Liverpool and Egyptian national football team star Mohamed Salah has donated funds to assist in the rebuilding of a recently destroyed Church in Giza -Abu Sefein Church.
A fire broke out in Abu Seifin Church in Imbaba, Giza Governorate on Sunday, leaving 41 people dead and many others injured.
Salah donated three million LE, equivalent to about $156,634, to restore the church. The Sunday Times Giving List 2022 ranked Salah the eighth most generous person in the UK. He recently donated around £2.5million – equivalent to six percent of his £41m fortune.
One of his more notable donations was in 2019, when he donated £2.4m to the National Cancer Institute in Cairo after being badly damaged by a car bomb.
Egypt’s Coptic Orthodox Church said Wednesday the fire that erupted inside a hall at Bishop Bishoy church in southern Egyptian Minya province was caused by children playing with candles near the alter, ruling out foul play.
Pope Tawadros II thanked everyone who contributed to containing the fire, and offered condolences to the family of a priest who died.
“He was a beloved priest until his last breath, and we console the people of the church, both adults and children, knowing that they are with Christ, and that is very much better,” he said.
“We thank God for all those who contributed to containing this crisis, including the concerned agencies, officials, the people and neighbours.”
He said he is scheduled to meet in the next few days with the victims’ families, adding that Christian and Muslim communities in various countries have offered their moral support and condolences. The Interior Ministry said an electrical fault had caused the fire.