Founding Priest of Parish

The Reposed Reverend, Fr. Rewais Magar

June 3, 1949 - September 8, 2008

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A man dressed in white religious robes with embroidered details, standing in front of a satin curtain backdrop. The robes feature an embroidered image of a saint holding a book, and the man is wearing a large hat decorated with a stylized face and go
Photos of Fr. Rewais
A man dressed in ornate gold robes and a ceremonial hat, with a long beard, appears to be in a religious or ceremonial setting, gesturing with his left hand raised and eyes closed.
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Three people posing together inside a decorated room, with one man dressed in traditional ornate attire and a turban, flanked by a woman and a young man in formal clothing.
A young man and an older man with a gray beard are facing each other outdoors against a brick wall. The young man is holding a cigarette and looks at the older man, who has his arm around him and appears to be speaking or comforting. The older man is
An Orthodox priest wearing ornate vestments and a white hat is kneeling at an altar, with arms outstretched and head raised in prayer or blessing, in a religious setting.
Group of people gathered in a room, including a man with a beard and hat, a woman holding a water bottle, and a young girl, all posing for the photo.
A man dressed in ornate religious vestments and a mitre speaks into a microphone during a religious ceremony.
Orthodox Christian priest in ceremonial vestments and mitre, participating in an icon veneration ritual at a religious event.
Religious ceremony with a bishop in ornate gold and silver vestments and a mitre, conducting a ritual over a covered body, surrounded by white embroidered cloths and a gold candlestick.
Group of people gathered around a man with a beard and wearing a black cap, participating in a group handshake or gesture, at a social event.
A group of people, mostly young adults, gathered indoors for a photo, some wearing matching navy blue shirts with medical symbols and the text FTT. They are smiling and posing together.
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A religious leader dressed in ornate robes and a mitre presents an item to a young man at a ceremony, with other attendees in festive attire in the background.
A man in a dark suit and glasses appears to be making a religious gesture towards a priest or bishop dressed in ornate white and gold robes with religious symbols. The priest or bishop holds a staff and wears a mitre, and they are in a room with reli
A young woman and an older man dressed in ceremonial outfit facing each other indoors. The woman's hand is over her heart, and the man wears a tall, pointed, gold-colored hat.
A group of three people sitting at a table during a celebration, with cakes, cups, and drinks on the table, and a living room background.
Older man with glasses, a beard, and a hat sitting at a cluttered desk, writing in a notebook with books and papers around him.
A man in ornate religious robes with a hat and beard, raising his hands during a ceremony or prayer in a church, with an audience watching.
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The Reposed Reverend, Fr. Rewais Magar

Founding Priest of St. George Coptic Orthodox Church – Astoria, NY

Father Rewais Magar was a beloved Coptic Orthodox priest and visionary who shepherded the St. George Coptic Orthodox Church community in Astoria, New York, from its early days in 1995 until his peaceful repose in 2008. His unwavering faith, humble leadership, and tireless service laid the foundation for a vibrant church that continues to thrive today.

Early Life and Calling to Priesthood

Born in Egypt, Fr. Rewais was one of eight children and grew up on a farm. He studied medicine at Cairo University, where he built a successful medical practice. In 1993, responding to a divine calling, he left his profession as a dermatologist to become a priest. He was ordained that same year and founded a church in Cairo before being selected by His Holiness Pope Shenouda III to serve the growing Coptic community in New York.

Building a Church: From Faith to Foundation

Fr. Rewais arrived in Astoria on September 10, 1995, at a time when the congregation had no permanent home. With conviction and compassion, he encouraged the faithful to trust in God’s provision, and his leadership soon bore fruit. In 1997, the community secured the church building, aided by a miraculous $100,000 donation from the owner’s wife and an unexpected $30,000 gift from a former parishioner.

The first liturgy in the new church building was prayed by Fr. Rewais on November 16, 1997—a date deeply meaningful to the parish. Not only was it their first official liturgy in the new space, but it also coincided with:

  • The feast of St. George the Alexandrian, and

  • The commemoration of the first church ever consecrated in the name of St. George the Great Martyr.

Exactly 23 years later, on November 16, 2020, Fr. Sorial Henery (current priest of the church) celebrated the first liturgy after the church’s mortgage was fully paid off. The timing revealed God’s divine orchestration across generations and testified to the living miracles that continue in the church’s journey. As the church proclaimed:

"God's plan for this church has yet to come... Let us not forget that all of this is for the glory of His name forever and for the salvation of our souls. Glory to God!"

Legacy and Spiritual Impact

Under Fr. Rewais’s guidance, the church grew not only in numbers but in spiritual depth. It became the first Coptic church on the East Coast to receive relics of St. George (in 1999), followed by relics of other saints including St. Theodore El-Shotbe, St. Theodore El-Mishreke, and St. Abaskhiroun in 2006. Major renovations were completed, and in August 2007, Pope Shenouda III visited the church to consecrate its altars and icons—an historic moment for the parish.

Final Days and Eternal Remembrance

Fr. Rewais became ill in 2008 and departed peacefully on September 8 of that year. His funeral drew hundreds of congregants who came to honor a man remembered not just as their priest, but as their spiritual father, healer, and friend.

His memory is eternally preserved in the church he helped build—both physically and spiritually. His prayers and presence are still felt by the faithful who walk through St. George’s doors today.

Fr. Rewais is survived by his wife Mrs. Enas Magar, sons Mina and Mark, and daughter Mariam who has a beautiful daughter, Sophia.