Leadership

Our Clergy

Shepherds of Our Flock

Guided by Devoted Servants

Our clergy serve as spiritual fathers to the community of St. Justina Coptic Orthodox Church, guiding the faithful through prayer, the sacraments, and devoted pastoral care rooted in the ancient Coptic tradition.

Father Gawargios Hanna

Church Priest

Father Gawargios Hanna was born in Cairo, Egypt, in 1951, where he grew up and attended the Faculty of Medicine at Ain Shams University. He completed his studies in 1974 and obtained his Doctor of Medicine thereafter. Shortly later, he immigrated to the United States and completed his Medical School Residency at the David Geffen School of Medicine, specializing in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. In August of 2016, Dr. George Hanna was nominated by His Grace Bishop Serapion to be ordained as a General Priest within the Coptic Orthodox Diocese of Los Angeles. He was ordained as a Deacon on September 3rd, 2016, and then ordained as a Presbyter on September 4th, 2016, under the name of Father Gawargios. Father Gawargios is the proud father of Mina, Jenny, and Mary Hanna.

Father Gabriel Iskander

Church Priest

Father Gabriel Iskander was born in 1983 in Mansoura, Egypt. In 2005, he received his Bachelor of Science in Electrical and Electronic Engineering from Mansoura University, followed by his Master of Science in 2010. He earned his Ph.D. in 2014 from the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology, and joined Qualcomm Inc. as a Senior Engineer from 2014 to 2023. Answering God's call to serve His Church, Father Gabriel was ordained a full deacon on August 13, 2023, and then ordained a Presbyter on August 20, 2023, by His Eminence Metropolitan Serapion to serve at St. Justina Coptic Orthodox Church. Father Gabriel is married to Tasoni Clarissa, and they are blessed with two children, Youssef and Magdalen.

Hegumen John Mikhail

Senior Priest · February 19, 1964 – June 19, 2022

Father John Mikhail was born in Alexandria, Egypt on February 20, 1964. He graduated from the University of Alexandria in 1986 with a B.S. in Civil Engineering and immigrated to California that same year. He was ordained a Presbyter on January 24, 1999 and began serving at St. Justina Coptic Orthodox Church in Rancho Cucamonga in 2003. On October 2nd, 2016, he was elevated to Hegumen by H.E. Metropolitan Serapion. On June 19th, 2022, while enjoying Father's Day activities with his beloved congregation, the Lord chose to reward His faithful servant by taking his soul to rest in the eternal church. His legacy of love and service remains forever a part of St. Justina's.

Need Pastoral Care?

Our clergy are here to serve you. Please don't hesitate to reach out for prayer, guidance, or a visit.