Our Church located in St. John's and Gander
Newfoundland, Canada

+ + + Here is How our Church started + + +

+ Starting in the late nineteen eighties, some of Coptic doctors sought positions in Newfoundland. There were about 6 Coptic families lives in Grand Falls town and the surrounding areas. One of the Coptic families invited father Athanasius Iskander from St. Mary’s Coptic Orthodox Church in Kitchener (Ontario) to hold the first Eucharist in Newfoundland in the summer of 1991. At that time, there were no church or any rented chapel to pray, they prayed the first Liturgy in one of the family’s house in the town of Grand Falls.

 


 + A few months later, more Coptic families were discovered in St. John’s, the capital of the province. Father Athanasius started to visit those families on an occasional basis, as well as those in Grand Falls. At that time, the number of the Copts in Newfoundland increased than the expected, with more doctors working in remote areas of the province. As a Liturgy is held there once in a while, that encouraged some families to stay in Newfoundland.

+ As the number grew, father Athanasius and the Coptic families decided to rent a church instead of using the house for the service. A small chapel in a Catholic church in St. John’s was available and they started using it. The services became regular, once a month on a Saturday.

+ By 1996, the number of a families increased, then father Athanasius proposed to register a church with Saint Maurice name, St. Maurice is almost a forgotten martyr from the third century, who is well known all over the world, except in his native land, Egypt.


+ In May 2000, His Grace Bishop Reweiss visited St. John’s and celebrated the Eucharist with many of the Copts in Newfoundland.

+ Rightnow, Father Danial Rizg from St. Mena's Coptic Orthodox Church (Halifax) serving the Newfoundland area, St. John's and Gander.


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+ On the Epiphany day (January 19, 2005), the first church building has been purchased and received in the Newfoundland Island with the name of Saint Maurice Coptic Orthodox Church, in the city of Mount Pearl the twin city to St. john’s in Newfoundland in Canada.
The Iconostasis is to be made and Icons are to be drawn.

+ In February 12, 2005, HG Bishop Rowais celebrated the premier Divine Liturgy, Hegomen Athanasious Iskander of St. Mary's Church, Kitchener, Ontario and Fr. Daniel Rizk of St. Mena Church, Halifax, Nova Scotia Participated in the prayer.

 


 + The first Holy Week and Easter Prayer(April 2005)
The Papal Decree with the following delegation to Fr. Youssef Gayed to pray the Holy Week and Easter Prayers with the congregations of St. Maurice Church in St. John's city in Newfoundland in Canada.

+ The First Christmas and Epiphany's (January 2006)
The Papal decree with the following delegation to Fr Mikhail Sedrak to pray the Christmas and the Epiphany's with the congregations of St. Maurice Church in St. John's city in Newfoundland in Canada.