On March 20, 2012, H.E. Mr. Yevhen Kyrylenko, Ambassador of Ukraine to the Arab Republic of Egypt, took part in the funeral ceremony of the Coptic Christian Pope Shenouda III, leader of the Coptic Orthodox Church.

On behalf of Ukraine the Ambassador expressed his sincere condolences to the Egyptian people on the loss of the spiritual leader of the Coptic Orthodox Church, known as supporter of national unity, tolerance and religious dialogue.

The funeral ceremony, which took place in the St. Mark’s Cathedral in Cairo, was attended by Field Marshal Mohamed Hussein Tantawi, the Head of the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces of Egypt, Speaker of the People’s Assembly S. al-Katatni, other high ranking officials of the country, a number of foreign representatives and diplomats, as well as thousands of Coptic Christians.