The Coptic Orthodox Church in Hong Kong, southern China, witnessed the consecration ceremony of the church of the Apostles St Mark and St Thomas on 22 June 2024.
The ceremony was held during the Holy Liturgy presided over by the Bishop Youssef, of the Southern US; and Anba Rweiss, Bishop-General of East Asia region. They were joined by a number of Coptic priests, including Fr Daoud Hanna, priest of the Egyptian church in Hong Kong; Fr Daoud Lamei of the church of St Mark in Cleopatra, Heliopolis; and Fr Surial Hanna of the church of Anba Wannas in Sydney, Australia.
The ceremony was also attended by Ambassador Baher Sheweikhi, Consul-General of Egypt in Hong Kong and Macau.
St Thomas church was established in Hong Kong in 2004, and has ever since been serving the refugee and local community in HK.
For the last four years and since Fr Daoud became the first permanent pastor caring for the congregation in HK, more families and new members have joined the Church from different nationalities and countries including Ethiopia, China, England, Australia, Taiwan, Philippines, Egypt and Hong Kong.
The Church’s congregation grew to about 200 people, but there was no space to accomodate that number in the small 50sq.m. rented venue in Sheung Wan. Now the new, larger church has opened.