Our Blessed Clergy
His Holiness Pope Tawadros II
The 118th Patriarch and Pope of Alexandria, Egypt
His Holiness Pope Tawadros II was born and raised in the city of Mansoura, Egypt. On August 20, 1986, he entered the Monastery of Saint Bishoy in Wadi Natrun (western desert of Egypt). He was consecrated a monk with the name of Fr. Tawadros Anba Bishoy on July 31, 1988 by the late Patriarch His Holiness Pope Shenouda III of thrice blessed memory. Fr. Tawadros Anba Bishoy was then ordained a monk priest on December 23, 1989 most probably by the Abbot, the late His Grace Bishop Sarabamon of thrice blessed memory. Fr. Tawadros Anba Bishoy began to serve with His Eminence Metropolitan Pakhomius of Beheira as a monk priest. He was then ordained as a general bishop with the name of Bishop Tawadros on June 15, 1997 by the late Patriarch His Holiness Pope Shenouda III of thrice blessed memory. His Grace Bishop Tawadros was then enthroned as the 118th Pope of Alexandria and Pope of the See of St. Mark on November 18, 2012 at the Cathedral of St. Mark in Al Abassiaya Cairo, Egypt. The enthronement was presided by His Eminence Metropolitan Pakhomius of Beheira, other metropolitans and bishops of the Coptic Orthodox Church and was attended by many delegates of Christian Churches.
We pray that the Lord will bless our beloved shepherd, His Holiness Pope Tawadros II. May God protect and preserve His Holiness’ life and services for his children all over the world.
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His Eminence Metropolitan Youssef
Metropolitan of the Coptic Orthodox Diocese of the Southern USA
His Eminence Metropolitan Youssef was born in Sohag, a city in Upper Egypt, and raised in El Shubra (a district in Cairo, Egypt). Listening to the call of the Lord Jesus Christ, His Eminence
Metropolitan Youssef entered the monastic life in 1986 at El-Sourian Monastery located in
Wadi El Natrun (western desert of Egypt) and was consecrated as a monk in 1987 by the name of Fr. Yostos El-Souriany. Fr. Yostos El-Souriany was then ordained into the priesthood in 1988 and then in 1989, he arrived to the United States for the first time under the auspices of the late Patriarch of thrice blessed memory, His Holiness Pope Shenouda III, who was the 117th Pope of the Holy See of St. Mark. Fr. Yostos El-Souriany at that time was appointed a resident priest to serve the Coptic congregation of St. Mary Church in Dallas/Fort Worth, Texas. In 1992, Fr. Yostos El-Souriany was ordained as General Bishop in Cairo, Egypt with the name of Bishop Youssef and then in 1995, His Grace Bishop Youssef was enthroned as the first Bishop of the Coptic Orthodox Diocese of the Southern United States. On November 20, 2022, His Grace Bishop Youssef was elevated to Metropolitan at St Mark Cathedral in Al Abassiya Cairo, Egypt by His Holiness Pope Tawadros II, the 118th Pope of the Holy See of St. Mark.
May the Lord continue to bless and preserve the life of His Eminence Metropolitan Youssef for many years to come.
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His Grace Bishop Basil
General Bishop of the Coptic Orthodox Diocese of the Southern USA [Florida]
His Grace Bishop Basil was born and raised in New Jersey specifically in St. Mary Coptic Orthodox Church in East Brunswick, New Jersey until our Lord Jesus Christ called him to enter the monastic life in 2008 at the St. Mary & St. Moses Abbey in Sandia, Texas. He was consecrated a monk with the name of Fr. Bishoy Abba Moses in 2009 by the Abbot, His Grace Bishop Youssef (currently now His Eminence Metropolitan Youssef), and ordained into the priesthood in 2011. Then in 2016, Fr. Bishoy Abba Moses was appointed as an Episcopal Vicar for the state of Florida and in 2018 was elevated to Hegumen. On November 25, 2018, Fr. Bishoy Abba Moses was ordained as a General Bishop with the name of Bishop Basil by HH Pope Tawadros II at the St. Mark Cathedral in Al Abassiya, Cairo, Egypt with the official reception on December 9, 2018 at St. Reweis Coptic Orthodox Church in Wesley Chapel, Florida. As a general bishop, His Grace Bishop Basil is serving all the Coptic Orthodox Churches in Florida in the Coptic Orthodox Diocese of the Southern USA under the auspices of His Eminence Metropolitan Youssef.
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May the Lord bless and preserve the life of His Grace Bishop Basil for many years to come.
Fr. Philopateer Younan
Priest Of St. Cyril The Sixth Coptic Orthodox Church Jacksonville, Florida
Fr. Philopateer Younan is the priest for St. Cyril The Sixth Coptic Orthodox Church located in Jacksonville, Florida. His Grace Bishop Youssef (now His Eminence Metropolitan Youssef),with the presence of His Grace Bishop Serapion of the Coptic Diocese of Los Angeles (now His Eminence Metropolitan Serapion) and His Grace Bishop Michael of the Coptic Diocese of Virginia ordained him priest on June 17, 2012. Fr. Philopateer has been serving within the Coptic Orthodox Diocese of the Southern USA since June 17, 2012.
We pray that the Lord will continue blessing his service.