, one of Cairo’s main thoroughfares. Cairenes are well aware of the venerable hospital, but only a few know that on the second floor of the building lies a small church that is this week half-a-century old.
Thursday 10 May witnessed the celebration of 50 years since prayers were first held in the tiny chapel in the Coptic Hospital on Ramsis Street, consecrated in the name of the Holy Virgin. It was Pope Kyrillos VI, who was pope during the years from 1959 to 1971 and is today considered a saint in the Coptic Church, who himself ordered the church built in 1962, and he presided over the first Mass held there.
On the Golden Jubilee celebration last Thursday, Mass was held. Presiding over it was Father Andrawus Ava Mina who is today the church’s pastor, and a number of priests and monks took part, many of whom had at one time or another served in the church. Attending Mass was also Dr Muhhib Ibrahim, manager of the Coptic Hospital, and many of the doctors and workers in the hospital.
One very special attendant was the oldest member of the hospital community, Miss Mary,who was for years head nurse at the hospital till she retired almost a decade ago. Miss Mary actually had attended the first Mass in the small church 50 years ago. Watani seized the opportunity to talk to Miss Mary about her memories of the place.
Miss Mary reminded that the church was built in 1926 by the Coptic Orthodox Goodwill Organisation and remained under its management until it was nationalized by the Nasser regime in the 1960s and became part of the State Medical organisation.
The church, Miss Mary reminisced, was originally a common room for the nurses. When Pope Kyrillos VI suggested the hospital should include a small church, the then manager Dr Maurice Doss decided to use the room to house the chapel. Miss Mary remembers clearly the consecration Mass by Pope Kyrillos VI. She also fondly remembers Amm Saïd, an old man from Upper Egypt who would come in daily to attend Mass at the church. He would come in very early and stand before the door which would have not yet been opened, and sing the Praise and hymns. Several Bishops served in the church, Miss Mary said. Among them Bishop Samuel who served till he was killed with President Sadat in 1981. There was also Bishop Pimen of Mallawi and Father Matta al-Antouny, abott of Anba Antonius Monastery in the Eastern Desert.
The Coptic hospital also housed a Catholic chapel, since the Coptic Hospital used to count many Catholic nuns among its nursing staff. Sister Bernadette is the only one still serving today.
The chapel of the Holy Virgin today continues to serve the faithful at the hospital by virtue of the generous donation of the congregation. Its finances are entirely separate from those of the hospital.
WATANI International
13 May 2012