Coptic Christians Eager to Start Lives in U.S., But Still Call Egypt 'Home' | PBS NewsHour BY Larisa Epatko September 12, 2013 at 9:10 AM EST St. Mark Coptic Orthodox Church in Fairfax, Va., has 3,500 members and counting. Photos by Larisa Epatko. When Mary, a 29-year-old Coptic Christian from Minya, Egypt, landed seven months ago at Dulles Airport in Northern Virginia, many thoughts were swirling in her head. How would she fare in the United States knowing so little English? Would her brother and other relatives she left behind in Egypt be OK? Her motivation for leaving an increasingly dangerous Egypt was embodied in her two lively little boys, ages 4 and 7. “I left my house and my family. It was hard for me, but I was thinking of my kids,” she said recently after Sunday liturgy at St. Mark Coptic Orthodox Church in Fairfax, Va. She said she was being harassed and threatened for being a Christian, identifiable by the small traditional Coptic cross tattoo on her wrist.

She had seen churches and homes burned in her city, and was too worried about the violence to send her children to school. Mary — who asked to be identified by only her first name while she works to get permanent resident status — and her husband originally went to Saudi Arabia after leaving Egypt. But coming from Minya, which has one of Egypt’s largest Coptic Christian populations, they didn’t feel at home in Saudi Arabia, where they couldn’t find any Coptic churches. Instead, they traveled to the United States and connected with the growing Coptic community in the Washington, D.C., area. Electronic billboards in the church display readings and responses in three languages: English, Coptic — which resembles Greek — and Arabic. ‘Home Away From Home’ Attendance at St. Mark has never been higher. It’s added more church services to accommodate the overflow crowds, holding some events in the attached elementary school gym and initiating an Arabic-language liturgy on Saturday morning for the newcomers. Traditional Coptic chanted hymns are performed by a choir using small hand-held cymbals and the triangle. St. Mark was established in 1976 with about 80 families, according to its website .

The concrete domed church was built in 1997 and now has more than 3,500 members. The congregation, mainly from Egypt, grows in waves, and at the moment is at a crest, said Moheb Andrawis, a volunteer at the church. On a recent Sunday, he stood in the lobby of the church wearing a crisp gray suit and a broad smile, greeting everyone walking by him. St. Mark began the Greeting Ministry two months ago. Andrawis said at first he was meeting about 15 new families each Sunday. The number has since dropped a bit as he’s gotten to know people. Having such a large Coptic community is both good and bad, he said. “You can find many people to help, of course, but it is very easy to lose someone in the crowd.” The purpose of the ministry is to sign up the newcomers so that the church can reach out with its services. Those services include helping new immigrants find and furnish apartments, get their driver’s license, and enroll their children in school. The church also provides a free medical clinic. Fr. Paul Girguis says the number of Egyptians joining St.

Mark has grown exponentially since 2011, when Egypt lost its structured government. “In the last two years, we’ve had a huge influx of immigrants coming from Egypt due to the persecution of the Christians specifically being targeted by the Islamists,” said Fr. Paul Girguis, one of four priests at the church. He said about 10 to 13 families are arriving each month. The animosity in Egypt got worse in 2011, when massive protests led to then-President Hosni Mubarak’s ouster . “There was no government and no security. The police weren’t instated at the time. If anyone had an enemy, they could punish their enemy,” said Girguis. Violence erupted in July when Mubarak’s elected successor, Mohammed Morsi, an Islamist, was forced out of office and his Muslim Brotherhood party blamed the Copts. Dozens of churches, Christian-owned shops and homes were burned in the two days following Morsi’s removal. Some Muslims reached out to help, protecting their neighborhoods’ churches from marauding gangs, while local authorities turned a blind eye to the trouble, Girguis said. “It’s going to take a long time for Egypt to stand on its feet.

