James II

James II (1908 – 22 March 1956; , ) was the 19th Metropolitan of the Holy and Great City of Our Lord, Jerusalem (Holy Zion), and Archbishop of the Holy and Ancient Archdiocese of Jerusalem, all Palestine and the Near East, from 1946, until his death in 1956.

Early life He was born in the village of Al-Mutiah, in the District of Asyut, Asyut Governorate, Egypt, in the year 1908. He received his primary and secondary education at the American College in Asyut. It is said that he enjoyed theological studies from his youth, and had monastic tendencies.

Monastic life Directly after his graduation from the Coptic Theological and Clerical College, in Cairo, in 1942, he joined the Monastery of Saint Anthony the Great, in the Eastern Desert. He was ordained a priest in 1944, and elevated to the dignity of Hegumen in November 1945. In March 1946, he was appointed as a deputy for the Diocese of El Balyana, and served in this capacity until his consecration as Metropolitan Archbishop of Jerusalem.

Episcopate

Consecration On Sunday, September 1, 1946, He was consecrated as James II, Metropolitan of Jerusalem and Archbishop of all Palestine, Philadelphia of Jordan, and all the Near East, by the hands of Pope Joseph II and the Bishops and Metropolitans of the Holy Synod.

In 1947, he opened the Antonine Coptic College, for the purpose of educating the Coptic Community of the Holy Land, as well as all the other Palestinian Communities. In that year he also consecrated a Church to serve the community in Rafah.

In 1949, he laid the corner stone for the Church of the Virgin Mary and the Annunciation, Nazareth. He purchased more land in Nazareth in 1951, in order to expand the Church's projects and spiritual activities.

In 1952, he began publishing a magazine titled "Saint Mark's Renaissance ". In that year he also purchased some land and homes in Bethlehem, in anticipation for the construction of a Coptic monastery, and church adjacent to the Church of the Nativity.

Death On March 22, 1956, he died in a train crash on route to Asyut alongside Metropolitan Thomas of Gharbia. He was buried at a property belonging to the Monastery of Saint Anthony the Great, in Bush. Following his death, the See of Jerusalem remained vacant for three years, due to a vacancy on the Papal See.