The History of The Diocese

Saint Mark the Evangelist was the first Bishop of Alexandria, Egypt, and several nearby territories. Collectively, these are called the “See of Saint Mark.” Bishops resided in large cities close to the seats of local rulers to facilitate communication with civil authorities in the Roman Empire.

After the Arab conquest of Egypt, the seat of power moved to El Fostat, the region of the current capital of Cairo. Consequently, the Bishop (Pope) of Alexandria moved to Cairo, though his title remains “Pope of the Great City of Alexandria and Patriarch of the See of Saint Mark.”

Other bishops were ordained in various large cities in Egypt over the centuries. The number of bishops varied according to population shifts. Internal movements of Copts, the prominence of new towns, and the disappearance of others for economic and demographic reasons led to changes in boundaries and the number of dioceses over the centuries.

The boundaries, however, were solidified in the 19th century during Mohammed Ali Pasha’s rule from 1805 to 1848, following the new railroad route in Southern Egypt and the branches of the Nile in the Delta. Many more Christians are in the south than in the Nile Delta, reflected in the more significant number of dioceses.

Also, in the second of the 20th century, many services were evolving, and we noted limited geographical location, which therefore needed special attention and expertise. Thus, the idea of a general bishop being responsible for specific services rather than for defined geographical boundaries was born.

The thrice-blessed Pope Kyrillos VI ordained the first two general bishops on September 30, 1962. These were Bishop Shenouda for Church Education and Seminaries (currently His Holiness Pope Shenouda III) and Bishop Samuel for Public, Ecumenical, and Social Services (d. 1981). Soon after, many more general bishops, such as a general bishop for Youth Services, Higher Theological Studies, and other general services, were ordained.

The general bishop serves wherever there are needs and reports to the Pope directly. As new services evolve, he may move temporarily to serve where needed, including services overseas. A general bishop can also be called to serve a diocese permanently and thus become a diocesan bishop for the remainder of his life.

H. E. Metropolitan Serapion

His Grace Bishop Serapion was ordained in 1985 as a general bishop for Public, Ecumenical, and Social Services. In that capacity, he was responsible for many social services, including managing grants from international organizations for services across Egypt. He was also heavily involved in ecumenical bodies as a representative of the Coptic Orthodox Church. This latter responsibility allowed him to travel around the world to attend meetings and participate in policy-making, as he was a member of the central committees of several organizations.

Ten years later, on November 14, 1995, His Eminence was called to be the Bishop of the Diocese of Los Angeles and Southern California and was later enthroned as the Bishop of the Diocese of Los Angeles on December 23, 1995, at Holy Virgin Mary Church in Los Angeles.

He is on the Governing Board of the National Council of Churches of Christ and the Steering Committee of Christian Churches Together in the USA. For many years, he served on the Central Committee of the World Council of Churches, the Life and Service Committee of the Middle East Council of Churches, and as Vice President of the All Africa Conference of Churches.

On Sunday, February 28, 2016, His Holiness Pope Tawadros II elevated Bishop Serapion to the episcopal dignity of Metropolitan. His official title is Bishop of Los Angeles and Metropolitan of Southern California and Hawaii.

Auxiliary Bishops

On June 12, 2016, H. G. Bishop Abraham and H. G. Bishop Kyrillos were consecrated as Auxiliary Bishops to serve alongside His Eminence Metropolitan Serapion in the Diocese of Los Angeles by His Holiness Pope Tawadros II at the Cathedral of the Holy Virgin Mary in Zeitoun, Egypt.

H. G. Bishop Abraham

H. G. Bishop Abraham currently oversees Diakonia (i.e., Social Services) within the Diocese of Los Angeles under the auspices of His Eminence Metropolitan Serapion.

H. G. Bishop Kyrillos

H. G. Bishop Kyrillos oversees Christian education in the Diocese and serves as Dean of the St. Athanasius and St. Cyril Theological School at Claremont University.

Diocese News and Events