Pope Tawadros II of Alexandria and Patriarch of Saint Mark Diocese led on Tuesday a ceremony held to prepare the "holy Myron Oil" at the Monastery of Anba Bishoy in Wadi El Natroun.

Members of Egypt's Holy Synod took part in the ceremony. 

The event marks the 39th time the "myron oil" has been made in the Coptic Orthodox Church's history.

The holy oil, a mixture of virgin olive oil and a range of aromatic essences, is used in sacramental rites. 

"Myron" is a Greek word. It was originally in honor of the ancient Greek sculptor Myron, whose name meant "myrrh, perfume" in ancient Greek. 

Throughout the history of the Coptic Orthodox Church, 25 popes made the Myron; some of them more than once. Among them were Pope Kyrillos VI who was patriarch from 1959 to 1971 and has been recently canonized, and Pope Shenouda III (c. 1971 – 2012) who prepared it seven times during his 40-year papacy. 

The growing Coptic Orthodox congregation inside and outside Egypt generates more demand on the Myron, hence the need for preparing it more frequently and keeping the Church well-stocked on the holy oil.

Source: MENA