St. Stephen’s Christian Retreat & Conference Center

St. Stephen’s Christian Retreat & Conference Center is a unique non-profit organization. Our goal is to provide a warm and welcoming place for Christian retreats and conferences. Our facility can accommodate 233 persons for one day or multiple day retreats and conferences.

The Coptic Orthodox Church

The Coptic Church was established in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ by St. Mark the Evangelist in the city of Alexandria around 43 A.D. Our belief is grounded on the faith that the Lord Jesus Christ is the Savior of the world and the Holy Trinity—God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit, are equal, in one essence, and in one unity.

The Coptic Orthodox Church adheres to the Nicene Creed and has preserved the spiritual, ritual, and doctrinal aspects of early Christianity and maintained the succession of the patriarchs and the orders of the orders of the Church from its inception.

The term “Coptic” is derived from the Greek “Aigyptos” meaning “Egyptian”. When the Arabs arrived in Egypt in the seventh century, they called the Egyptians, “qibt”. Thus, the Arabic word, “qibt”, came to mean “Christian Egyptian”.

The term “Orthodox” refers to the preservation of the “Original Faith”. Throughout the ages, the Copts defended Christianity against numerous heresies, and helped evangelize and spread the Christian faith throughout the world.