Africa

Africa exists in a unique position amongst the regions of the Coptic Diaspora, as many ancient dioceses of the Coptic Church have dissipated or changed over the centuries, while many new churches and dioceses have sprung up over the past few decades. It is home to Egypt, the land of the Coptic Church, whose churches have not been mapped due to the sheer quantity and the focus on the Diaspora. There exist 4 established dioceses, 1 mission diocese and 2 autocephalous churches within Africa, and literal hundreds of thousands of Copts of all nationalities throughout.

Coptic Capitals

Khartoum - Omdurman

Johannesburg

Nairobi

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Church

Monastery/Covent

Retreat/Cultural Center

Educational

Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church

The ancient Ethiopian Church has been a sister church to the Coptic Church since the beginning of Christianity. Headquartered in Addis Ababa, it is shepherded by H.H Pope Mathias. This Church traces its roots back to St Phillip, who ministered unto an Ethiopian eunuch in Acts. Administratively it was the Pope of Alexandria that ordained the Archbishop of Ethiopia, but Pope Kyrillos VI gave it full autonomy in 1959, ordaining the first Patriarch of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church.

You can learn more here:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ethiopian_Orthodox_Tewahedo_Church

Eritrean Orthodox Tewahedo Church

In 1993, Eritrea gained independence from Ethiopia, and so did the Eritrean Orthodox Tewahedo Church from the Ethiopian Church. Pope Shenouda III attended the ordination of their first Patrarch Abune Phillopos. There is some controversy as to who the current Patriarch of the church is, detailed in the article below. The Eritrean church has a faithful congregation who the Coptic church considers brothers and sisters in our faith in Christ.

To learn more about the history of our Eritrean kin, visit:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eritrean_Orthodox_Tewahedo_Church

Diocese of Atbara, Omdurman and all the North of the Sudan

Shepherded by H.G Bishop Sarapamon, this diocese extends from Omdurman to include all the North of Sudan, including cities such as Atbara, Dongola Port Sudan, and Shendi. Majority of Copts live in the north of the country, closer to the border.

Fun fact: the number of Copts in Sudan are estimated to be around 500 000!

St Mina Church - Atbara, Sudan

Copts in
SUDAN

Diocese of Khartoum and all the South of the Sudan

Shepherded by H.G Bishop Elijah, this diocese covers Khartoum and all of Sudan south of it, including cities like El Obeid, Wad Medani, and Kosti. There is also a Coptic church and school in Juba, South Sudan. The Sudanese Copt population (and the wider Christian minority in Sudan) has had the blessing of much persecution for their faith in recent decades, which has produced many saints out of fervent believers.

For more info: https://www.facebook.com/CopticOrthodoxSouthSudan

Holy Mary Coptic Orthodox Cathedral

Archdiocese of Pentapolis

Up until the 12th century, this was a major Archdiocese within the church, alluding to its significant role in the history of Christianity within Africa. Nowadays, it is attached as suffragan dioceses to Metropolitan Bishop Pachomious of Damanhur and Beheira, and spans Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, and Libya. There is an estimated 60 000 Copts in Libya, and was home to the blessed martyrdom of our 21 Martyrs.

Fun fact: Anba Pachomious acted as Locum tenens after the departure of Pope Shenouda III in 2012, until the ordination of Pope Tawadros II.

Icon of the Blessed 21 Martyrs of Libya

Diocese of Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, and Malawi

Shepherded by H.G Bishop Joseph, this diocese spans 4 countries and 6 churches - some with full time resident congregant members and some with full-time servants from other countries on missions.

Fun Fact:This is the newest diocese on the continent and is home to many incredible services.

For more info, visit: https://coc-africa.org/en

Diocese of South Africa

Shepherded by H.E. Bishop Antonious Markos, this diocese encpsulates all of South Africa, with 11 churches and 1 monastery - the monastery of St Mark and St Samuel located outside Johannesburg with the highest population of Copts in the country.

Fun fact: Bishop Antonious Markos started his missionary work in Ethiopia in 1966, initially being blessed by Pope Kyrillos VI, then Pope Shenouda III, and now Pope Tawadros II! Incredible!

For more info: http://www.copticafrica.org/

Mission of East and Central Africa

While not a formal diocese, the mission in Eastern and Central Africa is overseen by H.G Bishop Boules, which spans 8 countries including dozes of churches, several retreat centres, and a monastery.

The country with the highest Coptic population, Kenya, is also home to the Coptic Hospital, a cutting-edge hospital run by the Coptic mission to provide low-cost health care to the community. They have now expanded to other countries in Africa.

For more info: https://copticmission.org/

COPTS ABROAD