Coptic Orthodox Church in North America

The Copts began to immigrate to the United States as early as the late 1940s. Immigration to Canada was soon to follow, and in general, this was to be the case throughout North America in the coming decades. With hundreds of Coptic Orthodox churches in the United States alone (along with over 90 congregations in Canada),[1] it is estimated that there are over one million Coptic Orthodox Christians in North America.[2]

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While the Coptic Orthodox form a larger number in the US, the first Coptic Orthodox parish in North America was actually founded in Canada. In 1964, St. Mark's Coptic Orthodox Church in Toronto, Canada was established. However, not too long afterwards, the first parish in the States, St. Mark's Coptic Orthodox Church (Jersey City) was founded in the late 1960s and it is considered the first Coptic Orthodox Church, parish, and church building in North America, if not, the Western Hemisphere.

Decades later, Mexico had a growing Coptic Orthodox community of its own, as it was less than one decade ago when some Coptic families settled in Mexico. The first - and only Coptic Orthodox church in Mexico is St. Mary and St. Mark's Coptic Orthodox Church in Tlaycapan, Mexico, founded in 2001.

Of the Coptic Orthodox parishes in the United States, there are currently over 200 churches that serve the expanding Coptic Orthodox population there. Florida is home to many Coptic Orthodox Christians, and there are currently 21 established churches throughout the state, in order to serve the large and growing Egyptian-Christian population arising all over the state.[3][4] There are many churches in North America as well as several other churches and communities in Canada.[1]

Episcopacy

Diocesan bishops

General bishops
  • Macarius, General Bishop and Patriarchal Exarch for the Eritrean Congregation in the USA. Member of the Eritrean and Coptic Holy Synods. (1991 - Present) [13]
  • Michael, General Bishop in Virginia, United States, assistant to the Pope  (2009 - Present) [14]
  • Archelides, General Bishop in Toronto (GTA) and Central Canada, assistant to the Pope. (2022 - Present) [15]
  • Gabriel, General Bishop in New Jersey and Patriarchal Exarch for the Archdiocese of North America, assistant to the Pope. (2022 - Present) [16]

Auxiliary bishops
  • Suriel, Former Bishop of the Diocese of Melbourne, currently serving as auxiliary to Metropolitan Serapion in the Holy Diocese of Los Angeles, Southern California, and Hawaii. (1997; 2018 - Present) [17]
  • Abraham, Auxiliary Bishop and assistant to Metropolitan Serapion in the Holy Diocese of Los Angeles, Southern California, and Hawaii. (2016 - Present) [18]
  • Kyrillos, Auxiliary Bishop and assistant to Metropolitan Serapion in the Holy Diocese of Los Angeles, Southern California, and Hawaii. (2016 - Present) [19]
  • Basil, Auxiliary Bishop in Florida and assistant to Metropolitan Youssef in the Holy Diocese of the Southern United States. (2018 - Present) [20]
  • Gregory, Auxiliary Bishop in Texas and assistant to Metropolitan Youssef in the Holy Diocese of the Southern United States. (2018 - Present) [21]

Deceased hierarchs

Dioceses

Archdiocese of North America

Before the establishment of any dioceses in the US and Canada, all churches were part of the Archdiocese of North America under the direct care of the Patriarchate of Alexandria, led by the Pope of Alexandria, with the headquarters at Cedar Grove, New Jersey. [23] All churches that are not under the jurisdiction of an established diocese are part of the Archdiocese. The Archdiocese serves around 74 congregations in US and 17 congregations in Canada. The Archdiocese is divided administratively over the following regions:

Map of the Dioceses of the Coptic Orthodox Church in Canada.
  • Archdiocese of North America - New Jersey
  • Archdiocese of North America - Chicago & Midwest (Illinois, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Missouri, Iowa, Kansas, Nebraska)
  • Archdiocese of North America - Virginia
  • Archdiocese of Northern California and Western US
  • Archdiocese of Central Canada

The Archdiocese is currently headed by Pope Tawadros II. He is assisted by:

  • Bishop Macarius, as General Bishop and Patriarchal Exarch for the Eritrean Congregation in the USA. (1991 - Present) [13]
  • Bishop Michael, as General Bishop in Virginia, United States. (2009 - Present) [14]
  • Bishop Archelides, as General Bishop in Toronto (GTA) and Central Canada. (2022 - Present) [15]
  • Bishop Gabriel, as General Bishop in New Jersey and Patriarchal Exarch for the Archdiocese of North America. (2022 - Present) [16]
Map of the Dioceses of the Coptic Orthodox Church in the USA.

