West Virginia's First Coptic Church To Open On Charleston's East End
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – A Christian group with Middle Eastern origins is all too familiar with acts of terror at the hands of the Islamic State, but now, a local Coptic community is coming together.
There are more than 200 Coptic Christian Orthodox churches across the United States. While there are congregations throughout West Virginia, the closest Coptic (Copt) church is located more than 300 miles away, but that is about to change.
What better place to put a church, than in a former church? After some much needed renovations, 309 Beauregard Street on Charleston's East End will now house West Virginia’s first Coptic Orthodox church. Albeir Mousa is one of many spearheading and financing the renovation project.
“We have multiple congregations, some in Beckley, some in Huntington, some in Clarksburg. So definitely, this can be like a meeting point for all of them,” church co-founder, Mousa said.
It ...
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – A Christian group with Middle Eastern origins is all too familiar with acts of terror at the hands of the Islamic State, but now, a local Coptic community is coming together.
There are more than 200 Coptic Christian Orthodox churches across the United States. While there are congregations throughout West Virginia, the closest Coptic (Copt) church is located more than 300 miles away, but that is about to change.
What better place to put a church, than in a former church? After some much needed renovations, 309 Beauregard Street on Charleston's East End will now house West Virginia’s first Coptic Orthodox church. Albeir Mousa is one of many spearheading and financing the renovation project.
“We have multiple congregations, some in Beckley, some in Huntington, some in Clarksburg. So definitely, this can be like a meeting point for all of them,” church co-founder, Mousa said.
It’s been a personal mission for Mousa for six years. St. Mark is credited for starting Egypt’s largest Christian church, which is prevalent throughout the Middle East.
Mousa said witnessing the attacks unfold in Paris reminded him of another tragedy at the hands of ISIS.
“They were working in Libya for our daily bread, like very minor things and those people offer to them thousands upon thousands of dollars to be converted or do something that doesn't comply with our beliefs and they refused,” Mousa said.
He was reminded of when Islamic terrorists beheaded 21 Coptic Christians on a Mediterranean beach in February. He said the local Coptic community relied on faith to get through.
“We started having a lot of people emigrate to the U.S. for a lot of reasons, but we believe that one of our missions once we emigrate to let people know who we are,” Mousa said.
Mousa said their new church is reminiscent of Noah’s Ark in a number of ways; in the architecture and how a tragedy can lead to new beginnings.
St. Mary and Archangel Gabriel Coptic Orthodox Church is having its first official ceremony and banquet on December 6.
It will start with a cross walk at the Sacred Heart Cathedral at 1:45 p.m. and will end at the Washington Street Church. Mousa said it’s an open invitation. For more information on the church, click here.
