Outside the area near Paterson, Hudson County has the largest percentage of Arab Americans in the state.
Most are in Jersey City and Bayonne, including the largest population of Coptic Christians in the United States.
During the latter part of the 20th century, the North New Jersey area attracted many Coptic Christians from Egypt, bringing with them a passion and love for the Coptic Church. Bayonne, with its proximity to New York City, great educational system, and many other opportunities drew many Coptics.
To help celebrate that culture and to introduce foods and other aspects to the general public, St. Abanoub & St. Antonious Coptic Orthodox Church, made up of residents from the growing Egyptian Christian American community in Jersey City and Bayonne, is holding its first Coptic Festival from Aug. 21 to 23.
“We are asking Our Lord to bless our church during this wonderful festival event which we hope will unite the Coptics and local residents,” said Father Antonious Takla. Members of the non-Coptic community are encouraged to come.
“Everyone is invited, and I look forward to welcoming you to our Church.” He hopes the festival will become an annual tradition and said the church members are excited about sharing the Coptic (Egyptian) culture with the community.
Food, fun, friends
“The first annual festival will showcase a variety of live performances, including our own youth music band,” Takla said. “We will also feature a large assortment of traditional and modern-influenced Egyptian food from grilled meats to baklava.”
A number of youth (and adult) activities will include a large obstacle course, dunk tank, joust area, bounce castle, bungee run, ring toss, hi-striker, shuffle board, stand-a-battle, face painting, sand art, photo booth, and more.
“We are asking Our Lord to bless our church during this wonderful festival event which we hope will unite the Copts and local residents.” — Father Antonious Takla
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Mina Nemattalla, 27, hopes to energize the youth and elderly to partake in the festival.
“Everyone from Bayonne and all of New Jersey should try and attend our carnival-themed festival,” she said. “We have plenty of food, fun and games.”
“The vibrant Coptic community is growing here in Bayonne and beyond,” said community organizer Maggi Khalil Maksoud. “The festival is a wonderful opportunity to share with friends and neighbors an assortment of traditional and local great food as well as the rich history of our church and culture.”
The event will be held from 6 to 10 p.m. on Aug. 21, and 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. on Aug. 22 and 23.
Church started with a few Bayonne families
The church has roots in the early 1990s when a few Bayonne families got permission from the late His Holiness Pope Shenouda III to begin celebrating Divine Liturgies on Saturdays in rented buildings and halls.
By 1996 the congregation had grown to almost 60 people who would regularly attend services. The congregation had a number of area Fathers from various churches to perform sacraments and offer guidance.
In 1997 the church moved to a more suitable location in downtown Bayonne at a Catholic church with more space and a more flexible schedule for more events and weekday Divine Liturgies services.
On July 12, 1997, H.H Pope Shenouda ordained Father George Greiss on the altar of St. Abanoub and St. Antonious as the first priest ordained for the church.
In 1999 the church acquired a five-acre lot at 1325 Kennedy Boulevard in Bayonne, which would become its future home.
The site would see many incarnations before it was finished in 2013. (It should be noted that many of Bayonne’s Muslims are also from Egypt. They are currently seeking approval for a Muslim Community center. The Muslim group, however, is running into opposition from some residents, who expressed concerns about the city being “radicalized.” That project is still being considered.)
Finally, a permanent structure
Between 1999 and 2003 the church rented space from the Bayonne YMCA to hold services, while attempting to acquire Barrets Bar, a tavern at the top of the driveway leading to the church’s land. In 2003 the bar was purchased and the renovation of a tavern into a house of worship began. By 2004 the church held its first liturgy in the chapel building (formally the bar), its first permanent location.
By 2008 the chapel building was extended, the plans for the new church building were finalized, and the work on the foundation and steel framing began.
Organizers said that “with some delays and many prayers and supplications,” work continued into 2012 when the church secured a loan for $3.6 million that allowed it to continue through the phases of construction. In 2011 the church got its second priest, Fr. Rafael Azmy.
On Sunday May 26, 2013, the congregation, the deacons, the priests led by H.G Bishop David, celebrated the first Divine Liturgy in the new church building. On October 6, 2014, H.H Pope Tawadros II, blessed the church with Fr. Antonious Takla entrusted to lead the flock and the church under the auspices of Fr. Abraam Sleman and the shepherding of H.G Bishop Karas.
The church currently has two buildings on five acres in Bayonne’s City Line district. The chapel building has two levels. On the ground level is the church with seating for 200, a service room, administrative office, and full kitchen. The chapel’s basement level, fully finished and furnished includes restrooms, Sunday school classrooms, a kitchenette, and storage areas on 3,000 square feet.
The church’s main building has two levels and a mezzanine floor that, when completed, will comfortably allow more than 1,000 congregants to attend services. On its first floor, the building has the main sanctuary, a smaller chapel area, gift shop, baptismal font room, and administrative offices. The basement level features 12 Sunday school classrooms, a conference room, a multi-purpose room, a large commercial kitchen, and administrative offices.
St. Abanoub & St. Antonious Coptic Orthodox is at 1325 Kennedy Blvd, near the Jersey City border.
Al Sullivan may be reached at asullivan@hudsonreporter.com.