On the morning of Friday, March 20th, the Coptic Orthodox Church in Nashville, the capital of Tennessee, celebrated the opening of the St. Anthony Conference and Retreat Center. The event was presided over by His Grace Bishop Youssef, the Bishop of Texas, Florida, and the Southern United States.

The celebration began with the arrival of the Bishop at the center, where he was welcomed by a group of priests and deacons from the church, accompanied by church hymns. His Grace officially inaugurated the center by cutting the ribbon, amidst the joyful cheers and ululations of the congregation.

Following the opening ceremony, Bishop Youssef led the Divine Liturgy. After the service, he and the priests went to the main hall of the center to share in the joy of the opening with the congregation, servants, and deacons. The Bishop also toured and blessed the center’s facilities, which include accommodations for retreats, spiritual days, and conferences, as well as a large hall equipped with a kitchen, playgrounds, and recreational areas for children and youth, all spread across six acres of land.