Humble Beginnings

In 1997 Father Aghathon Anba Paula, who was serving in Brazil, knew that there were a few Copts in Bolivia.  He served them for four years but they then asked for a permanent priest.  His Holiness sent Father Youssef Anba Paula to serve them.  

Father Youssef then took two courses to learn Spanish.  On December 14 2000, Father Youssef arrived in Bolivia.

He started a church in a rented flat in an underdeveloped area.  At that time there was only one Copt left in Bolivia who was a deacon.  The other families had returned to Egypt or moved to the USA.

He prayed his first liturgy in the hall of his flat three days after his arrival.  At that time he did not have a Spanish liturgy book with him but within six months he had the books translated into Spanish.  He prayed and that hall for two yeas.  

During this time he started a Coptic hymns class for children and youth and also taught them these hymns in Spanish.  He arranged trips for the youth and children.  He started to communicate with the Bolivians and they asked him about his religion.  Once they discovered he was a Christian they asked him about his denomination, and once they discovered he was a Coptic Orthodox priest they inquired more about the Coptic Church.  With love he explained to them Orthodoxy and in turn they loved him.  

Father Youssef spent time with the people, listening to their problems and giving them advice and solutions.  They then learned about the Coptic church, embraced it and were baptized.  Father Youssef started various services and performed many sacraments such as matrimony and unction of the sick.  

He wrote a book about the Coptic Church in Spanish and illustrated the book of the Holy Liturgy to them.  

With the guidance of His Holiness Pope Shenouda III, the help of Father Mikhail Edward, priest of St. Mark’s Church in Cleveland and the service of Father Youssef, the service continued to grow.