The Coptic Orthodox Church
The Coptic Orthodox Church is an ancient Christian Church that traces its origins back to Saint Mark the Evangelist, who brought Christianity to Egypt in the 1st century AD. The Coptic Orthodox Church is the largest Christian church in Egypt and one of the oldest churches in the world. Coptic Christians make up Egypt’s largest and most significant minority population and the largest population of Christians in the Middle East. The church preserves the apostolic thought in its life, spirituality, liturgies, and dogmas. It is a living extension of the apostolic church without deviation. The Coptic Orthodox Church is led by Pope Tawadros II Pope of Alexandria and the Patriarch of the See of St. Mark. Daily, in all Coptic Churches all over the world, Copts pray for world peace and for the well-being of the human race.
Our Services
Sunday School
Alhan
Hymns Competition
Choirs
Family meeting
Kitchen (catering)
Servants meeting
College meeting
Our Patron Saints
- On the 21st day of the month of Tubah, the church commemorates the departure of Our Lady, the all-pure Virgin St. Mary, the Mother of God. She was in constant prayer at the holy sepulchre when the Holy Spirit revealed to her the imminent end of her earthly life. As her final moments approached, the virgins of the Mount of Olives, along with the apostles who were still alive, gathered around her bed. The Lord Jesus Christ, accompanied by thousands of angels, appeared to comfort her, speaking of the eternal joy awaiting her, which filled her with happiness. The apostles and virgins sought her blessing, which she bestowed with an outstretched hand before surrendering her pure spirit into the care of her Son and God. Her spirit was then taken to the heavenly realms.
- The apostles respectfully prepared her body and carried it to Gethsemane. However, some Jews attempted to obstruct the burial. One of them, who tried to seize the coffin, had his hands miraculously detached from his body, remaining attached to the coffin. Realizing his wrongdoing, he wept in regret. Through the apostles’ prayers, his hands were reattached, leading him to believe in Christ. When the apostles placed her body in the tomb, it was divinely concealed from them.
- St. Thomas the Apostle was absent during St. Mary’s departure. Desiring to visit Jerusalem, he was transported there by a cloud. En route, he witnessed St. Mary’s pure body being carried to heaven by angels. An angel instructed him to kiss her body, which he did. Upon his arrival, the disciples informed him of St. Mary’s departure. Skeptically, Thomas insisted on seeing her body. They went to the tomb, only to find it empty, leaving everyone astonished. Thomas then recounted his encounter with her body and the ascending angels. The Holy Spirit revealed to them that the Lord chose not to leave her body on earth. The apostles awaited the fulfillment of the Lord’s promise to see her in the flesh once more, which came to pass on the 16th day of the month of Misra.
- St. Mary lived for 60 years on earth. She spent 12 years in the temple, 34 years in Joseph’s house until the Ascension of the Lord, and the remaining 14 years with St. John the Evangelist, following the Lord’s command at the cross. Her intercession and blessings be with us all. Amen.
- Saint John the Baptist, known as ‘Yohanna Al-Mamadan’ in the Coptic Orthodox Church, is commemorated on the 2nd day of the month of Tout. The church celebrates the martyrdom of this forerunner and great prophet, the son of Zacharias the priest, which occurred by the order of King Herod. St. John rebuked Herod for taking Herodias, the wife of his brother Philip, as his own, saying, ‘It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife.’ (Mark 6:18) Consequently, Herod imprisoned St. John, though he feared him.
- An opportune day arose when Herod, celebrating his birthday, held a feast for his nobles, high officers, and the chief men of Galilee. During the festivities, Herodias’ daughter danced and pleased Herod, prompting him to promise her anything she desired, even up to half of his kingdom. Consulting her mother, she was instructed to ask for the head of John the Baptist on a platter. Despite his profound regret, Herod, bound by his promise and the presence of his guests, ordered his servants to behead St. John. The head was then given to the damsel, who presented it to her mother. (Mark 6:20-28) This event turned their celebration into a day of sorrow and consternation.
