Spirit and Love: Egyptian Museum Opens Major Christmas Exhibition Celebrating Coptic Heritage
The National Museum of Egyptian Civilisation showcases rare Christian artefacts and icons in a two-month exhibition highlighting Egypt’s religious diversity.
Ancient Christian Heritage Takes Centre Stage in Cairo
The National Museum of Egyptian Civilisation (NMEC) in Cairo has unveiled “Spirit and Love,” a temporary exhibition celebrating Egypt’s Coptic Christian heritage through rare artefacts, ancient icons, and contemporary photography. Opening on December 23rd and running through February 2026, the exhibition coincides with the Christmas season and emphasises themes of interfaith tolerance and coexistence in Egyptian society.
The Coptic Orthodox Church represents one of Christianity’s oldest communities, tracing its roots to the arrival of Saint Mark in Alexandria in the first century AD. Today, Coptic Christians comprise approximately 10% of Egypt’s population of over 100 million people.
Documentary Film Opens Exhibition
The inauguration began with a documentary film about Jesus Christ and the Virgin Mary, which shares the exhibition’s title. Taieb Abbas, CEO of NMEC, explained that the museum’s mission encompasses showcasing Egyptian heritage across all historical periods, from pre-dynastic times (before 3100 BC) through the present day.
“The museum is not merely a place to display artefacts but a living space where people interact and connect,” Abbas said. He emphasised that Coptic art represents a fundamental component of Egypt’s cultural heritage, noting that collaborations with other museums, governmental bodies, and embassies demonstrate how “museums are meeting points for cultures, where spirit, love, and devotion are born.”
Abbas thanked participating students from the Summer School of Applied Arts and Fine Arts/Art Education, children from St. Paul the Apostle Church, and the Agape Choir for their contributions.
Showcasing the Virgin Mary in Egyptian Culture
Dr Ahmed Hamida, Head of the Museums Sector at Egypt’s Supreme Council of Antiquities, described the exhibition as carrying “a profoundly deep human and spiritual message.” The display highlights the veneration of the Virgin Mary within both church tradition and broader Egyptian culture, presenting her as “a pure symbol of love, giving, and mercy.”
“The exhibition does not merely display artefacts; it carries a deep cultural message reflecting the essence of Egyptian civilisation, built on values of tolerance, coexistence, and mutual respect,” Hamida explained. “Egyptian civilisation was never just a civilisation of stone, but a civilisation of thought and spirit.”
Rare Icons, Manuscripts, and Religious Artefacts on Display
The exhibition features carefully selected pieces, including ancient icons, illuminated manuscripts, religious textiles, and carved wooden and stone artefacts. These items demonstrate how Christian faith merged with artistic creativity within Egypt’s unique cultural context.
Dr Gehan Atef, Director General of the Coptic Museum in Old Cairo, emphasised the exhibition’s significance: “Love and tolerance were the essence of Egypt’s civilizational message and the foundation of the spirit of coexistence among the people of one nation.”
The Coptic Museum, located in the historic Coptic Cairo district (also known as Old Cairo), houses one of the world’s most important collections of Coptic Christian art and artefacts.
Photography and Contemporary Art
The exhibition features 25 photographs that document contemporary Christmas celebrations within Egypt’s Coptic community, alongside artworks depicting scenes from the lives of Jesus Christ and the Virgin Mary. Featured pieces include the Icon of the Nativity of the Virgin, the Icon of the Stone, the Icon of the Throne of the Chalice, and “The Good Dove” (Al-Hamama Al-Hasana).
Dr Nashwa Gaber, Deputy CEO of NMEC, honoured participating photographers, including Hossam Diab, Magdy Ibrahim, Michael Asaad, Amr Nabil, Ahmed Gomaa, Mohamed Hossam El-Din, Farid Kotb, Rougay Anis, Mohamed Shokry, Tarek Wagih, and Maged Youni.
Visiting the Exhibition
The “Spirit and Love” exhibition will run at the National Museum of Egyptian Civilisation in Fustat, Cairo, from December 23, 2025, through February 2026. The exhibition explores themes of Coptic Christian heritage, religious tolerance, and interfaith coexistence through its carefully curated collection of artifacts and contemporary photography.
The NMEC, which opened in 2021, is located in the ancient district of Fustat (Old Cairo) and houses over 50,000 artefacts spanning Egyptian history. The museum gained international attention in 2021 when it hosted the famous “Pharaohs’ Golden Parade,” which transferred 22 royal mummies from the Egyptian Museum in Tahrir Square.
For more information about visiting hours and ticket prices, visit the National Museum of Egyptian Civilisation’s official website.
