St. Mary Coptic Orthodox Church (Los Angeles)
Encyclopedia
Holy Virgin Mary Coptic Orthodox Church (Coptic
: // transliteration
: ti.eklyseya en.remenkimi en.orthodoxos ente ti.parthenos ethowab Maria) is the second oldest Coptic Orthodox church that was established in Los Angeles
and one of the largest Coptic parishes in California
. It is one of over 200 Coptic Orthodox Churches in the US.
was commissioned to serve the neighboring Church of St. Mark
in 1969, during Pope Cyril VI's
papacy. Fr. Bishoy was a promiment Copt, being considered a modern-day saint within the Church, having helped found St. Mark's as well as several other parishes and buildings throughout Egypt, the United States, Europe and Australia.
. In November 1989 a new Coptic-designed church that had replaced the original church building was consecrated by HH Pope Shenouda III
, making it the first church in California that was built in the Coptic style
. Dr. Isaac Fanous
, a Coptic iconographer
, eagerly completed the treasury of icons that were inside of the church in September 1996.
An additional church, chapel bearing the name of St Bishoy, was completed in January 2004 in the lower-level of the building, built specifically for serving the English-speaking congregation.
) Fr. Antonious Henein until his repose in 2006. The church is currently served by Fr. Mina Youssef, who began serving the church in 1995 and was ordained to the priestly rank of Hegomen in December 2006; together with Fr. James Soliman, who was ordained to the priesthood in November 2003.
, who is still the current Pope of Alexandria, enthroned HG Serapion
as Bishop for the diocese, which includes St. Mary's Church as well as several other diocesan churches.
Two services of the Divine Liturgy
are celebrated on Sunday mornings: one for the Arabic-speaking congregation in the main church on the upper-level of the building; and the other for the English-speaking congregation in Saint Bishoy Church located on the lower-level.
There are currently almost 500 Coptic families served by St. Mary's Church alone with several others belonging to different church congregations throughout California.
Coptic language
Coptic or Coptic Egyptian is the current stage of the Egyptian language, a northern Afro-Asiatic language spoken in Egypt until at least the 17th century. Egyptian began to be written using the Greek alphabet in the 1st century...
: // transliteration
Transliteration
Transliteration is a subset of the science of hermeneutics. It is a form of translation, and is the practice of converting a text from one script into another...
: ti.eklyseya en.remenkimi en.orthodoxos ente ti.parthenos ethowab Maria) is the second oldest Coptic Orthodox church that was established in Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
and one of the largest Coptic parishes in California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
. It is one of over 200 Coptic Orthodox Churches in the US.
History of the Church
St. Mary's Coptic Orthodox Church of Los Angeles was founded as the second Coptic parish in Los Angeles, and was incorporated by 1974 with about 50 families at the time. The Coptic population of Los Angeles had been growing since the late 1960s, when Father Bishoy KamelBishoy Kamel
Bishoy Kamel also spelled Bishoi Kamel , was a priest of the Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria. He is considered to be a saint of that faith.-Life:...
was commissioned to serve the neighboring Church of St. Mark
St. Mark Coptic Orthodox Church (Los Angeles)
St Mark Coptic Orthodox Church is the oldest Coptic Orthodox church that was established in Los Angeles and is one of the oldest Coptic parishes in the United States. It is one of over 200 Coptic Orthodox churches in the US.-History of the Church:St...
in 1969, during Pope Cyril VI's
Pope Cyril VI of Alexandria
Father Mina became Pope of Alexandria on 10 May 1959 . In accordance with the old Coptic church tradition, Pope Cyril VI was the only monk in the 20th century to be chosen for papacy without having being a bishop /Metropolitan first...
papacy. Fr. Bishoy was a promiment Copt, being considered a modern-day saint within the Church, having helped found St. Mark's as well as several other parishes and buildings throughout Egypt, the United States, Europe and Australia.
Expansion
St. Mary's Church, on the other hand, was founded in the Highland Park community within the City of Los Angeles, near PasadenaPasadena, California
Pasadena is a city in Los Angeles County, California, United States. Although famous for hosting the annual Rose Bowl football game and Tournament of Roses Parade, Pasadena is the home to many scientific and cultural institutions, including the California Institute of Technology , the Jet...
