The Diocese
His Holiness Pope Shenouda III is the 116th Successor of St. Mark the Evangelist. His Holiness' era is marked by a remarkable growth in the number of Coptic churches abroad. To address the needs of these churches, His Holiness felt the urgency to establish dioceses abroad. Thus the first Coptic Orthodox Diocese to be established in the United States is the Diocese of the Southern United States in 1993. H.H. Pope Shenouda III appointed His Grace Bishop Youssef to oversee this Diocese.
The Coptic Orthodox Diocese of the Southern United States is composed of the following states:
- Alabama
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- Florida
- Georgia
- Louisiana
- Mississippi
- New Mexico
- Oklahoma
- Tennessee
- Texas
As the Diocese has grown throughout the years by the grace of God, the states are grouped into 3 regions:
Western Region:
- Arizona
- New Mexico
- Oklahoma
- Texas
Central Region:
- Alabama
- Arkansas
- Georgia
- Louisiana
- Mississippi
- Tennessee
Florida Region:
- Florida
There are currently 93 priests serving the 66 churches and 39 Coptic communities located in the Diocese.
For more information visit www.suscopts.org.