Coptic Orthodox Church in North America

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 the 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.

Decades later, Mexico had a growing Coptic Orthodox community of its own, as it was less than one decade ago when some Coptic families settled in Mexico. The first — and only — Coptic Orthodox church in Mexico is St. Mary and St. Mark's Coptic Orthodox Church in Tlaycapan, Mexico. It was founded in 2001.

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]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 Calgary Herald Newspaper Article
  2. ↑ NY Times (Retrieved 08-02-2008)
  3. ↑ "Coptic Church Urges Thorough Investigation In Murder of Jersey City Family". Coptic Church Network, January 20, 2005. Accessed August 11, 2008.
  4. ↑ CNEWA: The Coptic Orthodox Church
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