His Grace Bishop Peter

His Grace Bishop Peter was ordained over the Diocese of North Carolina, South Carolina, and Kentucky on June 12, 2016, by His Holiness Pope Tawadros II.

In his speech on the eve of the ordination, His Holiness Pope Tawadros presented the biography of the Monk Moses Ava Moussa, the candidate for the new diocese in the United States:

“Monk Moses Ava Moussa is from St. Mary and St. Moses Abbey in Texas. He is the first candidate from this Abbey. It is a great blessing that he is a Diaspora nominee. This is in accordance with the vision developed by the departed His Holiness Pope Shenouda.”

His Grace was born in 1974 and holds a bachelor’s degree from New Jersey. After working at several companies, he joined the Abbey of the Virgin and Anba Moussa in Texas in 2005, under the patronage of His Grace Bishop Yusuf. He was appointed to the priesthood and awarded the rank of Hegumen in February 2016.

At the Abbey, he served as Administrative Director, then as Associate Director for seven years, and was responsible for the Abbey’s library. He was the first monk to join this Abbey. He also served at the Church of Pope Cyril VI in Tennessee.

His father, Deacon Yohanna Ibrahim, is dedicated to the Church of St. George and St. Shenouda in Jersey City, New Jersey, having previously served at the Churches of St. Mary in Materia and St. Mary in El Zeiton before traveling abroad.

Today he leads a thriving community of parishes and priests across multiple states.