It’s a very broken country.” The Copts who could afford to leave Egypt applied for asylum in places such as Canada, Australia and countries in Europe. In the United States, Coptic Christians are concentrated in California, New Jersey, New York and Virginia. Once they arrive and get settled with jobs and put their children in schools, they tend to stay. The initial adjustment can be difficult, said Girguis. Adults have to resort to odd jobs to make money, while they’re waiting for asylum. Children looking to “fit in” at school try smoking and drugs, and wind up getting arrested. Coming from a more conservative culture, some Egyptians find the United States can bring new opportunities — and problems. “It’s not easy to have a girlfriend or boyfriend in Egypt, but here everything’s open,” Girguis said. “You find them getting into relationships and getting into trouble and making mistakes that they normally wouldn’t make.” In response, the church has organized more youth ministries for different age groups. The goal: to “create a sense of unity and family so they would feel that the church is their home away from home,” he said. Despite the violence in Egypt, Girguis said he didn’t think all Copts would flee.

“The Copts are strong. We’re a resilient people.” The word Coptic is derived from the Greek word meaning “Egyptian”. And even though some have moved away, Copts hold their homeland in their hearts, he added. ‘Egypt Is Our Country’ A Madonna and Jesus icon graces one of the walls of the church. After Mass at St. Mark, children dashed around chatting adults. For those looking for a taste of home, such as molokhia leaves to make soup or some gibna rumi cheese, a market located in the halls of the church offers Egyptian products for sale. “I know after coming here, it would be a long time before I could go back,” said Mary, sitting with her friends and their children at a table scattered with empty cookie wrappers. But she said she would like to return some day. “Egypt is our country.” Andrawis, the volunteer greeter, has been in the United States for 18 years. He came from Cairo and still has family in Egypt. He said he worries about them all the time. “You can never tell what’s going to happen tomorrow.

It’s very unpredictable.” But here in Virginia, he said he’s working to “bring all of God’s children together,” so at least they can take comfort in each other. Related Resources BBC - Religions - Christianity: Coptic Orthodox Church Coptic Orthodox Church Last updated 2009-06-25 The structure, history and practices of the Coptic Orthodox Church, the main Christian Church in Egypt and one of the oldest churches outside the Holy Land. On this page Coptic Orthodox Church Pope Shenouda III during a 2007 visit to New York. Photo: Michael Sleman © The Coptic Orthodox Church is the main Christian Church in Egypt, where it has between 6 and 11 million members. While most Copts live in Egypt, the Church has around a million members outside Egypt; there are over 100 churches in the USA and a cathedral in the UK. Copts believe that their Church dates back to around 50 AD, when the Apostle Mark is said to have visited Egypt. Mark is regarded as the first Pope of Alexandria. This makes it one of the earliest Christian groups outside the Holy Land.

The early Church suffered persecution under the Roman Empire, and there were intermittent persecutions after Egypt became a Muslim country. Modern Copts claim that they are still disadvantaged and play a lesser part in Egyptian public life than their numbers justify. There are still occasional violent clashes between Copts and Muslims. Firsts for the Coptic Church include the first specifically Christian educational establishment in the School of Alexandria and the start of Christian monasticism. In order to see this content you need to have both Javascript enabled and Flash installed. Visit BBC Webwise for full instructions St Antony's Monastery, Eastern Desert, Egypt The Church separated from other Christian denominations at the Council of Chalcedon (451 AD) in a theological dispute over the human and divine nature of Jesus Christ. This dispute has been reassessed in modern times, and the differences between Churches are much less severe. The Coptic Church is led by the Pope of Alexandria, who is based in Cairo. The current Pope, Tawadros II, succeeded Pope Shenouda III and is 118th in succession to Mark. Coptic services take place in the very ancient Coptic language (which is based on the language used in the time of the Pharaohs), together with local languages.

The liturgy and hymns remain similar to those of the early Church. The Church is ecumenical in outlook, and was a founder member of the World Council of Churches in 1948. The word 'Copt' comes from the Greek word 'Aigyptos', meaning Egyptian. NB: The word Coptic is often used to refer to all Egyptian Christians, not just members of the Coptic Church. This site uses the narrow meaning. Statistics Father Irenaeus of St Macarius Monastery, Wadi Natrun, Egypt The Coptic Church is one of the Oriental Orthodox Churches, a group which includes the Ethiopian Church, the Syrian Jacobite Church, the Syrian Church of India, and the Armenian Church. The Oriental Orthodox Group has around 60 million members worldwide. The Church in Egypt At the end of the twentieth century Egypt's Copts were the largest Christian minority of any country in the Middle East; estimates ranged from 6 to 11 million; 6% (official estimate) to 20% (Church estimate) of the population , the majority living in the Upper Egyptian provincial capitals of Assiut and Minya, and in Cairo.

