Archangel Michael Church began with a small faithful congregation consisting of around 100 families with the desire to establish the first Coptic Orthodox Church in Orange County. In 1981, they collectively purchased a small house in Santa Ana, CA, eventually turning it into the church it is today. Liturgies were held by the efforts of Father Ibrahim Aziz every other Saturday.

Soon after the initial house was purchased, a second one was acquired and used as the priest’s residence. Later in 1985, for a period of six months, Father Bachoum Habib served at Archangel Michael Church. During his service, he performed the Holy Liturgy every Sunday which led to a significant increase in church attendance.

Seeing the zeal for the people, His Holiness Pope Shenouda III sent Father Felimon Mikhail from Cairo, Egypt to be the lead priest of Archangel Michael Church in July 1986. Father Felimon has been diligently serving Archangel Michael Church and her loyal congregation ever since. With Father Felimon’s pastoral leadership and guidance, the church’s prayers, meetings, and activities developed into weekly events.

Prayers were answered when the congregation finally got permission to build their forever home. The next few years were going to be met with hardship, fundraising, moving back and forth to temporary locations, and more. But the goal was finally in sight.

Over the course of a few years, the congregation multiplied and quickly outgrew the small church, as devout worshipers traveled from different parts of Los Angeles and Orange County joined. On the truly blessed day of November 11, 1989, HH Pope Shenouda III laid down the foundation for a building, cementing the building which would become the new church.

After the foundation was complete, construction began in October 1990. The new 13,000-square-foot church was to be built with traditional Coptic architecture, 35-foot-high arches, and four main columns inside representing the four Gospels. Along with Sunday school classes in the basement, it has a special bakery for making holy bread, cross-shaped windows which allow sunlight to illuminate the church, and walls are adorned with Coptic icons depicting images and stories of Christ and His saints.

HH Pope Shenouda III returned once again to consecrate the altar of the new Archangel Michael Church on September 20, 1992. This forever cemented the permanent presence of the church in her new home. Even to this day, the congregants feel very blessed and fortunate to have had the Patriarch visit on multiple occasions for such joyous events.

The church continued to grow, demanding the attention of a second priest. On November 14, 1993, HH Pope Shenouda III ordained Harvey Ragheb as Father Athanasius at St. Mark’s Cathedral in Cairo, Egypt. Father Athanasius was a strong pillar of the church, whose knowledge, services, and love assisted the church in its growth for over 20 years. He was then moved to Pope Kerollos VI Coptic Orthodox Church in Westminster, CA in June 2014 where he continues to serve today.

Through the Grace of God, the church and its congregation continued to grow and prosper. The services grew to include a food bank, seniors' meetings, missionary trips, youth meetings, Sunday school, hymnology classes, numerous weekly liturgies, summer camps, and more. And the pastoral care of the Fathers Felimon and Athanasius was unparalleled as evidenced by the dozens of congregants taken from the church to become priests elsewhere such as Father Mikhail Gabriel, Father Boules Megally, Father Salib Girgis, and more.

During this time, Archangel Michael's was only one of the numerous Coptic Orthodox churches located in Southern California. Other churches were in Los Angeles, Bellflower, Northridge, Moorpark, Colton, Torrance, and more, all caring for an approximately combined 10,000 Copts. The need for a permanent leader to unify the churches, priests, and congregations was clear. HH Pope Shenouda III appointed His Grace Bishop Serapion to oversee the newly appointed Diocese of Los Angeles, Southern California, and Hawaii. HG Bishop Serapion was enthroned at Holy Virgin Mary Coptic Orthodox Church in Los Angeles on December 23rd, 1996. He was later elevated to the episcopal dignity of Metropolitan on February 28, 2016.

Again, the congregation continued to grow and a third priest was needed. Dr. Youhanna Ibrahim was an instrumental servant and member of Archangel Michael ever since he arrived in 1999. He served Sunday School, held meetings, educated hundreds on the faith, and more. On June 30, 2002, HG Bishop Serapion ordained him a priest. Father Youhanna has been a dedicated minister to Archangel Michael since his ordination, just as he was before.

The number of Copts in Orange County was growing at a rapid pace from around 100 families in 1981 to approximately 15,000 families in 2000. Under the guidance and leadership of HG Bishop Serapion, more churches were opening in Orange County and its surrounding regions including St. Marina, St. Verena and the Three Holy Youth, St. Thomas, St. Mary and St. Verena, and more.

To support the growth of the church, Archangel Michael Church welcomed Father Mark Hanna. Previously named Habeeb, he was ordained by HG Bishop Serapion and HG Bishop Youssef on November 27, 2011. Father Mark has shown great value in unifying the congregation while focusing on and spreading his love for the liturgical services. By the Grace of God through Father Mark's hand, the church has steadily grown and prospered.

By the Grace of God, the church's growth became overwhelming. The fathers and congregants agreed that another church had to be built. St. Pope Kerollos VI Coptic Orthodox Church was founded on October 11, 2014, in Westminster, CA. Many congregants of Archangel Michael Church now attend there, but the unity of the church remained strong. The priests of Archangel Michael would rotate their duties through both churches until Father Athanasius was placed there permanently to exclusively serve the congregation at St. Pope Kerollos VI.

As the church's youth population continued to grow, the demand for a young priest did as well. On August 21, 2016, His Eminence Metropolitan Serapion ordained Father Daniel Nashed to serve at Archangel Michael Church under the tutelage of Father Felimon for one year. Although his year went by fast, he left an impact on the youth. He now serves at Holy Transfiguration American Coptic Orthodox Church in Chino Hills, CA.

With the increasing number of new immigrants fleeing from Egypt and the relocation of Father Daniel, it was clear the church needed a permanent, young and bilingual priest. HE Metropolitan Serapion ordained Father David Benjamin on June 3, 2018. He is most beloved by all who are blessed to meet him.

As the congregation increases in number, so does the need for dedicated priests and servants. On December 2, 2018, HE Metropolitan Serapion selected Andrew Guirguis to be ordained. Andrew selected the name Father Kyrillos and he serves with great zeal. His primary focus is on youth services and young families.

On March 30, 2022, Father Youhanna was elevated to the priestly dignity of Hegumen by HE Metropolitan Serapion and Their Graces, Bishop Abraham and Bishop Kyrillos. Archangel Michael Church is one of the few churches to be blessed with two Hegumens.