As the Coptic Orthodox Church celebrates the two-week Fast of the Holy Virgin during 7 – 21 August, the Coptic Cathedral of St Mark in Azbakiah in Cairo has opened the private room of St Pope Kyrillos VI to visitors. The saint was patriarch of the See of St Mark in 1959 – 1971, and was canonised in 2013. Azbakiah’s St Mark Cathedral was the papal seat of Coptic patriarchs from 1800 to 1971.
The private room of St Pope Kyrillos VI at St Mark’s, commonly known as the patriarchal cell, was his private quarter during his years as Pope. It is very simply furnished in a wooden bed, cupboard, clothes hanger, and small side table. The room, which also includes some of the personal belongings of the saint and of a number of preceding Coptic patriarchs who were buried in St Mark’s, was opened by the current Pope Tawadros II in 2015 as a museum.
St Pope Kyrillos VI’s room is open for daily visits from 10am to 9pm during the Holy Virgin’s Fast, a period that sees great “spiritual awakening” activities in Coptic churches.
This is the second time the room has been opened to the public; the first was on 9 March 2023, a day which marks the feast of the saint and which this year coincided with the 52nd anniversary of his departure.
Watani International
8 August 2023