Tens of thousands of mourners assembled in front of the iconic St Mark's Cathedral in the Egyptian capital to pay their tearful last respect to Coptic Pope Shenuda III.
Tens of thousands of mourners on Monday assembled in front of the iconic St Mark's Cathedral in the Egyptian capital to pay their tearful last respect to Coptic Pope Shenuda III, the charismatic patriarch who led the church for four decades.
Filed Marshal Husasein Tantawi, the head of Egypt's military council that governs Egypt following the ouster of president Hosni Mubarak, announced a day of mourning tomorrow when the Pope will be buried at St Bishoy monastery of Wadi Natrun in the Nile Delta.
Thousands came from their hometowns outside the capital and spent the night infront of the church to pay their last respect to the 88-year-old leader of the largest Christian group in the Middle East.
The massive assembly of mourners resulted in the death of three people yesterday.
Based on wishes stated in his will, Shenuda will be buried at St Bishoy monastery of Wadi Natrun in the Nile Delta, where he spent time in exile after a dispute with the late president Anwar Sadat.
Shenouda is seated in the papal throne said to belong to Mar Marcus fully dressed in the official attire with a crown.
Shenuda died on Saturday after a long illness, setting in motion the process to elect a new patriarch for the Middle East's largest Christian community which has often complained of sectarian attacks.
The selection of a new Pope of Alexandria will take place amid a fragile period of political instability following an uprising that toppled Mubarak, and rising Islamism.
The parliament dominated by the Islamists observed a moment of silence to pay their respect.
Copts make up an estimated 10 per cent of Egypt's population of 82 million.
Since 1971, Shenuda was able to steer the Coptic community through difficult times and a rise of sectarian tensions in the country.
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