Pope Shenouda III Visits LIC Coptic Church
BY LIZ GOFF

Father Rewais Magar, pastor of St. George Coptic Orthodox Church, Long Island City (l.) and Pope Shenouda III, Pope of Aleexandra and See of St. Mark of the Region of Egypt and Diaspora.

A silence fell on a crowd of some 400 parishioners at St. George's Coptic Christian Orthodox Church on August 19 as Pope Shenuda III offered a blessing to consecrate the Long Island City house of worship.

St. George's Financial Officer Saad Seddik said the ceremony marked the first time the pope had visited the church, located at 38-25 31st St. "The consecration was performed as part of an outdoor mass where we celebrated the blessing," said Seddik. "The Holy Father walked through the church, offering prayers and blessing the building. He then joined the mass, where he spoke to parishioners and offered them blessings."

The first Coptic Christian Orthodox Church was established in the United States in 1959 in Brooklyn, by 19 people who emigrated from Cairo and Alexandria, Egypt. The church now boasts more than 400,000 worshippers and churches in more than a dozen states, including 15 in New Jersey.

Parishioners established the first St. George's Coptic Christian Orthodox Church in 1973 in a building located on 31st Street near Ditmars Boulevard, Sekkik said. Officials moved the church to its current location after they purchased the Long Island City building in September 1997. Seddik asserted the first mass was celebrated in the new church on November 11, 1997.

Church officials received invaluable assistance from the building's former owner, George Stamatiades, to change city zoning regulations that initially halted renovations on the church building, said Seddik. "We would never have been able to obtain new zoning without the help we received from George," he said. "He has contributed a great deal in many ways to the church and is considered a part of the church family."

Renovations include a new altar and benches crafted from wood purchased in Egypt. According to Seddik, "The wood is prepared by a company that furnishes the needs of churches in Egypt. To meet our needs, the company shipped the raw materials which were hand-crafted and fitted to create the altar and benches." Other renovations include an elevator that will provide handicap access to the church and two baptismal areas- one for adults and one for infants and children.

"We believe in the value of family and we have established a number of programs designed to encourage family activities. Our children play basketball and other sports together and worked with us on renovations to the church building."

Young parishioners expressed feelings of excitement and fulfillment at the pope's visit. "I've always wanted to meet him," said Marina, 15. "It was exciting at the moment he passed by me during the mass. Seeing him was a fun experience, and his words gave me a new sense of understanding."

Matthew, 13, who served as an altar boy at the August 19 mass, said it was his "lifelong dream to meet the pope, because he is a very good and religious man"

Seddik said church officials are planning more renovations which will be completed when the church has raised sufficient funding. "We are blessed by the visit by Pope Shenuda III and we wish for many good things to happen for the church because of his blessings and presence here."