Church History

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In the name of the Holy Trinity

 Many thanks to Rimoon a youth from our church for translating the church history into English

History of the church of the Great Martyr, Saint George and the Protector of Faith, Ava Athanasious the Apostlic and some recent information about the church of the Great Marty, Saint George and Father Athanasious the Apostlic in Newcastle, in Northeast England.

We are thankful to your efforts, and to the presence of your holiness, to the UK to visit your children, this visit which acts as important food to the new plants, us, which induces in us the virtue of love, to serve God’s people.

We are proud to write about the history of the Coptic Orthodox church overseas, and our Coptic Orthodox church has a great and honoring history throughout the days and history for it is the one that provided or founded for the world the following:

• The first religious school headed by the Great Saint and Martyr St Mark the Apostle, the founder of the See of St Mark.

• The first monk, the Great Saint Anthony, the founder of the monks’ way of living in the whole world.

• The first Patriarch who put down the rule of faith that is prayed in all the churches to this very day, Father Athanasious the Apostlic.

• The first Patriarch who lead all the Christian faith, Father Cyril the first, the pillar of faith.

• The first holy liturgy that has everlasting hymns, that has special music which is the oldest music in the world.

• The first Patriarch who attained more than one Doctorate, and continues to spread the Coptic Orthodox church overseas and all over the world, his holiness Pope Shenouda the third, may God guard his life and keep him for us many years to come in peace and harmony.

• A large number of teachers, faith heroes, martyrs, saints and hermits.

And no surprise about this, for our Coptic Orthodox church in Egypt had prophecies about it from the Old Testament, and was a cause of pride to the land of Egypt because it was honored when the holy family visited it and what an honor that was?

1-History of the Church of the Great St George and the protector of faith, Father Athanasious the Apostle in Newcastle

1-1  The start of the idea of serving in the region where the church now exists and the number of families there at that time:

The idea started when Father Jeremiah Anba Bishoy served in Manchester during 1990 and he used to travel from Manchester to Newcastle once every month to hold a study of the holy Bible. The number of families at that time were ten Coptic orthodox families only who had immigrated from Egypt and Sudan. Father Jeremiah Anba Bishoy did the first baptism in Newcastle to the child Simon Seif Salah Seif in July 1990 at his father, Dr Seif’s house.

2-1 The stages that the church passed through till it became a Coptic orthodox church that is part of the Diocese of Ireland and Scotland and Northeast England and its affiliates:

• The first holy mass was held in Whitley Bay, Newcastle at the house of Dr Seif Salah Seif in August 1991 by Father George Paul (Gergess Boules)
• A church was rented in Backworth, Newcastle and the first holy mass was held in it on 8^th February 1992 by Father Gergess Boules, and masses continued to be held in this church once every month.
• The formation of a commitee on behalf of the people (church members) of the region.
  • Dr Seif Salah Seif
  • Dr Joseph Serkeese
  • Accountant Magdy Azmy Petros

during the visit of his holiness, Pope Shenouda the third, the Pope of Alexandria and the Patriarch of the See of St Mark in the whole world, to Edinburgh, Scotland on 22^nd February and the committee introduced a report to his holiness, the Pope requesting service to the families in Newcastle and they also discussed with his holiness the possibility of buying a church in that area in the future.

• His holiness, the Pope, after accepting the report, selected the monk, Fr Axios Anba Bishoy to serve the region (Newcastle) as well as the following regions.
  • Wales
  • Scotland
  • Ireland
  • Kent

All this happened during the beginning of March 1992 just a few days after having discussed the issue with his holiness, Pope Shenouda the third.

• During July 1992, the idea of buying a new church was being seriously thought about. The search for a suitable church started and one was found in Newcastle after which the Church of England was contacted in November 1992.

• During that time, the holy masses were being held at the rented church in Backworth, by Fr Axios Anba Bishoy. The 22^nd of August 1992 was a special day where the Feast of St Mary was celebrated for the first time in Northern England.

• The 4^th of December 1992 was also a very special day where a holy mass was held for the first time in the church that was bound to be bought. On that day also was the christening of the first child, Marietta Sussette Seif Salah Seif. It was the first time that a holy mass and baptism occur in North UK.

• The members of the committee mentioned above met his holiness, Pope Shenouda for the second time during the beginning of January 1993 and suggested to his holiness that a church be bought. His holiness, the Pope blessed the idea and published it in the “Keraza” magazine dated 12^th December 1993.

• The church was bought beginning of August 1993 and the work started in it immediately. The wood for the altar was sent on 18^th August 1993 and the marble altar on 31^st August 1993.

• The first holy mass for the Feast of Nativity (Christmas) was held at the church which his holiness, the Pope named “the Church of the Great Martyr, St George and Fr Athanasious the Apostlic” on 6^th January 1993. This event was a source of happiness to many people for it was the first time that a holy mass for the Feast of Nativity in the Coptic Orthodox Church was being held in North UK.