These numbers are partly the result of a Church revival in the 1940s and 50s in the form of the Coptic Sunday School Movement. Despite their numbers, Copts play little part in the running of Egypt; Only one Christian has since been appointed provincial governor, and that was for a brief period of two years in the remote governorate of North Sinai. Not one has since held a key cabinet portfolio; not one has even been appointed mayor of a city or town. Currently, Copts are sorely underrepresented in parliament, occupying only seven of 454 seats. Saad Eddin Ibrahim, Christians Oppressed, The Wall Street Journal, 18/11/2005 Copts in Egypt complain that they still suffer discrimination in the workplace and restrictions on church construction. They are concerned that new electoral rules are benefiting Islamist parties but not increasing Coptic political representation. In order to see this content you need to have both Javascript enabled and Flash installed. Visit BBC Webwise for full instructions An Ethiopian Copt © The Church outside Egypt The Coptic Church has expanded worldwide during the last 40 years and now has a million members outside Egypt.

There are over 100 churches in the United States. There are two Coptic bishops in Australia and more than 50 priests to serve the congregation. There are four bishops in the UK and the first Coptic Cathedral in Britain was inaugurated at the Coptic Orthodox Church Centre at Shephalbury Manor in Stevenage in 2007. There are churches in Switzerland and Japan, and four in Black Africa. In Libya there are three churches, in Sudan two bishops, as well as churches in Lebanon, Jordan, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates and Iraq. Coptic monasteries have been opened in Ireland, Texas, California, Sydney, and Jerusalem, and new monasteries have opened in Egypt. Organisation, priesthood Organisation The Coptic Orthodox Church derives its spiritual authority to function from the Holy Synod of the Coptic Orthodox Church. Such authority cannot be changed, altered, modified or revoked. His Holiness the Pope of Alexandria is the head of the said Synod. Amir Hanna, Doctrinal Theology, 1998 Pope Shenouda III during a 2007 visit to New York.

Photo: Michael Sleman © Pope The Coptic Church is led by His Holiness Tawadros II (1952 - ), who was consecrated the 118th Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of the See of St. Mark in November 2012. The Pope is based in Cairo. The Coptic Pope is not regarded as infallible or supreme. The Pope is elected by a complicated process. Candidates must be at least 40 years old and have been monks for at least 15 years. Following election, the names of the three candidates with most votes are written on pieces of paper and one of them is picked by a child. Holy Synod The highest authority in the church is the Holy Synod, a body made up of the Patriarch, metropolitans, bishops, khoori episcopos, abbots, and stewards of the Patriarchate. The Holy Synod deals with spiritual, ecclesiastical, structural, management and financial matters. There are seven subcommittees which deal with pastoral affairs, liturgical affairs, ecumenical relations, monastic affairs, faith and ethics, and diocesan affairs.

Consultative Assembly Beliefs and schism The Coptic Church is one of the Eastern Orthodox churches and shares their general beliefs. In 451 the Church split from other Christian churches in a major schism at the Council of Chalcedon over the nature of Christ. The Coptic Church now forms part of the 'Non-Chalcedonian Orthodox Churches'. In the last 50 years scholars on both sides of the dispute have worked hard to achieve a common understanding of the nature of Christ. Icon of Jesus feeding the multitude © Monophysitism/Miaphytism Our church... believes in 'Miaphysis' which means the unity of the two natures of Christ (the Divine and the Human Natures) into one nature of the incarnate God. The two natures never separated and never changed each other. Coptic Orthodox Diocese of the Southern USA The Lord Jesus Christ is God Himself, the Incarnate Logos Who took to Himself a perfect manhood. His Divine nature is one with his human nature yet without mingling, confusion or alteration; a complete Hypostatic Union... ...

