Samy Samaan

His Holiness Pope Tawadros II received two groups of members of the Coptic Orthodox Church in the United States at the Papal Residence in Cairo.

One group came from two churches in Nashville, accompanied by Fr. Boutros Boutros and Fr. Kyrillos, priests of St. Mina Elagaibi Church, as well as Fr. Theodore, priest of St. Verena Church. 

Their visit to Egypt was intended to reconnect with their homeland and explore its historical sites, monasteries, and ancient churches.

The second group consisted of servants from St. Mary Church in Minnesota, accompanied by Fr. Yoannis Tawfik, priest of the same church. They came to Egypt on a service mission while also visiting a number of prominent Coptic monasteries and churches.

The Minnesota group’s ministry activities included serving children at the 57357 Children’s Cancer Hospital, village outreach programs, orphaned children, the blind, the deaf and hard of hearing, the elderly, and individuals with special needs, as well as organizing community carnivals. 

These services were carried out in the governorates of Suez, Minya, Assiut, Sohag, and Luxor.

During their stay in Egypt, the group also visited the Cathedral of the Nativity of Christ in the New Administrative Capital, the churches of Old Cairo, the Diocese of Suez headquarters, the White Monastery and Red Monastery in Sohag, the Monasteries of the Virgin Mary at Durunka and Al-Muharraq in Assiut, and the Church of the Martyrs of Faith in Samalut.

During the meeting, Pope Tawadros praised the diverse services provided by the servants and commended their efforts to learn more about their homeland, Egypt. He highlighted Egypt’s greatness and rich heritage, both as a nation and as a people. 

His Holiness also praised their eagerness to visit monasteries and churches that carry profound spiritual blessings and significance.

The service trip of the Minnesota church group was coordinated through the HIGH Office, which is responsible for facilitating ministry partnerships between overseas dioceses and communities in need throughout Egypt. 

The office was established by a decision of the Holy Synod in March 2024 and is known as HIGH, an acronym for Hands in God’s Hand.