Our Founder:
Master Hamid Bey
From a very early age in the early 1900’s, Hamid Bey was called into the ancient lineage of the Coptic Temple Mystery School, where he entered a sacred path of inner awakening. His training was devoted to mastery of emotion and mind, deep meditation, and the awakening of conscious command over the will.
As the years unfolded, Hamid was guided into ever-deeper disciplines—learning to still the body, suspend its rhythms, and move awareness beyond physical limitation. He journeyed through six preparatory temples before being permitted to enter the Temple of Divine Wisdom, a passage marked by the crossing of the Nile and the silent navigation of waters known to conceal unseen dangers, discerned only through trained inner sight.
In the final sanctuary, Hamid faced the supreme initiation: a rare white flower whose beauty exhaled both grace and death. Circle by circle, he moved closer to the deadly flower, remaining untouched by its power through absolute mastery of mind and body. Reaching the seventh circle, he was recognized as a Seven-Ring Master. At that moment, he felt the call to leave the temple walls and carry this living wisdom into the world.
In 1927, Hamid Bey journeyed to America in response to a challenge issued by Harry Houdini, who claimed all mystical phenomena could be explained by material means. Fate intervened before their meeting, leaving unanswered the question of where illusion ends and true mastery begins.
Hamid Meets
Paramahansa Yogananda
After choosing to remain in America, Hamid Bey joined a vaudeville troupe where he demonstrated the depth of his self-mastery. It was during this period that he met Paramahansa Yogananda, a fellow spiritual teacher and seeker of truth.
For several years, the two traveled together, sharing wisdom and revealing the extraordinary capacities that lie dormant within every human being. As part of these demonstrations, Hamid would enter a sealed coffin supplied with only minutes of air and be placed deep underground, resting in a state of suspended animation for up to three days. During this time, Yogananda would address the gathered audiences, offering spiritual teachings and reflections while Hamid’s stillness silently illustrated the power of disciplined mind and spirit.
The Coptic Fellowship
In 1937, Master Hamid Bey founded the Coptic Fellowship as a living vessel through which timeless wisdom could be shared with the growing spiritual hunger of America. Rooted in ancient teachings yet open to all paths of sincere seeking, the Fellowship was never bound to a single religion or doctrine. In the years that followed, Coptic Centers quietly blossomed across the country, welcoming thousands of individuals from diverse faiths, cultures, and traditions into a shared space of study, service, and inner awakening.
In 1969, John Davis—an honorable and deeply humble man from Michigan—was ordained as a Coptic Minister by Midwest Director Master Stanley. Upon Master Stanley’s passing in 1972, John was entrusted with the role of Midwest Coptic Director. Two years later, in 1974, the Fellowship gathered for its first National Convention in Kalamazoo, Michigan, marking a moment of unity and expansion in its unfolding story.
In 1976, Hamid Bey formally passed the torch to John Davis. Recognizing that no one could replace a master of Hamid Bey’s stature, John chose a different path—not to stand above others, but to guide everyone, regardless of belief or background, toward the realization of their own inner mastery. He served the Coptic Fellowship with devotion and quiet strength until his passing in 2022, leaving behind a legacy of humility, empowerment, and spiritual inclusivity that continues to guide the Fellowship.
Following John Davis’s passing, the torch was entrusted to Steve Krejcik—a gentle giant who has walked the path of inner exploration since 1972. As a young boy, Steve vividly recalls seeing Hamid Bey appear on The Ed Sullivan Show, an encounter that quietly planted a seed of curiosity and reverence. Decades later, that early calling came full circle when he joined the Coptic Fellowship in 2000. Steve carries forward the living legacy of Hamid Bey and John Davis, blending timeless spiritual principles with modern technology to expand the Fellowship’s reach and accessibility.
Today, the Coptic Fellowship is a spiritually inclusive community devoted to personal growth, self-awareness, and inner mastery. Rooted in ancient wisdom yet open to all, it offers practical teachings that support emotional balance, mental clarity, and deeper self-understanding. All who feel drawn to sincere inner exploration are warmly welcomed.
Coptic Master Courses
Since 1985, the Coptic Fellowship has offered leadership and spiritual development through a series of Master Courses, including World Service Order (WSO) Training, Self-Discovery, Self-Mastery, and Ministerial Training. These programs are designed to support personal growth, service, and the cultivation of inner leadership.
The Master Courses are currently being reimagined for the online environment, featuring live Zoom sessions and a dedicated online community to encourage ongoing connection, reflection, and dialogue.
Beyond these courses, the Coptic Fellowship has a long tradition of hosting workshops, retreats, and special events—creating meaningful opportunities for members to share insights, deepen understanding, and grow together through lived experience.
World-Wide Access
Since 1974, the Coptic Fellowship has hosted transformative conferences designed to inspire growth, insight, and inner exploration. Beginning in 2022, the Fellowship expanded these gatherings into the digital space, bringing its most beloved and impactful programs online. This evolution allows seekers around the world to access the wisdom of carefully selected speakers and teachers, extending the Fellowship’s reach beyond physical boundaries while preserving the depth and integrity of the experience.
Online Community
Beginning in 2026, the Coptic Fellowship is introducing a dedicated online community hosted directly on the Coptic website. This private space is designed to support connection, dialogue, and share exploration without reliance on social media platforms or data-driven networks offering a more intentional and respectful environment for members to engage.
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