As this union is permanent, never divided nor separated, we say in the liturgy that His Godhead never departed from His manhood for a single moment nor even for a twinkle of an eye. Pope Shenouda III, The Nature of Christ, 1999 The Coptic belief which defined the church at an early stage is called monophytism (technically it would be better called miaphytism, but most documents use the former word). To put it simply this is the belief that Jesus Christ has only one nature; that his divine nature and his human nature are composite and totally united - the nature of the incarnated Word, as opposed to two natures united in one person. This single nature was formed 'from the first moment of Holy Pregnancy in the Virgin's womb' (Shenouda III). The dispute over monophytism at the Council of Chalcedon (451 AD) caused the Coptic Church to separate from other Churches. Other Churches also split, and became known as the 'Monophysite Churches' or 'Non-Chalcedonian Churches'. Nowadays these churches are usually called the 'Oriental Orthodox Churches'.

In modern times Christian Churches have come to a much closer understanding of the nature of Christ, and this dispute is no longer so divisive. Holy book and language Holy books The Bible is, as you would expect, the basic scripture of the Coptic Church. The first translation of the Bible into Coptic script is thought have been around the 2nd century, although few early manuscripts survive. Page from the Mudil Psalter, discovered in the Coptic cemetery of Al-Mudil in 1984 - the earliest complete psalter in the Coptic language © But the Bible isn't the only source of faith for Copts: The basic source of the one faith is the Holy Bible. The other sources are the sayings of the saints, the authenticated creeds of the holy councils, and what was recorded in the Church books, especially the ritual books. All these are in accord with the Holy Bible and are called as a whole 'Church Tradition'. Pope Shenouda III, Comparative Theology Copts don't believe that God actually wrote the Bible, but that God and the Holy Spirit inspired the men who wrote down the words. Pope Shenouda III also said that 'the Holy Bible does not mention everything'.

For example, not everything Christ taught was in the form of words - much of his teaching was contained in his actions and his life. Tradition is particularly important because it guided humanity from the time of Adam, long before the first texts of the Bible. Holy Tradition then is the part of our Holy Coptic Orthodox Church and Her teachings which are not found in written form in the Holy Bible but which are genuine and have equal authority and truth. In order to be part of the Holy Tradition, a teaching must come from God and belong to the teachings of Christ and the Holy Apostles, it must have been continuously taught and practiced and kept alive by the Church, confirmed by the Ecumenical Councils and still exist today. Amir Hanna, Doctrinal Theology, 1998 Page from the Mudil Psalter © The language The original language of Christians in Egypt was Coptic, which itself is a development of the language of the ancient Egyptians. Coptic was the main language of the Church until the 11th century. Coptic is written with a mix of the Greek alphabet and Egyptian characters. Coptic is no longer used in everyday life, but still has a place in Coptic liturgy, although Arabic has become widely used.

Coptic churches outside Egypt incorporate their local languages as appropriate. Holy days Icon of the Crucifixion © The Coptic calendar is possibly the oldest in the world, being based on the calendar of the ancient Egyptians. It has 13 months and is divided into 3 seasons; Inundation, Sowing, and Harvest. The Coptic Christmas is celebrated on January 7 (or 29 Kiahk - the fourth month of the Coptic calendar), which has been declared an official holiday in Egypt. List of festivals This list is adapted from the Sunday School Curriculum of the Coptic Orthodox Diocese of the Southern USA. It gives dates in both the Coptic and Western Calendars for fixed festivals. The seven Major Feasts of our Lord The Annunciation (Paramhat 29, c. April 7) The Nativity of Christ (Christmas, Kiahk 29, c. January 7) The Theophany or the Baptism of Christ (Tuba 11, c.

January 19) Palm Sunday The Feast of the Resurrection: It is preceded by the Great Lent (55 days) and is considered by the Coptic Church as "The Feast." Ascension Thomas' Sunday: The Sunday after Easter Monthly feasts The Church celebrates the commemoration of the Annunciation, Nativity and Resurrection of Christ on the 29th of every Coptic month The commemoration of St. Mary is celebrated on the 21st The feast of Archangel Michael is celebrated on the 12th of every month Weekly feasts Every Sunday stands as a true Sabbath (day of rest). There is no abstention from food on Sundays after the celebration of the Eucharist, even during Great Lent. Icon of St Macarius at the monastery bearing his name Feasts of the Saints Every day of the year is a feast, so that the believers may live in perpetual joy and in communion with the saints. In addition there are other special fasts and occasions: The Feasts of St. Mary: The annunciation of her birth (Messra 7, c. August 13) Her Nativity (Pashans 1, c.

