SAINT MARKSaint Mark was born in Cyrene, a small town in modern day Libya. His parents migrated to Palestine and settled in Cana of Galilee. He was related to Peter Simon (St. Peter) and Barnabas; his mother greatly admired Jesus Christ and, with her son, followed Him everywhere. Saint Mark was an attendant at the wedding in Cana of Galilee and witnessed the miracle of Jesus turning the water into wine. The last supper was held at Saint Mark's house and Saint Mark witnessed the passion of our Lord. Saint Mark was the founder of Christianity in Egypt, having gone to Alexandria in 48 AD. Saint Mark wrote the earliest recording of the gospel around 66 AD. He was martyred in Alexandria in 68 AD.
The Church celebrates his martyrdom on the 8th of May. |
OUR CHURCHSaint Mark's Coptic Orthodox Church in Honolulu was established in 1986. His Holiness Pope Shenouda III assigned a number of priests to serve there and visited the parish personally in 1989. Priests from the Diocese of Southern California rotated their service there, as well. Among them was Hegumen Father Bishoy Ghobreial, Father Suriel El Anba Bishoy (now His Grace Bishop Suriel), Hegumen Father Anastasi Saint Antony, Hegumen Father Angelos Youssef, Father John Botros, Father Zosima El Muharraqi, Father Raphael El Baramosi, Father Archilids El Antony, and Father Saraphim El Souriani.
The parish initially held services in rental spaces within a Catholic church, an Episcopal church, and a convent. These houses of worship opened their hearts and their doors to them until the purchase of the present property with several buildings, including a church and retreat center; consecrated in 2004 by His Holiness Pope Shenouda III. |