Pope Tawadros II of Alexandria and Patriarch of Saint Mark Diocese has inaugurated the altar of Saint Mary and Saint Paul - Leeuwarden in Friesland, in the north of the Netherlands.

The Egyptian church started providing religious services in Friesland on May 4, 1999, when bishop Arsanios held the first spiritual meeting of 15 Coptic families that made up the population of Friesland then.

Monthly mass was then held at a rented building in the area.

The first mass was held on October 3, 2000.

In May 2004, the church was renovated but religious services started at the church two years later.

The Egyptian church in Friesland is now serving about 50 families.