Dioceses in Canada
Further information: Coptic Orthodox Church in Canada

In addition to the Archdiocese of North America, there are two dioceses in Canada, serving around 53 congregations. These are:

  • Diocese of Mississauga, Vancouver & Western Canada
  • Diocese of Ottawa, Montréal & Eastern Canada

Dioceses in the United States
Further information: Coptic Orthodox Church in the United States

In addition to the Archdiocese of North America, there are six dioceses in the United States, serving around 213 congregations. These are:

See also

References
  1. "Calgary Herald Newspaper Article". Archived from the original on 2012-11-04. Retrieved 2008-08-03.
  2. NY Times (Retrieved 08-02-2008)
  3. "Coptic Church Urges Thorough Investigation In Murder of Jersey City Family". Coptic Church Network, January 20, 2005. Accessed August 11, 2008.
  4. "CNEWA: The Coptic Orthodox Church". Archived from the original on 2009-08-13. Retrieved 2008-08-03.
  5. "Metropolitan Serapion | Coptic Orthodox Diocese of Los Angeles". www.lacopts.org. Retrieved 2022-12-31.
  6. "His Grace Bishop Youssef – The Diocese". Coptic Orthodox Diocese of the Southern United States. Retrieved 2022-12-31.
  7. "H. G. Bishop David". Coptic Orthodox Diocese of New York & New England. Retrieved 2022-12-31.
  8. "His Grace Bishop Mina - Coptic Orthodox Diocese of Mississauga, Vancouver and Western Canada". Retrieved 2022-12-31.
  9. "Our Diocese". SBSS Church Baltimore MD. Retrieved 2022-12-31.
  10. "H.G. Bishop Peter". St. Mary and St. Mina Coptic Orthodox Church. Retrieved 2022-12-31.
  11. "Bishop Saraphim – St Mary Coptic Orthodox Church | Columbus, OH". Retrieved 2022-12-31.
  12. eccopts-@dmin (2020-01-01). "Our Bishop". ECCOPTS. Retrieved 2022-12-31.
  13. "Bishop Makarios The Eritrean - Coptic Orthodox Church". Retrieved 2022-12-31.
  14. "Bishop Michael - Coptic Orthodox Church". Retrieved 2022-12-31.
  15. "Bishop Archilides - Coptic Orthodox Church". Retrieved 2022-12-31.
  16. "Bishop Gabriel - Coptic Orthodox Church". Retrieved 2022-12-31.
  17. "Bishop Suriel - Coptic Orthodox Church". Retrieved 2022-12-31.
  18. "Bishop Abraham | Coptic Orthodox Diocese of Los Angeles". www.lacopts.org. Retrieved 2022-12-31.
  19. "Bishop Kyrillos | Coptic Orthodox Diocese of Los Angeles". www.lacopts.org. Retrieved 2022-12-31.
  20. "His Grace Bishop Bssil – The Diocese". Coptic Orthodox Diocese of the Southern United States. Retrieved 2022-12-31.
  21. "His Grace Bishop Gregory – The Diocese". Coptic Orthodox Diocese of the Southern United States. Retrieved 2022-12-31.
  22. USA, Saint Antony Monastery. "Saint Antony Monastery USA". Saint Antony Monastery USA. Retrieved 2022-12-31.
  23. "Archdiocese Of North America of Cedar Grove, New Jersey, USA | Coptic Orthodox Directory". directory.nihov.org. Retrieved 2022-12-31.
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