Coptic Orthodox Church in Europe
The Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria has many churches and congregations in Europe and on 2 June 1974 Pope Shenouda III has received in the Coptic Orthodox Patriarchate of Alexandria a native Orthodox Church in France known as the French Orthodox Eparchy, along with their Primate, who in turn was accepted after consecration into the Episcopate, in the Holy Synod of the Church of Alexandria and hence was appointed their Primate Marcos (Mark), as the first Bishop and Athanasius as Chorbishop of The French Orthodox Eparchy.[1]
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Currently there are many Metropolitans and Bishops serving in Europe.
France
On 18 June 1994 Pope Shenouda III raised the French Orthodox Eparchy to the full status of the French Coptic Orthodox Church
On 19 June 1994, in the presence of 62 Metropolitans and Bishops of the Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria, Pope Shenouda III elevated Marcos (Mark) as the first metropolitan of the Holy Metropolis of Toulon & All France and Primate of the French Coptic Orthodox Church and Athanasius as the Auxiliary Bishop (assistant) to Marcos.
Bishops
The French Coptic Orthodox Church has a Diocesan Bishops as well as about 11-12 Priests and several Deacons in about 12-15 parishes and missions across France.
- Athanasios, Diocesan Bishop of the Holy Diocese of Marseille and Primate of the Holy Metropolis of Toulon and of all France, that is The French Coptic Orthodox Church.
- Marc, Diocesan Bishop of Paris and all Northern France
- Luka (Luke), Diocesan Bishop of the Holy Diocese of Geneva (Switzerland) and Southern France
The Church is integrated within the Church of Alexandria, but is considered autonomous in matter of governance.[1]
Germany
Bishops:
- Damian, Bishop of the Holy Diocese of Höxter-Brenkenhausen and Abbot of the Monastery of St. Mary & St. Maurice.
- Michail, Bishop & Abbot of the Monastery of Saint Anthony the Great in Kroeffelbach, Germany.
Currently, there are a few thousand Orthodox Copts in Germany, with several monasteries and churches.[2]
Italy
Bishops:
- Barnaba, Bishop of the Holy Diocese of Torino, Rome and Southern Italy.
- Antonio, Bishop of the Holy Diocese of Milano and Northern Italy & Abbot of the Monastery of Saint Shenouda the Archimandrite in Milano.
The Netherlands
Bishop in Netherlands:
- Arsany (Arsanios), Diocesan Bishop of the Holy Diocese of Amsterdam and all the Netherlands & affiliate jurisdictions.
There is a large Coptic Orthodox community in the Netherlands, mainly in the major cities. Currently, they have Churches in Amsterdam, Assen, Eindhoven, Enschede, The Hague, Kapelle, Leeuwarden, Utrecht and Velsen-Noord.
Great Britain and Ireland
Bishops:
- Bishop Missael, Bishop of the Holy Diocese of the Midlands, England (see ukmidcopts.org)
- Bishop Anthony, Bishop of the Holy Diocese of Ireland, Scotland and North East England
- Bishop Angaelos, Bishop of the Holy Diocese of London
- Eritrean church; Bishop Markos (Mark), Bishop of the Eritrean Church in the United Kingdom, Member of the Eritrean Holy Synod
Scandinavian Countries (Sweden, Denmark, Norway)
Bishop:
- Apakir (Apa Cyrrhus), Diocesan Bishop of the Holy Diocese of Stockholm and of all Scandinavia.
Greece and Cyprus
Bishop:
- Pavlos (Paul), Diocesan Bishop of the Holy Diocese of Athens, all Greece and Cyprus
Central Europe (Hungary, Czech Republic, Poland, Romania and Slovenia)
Bishop:
- Giovanni, Diocesan Bishop of the Holy Diocese of Central Europe (Hungary, Czech Republic, Poland, Romania & Slovenia)
See also
References
- The French Coptic Orthodox Church website http://eocf.free.fr/eglisep_eng.htm
- Adherents.com: By Location