A Brief History of the Philadelphia Regional Oriental Orthodox Concelebrated Liturgy

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A Brief History of the Philadelphia Regional Oriental Orthodox Concelebrated Liturgy

    On Saturday, October 24, 2026, His Grace Bishop Karas, member of the Standing Conference of Oriental Orthodox Churches (SCOOCh) and Bishop of the of the Coptic Orthodox Diocese of Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, & West Virginia, hosted the most recent annual Philadelphia Regional Oriental Orthodox Concelebrated Liturgy. The first Oriental Orthodox Concelebrated Liturgy ever prayed in the United States of America was prayed in the city of Philadelphia in August of 1976. After that time, the annual Concelebration moved to the New York/North Jersey area, where most of the Oriental Orthodox Bishops in the United States were at that time headquartered. This became the annual SCOOCh Concelebrated Liturgy, which continues to this day.

    After that, Concelebrated Liturgies did not return to the Philadelphia region for nearly forty years.  In early 2011, Reader Nicholas Siniari (later, Archdeacon Gebre Kristos Nicholas) of St. Anthony Coptic Orthodox Church, Medford, New Jersey, received the blessing from His Grace Bishop David, at that time the General Bishop overseeing the Coptic Orthodox Archdiocese of North America, to begin organizing Oriental Orthodox activities in the Greater Philadelphia Region.  On January 28, 2012, Fr. Rafael Guirguis and Fr. John Bishara hosted a concelebrated matins service and an Oriental Orthodox youth day at St. Anthony.  Later, on April 6, 2013, they hosted the first Philadelphia Regional Oriental Orthodox Concelebrated Liturgy, which has continued every year since that time for the last thirteen years, excepting a brief gap owing to the COVID-19 Pandemic from 2020-2022 and a hiatus in 2024 owing to organizational complications.  Below is a brief timeline of the history of the Philadelphia Regional Oriental Orthodox Concelebrated Liturgy:

  • His Eminence Mor Yeshue Samuel of the Syriac Orthodox Church and His Eminence Archbishop Torkom Manoogian of the Armenian Apostolic Church led priests of the Armenian, Coptic, Syriac, Malankara-Syriac, and Ethiopian Churches in the first Oriental Orthodox Concelebrated Liturgy prayed in the United States in the city of Philadelphia in August of 1976
  • Oriental Orthodox Matins and Youth Day – St. Anthony Coptic Orthodox Church, Medford, NJ – January 28, 2012 (http://www.scooch.org/philadelphia-area-oriental-orthodox-youth-conference/)
    • This marks the resumption of Oriental Orthodox activities in the Philadelphia Region.
  • First Philadelphia Regional Concelebrated Liturgy: St. Anthony Coptic Orthodox Church, Medford, NJ – April 6, 2013 (http://www.scooch.org/philadelphia-regional-concelebrated-liturgy/)
  • Second Philadelphia Regional Concelebrated Liturgy: St. Peter’s Syriac Orthodox Cathedral, Philadelphia, PA – March 29, 2014 (http://www.scooch.org/oriental-orthodox-christians-gather-in-philadelphia-for-second-annual-regional-concelebrated-liturgy/)
    • This marks the first time that the Concelebration was hosted by the Malankara Archdiocese of the Syriac Orthodox Church.
    • Fr. Jose Daniel Paitel (later Chorepiscopose Phillipose) was instrumental in organizing this event, and has faithfully participated in nearly every Philadelphia Regional Concelebration of the Divine Liturgy.
  • Third Philadelphia Regional Concelebrated Liturgy: Holy Trinity Armenian Apostolic Church, Cheltenham, PA – October 3, 2015 (http://www.scooch.org/news-from-holy-trinity-church-cheltenham-pa-cheltenham-parish-hosts-a-con-celebration/)
    • This marks the first time that the Concelebration was hosted by the Armenian Church.
    • SCOOCh Secretary and Director of the Zohrab Center, Fr. Daniel Findikyan (later Bishop and Primate) gave a talk on Oriental Orthodox unity and on the canonization of the Martyrs of the Armenian Genocide after the service.
  • Fourth Philadelphia Regional Concelebrated Liturgy: St. Anthony Coptic Orthodox Church, Medford, NJ – October 29, 2016 (http://www.scooch.org/philadelphia-area-faithful-gather-for-fourth-annual-regional-concelebration-of-the-divine-liturgy/)
    • This marked the return of the Concelebration to the Coptic Church and to St. Anthony parish – the parish which pioneered the event – and also marked the first time that His Grace Bishop Karas – at that time the General Bishop of the Coptic Orthodox Archdiocese of North America – hosted the service.
  • St. Anthony Hosts Oriental Orthodox Liturgy for the Ordination of Deacon Gebre Kristos Nicholas – April 21, 2017 (http://www.scooch.org/participating-in-the-life-of-one-anothers-churches-the-ordination-of-a-scooch-delegate-to-the-holy-diaconate/)
    • His Grace Bishop David, His Grace Bishop Makarios, and His Grace Bishop Karas ordained Reader Nicholas Siniari – one of the chief organizers of the Philadelphia Regional Concelebrated Liturgy – to the diaconate in the presence of fathers from the Armenian, Coptic, Ethiopian, and Eritrean Orthodox Churches.
  • Fifth Philadelphia Regional Concelebrated Liturgy: St. George Coptic Orthodox Church, Norristown, PA – October 14, 2017 (http://www.scooch.org/philadelphia-area-clergy-gather-for-fifth-annual-concelebrated-liturgy/)
    • This marks the first time that His Grace Bishop Karas hosted the Concelebrated Liturgy at St. George Coptic Orthodox Church.
  • Sixth Philadelphia Regional Concelebrated Liturgy: St. Peter’s Syriac Orthodox Cathedral, Philadelphia, PA – November 10, 2018 (http://www.scooch.org/a-full-fall-calendar/)
    • This marks the second time that St. Peter’s hosted the Concelebration, and also featured a lively clergy panel with Q&A.
    • The next day – Sunday, November 11, 2017 – His Grace Bishop Karas was enthroned in Egypt by His Holiness Pope Tawadros II for the new Coptic Orthodox Diocese of Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, and West Virginia (on December 2, 2017 an enthronement ceremony was held to receive His Grace at St. George Coptic Orthodox Church in PA).
  • Seventh Philadelphia Regional Concelebrated Liturgy: St. Sahag & St. Mesrob Armenian Apostolic Church, Wynnewood, PA – November 2, 2019 (http://www.scooch.org/oriental-orthodox-faithful-gather-for-seventh-annual-concelebration-of-the-divine-liturgy/)
    • This marks the first time that St. Sahag & St. Mesrob would host the Concelebration.
    • This also marks the first time that His Grace Bishop Karas participated in the Philadelphia Concelebration in his new role as the enthroned bishop of the Coptic Orthodox Diocese of Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, and West Virginia, giving the blessing for the hosting Armenian fathers to lead the prayers in his presence while he presided from his throne.
  • Eighth Philadelphia Regional Concelebrated Liturgy: St. Sahag & St. Mesrob Armenian Apostolic Church, Wynnewood, PA – October 21, 2023 (http://www.scooch.org/oriental-orthodox-christians-of-the-philadelphia-region-gather-to-pray-for-gods-suffering-people-in-artsakh/)
    • This marks the resumption of the Concelebration after the cessation of activities from 2020-2022 owing to the COVID-19 Pandemic.
    • St. Sahag & St. Mesrob hosted again after the hiatus, marking the first time that a parish hosted the prayers twice in a row.
    • The prayers were dedicated to God’s suffering people in Artsakh.
    • Once again, His Grace Bishop Karas – whose Holy Throne is in Philadelphia – gave the blessing for the hosting Armenian fathers to lead the Liturgy in his presence, and presided from his throne.
  • Oriental Orthodox Vespers Service – St. Anthony Coptic Orthodox Church, Medford, NJ – August 22, 2024 (http://www.scooch.org/sharing-in-the-lives-of-one-anothers-churches-at-the-parish-level/)
    • The Philadelphia Regional Concelebrated Liturgy did not take place in 2024 owing to organizational complications.
    • Nevertheless, the local Coptic, Armenian, Ethiopian, Eritrean, Malankara-Syriac, and Knanaya-Syriac fathers gathered for an Oriental Orthodox vespers service, welcoming Fr. Peter Makarious as a new priest at St. Anthony.  Eastern Orthodox fathers also participated.
  • Ninth Philadelphia Regional Concelebrated Liturgy: Debre Genet Kidus Ammanuel Ethopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church, Philadelphia, PA – February 15, 2025 (http://www.scooch.org/bishops-clergy-and-faithful-gather-for-scooch-philadelphia-regional-oriental-orthodox-liturgy/)
    • This marks the first time that the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church hosted the Concelebration.
    • This also marks the first time that multiple bishops were gathered for the Philadelphia Regional service since 1976,  Those bishops were:
      • His Eminence Archbishop Petros (Ethiopian – host)
      • His Grace Bishop Karas (Coptic)
      • His Eminence Archbishop Mor Silvanos Ayub (Knanaya-Syriac)
      • His Grace Bishop Sinoda (Eritrean)
  • Tenth Philadelphia Regional Concelebrated Liturgy: St. George Coptic Orthodox Church, Norristown, PA – October 24, 2026 (http://www.scooch.org/his-grace-bishop-karas-hosts-philadelphia-regional-oriental-orthodox-concelebrated-liturgy/)
    • This marks the first time that His Grace Bishop Karas hosted the service in the Coptic Rite as the enthroned Bishop of Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, and West Virginia at a parish of his diocese.
    • Three bishops were gathered for the Liturgy:
      • His Grace Bishop Karas (Coptic – host)
      • His Eminence Archbishop Mor Silvanos Ayub (Knanaya-Syriac)
      • His Grace Bishop Sinoda (Eritrean)

     The Standing Conference of Oriental Orthodox Churches glorifies Our Merciful God for the unity that He imparts through grace to His people and His Church, and prays for peace in the entire world.  Please join us for the annual Concelebration of the Divine Liturgy in the Philadelphia Region and beyond.  If you are interested in organizing Oriental Orthodox events in your region, reach out to SCOOCh for guidance and support.  Please join us for the Annual SCOOCh Concelebrated Liturgy on November 7, 2026 at Mor Gabriel Syriac Orthodox Church in Haworth, NJ.  The prayers are dedicated to peace and reconciliation in the Eritrean Orthodox Tewahdo Church.  There will be an agape meal and a brief reception honoring our Beloved Father His Grace Bishop Makarios after the service.  See flyer for details.