- Legend has it that when St. John’s holy head was severed, it miraculously flew up into the air, proclaiming, ‘It is not right for you to take your brother’s wife.’ It is believed that this head is now housed in Homs, Syria.
- Regarding his holy body, St. John’s disciples took it and laid it in a grave. It remained there until the days of Pope Athanasius, when God willed for his body to be uncovered.
- May his blessings be with us all. Amen.
On the 4th day of the month of Tubah, the church celebrates the departure of St. John the Evangelist. In the year 100 A.D., St. John, a virgin, evangelist, and apostle, and the son of Zebedee, departed from this world. St. John Chrysostom, known as ‘of the Golden Mouth,’ stated that St. John the Evangelist was initially a disciple of St. John the Baptist. He was the brother of St. James the Elder, who was martyred by Herod. The Lord named him and his brother ‘Boanerges’ (Mark 3:17), meaning ‘sons of thunder,’ for their strong zeal and great faith. St. John was also the disciple whom Jesus loved.
The lot fell on St. John to go to Asia, where he faced stiff-necked people. He prayed for Christ’s presence to be with him and then journeyed to Ephesus with his disciple Prochorus. En route, their ship wrecked, and each passenger clung to a plank of wood. The waves carried Prochorus to an island, while St. John remained adrift at sea for several days. By God’s will, the waves eventually brought him to the same island as Prochorus. Reunited, they offered thanks to God for their preservation.
In Ephesus, St. John initially faced resistance when preaching the word of salvation. The turning point came when a child, the only son of a woman who managed a public bath, tragically fell into a furnace and died. During the mother’s time of grief, St. John prayed fervently, made the sign of the Cross over the child, and breathed into his face, miraculously bringing him back to life. This miracle led the mother and many city dwellers to believe in St. John’s teachings, and they were baptized. Despite attempts on his life by idol priests, St. John continued his mission, protected by the Lord.
St. John then traveled to other parts of Asia Minor, converting many to the Faith of Christ. He lived to be 90 years old and, due to his advanced age, was carried to believers’ gatherings. His sermons were brief yet profound, often saying, ‘My children, love one another.’ He authored the Gospel of John, the Book of Revelation, and three epistles.
St. John witnessed the Transfiguration of Jesus Christ and reclined on His chest at the Last Supper. He inquired of Jesus about the betrayer and stood by the Cross with the Virgin St. Mary. To St. John, Jesus entrusted His mother, and to His mother, He entrusted St. John. When Peter inquired about St. John’s fate, Jesus replied, ‘If it be that I wish him to be here until I come, what is that to you?’
As St. John sensed his impending departure from this world, he gathered the people, administered the Body and Blood of the Lord, and urged them to remain steadfast in their faith. He then left Ephesus, asking his disciples to dig a pit for him. After praying and bidding farewell, he instructed them to strengthen the brethren in the faith of the Lord Jesus Christ. He declared his innocence of their blood, having taught them all of God’s commands, and prophesied that they would not see his face again.
After his departure, the people, upon learning of his passing, mourned deeply, reflecting on his miracles and his meekness. Although St. John did not meet a martyr’s death like the other apostles, he was their equal in heavenly glory due to his virginity and holiness.
May his prayers be with us, and Glory be to our God forever. Amen.
- On the 15th day of the month of Hator, the church celebrates the martyrdom of St. Mina, also called the blessed faithful. His father, Eudoxius, a native of Nakiyos (Nikiu) and its Governor, was envied by his brother, who brought charges against him before the Emperor. Consequently, Eudoxius was transferred to Afrikia and appointed its Governor, where he was well-received for his merciful and God-fearing nature.
- Eudoxius’s wife, Euphemia, was childless. During a visit to church on the feast of Our Lady, the Virgin Mother of God, at Attribes, she was moved by the sight of children with their parents. In her longing, she wept before the icon of Our Lady St. Mary, pleading for a child. A voice from the icon responded with ‘Amen,’ assuring her that her prayers were heard. Upon returning home and sharing this experience with her husband, he expressed his faith in God’s will.
