The Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria has many churches and congregations in Europe and on June 2, 1974, His Holiness Pope Shenouda III received in the Coptic Orthodox Patriarchate of Alexandria a native Orthodox Church in France known as the French Orthodox Eparchy, along with their Primate, who in turn was accepted after 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 Chorbishop of The French Orthodox Eparchy.