Then, the congregation eventually purchased the current building which was previously used by the Russian Orthodox.[6] Several years later, in 1995, the Coptic Orthodox Diocese of Los Angeles, Southern California and Hawaii was founded. Pope Shenouda III, the Pope of Alexandria (at the time), enthroned HG Serapion as Bishop for the diocese, which includes St. Mark's Church as well as several other diocese churches. There are currently about 650 Coptic families served by St. Mark's Church[2] with several others belonging to different church congregations throughout California.[3]