When St. Mark arrived in Egypt, he introduced the esteemed teachings of our Lord Jesus Christ and the glorious message of His Resurrection. Despite facing martyrdom, he established a foundation by appointing bishops and deacons and successfully spreading the faith to a significant portion of the population. Fast forward to the present day, we continue to uphold these sacred traditions and adhere to the teachings passed down from St. Mark. It is important to note that membership in the Church is not exclusive to Egyptians. Following the footsteps of St. Mark and guided by the words of the Lord (Matthew 28:16-20), we recognize the significance of evangelism. Regardless of your place of origin, you are warmly welcomed at St. Mary's. Identifying as Orthodox does not signify a connection to Judaism; rather, "Orthodox" originates from the Greek term meaning "correct knowledge" or "true faith." This steadfast belief, rooted in a legacy of two millennia and the sacrifices of martyrs, forms the cornerstone of our community.
Meet the Priest
Fr. Abram Assanassios
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Fr. Abram was born in Cairo, Egypt. He grew up at St. Mary's Church, Masarra, Cairo, where he served as a deacon and a Sunday School servant. In 1997, he immigrated to the United States and served at St. George Church in Astoria, NY for several years as a deacon, teaching Sunday School, hymns classes, and organizing retreats and several church activities. In 2008, he moved to Maryland where he served at St. Mary's Church, Cooksville for several years as the General Ministry Coordinator where he established several ministries and activities including the Deacons Ministry, Holy Family Ministry, Mahragan AlKeraza, Vacation Bible School (VBS), Bible Trivia, and more. He also served as a member of Saint Mary's church Board of Deacons for several years. In 2019, he was ordained a Full Deacon as Deacon Anthony for Saint Mary's Church by HG Bishop Karas. In 2021, he was ordained a priest for Archangel Michael and Saint Karas the Anchorite church in York, PA in the Diocese of Pennsylvania also by H.G. Bishop Karas.
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