The Coptic Orthodox Church
Rooted in the teachings of Saint Mark the Evangelist, the Coptic Orthodox Church is one of the world’s oldest Christian communities. Saint Mark brought Christianity to Egypt around 60–61 AD, establishing the Church of Alexandria and ordaining Saint Anianus as its first bishop. Despite facing a society rich in paganism and philosophy, Saint Mark’s faith and miracles, beginning with healing Anianus the cobbler, sparked a spiritual transformation that spread rapidly across Egypt. The Coptic Church became a beacon of learning, holiness, and devotion, shaping Christian theology through its School of Alexandria and early monastic traditions. The term "Coptic" is derived from the Greek "Aigyptos" meaning "Egyptian". When the Arabs arrived in Egypt in the seventh century, they called the Egyptians "qibt". Thus the Arabic word "qibt" came to mean both "Egyptians" and "Christians". The term "Orthodoxy" here refers to the preservation of the "Original Faith" by the Copts who, throughout the ages, defended the Old Creed against the numerous attacks aimed at it.
Saint Mark the Apostle
Born in Cyrene (modern Libya) to Jewish parents, Saint Mark was a disciple of Christ and companion of Saint Peter and Saint Paul. He witnessed Christ’s miracles, wrote the earliest Gospel in Greek, and preached across North Africa before founding the Church in Egypt. Saint Mark was martyred in Alexandria in 68 AD, dragged through the streets by pagans worshipping Serapis. His relics rest today in Alexandria, Cairo, and Venice, and his feast is celebrated on May 8. He is honored as the Apostle, the Evangelist, and the Martyr.
H. H. Pope Tawadros II
His Holiness Pope Tawadros II is the 118th Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of the See of St. Mark. He was born in the name of “Wagih Subhi Baqi Sulyaman” on November 4th, 1952 in the city of Mansoura, Egypt. His father was an Irrigation Engineer and his family moved around during his childhood from Mansoura to Sohag and then to Damanhour.
His Holiness received his bachelor’s degree in pharmacy in 1975 from Alexandria University and earned a fellowship for the World Health Organization from the British International Health Institute in England in 1985. He attended the Coptic Seminary and graduated in 1983. He then worked in a pharmaceutical company in Damanhour that was owned by the Ministry of Health.
His Holiness’s life has always revolved around church since his youth; he wished to live the life of monasticism. He entered the Monastery of St. Pishoy in Wadi Elnatroun on August 20th, 1986 and remained a brother for two years. He was ordained a monk on July 31, 1988 and after a year he was ordained a priest on December 23, 1989. Two months after, H.H. Pope Tawadros started serving with H.E. Metropolitan Pakhomiusof Beheira on February 15th, 1990. He was ordained a bishop on June 15th, 1997 by H.H. the Late Pope Shenouda III as a General Bishop assisting H.E. Metropolitan Pakhomius. His Holiness focused on childhood whether it was in the country-wide children’s festival as well when he was in charge of the children’s committee in the Holy Synod. Before assuming the papacy, H.H. wrote twelve books.
His Holiness was enthroned as the 118th Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of the See of St. Mark on November 18th, 2012 at the Coptic Orthodox Cathedral of St. Mark in Abbassiya, Cairo. The enthronement was presided by H.E. Metropolitan Pakhomius of Beheira, the Patriarchal Locum Tenens, other metropolitans and bishops of the Coptic Orthodox Church and was attended by many delegates of other Christian Churches.
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