1962

• On September 30th, 1962, His Holiness Pope Kyrillos VI took a progressive step in the history of the Coptic Orthodox Church by establishing the Bishopric of Public, Ecumenical, and Social Services (BLESS Egypt) and ordaining Bishop Samuel to oversee its programs and activities. Bishop Samuel held this office until his assassination on October 6th, 1981.

1977

• BLESS Egypt officially established the office of Social Services to narrow the gap that had existed between the rich and the poor.

1985

• On June 2nd, 1985, His Grace Bishop Serapion was ordained as the overseer for the Bishopric of Public, Ecumenical, and Social Services at St. Mark’s Cathedral in Cairo, Egypt.

• Ten years later, on November 14th, 1995, His Grace was called to be the Bishop of the Diocese of Los Angeles and Southern California, and was later enthroned as the Bishop of the Diocese of Los Angeles on December 23rd, 1995 at Holy Virgin Mary Church in Los Angeles, California.

1989

• His Holiness Pope Shenouda III made a historical pastoral visit to the Coptic churches of the United States. The same year, under the guidance of His Holiness, BLESS USA was established as an official nonprofit charity organization of the Coptic Orthodox Church, with offices in California and New Jersey.

1995

• His Grace Bishop Youannes was appointed as the overseer for the bishopric.

1997

• In order to encompass a wider scope of service, BLESS USA merged its offices and established its headquarters at the Coptic Orthodox Archdiocese of North America in Cedar Grove, New Jersey.

2002

• BLESS celebrates 40 years of service.

2012

• His Holiness Pope Tawadros II is enthroned as the 118th Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of the See of Saint Mark.

2013

• On May 18th, 2013, BLESS USA held a Day of Awareness to celebrate 50 years of hope and lifting Egypt’s needy Copts out of poverty. In November of 2013, BLESS celebrated its Golden Jubilee at the Grand Cathedral in Abbasiya in Cairo, Egypt.

2014

• His Holiness Pope Tawadros II has appointed His Grace Bishop Karas, the general bishop, to oversee the Archdiocese of North America. Among His Grace's responsibilities is the oversight of BLESS USA.

2015

• On May 30th, 2015, HG Bishop Youannes was enthroned as the bishop of Assuit.

• HH Pope Tawadros II appointed HG Bishop Yolios as the new director of BLESS.

2022:

• On June 5th, 2022, HH Pope Tawadros II ordained HG Bishop Gabriel as the general Bishop of New Jersey, overseeing the archdiocese of North America, including BLESS USA.

• In September 2022 BLESS celebrated its 60th anniversary. To mark this occasion, a celebration blessed by the attendance of HH Pope Tawadros II along with national and international parties took place at St. Mark's cathedral in Cairo.