Metropolitan Athanasius of French Copts Laid to Rest

Gerges Mounir Hanna – OCP News Service – 02/11/2023

Cairo-Egypt: Funeral prayers were held for the late Metropolitan Athanasius, the Metropolitan of Marseille and Toulon for the French Copts, on 01 November 2023, at the Monastery of Saint Bishoy in Wadi El-Natroun. He peacefully passed away on 22 October 2023, and in accordance with his wishes, his body was transported to Egypt for burial in the Monastery of Saint Bishoy in Wadi El-Natroun. The funeral prayers were presided over by H.H. Pope Tawadros II, with parts of the service conducted in French.

Short Bio:

H.E. was born in France in May 1933. He became a monk in the Monastery of Saint Bishoy in Wadi El-Natroun on 05 May 1974.

He was then ordained with the rank of Khori Episcopos (Assistant Bishop) on 02 June 1974. He was ordained general bishop on 19 June 1994, then was ordained as bishop of the French Copts. On 13 July 2013, he was ordained as Metropolitan of Marseille and Toulon on 28 February 2016.

His Holiness Pope Tawadros II and the Holy Synod of the Coptic Orthodox Church bid farewell, in the hope of resurrection, to His Eminence Metropolitan Athanasius, Metropolitan of the Diocese of Marseille and Toulon for French Copts. He has fallen asleep in the Lord today at the age of 90 years, of which he lived for nearly half a century as a father and shepherd in the Coptic Orthodox Church.

Source:
OCP News Service