French Coptic Orthodox Church
Encyclopedia
French Orthodox Church redirects here. For the Chalcedonian body, see Orthodox Church of France
.
The French Coptic Orthodox Church is an Oriental Orthodox church and an outgrowth of the Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria.
began as early as 1801 after the French Invasion of Egypt
and there was significant immigration after the 1952 Revolution
in Egypt
.
The Church was canonically instituted by Pope Shenouda III on July 2, 1974, as the French Coptic Orthodox Eparchy. On June 18, 1994, Pope Shenouda raised the status of the Eparchy to the French Coptic Orthodox Church, a new, self-governing body (the church is integrated within the Church of Alexandria, but is considered autonomous in matters of governance).
The church was headed by Metropolitan
Marcos until his death on May 11, 2008. The seat of the head of the French Coptic Orthodox Church has remained vacant since then. The French-speaking Coptic community is now served by H.G. Bishop
Athanasius, a member of the Holy Synod of the Coptic Orthodox Church
. Priests in the church serve in cities across France.
Orthodox Church of France
The Orthodox Church of France is an autonomous Orthodox church in France, composed of a single diocese, that follows Western Rite Orthodoxy...
.
The French Coptic Orthodox Church is an Oriental Orthodox church and an outgrowth of the Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria.
History
Coptic immigration to FranceFrance
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
began as early as 1801 after the French Invasion of Egypt
French Invasion of Egypt
The Egyptian Campaign was Napoleon Bonaparte's campaign in "The Orient", ostensibly to protect French trade interests, undermine Britain's access to India, and to establish scientific enterprise in the region...
and there was significant immigration after the 1952 Revolution
1952 Revolution
The Egyptian Revolution of 1952 , also known as the 23 July Revolution, began on 23 July 1952, with a military coup d'état by the Free Officers Movement, a group of army officers led by Muhammad Naguib and Gamal Abdel Nasser. The revolution was initially aimed at overthrowing King Farouk...
in Egypt
Egypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
.
The Church was canonically instituted by Pope Shenouda III on July 2, 1974, as the French Coptic Orthodox Eparchy. On June 18, 1994, Pope Shenouda raised the status of the Eparchy to the French Coptic Orthodox Church, a new, self-governing body (the church is integrated within the Church of Alexandria, but is considered autonomous in matters of governance).
The church was headed by Metropolitan
Metropolitan bishop
In Christian churches with episcopal polity, the rank of metropolitan bishop, or simply metropolitan, pertains to the diocesan bishop or archbishop of a metropolis; that is, the chief city of a historical Roman province, ecclesiastical province, or regional capital.Before the establishment of...
Marcos until his death on May 11, 2008. The seat of the head of the French Coptic Orthodox Church has remained vacant since then. The French-speaking Coptic community is now served by H.G. Bishop
Bishop
A bishop is an ordained or consecrated member of the Christian clergy who is generally entrusted with a position of authority and oversight. Within the Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox Churches, in the Assyrian Church of the East, in the Independent Catholic Churches, and in the...
Athanasius, a member of the Holy Synod of the Coptic Orthodox Church
The Holy Synod of the Coptic Orthodox Church
The Holy Synod of the Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria is the highest authority in the Church of Alexandria and it formulates the rules and regulations regarding matters of church's organisation, faith, service's order....
. Priests in the church serve in cities across France.
Bishops
- (Vacant), MetropolitanMetropolitan bishopIn Christian churches with episcopal polity, the rank of metropolitan bishop, or simply metropolitan, pertains to the diocesan bishop or archbishop of a metropolis; that is, the chief city of a historical Roman province, ecclesiastical province, or regional capital.Before the establishment of...
of the Holy Metropolis of ToulonToulonToulon is a town in southern France and a large military harbor on the Mediterranean coast, with a major French naval base. Located in the Provence-Alpes-Côte-d'Azur region, Toulon is the capital of the Var department in the former province of Provence....
and all FranceFranceThe French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
and Primate of the French Coptic Orthodox Church. (Vacant after the death of Metropolitan Markos in 2008) - Athanasius, Auxiliary Bishop of the Holy Metropolis of ToulonToulonToulon is a town in southern France and a large military harbor on the Mediterranean coast, with a major French naval base. Located in the Provence-Alpes-Côte-d'Azur region, Toulon is the capital of the Var department in the former province of Provence....
& All FranceFranceThe French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, Assistant to the Metropolitan of the French Coptic Orthodox Church.
See also
- CoptCoptThe Copts are the native Egyptian Christians , a major ethnoreligious group in Egypt....
s - List of Coptic Orthodox Popes of Alexandria
- Patriarch of AlexandriaPatriarch of AlexandriaThe Patriarch of Alexandria is the Archbishop of Alexandria and Cairo, Egypt. Historically, this office has included the designation of Pope , and did so earlier than that of the Bishop of Rome...
- Christianity in AfricaChristianity in AfricaChristianity is now one of the two most widely practised religions in Africa and is the largest religion in Sub-Saharan Africa. Most adherents outside Egypt, Ethiopia and Eritrea are Roman Catholic or Protestant. The presence of Christianity in Africa began in the middle of the 1st century in...
- Coptic Orthodox Church in EuropeCoptic Orthodox Church in EuropeThe Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria has many churches and congregations in Europe and on 2 June 1974 Pope Shenouda III has received in the Coptic Orthodox Patriarchate of Alexandria a native Orthodox Church in France known as the French Orthodox Eparchy, along with their Primate, who in turn...