Pope Tawadros II is on an official visit to Ireland this week with events already held in Dublin and Meath.
This is the first visit of the head of the Coptic Orthodox Church to Ireland and comes just over a year before the head of the Roman Catholic Church Pope Francis is expected to come here.
The Coptic Church is part of the oriental Orthodox branch of Christianity. In recent years the church in Egypt has borne the brunt of major attacks, including bombings that killed scores last month, and discrimination.
Pope Tawadros arrived in Ireland earlier this week and met with President Michael D. Higgins before talks with the Taoiseach and Foreign Affairs Minister.
After travelling to Meath yesterday he arrives in the Premier County today to visit St Mina Coptic Church in Cahir – which is one of only four in Ireland and the only one outside a major city.
Pope Tawadros will be welcomed by Bishop Antony, chairman of the committee, the priests and the committee of St Mina Church and an event to welcome him to the South Tipp town is being held at the Covent of Mercy in Cahir this lunchtime.
