Coptic Orthodox Diocese of Los Angeles, Southern California, and Hawaii
The Coptic Orthodox Diocese of Los Angeles, Southern California and Hawaii, is a Metropolitan Diocese of the Coptic Orthodox Church, which was founded in 1995. It is currently headed by Metropolitan Serapion the Bishop of Los Angeles, and Metropolitan of Southern California and Hawaii.
Diocese of Los Angeles, Southern California and Hawaii | |
|---|---|
| Location | |
| Country | United States |
| Territory | Southern California and Hawaii |
| Information | |
| Denomination | Coptic Orthodox |
| Rite | Alexandrian |
| Established | 1995 |
| Current leadership | |
| Pope | Tawadros II |
| Metropolitan | Serapion |
History
Early Coptic Community
After the passing of the 1965 Immigration Act, more and more Copts were able to gain entry into the United States, in search of religious freedom, political stability, and economic opportunity. Copts who had migrated to Southern California found its climate to be similar to the one they left behind in Egypt, and thus encouraged more and more of their relatives to move there as well; as a result of this the number of Copts in Southern California jumped from just about 50 individuals in 1963, to being in the hundreds within the following years.[1] During these early years, there were no local churches or clergy in the region, and the Liturgy was held by visiting clergy once a year. Some of the congregation were also attending the Liturgies of other Orthodox denominations on a regular basis, and attending Bible Study meetings at homes.
In 1969, Pope Kyrillos VI, sent Fr. Bishoy Kamel, and Fr. Tadros Malaty to serve the congregation. By 1970, the first Coptic Church in Los Angeles was established, being Saint Mark Coptic Orthodox Church. In late 1973 a local member of the Congregation, Fr. Antonious Henein, was ordained a priest to especially serve in Los Angeles. After His return to the U.S. in 1974, a second Church was purchased, Holy Virgin Mary Coptic Orthodox Church, in Los Angeles.
In 1977, Pope Shenouda III, visited the region during his two months pastoral journey to the diaspora. During his visit he observed the need for service development throughout the Diaspora and especially in Southern California. In 1980, two new churches were established to service the region, Saint George in Bellflower, and Archangel Michael in Santa Ana. Following a second visit in 1989, Pope Shenouda III began to visit California annually, establishing more Churches, and ordaining more priests.
By 1995, Southern California had 15 Churches, and 19 Priests. During that year's Visit, Pope Shenouda III announced that the region had grown enough to warrant the establishment of a local Bishopric.
Diocese
In 1995, the congregation of the region signed a petition to instate Bishop Serapion, at that time a General Bishop who had assisted the Pope during his visits to them, to be their Diocesan Bishop. Pope Shenouda III called upon Bishop Serapion to be the Bishop of Los Angeles, Southern California and Hawaii on November 14, 1995 in the Coptic Patriarchate in Cairo. Bishop Serapion arrived in Los Angeles on December 23, 1995, and was installed upon the throne by six bishops, in the presence of numerous priests, hundreds of deacons, and a multitude of the congregation.[2]
Metropolitan Diocese
On February 28, 2016, Pope Tawadros II elevated Bishop Serapion to the episcopal dignity of Metropolitan, making the Diocese a Metropolitan Diocese. Pope Tawadros II also called two bishops to assist Metropolitan Serapion in serving, Bishop Abraham, and Bishop Kyrillos.[3]
On February 15, 2019, Bishop Suriel relocated to assist Metropolitan Serapion in the service of the Diocese.
Statistics
| Year | Number of Parishes | Deacons | Priests | Bishops | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Presbyters | Hegumens | Total | ||||
| 1970 | 1 | - | - | - | 1 | - |
| 1975 | 2 | - | - | - | 2 | - |
| 1980 | 3 | - | - | - | 3 | - |
| 1985 | 5 | - | - | - | 5 | - |
| 1990 | 13 | - | - | - | 12 | - |
| 1995 | 15 | - | - | - | 19 | 1 |
| 2000 | 22 | - | - | - | 26 | 1 |
| 2005 | 28 | - | - | - | 42 | 1 |
| 2008 | 31 | 5 | 34 | 13 | 47 | 1 |
| 2020 | 43 | 12 | 38 | 21 | 59 | 4 |
Geographic Components
The Diocese encompasses the southernmost counties of the State of California, as well as the entirety of the State of Hawaii. Due to the large size of the Diocese it is administratively divided into five regions, a region for Hawaii, and four regions for Southern California.[4]
Hawaii Region
Encompasses the entirety of the State of Hawaii.
The Eastern Region
Encompasses the easternmost parishes of the Diocese, which are in:
- Riverside County
- San Bernardino County
The Western Region
Encompasses the westernmost parishes of the Diocese, which are in:
- Los Angeles County
The Northern Region
Encompasses the northernmost parishes of the Diocese, which are in:
- Fresno County
- Inyo County
- Kern County
- Kings County
- San Luis Obispo County
- Santa Barbara County
- Tulare County
- Ventura County
The Southern Region
Encompasses the southernmost parishes of the Diocese, which are in:
- Imperial County
- Orange County
- San Diego County
Affiliated Organizations
- St. Athanasius and St. Cyril Theological School (ACTS)
- Santa Virina Charity
- Saint Anthony Monastery
- Saint Paul Brotherhood
- Saint Virina Sisterhood
Bishops of the Diocese
The Diocesan Bishop
Metropolitan Serapion, Bishop of Los Angeles, and Metropolitan of Southern California and Hawaii. (1995–present)
Auxiliary Bishops
- Bishop Suriel (1997–present)
- Bishop Abraham (2016–present)
- Bishop Kyrillos (2016–present)
References
- Khalil, Elhamy (2008). The Making of a Diocese. pp. 3–5.
- Khalil, Elhamy (2008). The Making of a Diocese. pp. 6–10.
- Samaan, Moses (March 9, 2016). "Metropolitan Serapion". Coptic Orthodox Diocese of Los Angeles, Southern California, and Hawaii.
- Samaan, Moses (July 13, 2012). "Diocese Parish Directory". Coptic Orthodox Diocese of Los Angeles, Southern California and Hawaii.