Saint Paul Coptic Orthodox Church
Saint Paul Coptic Orthodox Church is a non-profit organization within the Holy Universal Apostolic Coptic Orthodox See of Alexandria under the auspices of His Holiness Pope Tawadros II. The church is part of the Coptic Orthodox Diocese of Mississauga, Vancouver and Western Canada under the auspices of His Grace Bishop Mina.
Saint Paul Coptic Orthodox Church belong to the Coptic Orthodox Patriarchate. Through the holy appointment of God, His Holiness Pope Shenouda III consecrated the Altar and the Icons of the new Church of Saint Paul (dated June 1st 2008)
The origin of St. Paul Coptic Church – London ON
In 1991, Father Athanasius Iskander from St. Mary Coptic Orthodox Church (Kitchener) and a group of 10 families arranged a monthly mass in a rented chapel in St. Joseph’s Hospital in London to celebrate the Liturgy of the Eucharist.
This soon became a monthly habit for the young congregation.
By 1995, The numbers of the families have increased to 18. This gave the board of deacons the financial basis on which they started searching for a permanent church building. They were successful in their search, by the end of 1995, they had found the perfect church
On February 9, 1996, His Grace Bishop Reweis prayed the first liturgy on the feast of St Paul the Anchorite celebrating the new church. Then, three years later, Pope Shenouda III consecrated the alter, and later the same year the church welcomed Father Moses Matar.
Father Johannes Awadalla arrived to London on August 2001 and the congregation welcomed and embraced him as the current priest of the church.
The congregation kept increasing with the grace of God and the welcomed the addition of the Eritrean families. Expansion of the present Church was contemplated but abandoned. However, several months later the search for a bigger church continued and the location in west London (current location) was found and agreed by all members. Upon his arrival from visiting South Africa, Father Johannes was informed of the new building and upon his visitation of the location he felt the prayers were answered by the intervention of St Paul the Anchorite. An offer was placed, and accepted, and the first liturgy was prayed on September 2nd, 2007.