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What is Mahragan AlKeraza?
Mahragan AlKeraza is a worldwide event organized by Coptic Orthodox Churches. It is a spiritual growth fellowship opportunity for Coptic youth to come together and compete in spiritual studies, Coptic language, hymns, sports, choir, and drama. Spiritual Studies emphasize the Holy Bible and the history, doctrine, and rites of the Coptic Orthodox Church. Each year’s topics reflect the competition’s theme, and this year’s theme is “we are more than conquerors through him who loved us (Romans 8:37)”
May Christ bless you all! We look forward to seeing you during the Mahragan!
Deadline for Early bird registration: May 31st
Deadline for regular registration: June 15th
Victory Through Christ’s Love
Because of Christ’s love, believers don’t just survive trials, they overcome them with lasting victory that no suffering can take away.
Theme Verse:
“we are more than conquerors through him who loved us”
— Romans 8:37
Three levels of competitions
- Core spiritual competition (Spiritual (mandatory), Coptic, and Hymns)
- Advanced-level contests (Arts, Photography, Coptic, Calligraphy, Creative Writing, Research, Video Composition, Music Writing and Creation)
- Sports Competition (Soccer, Ping Pong, Volleyball, and Chess).
The Mahragan will be a hybrid this year:
- In the first phase, all participating churches will participate in an online preliminary competition (Spiritual, Hymns, and Coptic).
- On TBD, churches participating in Sports will meet at St. Mary, Cooksville, to play against each other.
- On TBD the top 3 winners in the spiritual, Coptic, and hymns competitions (across each age group) will meet at St. Mary, Cooksville, to compete in person in the final round.
The 2026 Mahragan Competition
Connecting People to Jesus and One Other
Core spiritual competition
Spiritual (mandatory), Coptic, and Hymns
Advanced-level contests
Arts, Photography, Coptic, Calligraphy, Creative Writing, Research, Video Composition, Music Writing and Creation
Sports Competition
Soccer, Ping Pong, Volleyball, and Chess
In the first phase, all participating churches will participate in a preliminary competition (Spiritual, Hymns, and Coptic). On TBD, churches participating in Sports will meet at St. Mary, Cooksville, to play against each other. On TBD, the top 3 winners in the spiritual, Coptic, and hymns competitions (across each age group will meet at St. Mary, Cooksville, to compete in person in the final round.
Our Bishop
A Letter From HG Bishop Karas
Dear Beloved,
Peace and Grace.
It is a blessing to welcome you to this year’s Mahragan El-Keraza under the theme:
“We are more than conquerors through Him who loved us” (Romans 8:37).This theme reminds us that our strength and victory are not from ourselves, but through our Lord Jesus Christ who loved us and gave Himself for us. In Him, we overcome every challenge and grow in faith, hope, and love. The Mahragan is not only a time of learning and activities, but a time to deepen our relationship with Christ, to rejoice in the life of the Church, and to grow together as one body.
To our beloved youth: always remember that you are victorious in Christ. Hold firmly to your faith, live the life of repentance and prayer, and let your lives reflect His love.
To our dear clergy, servants, and parents: thank you for your faithful care and guidance for our children and youth. Your prayers, service, and example plant the seeds that bear lasting spiritual fruit.
May the Lord bless this year’s Mahragan, crown every effort with success, and grant that it be a time of spiritual growth, joy, and unity for all.
With prayers for you all,
Bishop Karas
Bishop of Pennsylvania, Maryland, Delaware, and West Virginia
Organizing Church
St. Mary Coptic Orthodox Church of Maryland
14196 Frederick Rd
Cooksville, MD 21723
