St. George and St. Joseph Coptic Orthodox Church is part of the Coptic Orthodox Archdiocese of Northern California and the Western United States.
“Copts” is a term generally used to describe the Christians of Egypt. Copts are the descendants of the Pharaohs and the Coptic language is the last phase of the ancient Egyptian language. During the first century AD, St. Mark the Apostle, who wrote the Gospel of Mark, preached Christianity in Egypt. Thus, the Copts believed in Christ, and the Coptic Church was founded.
When you enter the Coptic Orthodox Church, you can find one of the oldest churches keeping the fragrance of Christ throughout history and the authenticity of the first Christian Church.
Throughout history, the Coptic Orthodox Church has contributed in many ways to enrich Christianity worldwide and present and preserve the pure Christian faith for everybody.
Since its founding, St. Mark established the school of Alexandria, considered the top and first seminary in the world. The Coptic Church also founded monasticism. Many Church fathers, saints, and martyrs have emerged from the Coptic church. Some of the early fathers, saints, and martyrs are St. Athanasius of Alexandria the Apostolic, St. Anthony the Great, the founder of Christian monasticism, St.Macarius, and St. Mina the Wonderworker and from the 20th century, Pope Kirollos who is also a wonderworker.
Today, the Coptic Orthodox Church has hundreds of churches outside of Egypt. The churches are increasing in the number of congregants; both Egyptians as well as other nationalities, who get hooked by the depth of worship in the Coptic church that simply gets the sincere worshippers in the presence of God.
St.John Chrysostom said about the Church of Egypt,
“And now, should you come unto the desert of Egypt, you will see this desert become better than any paradise, and ten thousand choirs of angels in human forms, and nations of martyrs, and companies of virgins, and all the devil’s tyranny put down, while Christ’s kingdom shines forth in its brightness.”