May 9) Her Presentation into the Temple (Kiahk 3, c. December 12) Her Dormant (Tuba 21, c. January 29) The Ascension of her body (Paona 21, c. June 28) Her apparition over the Church of Zeitoon (Paramhat 24, c. April 2) The apparition of her body to the Apostles (Messra 16, c. August 22) The Apostles' Feast (Abib 5, c. July 12) The Nayrouz Feast (1st of Tute, c. September 11) The Two Feasts of the Cross: The first feast is on Tute 17 (c. September 27) The second feast is on Paramhat 10 (c. March 19) Worship, spiritual practice Worship and spiritual practice Coptic Church rituals use very ancient words and music. Local languages are also used, in order to allow the congregation to play a full part in the worship. Sunday is the main day for services, which can last for over four hours.

Churches Coptic churches are built facing East so that the congregation faces East in prayer. The sanctuary of the church, where the altar is found, is divided from the nave by an iconostasis – a screen made of icons. Only priests, and deacons assisting at a service, are allowed through the iconostasis. The nave of a Coptic church is usually in two parts: the chancel or choir, and the nave itself. The chancel is a raised area with seats for deacons, candle stands and reading desks. Part of the nave is usually reserved for men. Candles are used a great deal in services. Incense is used during worship. Music Music is almost entirely vocal; the only musical instruments used are the cymbals and the triangle (other instruments are sometimes used in non-liturgical Coptic events). The music of the church has been transmitted orally over the centuries because the church didn't use any system of music notation. 300 hymns have survived and are still in use. Coptic music, is second to no other religious music. It is unique. Its melodies are within only a five-tone range; all melodiously manipulated to give this wide range of melodies.

I think it is miraculous, having so little melodic matter to deal with, and still Coptic music can express praise and worship to God. I find it restful and it gives me the sense of the presence of God: His grandeur and His assurance of His existence. Martha Roy, Expert on Coptic music, Al Ahram 2000 Coptic hymns are deep, harmonic and exactly defined songs meant to express the innermost emotions of the praising spirit. They do not follow musical notes or dedicated rhythm but rather they translate the pulses of the spirit. Deacon Nabih Fanous, Brief Notes on Coptic Hymns A typical service A typical service is described below: The service is composed of four parts. The first is the preparation prayer, called in Arabic the early morning prayer. This lasts only 30 minutes...the alter boys go around with incenses while chanting in the Coptic language. The second part is for offering, at which point a prayer is said over the holy bread. This lasts for 20 to 30 minutes. The third part consists of the preaching mass. Here, the priests read sections of the Old and New Testament, as well giving a sermon... The fourth part is the reconciliation prayer.

This only lasts for 10 minutes when the priests give the people Christ's forgiveness and the people do so to each other. The fifth part is the Believer's mass and it lasts for the rest of the service. This is when the congregation has communion, and is supposed to be only attended by those who have been baptised and who have confessed. This strict rule is now more found in small villages in Upper Egypt, but in Cairo, one must only hear the Bible reading to be able to have communion, meaning that one cannot enter very late to the service. During the service women and men don't mix, they sit separately on each side of the church. Also during communion, they go to different chambers on the sides of the altar where the women cover their hair in respect of the ceremony. Lara Iskander and Jimmy Dunn, An Overview of the Coptic Christians of Egypt, 2007. Copyright © U.S. Copts Association Liturgies There are three main liturgies: The liturgies of St. Basil, used throughout the year; St. Gregory, used at Christmas, Epiphany and Easter; and St. Cyril (or St. Mark).

The sung liturgy is a solemn drama involving at least four participants: celebrant, deacon, cantor and choir. The celebrant - either priest, bishop or patriarch - performs the Eucharist, the thanksgiving and sacrifice, with some freedom within fixed limits... Often he will vocalise for minutes on one syllable, especially on feast days or when eminent guests are present. John Gillespie, The Egyptian Copts and their Music Baptism of Jesus Christ: icon from the Coptic Church of Saint Mercurius, Old Cairo © Sacraments There are seven sacraments in the Coptic Church. Baptism The Church baptises babies and adults Baptism is by total immersion three times - regardless of age The Church teaches that baptism is essential for salvation Confirmation/Chrismation This sacrament takes place immediately after Baptism. The person is anointed with oil of Myron with 36 signs of the cross on their joints and sense organs.

