الكنيسة القبطية الأرثوذكسية في بيل
An ancient faith. An open heart. In the heart of Biel.
We are the Coptic Orthodox community of Biel/Bienne, under the protection of Saint Anba Abraam: a family of people from many backgrounds who have celebrated the faith of the Church of Saint Mark for over 30 years. You are warmly welcome.
From Egypt to Biel
Out of the silence of the desert
The faith we celebrate in Biel was formed in the deserts of Egypt, where monks and saints have lived in prayer since the third century. We carry that deep, quiet spirituality with us, in the heart of Switzerland.
Welcome
One community, many stories, one faith
More than three decades ago, the first Coptic families came together in Biel to worship as one. From a few, we became many. Today we are a living community of people of every age and many backgrounds, who have found a spiritual home in St. Maria church.
Prayer & Liturgy
The centuries-old Divine Liturgy, celebrated in reverence, chant and incense.
Fellowship & Agape
After every service we share a meal and time together. No one is left alone.
Youth & Family
A regular meeting point for teens and young adults around our services.
New here?
Your first visit
No registration, no prior knowledge needed. Just come as you are.
Come and go
The liturgy lasts several hours. Come and go whenever it suits you.
Language
Arabic, German, French and Coptic. The texts are shown on a screen.
Agape afterwards
After the service we eat together. You are invited.
Families welcome
Children belong here. It’s fine if things get lively.
Our faith
The Church of Saint Mark
The Coptic Orthodox Church is one of the oldest Christian communities in the world. Its roots reach back to first-century Egypt, when the Evangelist Mark brought the Gospel to Alexandria.
“You are the light of the world.”Matthew 5:14
Services & Dates
When we gather
We celebrate our Divine Liturgy on the second and fourth Saturday of each month, followed by the Agape. The evening before, on Friday, we gather for the youth meeting with praise, teaching, evening incense and Agape. The calendar shows every date of the year, including our feast days.
We also list the services of the Coptic community in Belp, so that you can find a liturgy nearby even on the Saturdays when we do not celebrate.
Event of our parish, clickable Feast of the church year Fast
Upcoming dates
Feast days such as Coptic Christmas (Epiphany), Holy Week and Easter (Pascha) are colour-highlighted in the calendar. For short-notice changes, the notice board at the community is always authoritative.
Agape
The table where we become family
After the Liturgy we stay together. “Agape” means love, and that is exactly what we share around a set table: food, conversation and the sense of belonging.
New faces are always welcome, because no one eats alone here. Whether you are part of the Coptic tradition or visiting us for the first time: at our table there is a place for you.
Our spiritual fathers
United in prayer, from Egypt to Biel
Pope Tawadros II
Since 2012 the spiritual head of the Coptic Orthodox Church worldwide and successor of Saint Mark. We remember him at every service.
Anba Gabriel
Since the year 2000, bishop of our diocese based in Vienna. He accompanies the Coptic communities of German-speaking Switzerland, of which Biel is one.
Abouna Pachomios
Abouna Pachomios celebrates the Divine Liturgy with us and provides pastoral care for the parish in Biel. For questions before a first visit, or about baptism, marriage, confession and visiting the sick, you can reach him through the parish.
Our parish is also carried by many dedicated volunteers.
One family across Switzerland
Coptic churches in Switzerland
Across Switzerland several hundred Coptic families celebrate the same faith. In church terms the country is divided in two: the parishes of German-speaking Switzerland belong to the Diocese of Austria and German-speaking Switzerland, based in Vienna; those of French-speaking Switzerland belong to the Diocese of French-speaking Switzerland and Southern France, based in Geneva. The community in Ticino is served by the Coptic Diocese of Milan.
