Father Gawargious Atalla Kolta was born in 1931. He earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Chemistry in 1954, a Master of Science Degree in Physical Chemistry in 1958, and a Ph.D. in Physical Chemistry in 1962.
At Saint Mark Church in Shoubra, Egypt he served as a Sunday School Teacher from 1954 to 1958 and was a Youth Leader from 1958 to 1981.
His ordination by His Holiness Pope Shenouda III was on March 15, 1981. On March 30, 1993, Fr. Gawargious was elevated by His Holiness to Arch-priest.
He served at Saint Georgeos & Saint Anthony Church in Cairo (Heliopolis), Egypt from 1981 to 1989. In 1989 H.H. Pope Shenouda III asked him to serve at Saint John Coptic Orthodox Church in Covina, California.