New Jersey Church Seeks Approval for Monolithic Dome

Another big milestone is in store for the St. Mary and St. Mercurius Coptic Orthodox Church in New Jersey. It’s the week church officials go before the local zoning board for the fourth time to seek approval for a new Monolithic Dome youth center.

“With each meeting,” says Father Youssef Halim, “the number of negatives decrease. We are solving their (the neighborhoods’) problem.”

The new dome building, which would the first in the state, would include a small chapel, rooms for activities and a three-story parking garage.

According to The Belleville Patch, which has been reporting on the New Jersey church’s plans, the Coptic Orthodox Church was founded in the first century by Saint Mark in Alexandria. St. Mary & St. Mercurius Coptic Orthodox Church is part of the Coptic Orthodox Church Archdiocese located in Cedar Grove. The church celebrate Sunday Mass in Arabic and English languages and also has a Sunday school.

Sabry Solomon, one of the church’s founders. says the new youth center is important in more ways than one.

“The building will be a good opportunity to have more business in town, and all will benefit," says Solomon. "It will be a landmark.”

A decision on the new dome church building has been delayed again. Read more.

For more information on the church, visit www.smandsm.org