Diocese of the Southern United States

Diocese of the Southern United States


His Holiness Pope Tawadros II is the 116th Patriarch (St. Mark the Evangelist was the first). His era has been 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. In 1993, the Diocese of the Southern United States became the first diocese to be established in the United States. H.H. Pope Shenouda III appointed His Grace Bishop Youssef to oversee this Diocese.

The Coptic Orthodox Diocese of the Southern United States encompasses the following states:

  • Alabama
  • Arizona
  • Arkansas
  • Florida
  • Georgia
  • Louisiana
  • Mississippi
  • New Mexico
  • Oklahoma
  • Tennessee
  • Texas

There are currently 71 priests serving the 49 churches and 38 Coptic communities located in the Diocese.

Coptic Orthodox Diocese of the Southern United States