An appropriate prayer is used for each place of annointing Oil of Myron is made by adding spices and perfumes (including those used to anoint Jesus after the Crucifixion) to pure olive oil Confession/Repentance Regular confession is necessary if a person wishes to take communion Eucharist This is the most important sacrament The Church accepts the doctrine of transubstantiation Children of any age can take communion Women may not take communion in church during their period (nor may people of either sex who are bleeding) People are expected to receive communion immediately after the sacraments of Baptism, Confession, Matrimony and Priesthood Adults must fast for 9 hours before communion, should dress appropriately, and abstain from sex on the day and eve of communion Unction of the Sick Priesthood Fasting Fasting is an important spiritual element of Coptic life. While it is regarded as an important spiritual practice, it is a voluntary spiritual sacrifice and the Church does not insist that people fast. Fasting is excused for those who are unwell. Fasting requires not eating at all for a period, and then abstaining from meat, fish, dairy products and cooking fats or oil derived from animals.

There are 210 days of fasting each year. Fasts include the Fast of the Nativity (43 days), the Fast of the Apostles (duration varies), the Fast of the Virgin Mary (15 days), the Fast of Nineveh, and the Great Fast (Lent), which lasts 55 days. Many Copts also fast on Wednesdays and Fridays. Monasticism Approaching St Antony's Monastery, Eastern Desert, Egypt One of the Coptic Church's greatest contributions to Christianity was the development of monasticism. Egypt was the birth place of Christian monasteries. Saint Anthony (c. 251-356 AD), is credited with inspiring the first monastic community. He didn't intend to found a monastery: originally he set off to live a solitary spiritual life in the Egyptian desert; other men eventually came to live near him - creating the idea of religious people choosing to live close to an especially holy person. Monasticism developed further under Saint Pachomius (died c. 346 AD), an ex-Roman soldier of Egyptian origins, who laid down the first rules for a collective community of hermits and developed the concept of combining spiritual devotion with learning and routine work.

In order to see this content you need to have both Javascript enabled and Flash installed. Visit BBC Webwise for full instructions Father Ruwais of St Antony's Monastery The monastic movement gained extra fame through the work of members of Pachomian communities known as the Desert Fathers, whose teachings have been a source of inspiration to Christians throughout history. Monasticism has revived in the last few decades, and significant numbers have chosen the monastic life; not only within monasteries but as hermits too. We don't oblige any monk to lead a certain life. For he who wants to live in the monastery as part of the congregation, that is all right. If he wants to lead a life of solitude inside the monastery, that is all right. If he wants a cell of solitude outside the monastery or on the near hills, that will be all right. He who wants to live in a cave will have the permission to live in a cave. We have all kinds of monasticism. Pope Shenouda III, Monasticism What Is Coptic Christianity? Legal Information What Is Coptic Christianity?

We know, with a fair degree of certainty, that Jesus spent his adult life in and around the area now known as Israel, and his childhood in Egypt. The New Testament specifically mentions Jesus in Egypt in Matt. 2: [13-15] And when they were departed, behold, the angel of the Lord appeareth to Joseph in a dream, saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and flee into Egypt, and be thou there until I bring thee word: for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him. When he arose, he took the young child and his mother by night, and departed into Egypt: And was there until the death of Herod: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Out of Egypt have I called my son. and then again, briefly: [19] But when Herod was dead, behold, an angel of the Lord appeareth in a dream to Joseph in Egypt . . . With such scant mention, it is perhaps not surprising that American Christians give little thought to Egypt as an important New Testament location.

It would not come to mind if someone were to use the phrase, "The Holy Land." But if the life of Jesus is important, as it most assuredly is to Christians, than Egypt is indeed very important to Christianity. As John Milton observed: "The childhood shows the man, As morning shows the day." -- Paradise Regained. Book iv. Line 220. Certainly, then, the childhood of Jesus showed the person He would become - and that childhood was spent in Egypt. A large Jewish population existed in Egypt during the time of Jesus. Presumably, the Holy Family resided within this Egyptian Jewish community. Later, during the reign of the Emperor Nero, approximately a dozen years after the Ascension of Jesus, Saint Mark brought the teachings of Christianity to this community, and to other Egyptians as well. Archaeological evidence points to the spread of Christianity in Egypt following Saint Mark's evangelical mission: a 2nd Century fragment of the Gospel of Saint John, written in the Coptic language, has been found in Upper Egypt, and other New Testament writings from around the year 200 AD have been found in Middle Egypt. The Coptic language is the final stage of ancient Egyptian script.

