This morning, Friday 20 May, Pope Tawadros II who is on a visit to Vienna for pastoral and medical reasons, consecrated the church of the Holy Virgin and Archangel Mikhail in Vienna, which was previously the church of Mary the Victorious. With him was Anba Gabriel, Bishop of the Coptic Orthodox Church in Austria.
Dating back to 1870, it is among Vienna’s touristic sites, and was offered by the Catholic Church in Vienna to her sister Coptic Church with which it enjoys exemplary relations.
As soon as the church moved into the hands of the Coptic Church, Anba Gabriel held prayers of thanksgiving and praise for its new patrons, the Holy Virgin and the Archangel Michael.
A number of Coptic Orthodox bishops in Europe participated with Pope Tawadros in the consecration ceremony this morning, which was followed by Holy Mass.
Watani International
20 May 2016