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]
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.
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]
Youssef, Metropolitan of the
Southern Diocese and Abbot of the Monastery of Most Holy Virgin Mary & Saint Moses the Strong in
Corpus Christi, Texas. (1995–Present) [6]
Saraphim, Bishop of the Holy Diocese of Ohio, Michigan and Indiana (2017–Present) [11]
Boules, Bishop of the Holy Diocese of Ottawa, Montréal & Eastern Canada. (2019–Present) [12]
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]
Suriel, Bishop of the Diocese of Melbourne, currently serving as professor of Ecclesiastical Education at the Theological College in New Jersey. (1997; 2023 - Present) [14]
Michael, General Bishop in
Virginia, United States, assistant to the Pope (2009–Present) [15]
Archelides, General Bishop in Toronto (GTA) and Central Canada, assistant to the Pope. (2022–Present) [16]
Gabriel, General Bishop in
New Jersey and Patriarchal Exarch for the Archdiocese of North America, assistant to the Pope. (2022–Present) [17]
Auxiliary bishops
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]
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:
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) [15]
Bishop Archelides, as General Bishop in Toronto (GTA) and Central Canada. (2022–Present) [16]
Bishop Gabriel, as General Bishop in
New Jersey and Patriarchal Exarch for the Archdiocese of North America. (2022–Present) [17]