St Mark Coptic Orthodox Church (Coptic: ïâ²Ââ²Ââ²Ââ²Ââ²Ââ²¥â²Ââ² â²Ââ²Ââ²Ââ²£â²Ââ²Ââ²Ââ²Ââ²Ââ²Ââ² â²ÂⲧⲠⲡâ²Ââ²Ââ² â²Ââ²Ââ²¥ â²Ââ²Ââ²£â²Ââ²Ââ²¥ transliteration: ti.eklyseya en.orthodoxia ente pi.agios Markos) is a Coptic Orthodox Church located in Burr Ridge, Illinois. The church is one of the largest in the Chicago area for Coptic Christians.
The church is served by a number of subdeacons, several deacons, and 4 priests, the newest of which being ordained in June of 2024. (See below)
Fr. Samuel T. Samuel
St Mark Coptic Orthodox Church was built in 1982. The church was named after St. Mark, one of Jesus's Apostles who founded the original church in Egypt after Jesus' death and resurrection.
In 1994, Magdy Wilson from Alexandria, Egypt was commissioned to create new and update current icons within the church. This was Wilson's first trip to the United States and the $200,000 project completed the interior of the church, a task that had been left incomplete in 1982 due to lack of funding.
The church was visited by Pope Shenouda III of Alexandria in 2001 in order to consecrate the church. This was the main purpose of his visit to the United States and his first visit to Chicago in 24 years.
In 2015, due to the increasing church congregation, it was expanded. This addition added much to the church, most notably a new church sanctuary, dubbed âÂÂHoly ResurrectionâÂÂ.