Very Reverend, Fr. Sorial Henery
Father Sorial Henery, formerly known as Magdy Henery, was born on June 4, 1961, in the Minya Governorate of Egypt. From a young age, he demonstrated a deep commitment to both religious and secular education and Christian faith. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Sciences in 1984. He was a biology teacher up until he was called to the priesthood in 1998.
He was ordained as a general priest by the late Thrice-Blessed Metropolitan Arsenius of Minya on March 2, 1998. During his early years of priesthood, Fr. Sorial served faithfully across the Minya Diocese. His spiritual journey soon led him beyond Egypt. After two years, the late Thrice-Blessed Pope Shenouda III of blessed memory assigned him to serve as a general priest in Paris, France, in 2000. There, he served wholeheartedly to the growing Coptic community across 11 parishes and extended his service into parts of Italy throughout his ministry in France. His time in Europe was marked by pastoral dedication and active involvement in establishing strong, rooted congregations.
Parallel to his priestly ministry, Fr. Sorial pursued advanced theological and pastoral education. He earned a Bachelor’s degree in Ministry with a specialty in Coptic Studies in 1996 with an academic formation in Church history, education and upbringing, and theology, all from the Institute of Coptic Studies in Cairo. He further enriched his pastoral qualifications with certificates in Social Work and upbringing through the Department of Guidance and Family Guidance. These academic accomplishments reflect his passion for theological depth, ecclesial history, and the holistic formation of the faithful.
In 2017, Father Sorial was called by God to join the Diocese of New York and New England to serve as a general priest under the guidance of His Grace Bishop David. Initially, he served at the Diocesan Headquarters and was entrusted with temporarily stabilizing a parish in the Diocese of Pennsylvania and its affiliated regions until a permanent priest could be ordained there. In 2019, he was officially assigned to Archangel Michael and St. Mena Coptic Orthodox Church in Staten Island, New York, where he continued his pastoral service with love and humility.
With Bishop David’s blessings, Fr. Sorial established the St. Habib Girgis Institute in 2018—an Arabic-speaking theological seminary dedicated to deepening spiritual and theological knowledge among the Arabic-speaking faithful in the diocese. He served as the founding dean from 2018 to 2020 and continues to contribute as a professor of theology and a professor of public speaking and spiritual sermons. On March 3, 2019, HG Bishop David elevated him to the rank of hegumen. Fr. Sorial was also appointed in 2020 to serve as a professor of theology at Holy Sophia University.
In 2020, His Grace Bishop David assigned Father Sorial to serve at St. George Coptic Orthodox Church in Astoria, New York. He worked diligently to revive the community, re-establishing its roots and services while fostering spiritual renewal. His leadership played a key role in the ordination of Father Yostos Bessada in 2022 to serve alongside him in the parish. Father Sorial’s ministry is rooted in both scholarly understanding and pastoral compassion. His extensive academic background, coupled with decades of service across three continents, has made him a beloved and respected figure by many. Fr. Sorial remains with us and continues to serve this parish with love and care.
Fr. Sorial was married to the late Mrs. Mona Malak and is the esteemed father of two children: Marco Henery and Christine Henery. Christine is married and has a son named George, bringing joy to his life as a proud grandfather.