The [[Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria]] has many churches and congregations in Europe and on [[June 2]], 1974, His Holiness [[Pope]] [[Shenouda III (Gayyid) of Alexandria|Shenouda III]] received in the Coptic Orthodox Patriarchate of Alexandria a native Orthodox Church in France known as the French Orthodox [[Eparch]]y, along with their [[Primate]], who in turn was accepted after [[consecration of a bishop|consecration]] into the episcopate, in the [[Holy Synod]] of the Church of Alexandria and hence was appointed their Primate His Grace Marcos (Mark), as the first [[Bishop]] and His Grace Athanasius as [[chorepiscopos|Chorbishop]] of The French Orthodox Eparchy.<ref name="therole">[http://eocf.free.fr/eglisep_eng.htm The French Coptic Orthodox Church website]</ref>