Coptic ultimately became the term used to describe the Christian Church established in Egypt on the basis of Saint Mark's teachings, now 19 centuries old. During that time, the Coptic Church (the official name of the church is The Christian Coptic Orthodox Church of Egypt) has had a significant impact on the development of Christianity. Saint Athanasius, the Coptic Pope of Alexandria for 46 years (327 A.D. to 373 AD), is the author of the Nicene Creed. Saint Anthony, regarded as the first Christian monk, was a Copt from Upper Egypt. There is very little conflict between basic Coptic teachings and those of other early Christian churches and, indeed, the Coptic Church was quite vigilant in campaigning against Gnosticism . The Copts did, sadly, suffer from the political maneuverings of others. Saint Dioscorus had the faith and the courage to tell the Emperor Marcianus that, "You have nothing to do with the Church." This position against the powerful Roman state, along with some semantic wrangling over whether or not the Coptic Church preached monophysitism, caused the Coptic Church to be split off - in fact, exiled - from Western Christian churches.

One has the sense that neither Jesus nor Saint Mark would have been pleased with this poor treatment of Egyptian Christians, and one hopes that a reconciliation will be forthcoming. There are currently approximately 9 million Copts in Egypt, and another 1.2 million worldwide. Their religious practices would be familiar to most Christians, with some exceptions, one being fasting: virtually all Copts fast through Lent, and strict Copts endure some sort of fasting 210 days out of each year. The Coptic Church is headed by a Pope who, unlike his counterpart in Rome, does not claim papal infallibility. Divorce is permissible in certain cases, including adultery and bigamy. The Coptic Church refuses to canonize official positions on certain issues, including abortion, believing "that such matters are better resolved on a case-by-case basis by the father of confession, as opposed to having a blanket canon that makes a sin of such practices." One final item to mention is the Coptic Cross, a simplified version of which is illustrated below. There are many variations of this design, and it is a matter of great pride amongst Copts, many of whom have the Cross (usually in color) tattooed on their forearms. © William Mackis.

Bible Quotations are from King James version. What Do Coptic Christians Believe? What Do Coptic Christians Believe? October 20, 2013 by Jack Wellman 39 Comments What is the difference between Coptic Christians and Christians in other parts of the world? Are there major doctrinal differences? Why do they seem to suffer more persecution than most Christians in the world do? Coptic Christians are Christians as far as their beliefs are held. The fact that they are Christians and living in a predominantly Muslim part of the world is reason enough for them to be persecuted more than most Christians in the West. What is a Coptic Christian? Who or what is a Coptic Christian? Maybe you’ve heard of them and if so, you probably heard about them being persecuted. A Coptic Christian is called “Coptic” because this is the Afro-Asiatic language of the Copts , which survives only as a liturgical language of the Coptic Church. Others define Coptic as “Egyptian” so a Coptic Christian could be called an Egyptian Christian or a Christian in the Middle East or Afro-Asiatic region. Coptic Christians are Christians as far as their beliefs are held.

The fact that they are Christians and living in a predominantly Muslim part of the world is reason enough for them to be persecuted more than most Christians in the West. The Coptic’s are believed to have originated in the city of Alexandria, Egypt. John Mark, the author of the gospel of Mark and believed to be one of the earliest of the four gospels, is thought to be the founder of the Coptic Christian Church. Although John Mark wrote this gospel, the vast majority of biblical scholars firmly believe it is actually Peter’s gospel with Mark being the author of it. This is the same John Mark that traveled throughout the Asiatic region with Paul and Barnabas so it is not beyond belief that John Mark may have went to Alexandria and planted a church there. What do Coptic Christians Believe? The fact that they rely so much on the gospel of Mark reveals that they believe in the divinity of Christ. They believe in the resurrection and the miracles of Christ. They believe in the bodily ascension of Christ and that He was the sinless Messiah and will come again to gather together the Body of Believers worldwide and take them into the Kingdom of Heaven.

