Clergy

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 of America and completed his Medical School Residency at the UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine/UCLA Medical Center, specializing in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation.

In 1988, Father Gawargios and his wife, Hoda Hanna, moved to Alta Loma, California, later to become part of the City of Rancho Cucamonga. They served in various Coptic churches within the region, and in 2003, Fr. Gawargios, then Dr. George Hanna, and Hoda Hanna dedicated their service time at Saint Justina. As an ordained Subdeacon, Dr. George taught hymns to various ages and has taken a lead role on the church board. In addition to his church services, he served as an Occupational Medicine Doctor at the Kaiser Permanente Fontana and Ontario Medical Centers.

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. On September 3rd, 2016, he was ordained as a Deacon at Saint Paul American Coptic Orthodox Church in Tustin, California. He was then ordained as a Presbyter on September 4th, 2016, under the name of Father Gawargios.

Father Gawargios is the proud father of Mina Hanna, Jenny Hanna, and Mary Hanna. He, his wife, and children are dedicated servants within the church and serve within numerous capacities and roles.

Father Gabriel Iskander

Church Priest

Full Bio Coming Soon!
Father Gabriel Iskander was born in Mansoura, Egypt. Father Gabriel was an Electrical/Telecommunication Engineer. His Eminence Metropolitan Serapion accompanied by His Grace Bishop Suriel, His Grace Bishop Abraham, and His Grace Bishop Kyrillos ordained him as Full Deacon on August 13, 2023. On August 20, 2023, His Eminence and Their Graces ordained him as Prestyber to serve at St. Justina Coptic Orthodox Church in Rancho Cucamonga, California.

Hegumen John Mikhail

February 19, 1964 - June 19, 2022

Father John Mikhail was born in Alexandria, Egypt on February 20, 1964, to Fr. Gawargious and Lucy Morcos. He graduated from the University of Alexandria in 1986 with a B.S. in Civil Engineering. He then immigrated to California in August of 1986 where he worked on the building of the Holy Virgin Mary Coptic Orthodox church in Los Angeles. Later, he worked for the county of San Bernardino as an engineer.

His service began at Holy Virgin Mary Church where he served as a youth leader and hymn instructor under the guidance of the reposed Hegumen Antonious Henein from 1986 to 1991. He later served at St. Abanoub and St. Anthony church in Norco, California from 1992-1999. While serving at St. Abanoub and St Anthony church, Fr. John met and married his beloved wife Dalya Mikhail in 1994. They are the proud parents of Jonathan, Joseph, and George Mikhail.

Fr. John Mikhail was ordained a presbyter on January 24, 1999 by H.G. Bishop Serapion, and visting Bishops, H.E Bishop Hedra, H.G. Bishop Daniel of Maadi, and H.G. Bishop Youssef of the Southern States. He served at St. Mary Church in Victorville from 1999-2003. He began serving at St. Justina Coptic Orthodox Church in Rancho Cucamonga in 2003. On October 2nd 2016, Fr John Mikhail was elevated to Hegumen by HE 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.