• The service in the church kept expanding due to the hard work of the monk Fr Axios Anba Bishoy (presently, His Grace Anba Antony, Bishop of Ireland, Scotland and Northeast England). Soon classes were started for teaching the Holy Bible, Sunday school and classes for teaching hymns to the young deacons. The number of families at that time was twenty six Coptic orthodox families.

• His holiness, Pope Shenouda sent Fr Oranious Anba Bishoy to serve in the church in Wales and this made Fr Axios Anba Bishoy totally available to serve in the church in Newcastle and he served it with all honesty and faithfulness. He made his permanent stay near the church.

• April 1993 was very special for it was the first time that Palm Sunday, Passion week (Holy Pascha) and the Feast of Resurrection were being held in North UK.

3-1 The official Consecration of the church altar

• His holiness, Pope Shenouda the third and members of the congregation that accompanied his holiness who were

1-     Anba Domadious (Metropolitan of Giza)

2-     Anba Ruwais (General Bishop)

3-     Anba Fam (Bishop of Tamma and its affiliated areas)

4-     Anba Missael (Bishop of Birmingham and its affiliated areas)

5-     Anba Poula (Bishop of Tanta)

6-     Anba Serapion (Bishop of services at that time and currently Bishop of Los Angeles and its affiliated areas)

visited the area for the first time on the blessed Sunday the 12^th of September 1993, and his holiness, the Pope along with the members that accompanied him consecrated the altar of the Great Martyr St George and the altar of St Athanasious the Apostlic in the church during a great celebration that was attended by a number of Fathers (priests) who serve in different areas in the UK, and the Coptic orthodox families of the area and from Ireland. This celebration was also attended by honored guests from other churches in the area and heads of other denominations. On that day, his holiness, the Pope, wrote a historical phrase in the church’s history register, “The church is supposed to be a source of major holy activities and a means of taking care of our children and our youth to keep them as constant spiritual members in our church”. The 12^th of September 1993 was a very special day in the history of Newcastle as it was the day that witnessed the arrival of the successor of St Mark to this area and the birth of a Coptic orthodox church in it.

4-1 The Creation of the first Diocese that included the church in Newcastle and the ordination of the first Bishop to this Diocese and his enthronement

• On the 11^th of July 1995, his holiness, Pope Shenouda the third established a new diocese and named it “The Diocese of Ireland, Scotland and Northeast England and it affiliates” and the following churches are a part of this diocese
  1. the church of the Great Martyr, St George and Fr Athanasious the Apostlic in Newcastle
  2. the church of St Mark in Scotland
  3. the church of St virgin Mary and St Demiana, the Martyr in Ireland
  4. the church⁴ of St Antonious in Doncaster
  5. the church⁵ of Arch Angel Michael and St Anba Bishoy in Margate

• On the same day, his holiness, the Pope ordinated the active monk the hegumen Axios Anba Bishoy a Bishop for this diocese in Anba Ruweis in Egypt and this event was attended by more than 60 Bishops from the Holy Synod of our Coptic Orthodox Church and named him, “His Grace the Anba Antony”. On that day, his holiness said the following:

“God has used the Anba Antony to build a number of churches in: Wales, Scotland, Ireland and Newcastle”.

⁴- There is a service there and is in the progress of being bought

⁵- There is a service there and is in the progress of being bought

·        His grace, the Anba Antony was enthroned⁷ in Scotland on the 27^th of July 1995 and in Newcastle on 28^th of July 1995 and in Ireland on the 29^th of July 1995 and these events were attended by the following graceful Bishops

1.  Anba Serapheem (British Orthodox)

2.  Anba Serapamon (Bishop and Head of the monastery of St Anba Bishoy in Wady El Natroun)

3.  Anba Ruweis (General Bishop)

4.  Anba Mesaeel (Bishop of Birmingham)

5.  Anba Tadrous (Bishop of Port Said in Egypt)

6.  Anba Serapion (General Bishop at that time)

It was also attended by a number of respected Church Fathers⁸ in the UK and some of the Coptic orthodox families in the area and Ireland. This was also attended by a number of honored guests from other churches in the area and by government officials. Anba Serapheem and Anba Serapion said a couple of words in English for the occasion after which his grace, the Anba Antony gave a short speech thanking all those who attended. Sunday school students also introduced a short act that everyone liked.

5-1 History of the first Priest to serve in the church after the ordination of the monk hegumen Axios Anba Bishoy, the church father, a Bishop

·        His grace, the Anba Antony requested from his holiness, Pope Shenouda the third, may God preserve his life for many years to come, to send a father to serve the church. His holiness agreed and sent the monk virtuous hegumen Arshilawous Al Maquari to serve the church, who reached on the 25^th of July 1995 and the service was handed to him. He continued to serve God in his church with all honesty for about 5 years after which he returned to the monastery of the Great Saint, the Anba Bishoy in Wadi El Natroun in Egypt on the 12^th of June 2000 after planting fruitful seeds in God’s garden.

