Bishop Serapion

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Bishop Serapion of Los Angeles

This image has an uncertain copyright status and is pending deletion. You can comment on the removal.

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, His Grace had practiced medicine in Aswan until he joined the Monastery of Saint Pishoy on April 8, 1979.

His Grace was ordained monk on August 6, 1979, and was ordained priest on July 18, 1981. Thereafter, on December 23, 1982, His Grace was assigned to serve the Coptic congregation in Zurich, Lusanne, and Geneva, Switzerland.

On June 2, 1985, His Grace was ordained Bishop for General and Social Services. During his tenure in this capacity he established three major departments designed for (1) the growth and development of services, (2) serving the family, and (3) international relationship with other churches. Training centers were created to educate and train 300 workers every year in various trades, which helped in improving their standard of living. Numerous projects were founded and employed large numbers workers. Serving the Coptic families extended to rural areas and small villages where spiritual guidance, medical services, housing, and financial assistance were offered.

His Grace has represented the Coptic Orthodox Church at the International Council of Churches. He has established long term relationships with other churches in the United States, Canada, and Italy, and was the first Coptic bishop invited to attend the annual conference of the Church of Scotland.

On November 14, 1995 at Saint Mark’s Cathedral at Anba Rowiss Abbassia, Egypt, His Holiness Pope Shenouda III, consecrated His Grace to be Bishop of the Diocese of Los Angeles.

On December 23, 1995, His Grace was enthroned by their Graces Bishop Sarabamon, Bishop Hedra, Bishop Rowiss, Bishop Mittaous, Bishop Youssef, and Bishop Karas as Bishop of the Diocese of Los Angeles, Southern California, and Hawaii.