Our Clergy

Father Antonios Younan Soliman

Father Antonios Younan Soliman was born on January 1, 1926. He received a Bachelor of Science degree in Agricultural Sciences from Cairo University in 1948 and worked in his field for six years. He served as a Sunday School teacher and Youth leader in a Church in Cairo

He was ordained Presbyter by Metropolitan Timothaos on November 21, 1954 for a Church in Mansoura, Egypt and was elevated to the Priestly rank of Hegumen in 1955, also at Mansoura. He was sent to the United States and served St. George Church in Jersey City, New Jersey from 1974-1976. He returned to his original Parish Church in Egypt in 1976.

He came back to the United States to serve at Holy Virgin Mary church in Los Angeles from 1988-1992 and St. Mary and St. Athanasius Church in Northridge from 1992. He departed into eternal rest on June 20, 2011. Father Antonious had lived a full and blessed life of service, being a priest for 56 years.

Father Bishoy Aziz Bastawros

Father Bishoy Aziz Bastawros was born in Fayoum, Egypt on December 12, 1940 and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Pharmacy in 1962 and an honors Diploma in Industrial Pharmacy from Cairo University in 1964. He practiced his profession for 15 years and served the youth and Sunday School in Fayoum and El Maadi, Egypt. He was ordained as Presbyter by His Holiness Pope Shenouda on May 23, 1980. He served at Archangel Raphael Church in Maadi from 1980-1981 and St. Mark Church in Maadi from 1981-1988 as well as St. Mark Church in Italy. He came to the United States in December 1988 to serve at St. Mary and St. Athanasius Church in Northridge until present.

He was ordained to priestly rank of Hegumen on November 18, 1991 by His Holiness Pope Shenouda III. He has been instrumental in building a Senior Citizen’s home and a pre-school program on Church grounds.

Father Antony Gamil Attallah

Father Antony Gamil Attallah was born on November 3, 1973. He earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Electrical Engineering from the California State University at Northridge in 1997. He served at Saint Mark Church in Los Angeles, California from 1990 to 2002.

His Grace Bishop Serapion ordained him Deacon on October 27, 2002, then ordained him Priest on February 9, 2003. He serves at the Saint Mary and St. Athanasius Church in Northridge, California.

Father David Elias

Father David Elias was born in Cairo, Egypt in 1969. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Programming in 1991. Five years later, he came to California and, in 2002, earned a Masters degree in Project Management from Keller Graduate School in California. He worked in software engineering and management for 13 years in Egypt and California.

He served as a Sunday School teacher in Archangel Michael Coptic Orthodox Church in Shubra, Cairo and was a Youth Leader at Saint Mary and Saint Athanasius church in Northridge until his ordination as presbyter by His Grace Bishop Serapion on November 21, 2004.

Father Daniel Meleka

Father Daniel Meleka was born in New York. He was a Director of Operations at Multiple Nonprofits before he was called to the Priesthood.

His Eminence Metropolitan Serapion accompanied by His Grace Bishop Abraham and His Grace Bishop Kyrillos ordained him as Full Deacon on June 23, 2016, and then ordained him as Presbyter on June 26, 2016, to serve at St. Mary & St. Athanasius Coptic Orthodox Church in Northridge, California.

Father Elijah Ghali

Father Elijah Ghali was born in Egypt. He was a Data & Analytics consultant before he was called to the priesthood. His Eminence Metropolitan Serapion accompanied by His Grace Bishop Suriel and His Grace Bishop Abraham ordained him as Full Deacon on February 4, 2023.

On February 19, 2023, His Eminence Metropolitan Serapion accompanied by His Grace Bishop Abraham and His Grace Bishop Kyrillos ordained him as Presbyter to serve at St. Mary & St. Athanasius Coptic Orthodox Church in Northridge, California.

Archdeacon Zakaria Hanna

Archdeacon Zacharia was born in 1939 and immigrated to the United States from Egypt in 1988 and has been serving at Saint Mary & Saint Athanasius Church in Northridge since.

Deacon Youssef Daus

On the 5th day of the blessed month of Mesore, Friday August 11, 2023, His Eminence Metropolitan Serapion accompanied by their Graces His Grace Bishop Suriel, His Grace Bishop Abraham, and His Grace Bishop Kyrillos laid hands on and ordained Deacon Youssef Daus, for the Christ loving Diocese of Los Angeles to serve at St. Mary and St. Athanasius Coptic Orthodox Church.