Saint Mark’s Coptic Orthodox Cathedral 🇪🇬

Saint Mark's Coptic Orthodox Cathedral in Alexandria, Egypt, serves as the historical seat of the Pope of Alexandria, the head of the Coptic Orthodox Church. You are visiting a sacred site believed to stand where Mark the Evangelist founded a church around AD 67/68. Throughout its turbulent history, the church faced multiple destructions and reconstructions, including ruins during the 641 Arab invasion, destruction in 1219 during the crusades, and demolition in 1798 during the French invasion.

Between 1950 and 1952, the structure was replaced with a larger reinforced concrete basilica building, retaining its original bell towers and six marble pillars. Between 1985 and 1990, the cathedral doubled in size through careful widening. Inside and around the site, you can observe the historic bell towers decorated with beautiful Coptic engravings and housing Italian bells, six preserved marble pillars relocated to the new western entrance portico, and the meticulously restored original icon carrier.

Most importantly, Coptic Christians believe the cathedral houses relics of Saint Mark, including his head, which remained in Alexandria after Italian sailors stole most of his body in 828, though a portion was returned in 1968.

What to see at Saint Mark's Coptic Orthodox Cathedral

• Historical seat of the Pope of Alexandria and the Coptic Orthodox Church
• Bell towers reinforced with concrete and decorated with beautiful Coptic engravings
• Six historic marble pillars transferred to the cathedral's western entrance
• Sacred relics of Saint Mark the Evangelist, author of the second Gospel

Visiting tips

If you visit on the 30th day of the Coptic month of Paopi, you can witness the annual commemoration of the cathedral's consecration when Saint Mark's purported head is displayed.

How long: 1-2 hours · Best time: Daytime

How to get there & what’s nearby

Saint Mark's Coptic Orthodox Cathedral is easy to reach on Alexandria’s public transport, and pairs naturally with El-Mursi Abul Abbas Mosque and Catacombs of Kom el Shoqafa. For where to stay, the weather and full itineraries, see our Alexandria travel guide.