Didn’t Saint Mark the Evangelist once consecrate an altar for God in Egypt? Saint Mark Coptic Orthodox Church of Washington D.C. aims to maintain that very spirit.
This church has a rich history. It brings the Orthodox Church’s faith to the nation’s capital. Saint Mark Coptic Orthodox Church was established in 1976. A small group of committed servants founded it. The congregation grew. So did the church facilities and services.
StMarkDC aims to maintain the spirit and tradition. Saint Mark the Evangelist founded it 2000 years ago. He consecrated an altar for God in Egypt. The original Coptic community settled in the area. This included DC, Maryland and Virginia. It also included West Virginia, Delaware and parts of Pennsylvania. It totaled about 80 families. The community was strong and dedicated. It wanted to establish a permanent Coptic Church in the DC Metro area. This was accomplished at their first church site. It was in Vienna, Virginia. That’s just 12 miles outside the nation’s capital. Mission, Discipleship, and Worship have been core values from day one.
More and more new church members joined. The congregation quickly outgrew the original building. Copts arrived from abroad. Others relocated from parts of the United States. The boom of first-generation children being born added to the growth. Space became an issue in the humble first building. Initially, the church contracted Sunday School classrooms. They also used overflow space from another church nearby. Large congregational gatherings moved off-site to hotels and meeting halls. In 1992, a 2.5-acre lot was identified for sale in Fairfax County. It would become the new home of St Mark DC.
The church has grown in members, services and ministries. It has become a cornerstone. It serves both the Coptic and Fairfax communities. Saint Mark Coptic Orthodox Church invites all to join in worship throughout the week. People participate in numerous meetings. These include meetings for kids, youth and graduates. There are also meetings for families and couples. Engage socially at any of the community volunteering events. Saint Mark Coptic Orthodox Church coordinates mission and volunteer trips. These trips bring aid and hope to the poorest. The church pioneered the first online sermon repository. It’s called Orthodox Sermons. It has reached over 13 million people worldwide. This includes areas where Christianity is not accepted.
In 2017, the church outgrew its building again. A need to expand the sanctuary and Sunday School classrooms was identified. This expansion project was completed in spring 2019.
Fr. Paul Girguis, Fr. Mark Aziz, Fr. Elisha Rezk and Fr. Elijah Estafanous all preside here. His Holiness Pope Tawadros II guides the Coptic Orthodox Church. The church strives to create a welcoming space. Here, you can easily connect and encounter God.