. In November 1989 a new Coptic-designed church that had replaced the original church building was consecrated by HH Pope Shenouda III
Pope Shenouda III of Alexandria
Pope Shenouda III of Alexandria is the 117th Pope of Alexandria and the Patriarch of All Africa on the Holy Apostolic See of Saint Mark the Evangelist of the Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria...
, making it the first church in California that was built in the Coptic style
Coptic architecture
Coptic architecture is the architecture of the Copts, who form the majority of Christians in Egypt.Coptic churches range from great cathedrals like Saint Mark's Coptic Orthodox Cathedral to the smallest churches in rural villages. Many ancient monasteries like Monastery of Saint Anthony, the oldest...
. Dr. Isaac Fanous
Isaac Fanous
Isaac Fanous was an Egyptian artist and scholar, who specialized in Coptic art and founded its contemporary school.-Early life and teaching:...
, a Coptic iconographer
Coptic art
Coptic art is a term used either for the art of Egypt produced in the early Christian era or for the art produced by the Coptic Christians themselves. Coptic art is most well known for its wall-paintings, textiles, illuminated manuscripts, and metalwork, much of which survives in monasteries and...
, eagerly completed the treasury of icons that were inside of the church in September 1996.
An additional church, chapel bearing the name of St Bishoy, was completed in January 2004 in the lower-level of the building, built specifically for serving the English-speaking congregation.
Priests & Services
From the time of its establishment in 1974, St. Mary's Church was served by Hegomen (ArchpriestArchpriest
An archpriest is a priest with supervisory duties over a number of parishes. The term is most often used in Eastern Orthodoxy and Eastern Catholic Churches, although it may be used in the Latin rite of the Roman Catholic Church instead of dean or vicar forane.In the 16th and 17th centuries, during...
) Fr. Antonious Henein until his repose in 2006. The church is currently served by Fr. Mina Youssef, who began serving the church in 1995 and was ordained to the priestly rank of Hegomen in December 2006; together with Fr. James Soliman, who was ordained to the priesthood in November 2003.
Today
Several years after St. Mary's Church was incorporated, in 1995, the Coptic Orthodox Diocese of Los Angeles, Southern California and Hawaii was founded. Pope Shenouda IIIPope Shenouda III of Alexandria
Pope Shenouda III of Alexandria is the 117th Pope of Alexandria and the Patriarch of All Africa on the Holy Apostolic See of Saint Mark the Evangelist of the Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria...
, who is still the current Pope of Alexandria, enthroned HG Serapion
Bishop Serapion
Bishop Serapion of the Los Angeles was born in Assiut on November 10, 1951. Following his graduation from the Faculty of Medicine at Assiut in 1975, Bishop Serapion formerly practiced medicine in Aswan.-Joining the Monastery:...
as Bishop for the diocese, which includes St. Mary's Church as well as several other diocesan churches.
Two services of the Divine Liturgy
Divine Liturgy
Divine Liturgy is the common term for the Eucharistic service of the Byzantine tradition of Christian liturgy. As such, it is used in the Eastern Orthodox and Eastern Catholic Churches. Armenian Christians, both of the Armenian Apostolic Church and of the Armenian Catholic Church, use the same term...
are celebrated on Sunday mornings: one for the Arabic-speaking congregation in the main church on the upper-level of the building; and the other for the English-speaking congregation in Saint Bishoy Church located on the lower-level.
There are currently almost 500 Coptic families served by St. Mary's Church alone with several others belonging to different church congregations throughout California.
See also
- Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria
- Seat of the Coptic Orthodox Pope of AlexandriaSeat of the Coptic Orthodox Pope of AlexandriaThe Seat of the Coptic Orthodox Pope of Alexandria is historically based in Alexandria, Egypt. It is commonly known as the Holy See of St. Mark, as the Coptic Pope is the successor of St. Mark....
- Coptic architectureCoptic architectureCoptic architecture is the architecture of the Copts, who form the majority of Christians in Egypt.Coptic churches range from great cathedrals like Saint Mark's Coptic Orthodox Cathedral to the smallest churches in rural villages. Many ancient monasteries like Monastery of Saint Anthony, the oldest...
- Coptic CairoCoptic CairoCoptic Cairo is a part of Old Cairo which encompasses the Babylon Fortress, the Coptic Museum, the Hanging Church, the Greek Church of St. George and many other Coptic churches and historical sites. It is believed that the Holy Family visited this area and stayed at the site of Saints Sergius and...
- Coptic Orthodox Church in North AmericaCoptic Orthodox Church in North AmericaThe 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...