St. Pope Kerollos VI Coptic Orthodox Church is part of the Coptic Orthodox Patriachate of Alexandria, Egypt of the See of St. Mark under the auspices of His Holiness Pope Tawadros II.

The Orthodox faith is the true Christian tradition, rooted in the teachings of the apostles passed down from Christ Himself. Coptic Orthodoxy is a branch of the Orthodox Christian family, emphasizing adherence to the ancient, unaltered doctrines of Christianity. The Coptic Orthodox Church maintains a distinct liturgical and theological tradition as handed down from the early church. Its practices and beliefs have been preserved through centuries, maintaining a deep connection to the early Christian communities in Egypt.

The origin of St. Pope Kerollos VI Coptic Orthodox Church is both unique and inspiring. By the grace of God, Archangel Michael Church in Santa Ana experienced remarkable growth throughout the 2000s and 2010s. The number of faithful increased so greatly that their existing space and facilities could no longer comfortably accommodate the congregation. 

In response to this tremendous blessing, the church began renting a secondary facility in Westminster in March 2012 to serve the growing community.In addition to the regularly scheduled services in Santa Ana, the Westminster location hosted Vespers and Sunday School on Saturday evenings and the Divine Liturgy on Sunday mornings. And the four priests from Archangel Michael Church faithfully rotated their service between the two locations. 

In a short time, the Westminster location began to develop its own close-knit community and spiritual identity. While the additional site helped meet the needs of the expanding flock, it became clear that this arrangement was best suited as a temporary step. Because, as the number of faithful continued to grow, the clergy and servants found themselves caring for two vibrant communities across two locations. Out of pastoral concern for the people and a desire to shepherd the faithful more closely, it became evident that the next step was not simply to maintain a secondary campus, but to establish a new parish—one that could grow and flourish with its own priests and servants, continuing the work of the Church for generations to come.

So in June 2013, with the guidance of Metropolitan Serapion, it was decided that the Westminster community would purchase its own property, establish a new permanent church home, and dedicate the altar to St. Pope Kyrillos VI. With the continued support of Archangel Michael Church and its four priests rotating through the parish, the search for a permanent location began. By the grace of God, an opportunity appeared quickly, though it came with an immense price tag. But once word spread that the altar would be dedicated to St. Pope Kyrillos VI, the Coptic community united in deep love for the beloved patriarch. Within just two months of prayer, effort, fundraising, and the power of St. Pope Kyrillos VI, the property was acquired for $4 million.

Just over one year after the saint’s canonization, St. Pope Kerollos VI Coptic Orthodox Church was officially established on October 11, 2014, with the celebration of the first Divine Liturgy in their new home. And St. Pope Kyrillos VI continued to pour blessings upon the growing community. In May 2015, after serving at Archangel Michael Church for 22 years, Metropolitan Serapion appointed Fr. Athanasius Ragheb as the permanent parish priest. One of Fr. Athanasius’s first initiatives was to renovate the newly acquired building to better serve the congregation and prepare it for the pastoral visit of the patriarch, Pope Tawadros II.

On October 18, 2015, Pope Tawadros II celebrated the Divine Liturgy and consecrated the altar in the name of St. Pope Kyrillos VI. During his sermon, he announced the elevation of Fr. Athanasius to the priestly dignity of Hegumen. The congregation immediately erupted in joyous applause—a heartfelt testament to the fatherhood he provides and the deep love they hold for him. It was a truly joyous and unforgettable day for the entire community. After the liturgy concluded, Pope Tawadros II greeted every single person in attendance—an estimated 5,000 participants.

Under the continued leadership of Fr. Athanasius, the church continues to flourish. Its ministries continue to expand, additional clergy have joined in service, and the faithful continue to grow in a life with Christ. With future plans for construction and expansion, the parish looks ahead with hope and gratitude, giving glory to God in all things.