About Us
The Coptic Church of Alexandria was established in the first century when Saint Mark the Apostle and writer of the second gospel brought Christianity to Egypt during the reign of the Roman emperor Nero thirty some years after the Lord's ascension.
Christianity spread throughout Egypt within half a century of Saint Mark's arrival in Alexandria. The Coptic Church, which is now more than nineteen centuries old, was the subject of many prophecies in the Old Testament.
Meet us
The congregation of Archangel Raphael and St. John the Beloved Coptic Orthodox Church prayed its first liturgy January 3, 2009 in a rented church near downtown Chapel Hill.
The church then moved into a rented space across from Southpoint Mall in October 2009 and prayed there for 3 years until moving into our new church on Old Lystra road in November, 2012.
Our congregation first bought 21 acres of land on August 19th 2010, on the Feast day of the Transfiguration of our Lord.
Then, in January 2012, the church broke ground and the construction of our new church began. From its beginning, our church had over 18 visiting priests serving us in over a 4 year period since the church began.
Fr. Morcos Habib prayed the first liturgy on January 3, 2009 and stayed with us for 1.5 years until moving to another church in New Jersey. With the approval of Pope Tawadros II, Fr. Angelos became our permanent priest on November 11th, 2012. The first liturgy was celebrated in our new church on Old Lystra Road on November 18th, 2012, the same day that Bishop Tawadros was enthroned Pope.
H.G. BISHOP PETER
Bishop, Coptic Orthodox Diocese of North & South Carolina & Kentucky. And Papal Vicar of the Churches of Virginia.
His Grace Bishop Peter was ordinated on June 12th, 2016
His grace was a monk by the name of Moses Ava Moussa from St. Mary and St. Moses Abbey in Texas.
He was born in 1974 and has a bachelor's degree from New Jersey. He worked at several companies. In 2005, he joined the Abbey. He worked at the Abbey as Administrative Director. He then worked for seven years as an Associate Director of the Abbey and was responsible for the Abbey's library. He was the first monk to join this Abbey. He served at the Church of Pope Cyril VI in Tennessee.
FR.ANGELOS BISHARA
Priest of Archangel Raphael and Saint John the Beloved Coptic Orthodox Church Chapel hill, NC
Father Angelos Bishara was born in Egypt in 1964.
He graduated in 1987 from Cairo university school of medicine.
Immigrated to USA 1992.
Worked as an internist from 1992-2001.
He was ordained on 1/20/2001 and has served in St Mark's Boston 2001 - 2012.