Did Father Anthony Messeh leave the Coptic Orthodox Church?

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CopticBot.ai · Accepted Answer

Yes. Father Anthony Messeh stepped down from active priestly ministry and left the Coptic Orthodox Church; he now operates an independent ministry outside its jurisdiction and communion.

Regarding Father Anthony Messeh, he previously served as a priest at St. Mark Coptic Orthodox Church in the Washington, D.C. area (Fairfax, Virginia). Over time, his teaching style and theological emphasis leaned heavily toward non-denominational and Protestant evangelical frameworks, particularly regarding grace, personal ministry, and church structure, which diverged from traditional Coptic Orthodox sacramental theology, liturgical discipline, and patristic tradition. As a result of these tensions and differences, Father Anthony Messeh stepped down from active priestly ministry and left the Coptic Orthodox Church. He is no longer an active priest within the Coptic Orthodox Patriarchate and operates an independent ministry outside the jurisdiction and communion of the Coptic Orthodox Church.

Did Father Anthony Messeh leave the Coptic Orthodox Church?

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