Pope Tawadros II of Alexandria and Patriarch of St. Mark Diocese launched a church in the Essen city, located in northeast of The Netherlands.

The new church is named The Virgin and Athanasius the Apostolic.

Athanasius was the 20th bishop of Alexandria. The church has held his remains since 2004.

Pope Tawadros II arrived in The Netherlands on April 30, the first-leg of a pastoral tour in Europe that will take him to France and Austria.