St Mark’s Coptic Cathedral, Alexandria

St Mark's Coptic Cathedral, Alexandria tickets: which one to buy

Saint Mark's Coptic Orthodox Cathedral stands in the centre of Alexandria, Egypt, near the Raml Station area and the corniche, and it is the seat of the Coptic Pope of Alexandria, the head of the Coptic Orthodox Church. Visitors may enter outside service times, although security is tight, with checks at the entrance, and access may be restricted on some days. Dress modestly, and a local guide can help with access and explanations.

Tours of Alexandria usually combine the cathedral with the Bibliotheca Alexandrina, the Citadel of Qaitbay, the Roman amphitheatre, the catacombs of Kom el Shoqafa and Pompey's Pillar. Alexandria is about three hours by road or train from Cairo. The cathedral is an active church, with long Coptic liturgies on Sundays and feast days. Taxis are the easiest way to move around Alexandria, and drivers usually know the cathedral by the name El Morkosia.

Visiting St Mark's Coptic Cathedral, Alexandria: what to see

According to tradition, the Church of Alexandria was founded by Saint Mark the Evangelist, who preached here in the first century and was martyred in the city around 68 AD, and a church has stood on or near this site since early Christian times. The cathedral was rebuilt many times after destruction by invaders and fires; the present building dates largely from the twentieth century, rebuilt in 1952 and later restored. It holds a relic of Saint Mark, his head according to tradition, while his body was taken to Venice in 828 by Venetian merchants; a part of the relics was returned by the Vatican in 1968. Inside, the church has a carved iconostasis, Coptic icons and decorated wooden screens.

The cathedral was the target of a terrorist bombing on Palm Sunday in 2017, which killed many worshippers, and memorials commemorate the victims. The walls and domes inside hold icons painted in the traditional Coptic style, with large eyes and flat gold backgrounds. Chandeliers and brass lamps hang from the ceiling. The relics of Saint Mark are kept in a chapel, and pilgrims pray before them. The cathedral's courtyard includes offices of the patriarchate and a school. Inscriptions in Coptic and Arabic record the history of the church. The cathedral hosts the enthronement of new Coptic popes. Its twin bell towers are a landmark in the busy Mansheya area.

St Mark's Coptic Cathedral, Alexandria opening hours and the best time to go

The cathedral is open at service times and at other times depending on security. Alexandria has a Mediterranean climate, with warm summers, milder than Cairo, and cool, sometimes rainy winters; spring and autumn are pleasant. Coptic Christmas on 7 January and Coptic Easter bring large congregations and long night services. Summer brings Egyptian holidaymakers to the city's beaches.

The corniche is lively in the evenings. Allow about twenty minutes for the cathedral, and continue to the Bibliotheca Alexandrina and the Citadel of Qaitbay along the corniche. The Alexandria National Museum, in an Italianate palace a short taxi ride away, displays finds from the ancient city and underwater excavations in the harbour.