How the Copts came to Switzerland: a story in seven chapters ›
Choose your region to see the parishes:
German-speaking Switzerland Diocese of Austria and German-speaking Switzerland Bishop Anba Gabriel · based in Vienna Biel · Belp · Olten · Basel · Grafstal · Dietlikon Show 6 parishesClose
2502 Biel/Bienne Every second and fourth Saturday of the month · 08:30 to 12:00
- Priest
- Abouna Pachomios
- Contact
- +41 78 868 56 01
3123 Belp Every 1st and 3rd Saturday · 08:45 to 11:30
- Priest
- Abouna Isodoros
- Phone
- +41 77 401 10 24
4600 Olten Every 3rd Saturday · 08:45 to 11:30
- Contact
- +41 77 401 10 24
Holbeinstrasse 30
4051 Basel Every 2nd, 3rd and 4th Saturday · Liturgy at 09:00 Every 1st Sunday · Liturgy at 07:30 Evening incense and praise at 18:00: on the Friday before the 2nd and 4th Saturday and on the Saturday before the 1st Sunday No parking in front of the church on Sundays
- Priest
- Abouna Isodoros
- Phone
- +41 77 401 10 24
8310 Grafstal (Lindau ZH) Sundays · 09:00 to 11:45 Saturday vespers · 18:00
- Priest
- Abouna Isodoros
- Phone
- +41 77 401 10 24
8305 Dietlikon (Zurich area) Wednesdays · 17:00 to 19:00 Fridays · 06:00 to 08:00 Every 3rd Sunday · 09:00 to 11:45
- Priest
- Abouna Isodoros
- Phone
- +41 77 401 10 24
044 833 32 55
The faithful from Bern worship in Belp. For St. Gallen and the rest of German-speaking Switzerland, kopten.ch has details.
French-speaking Switzerland Diocese of French-speaking Switzerland and Southern France Bishop Anba Louka · based in Geneva Meyrin · Chambésy · Lausanne · Yverdon-les-Bains · Delémont Show 5 parishesClose
1217 Meyrin Sundays · 08:00 to 11:00 Saturday vespers · 18:00
- Priest
- Abouna Mina Hanna
- info@eglisecopte.ch
1292 Chambésy Sundays · 08:30 to 11:30 Wednesdays · 11:00 to 13:00 Saturday vespers · 18:00
- Priest
- Abouna Mikhaïl Megally
- Phone
- +41 76 326 23 96
or Cure St-Étienne, Route d’Oron 10, 1010 Lausanne About every other Saturday · 09:00 to 11:00
- Contact
- info@eglisecopte.ch
Chemin de l’Église 1
1432 Gressy (Yverdon-les-Bains) Served by the parish in Chambésy Dates as in the parish’s monthly programme
- Priest
- Abouna Mikhaïl Megally
- Phone
- +41 76 326 23 96
Rue des Pervenches 4
2800 Delémont Served by the parish in Chambésy One Saturday a month · 09:00 to 12:00
- Priest
- Abouna Mikhaïl Megally
- Phone
- +41 76 326 23 96
Ticino Coptic Diocese of Milan Bishop Anba Antonio · based in Milan Lugano Show parishClose
- Priest
- Padre Shenuda
- Contact
- +39 324 047 7524
All locations at a glance
Diocese of Austria and German-speaking SwitzerlandDiocese of French-speaking Switzerland and Southern FranceCoptic Diocese of Milan
Tap a location to see its address, priest and phone number.
Information without guarantee, as of September 2026. Please check exact service times with each parish beforehand. Is a parish missing or has something changed? Write to us and we will gladly update the list.
Find us & contact
You will find us in St. Maria church
We celebrate our services as guests in the Catholic church of St. Maria, one of the most beautiful and oldest churches in Biel, easily reached by bus.
2502 Biel/Bienne
Support
Sustain our community
Our community lives from the generosity of its members and friends. With your gift you make possible the services, the rooms, the youth work and lived charity, in the very spirit of our patron, Saint Anba Abraam, the friend of the poor.
Scan with your banking app, or transfer directly:
Open the TWINT app, tap Scan the code and scan the code. Your gift is on its way.
Heartfelt thanks for every gift. “God loves a cheerful giver.”