Saint Mark Coptic Orthodox Cathedral, Alexandria

Saint Mark Coptic Orthodox Cathedral is one of the central religious sites of Egyptian Christianity, closely tied to the memory of Saint Mark the Evangelist. Coptic tradition says Saint Mark brought Christianity to Egypt in the 1st century AD and became its first bishop. The cathedral’s link to his burial and the early Coptic papacy gives it lasting religious importance.

Its story also includes one of the best-known episodes in medieval relic history. In 828 AD, Venetian merchants removed most of Saint Mark’s body and carried it to Venice, while the saint’s head remained with the Coptic Church. For centuries, the relic symbolized apostolic authority in patriarchal ceremonies. After the church was demolished during the French invasion in 1798, it was rebuilt in the 19th century, continuing the site’s role in Coptic religious life.

The present cathedral reflects repeated rebuilding and enlargement. The twin bell towers date from a late 19th-century restoration, while later expansions created the broader modern interior. Ancient granite columns found during 20th-century work were preserved at the entrance and within the main hall. Near the entrance, a memorial honours the victims of the 2017 Palm Sunday bombing and the guards who stopped the attacker.