The mother of Pope Twadros II, Samia Nassim Estafanos, passed away in Alexandria last Friday after a long struggle with illness. The Pope, who was in Beirut, Lebanon, for the funeral of Mar Ignatius Zakka II,
Patriarch of Antioch and All the East and the Supreme Head of the Church of the Syrian Orthodox, rushed home for his mother’s funeral.
The funeral service was held at Saint Mark’s Cathedral in Alexandria. Pope Twadros II presided over the ceremony and Anba Pachomeus, Bishop of Beheira, delivered the sermon. Attending were the heads of the various Churches in Egypt, as well as members of the Coptic Orthodox Holy Synod and the Milli (Laity) Council, and members of the clergy and holy orders of the Coptic Chruch.
Public figures offered their condolences to the Pope; among them figures Governor of Alexandria Tareq Mahdy, Prime Minister Ibrahim Mahlab, and the Consuls of Greece, Russia, Palestine and Lebanon in Alexandria.
Watani offers its sincere condolences to Pope Tawadros II.