- The couple was blessed with a son, named Mina, in accordance with the voice Euphemia heard. Mina was raised in a Christian manner, learning reading and writing. After the death of his father and later his mother, Mina dedicated himself to fasting, praying, and living a Christian life. Due to his and his father’s reputation, he was appointed to his father’s former position, yet he remained devout in his worship.
- During Diocletian’s reign, when Christianity was renounced and idol worship enforced, many were martyred for their faith in Christ. St. Mina resigned from his position and retreated to the desert for intense worship. One day, he witnessed a vision of martyrs receiving crowns and heard a voice promising similar rewards for those who toil in the name of Christ. Motivated, he returned to his city, openly confessing his faith. Despite attempts to sway him with honors and threats, Mina remained steadfast. Ultimately, he was executed by beheading, and his body was cast into fire but remained unharmed.
- His sister, bribing the soldiers, retrieved his body and, as per his advice, set out for Alexandria. En route, the ship was attacked by sea beasts, but a miraculous fire from Mina’s body repelled them. Upon reaching Alexandria, the Patriarch and the people received the body with great reverence.
- Later, during a conflict with the Berbers, the Governor took St. Mina’s body for protection and emerged victorious. Attempts to relocate the body were thwarted by divine intervention, indicating its destined resting place.
- Miraculous healings began to occur near St. Mina’s resting place, drawing attention far and wide, including the Emperor of Constantinople, whose leprous daughter was healed after using the sand and water from the site. A church was built there, and the area flourished until it was destroyed during Arab invasions.
- Pope Abba Kyrillos the Sixth later established a large monastery in honor of St. Mina in the Marriot area, ordaining educated monks and fostering a place of worship and blessing.
- May the intercession of Mari-Mina be with us, and Glory be to our God forever. Amen.
- On March 9 (Amshir 30), the church celebrates the departure of the Great Pope (Papa Ava) Kyrillos (Cyril) VI, the 116th successor of St. Mark the Evangelist. He was the Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of the See of St. Mark before our present Pope, Papa Ava Shenouda III. Anba (His Holiness) Kyrillos was a holy man who, through full dedication to the life of prayer and fasting, possessed many higher gifts. These included performing wonders and miracles, the gift of knowledge, and an unusual ability to lead by example, a quality that had been missing for generations before his ascending to the throne of St. Mark. He sat on the chair of St. Mark for twelve years (1959-1971). He had the honor and wisdom needed to guide the Coptic Church through the difficult times of the 1960s, when the government of Gamal Abdul-Nasser was nationalizing businesses, real estate, and land, including those belonging to the churches and monasteries. He was highly regarded by the people of Egypt, both Christian and non-Christian alike.
- Pope Kyrillos VI was born on August 2, 1902, as Azer Ata, the son of a church deacon from a middle-class family. After completing high school, Azer worked for a shipping company in Alexandria. Against his family’s wishes, he resigned from his job with the intention of becoming a monk and entered the monastery of Baramous (named after Sts. Maximus and Domadius) in the Western Desert of Egypt, in an area called Bariaat Sheheet (the prairie of the heart’s scale). On February 25, 1928, he was consecrated a monk and given the monastic name ‘Mena’ after St. Menas, his patron saint. Three years later, on July 18, 1931, he was ordained a priest.
- Fr. Mena attended the Helwan Theological College and was rated one of the top students. Later, he retired to a cave two miles away from the monastery to live a life of solitude, becoming known as ‘Abouna Mena Al-mota-Wahed’ (Fr. Mena the Solitaire). He was later appointed abbot of the Monastery of St. Samuel in the eastern desert, south of the Suez near the Red Sea, where he devoted much effort to restoring this historic landmark.
- After restoring the monastery of St. Samuel, he moved to a deserted windmill south of Cairo (which belonged to the Army, and he later paid a nominal rent for it upon discovering its ownership). Near the historic region of ‘Masr Al-Kadema’ (ancient Cairo), he restored the place, built a small residence and a church in the name of St. Mena, his patron saint. Surrounded by college students, many from outside Cairo, he started a dormitory for those in need. This informal program led to the first church-affiliated dorm in modern times in Egypt and produced countless church leaders, including bishops, priests, and laity leaders like His Holiness Pope Shenouda (his successor) and the late Bishop Samuel.