6-1 The service that the church offered to the surrounding areas and the timetable for the service in these areas

·        Norwish- 1^st Saturday of every month

·        Margate- 2^nd and 4^th Saturday of every month

·        Doncaster- 3^rd Saturday of every month

·        Bournemouth- 1^st Saturday of every month alternately with Norwish

⁷- As published in the ‘Keraza’ magazine issue # 31 & 32, dated 5 Mesra 1711, 10^th of August 1995

⁸- They are Hegumen Antonious Thabet, Hegumen Bishoy Boshra (from St Mark church in London), Hegumen Zakaria Botros and Fr Surial Ayad (from St Mary and At Abraam church in Brighton), Fr Arshilawous Al Maquari (from St George and St Athanasious church in Newcastle), Fr Polikarpos Anba Bishoy (from St Mark church in Scotland) and 2 British Orthodox fathers

7-1 History of the Consecration of the “Icon Holder”

• The 19^th of September 1996 was a historical day in Newcastle, for on that day, his holiness, Pope Shenouda the third visited the church for the second time to consecrate the church “icon holder” and the following graceful Bishops accompanied his holiness

1.  Anba Antony (Bishop of Ireland, Scotland and Northeast England and its affiliates)

2.  Anba Serapion (Bishop of Los Angeles)

3.  Anba Demian (General Bishop in Germany)

His holiness and the graceful Bishops who accompanied him consecrated the “icon holder” of the church during a huge celebration that was attended by some of the fathers who serve in different areas in the UK, the Coptic orthodox families in the area, and also from Ireland. Honored guests from other churches in the area and government officials also attended this celebration where everyone’s heart was full of happiness.

8-1 Church Donations

The service in the church became regular and the people loved it and started donating from their hearts for paying the rest of the church’s value. And thanks to God’s great work that the money collected was enough to pay the rest of the church’s value and the rest was used for the following

• Paying the full price for St Antonious church in Doncaster
• Paying ten thousand British pounds for the purchase of Arch Angel Michael and St Anba Bishoy church in Margate
• Paying the salary for the church father of Arch Angel Michael and St Anba Bishoy church in Margate for 10 months
• Paying the salary for the church father of St Mary and St Abanoub, the Martyr church in York and Leeds⁹ for 5 months

This is the history that many took part in and had done a lot of hard work, whose names God will remember and will never forget.

2- Recent information about the Cathedral (till the publication of this article)

2-1 Church’s Name: The Cathedral¹⁰ of the Great Martyr, St George and Fr                                                 Athanasious the Apostlic

2-2 Name of the area where the church is located: Newcastle in Northeast England

2-3 Diocese of which it is a part: Ireland, Scotland and Northeast England and its affiliates

⁹- Is in the progress of being bought

¹⁰- His grace, the Anba Antony released a notice that the church be named “Cathedral” on the 13^th of September 2001 since it is his grace’s permanent stay.

2-4 Name of the Bishop of the Diocese and his address: His grace Anba Antony                                                                                                             40 Kingston Drive                                                                                                             Whitley Bay                                                                                                                              NE26 1JJ                                                                                                                               UK

2-5 Name of the Father who currently serves in it and his address and the date he started his service in the church:

The monk hegumen Metawous El Antony

40 Kingston Drive, Whitley Bay, NE26 1JJ, UK

After the departure of Fr Arshilawous El Maquary to Egypt on the 12^th of June 2000, his grace, the Anba Antony, requested from his holiness, Pope Shenouda the third, that monk hegumen Metawous El Antony come to serve in the church, after he had served for a period of 16 years in Khartoum with his grace, the Anba Daniel, the former Metropolitan of Khartoum in Sudan, who had passed away to the heavenly glory on the 16^th of April 2000 in the UK,. His grace, the Anba Antony and the monk hegumen Metawous El Antony arrived in Newcastle on the 24^th of June 2000.

2-5-1 Church’s Address: Brighton Grove NE4 5NT, Newcastle Upon Tyne, UK

2-5-2 Church’s Altars: It has 2 altars; one named after the great martyr St George and                                             the other after Fr Athanasious the apostle.

2-5-3 Church’s Icons: It has an ‘icon holder’and it has icons on its walls and icons                                     drawn on its windows since 1902

2-5-4 Relics of the saints in the church: The following Saints’ relics are in the church

·        St Abanoub the martyr

·        St Abu Sefein the martyr

·        St Tadrous El Shetbi the martyr

·        St Abeskhyron the martyr

·        St Bashnouna the martyr

·        St George El Muzahem the martyr

·        St Mina the martyr

·        St Tadrous El Mashrequi the martyr

·        St Isaac El Defrawy the martyr

·        The Martyrs of Akhmeem the martyr

·        The Martyrs of Fayoum the martyr

And there are official documents that prove the authenticity of these relics.

2-5-5 Church’s website on the Internet: Is in the process of being completed

2-5-6 Church’s constitution: It has a constitution that was blessed by his holiness, Pope

Shenouda the third who authorized it on the 5^th of December 1992.