The Coptic Orthodox community in Quebec City, capital
of the French speaking Quebec Province, east of Canada, and situated
geographically 235 km to the north east of Montreal, is a small, but
yet still growing community.
Some
individuals were established in Quebec City more than 30 years ago, whereas
other new generations arrived in the last 5-10 years. The community shows a
mixed generation in age and profession, with some Laval University professors in
different faculties, doctors, engineers, business men and restaurant owners,
altogether with students in different faculties of Laval University.
The
relative short distance to Montreal was an asset for this community to travel to
Virgin Mary Coptic Orthodox Church in South shore Montreal (closest Coptic
Orthodox Church) to attend liturgies and different religious services.
For many
years in the past, from time to time, the community was blessed by a priest from
Montreal for a Liturgy in Quebec City itself. The priests were various,
including visiting priests from Mother Land Egypt until the ordination of Father
Tadros El Masry on Virgin Mary Coptic Orthodox Church Alter, south shore
Montreal.
It was
then and till now that he took over the blessing service of our Quebec City
Community. On a basis of a monthly visit, he blesses the community from Friday
evenings with a Holy Liturgy on Saturday mornings.
Holy
Liturgies were celebrated in the small Chapel of Laval University, with a Bible
meeting on Friday evenings in one of the community members houses, on a rotatory
base. Later, all church activities, including Bible Studies, were grouped in the
same University Chapel.
The
Coptic Community started having access to an Irish Catholic Church (St.
Stephen’s & St. Vincent’s Chapel) since spring 2010 when first Easter was
celebrated in this Chapel. The Chapel was shared at that time by the Irish
Catholics, Lebanese Melkites and the Egyptian Copts.
With the
Grace of our Lord, the community has access nowadays, only by themselves, to
this Chapel, and since summer 2011, all Church activities are performed in it,
together with preserving the opportunity of having the University Chapel
whenever needed, where some Youth meetings and Bible Studies still take place
over there.
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