- After the abduction of his predecessor, the late Pope Youssab (Joseph) II by militant Copts, the church experienced great turmoil, which was short-lived as Pope Youssab departed shortly thereafter.
- In April 1959, Fr. Mena Al-Mota-Wahed was elected Pope and Patriarch through the unique process used in the Coptic Church. Candidates are nominated, and three or four are elected by the Holy Synod as most qualified. The final selection is left to the will of God and the guidance of the Holy Spirit, with the names placed on the altar during the final selection day. A young deacon then draws a name, which is considered God’s choice among the qualified candidates for this high calling.
- In May 1959, Fr. Mena became Pope and Patriarch by the laying of hands of all the bishops of the Coptic Church at the time, and he was called Pope Kyrillos VI. During his tenure, many were attracted to monastic life and the priesthood by his good example and sincere lifestyle. As a teenager growing up in Egypt at the time, I regularly attended Vespers at the Great St. Mark Cathedral in Cairo, where his holiness led the prayers. Many of us had the blessing of seeing him, talking to him, and receiving his blessings. He always paid attention to the people, spending many hours blessing and chatting with both young and old. He encouraged us during exam seasons and prayed for our success. No wonder many joined the priesthood from the ranks of college graduates in various fields, which was previously not common. Many books have been written about his life, wonders, and miracles. The author recommends the publications of the Pope Kyrillos the VI Society, originally published in Arabic and translated into many languages (English, French, German, etc.). We will mention just a few miracles, some not published elsewhere and related to the author by relatives and friends:
- His Holiness had the gift of knowledge. One day, he was visited by two men, one well-known to him. When the gentleman introduced his friend, Pope Kyrillos looked at the man and said, ‘Why don’t you like us? I love you and like to see you here always.’ The man was ashamed, having previously thought ill of the Pope and argued against meeting a ‘simple’ man. He became a great admirer of Anba Kyrillos, and his son was healed from a terrible illness through Anba Kyrillos’s prayers.
- A miracle of healing and casting out devils from a non-Christian young lady was related to me by a very dear relative. She was the daughter of his boss in a textile factory near Alexandria, one of 22 children, possessed by demons and withering away. Her father, having spent a fortune on doctors and witch doctors to no avail, asked my relative if he could meet the ‘Sheik Kebeer’ (Great Elder). A meeting was arranged, and Anba Kyrillos, recognizing them without being told, called the young lady by her first name, placed his cross on her forehead, and she fell down sobbing. From that moment, she was completely healed.
- In his last days, suffering from phlebitis (a blood clot in the leg), he requested a speaker be hooked from the great Cathedral to his bedroom, as he could not bear missing the liturgy. The head mother of a convent wanted to speak to him on the phone but was denied his private number. Anba Kyrillos appeared to her in a vision, gave her the number, and comforted her. She was later blessed by seeing him and was rendered speechless when Anba Kyrillos asked why she did not call his private line.
- Our Father Papa Ava (the Great Pope) Kyrillos departed on March 9, 1971. Shortly before his departure, he told one of the monks, ‘You look like Tobia, the one mentioned in the book of Tobeet. Take care of my burial.’ Initially, they buried him under the Altar in the Great Cathedral in Cairo. But when his successor, the Great Patriarch, Pope Shenouda III read his will, he followed his wishes and moved his holy body to the desert southwest of Alexandria, to the Monastery of St. Mena, which was renovated and immensely expanded by Pope Kyrillos to honor his good friend and patron saint, St. Mena of Marriot. That is where he rests.
- It is the custom of Apostolic Churches to wait 50 years after a person’s departure before declaring them a saint. Although many in our generation feel deeply about the worthiness of Anba Kyrillos, we anxiously await the day this recognition is granted. His prayers and the prayers and intercessions of his patron, Saint Mena of Marriot, be with us. Glory be to God forever. Amen.