The Coptic or Egyptian Christians essentially believe what any other Christians do but since they are in a region that is predominantly Muslim they see more of the persecution that Jesus warned was to come. Jesus said that if they persecuted Him they will also persecute His followers (John 15:20). The Coptic’s have lived with this persecution for about 2,000 years now. They have seen their churches regularly burned down and they have seen many of their members die by the hands of radical Muslims who see Christians as infidels that are opposed to the Islamic faith. They have seen more persecution in a year’s time than most Christians will see in their lifetime. The Coptic’s were one of the earliest Christian groups to see Christ as being both God and Man or what is called “one hypostasis in two natures.” Only later would the Eastern Orthodox, the Catholic and the Protestant churches come to this conclusion. The Coptic Christian tradition says that when John Mark took a missionary expedition to Egypt he was well received because many of the Egyptians had already believed in eternal life but in a different setting.

They were more eager and willing to believe this because this was not that different than what they believed happened after death; that they passed from death to the Underworld and then to the next life. This was the primary reason why the Pyramids were built…to supply provisions for the Pharaohs so that they could pass from this life into the next as well as protect their valuable treasures. The Coptic Christian Explosion Relatively few Coptic Christians remain where they began, that is in Alexandria. Today they are estimated to range in numbers from between 10 to 60 million members worldwide but most are not far from the Middle East or Asia Minor. The exact numbers of Coptic Christians is hard to determine because many worship in secrecy for fear of persecution and regular threats of death in the more radical regions of the world where the Islamic faith is the dominant religion. Some believe that they are more closely associated with the Eastern Orthodox Church because they emphasize meritorious works as part of their salvation. That is they lean on liturgical rituals rather than a personal relationship with Christ by which salvation is possible. Due to pressures from the Muslim world, many Coptic Christians converted under pressure to Islam which is the dominant religion in their part of the world.

Those who remain staunch in their Christianity often pay dearly for it. Conclusion No matter what Christian persuasion you are, you belong to Christ. Differences in beliefs that are not different in the essentials should not divide us. The main tenets of Christ’s divinity, His sinlessness, His redeeming work on Calvary, His resurrection and ascension into heaven and His offer of salvation by faith alone should serve to unite us. We need to be praying for our Christian brothers and sisters around the world, especially those who are suffering from severe persecutions, some even dying for their faith. These include the Coptic Christians, those who are in hiding in parts of Asia, those who have house churches in China, and those who are based in Muslim countries. These Coptic Christians are our brothers and sisters in Christ. They may do things somewhat differently than we do, but that doesn’t mean that they are not part of the Body of Christ. What is Coptic Christianity, and what do Coptic Christians believe? What is Coptic Christianity, and what do Coptic Christians believe?

Subscribe to our Question of the Week : Question: "What is Coptic Christianity, and what do Coptic Christians believe?" Answer: “Coptic” means “Egyptian,” and Christians living in Egypt identify themselves as Coptic Christians. As a denomination they originated in the city of Alexandria, one of the most faithful, respected, and fruitful cities during the Apostolic Period. Proudly, the Coptic Christians acknowledge and herald John Mark, (author of the Gospel of Mark), as their founder and first bishop sometime between A.D. 42 - A.D. 62. The Coptic Church was actually involved in the very first major split in the Church, well before there was such a thing as "Roman" Catholicism, and it was also well before the East/West split. Prior to the “Great” East/West Schism of A.D. 1054, the Coptics were separated from the rest by the Council of Chalcedon in A.D. 451. The council met to discuss the Incarnation of Christ and declared that Christ was "one hypostasis in two natures" (i.e., one person who shares two distinct natures).

This became standard orthodoxy for Eastern Orthodox, Roman Catholic, and Protestant churches from then on. The Coptic understanding is that Christ is one nature from two natures: "the Logos Incarnate." In this understanding, Christ is from, not in, two natures: full humanity and full divinity. Some in the Coptic Orthodox Church believe that their position was misunderstood at the Council of Chalcedon and take great pains to ensure that they are not seen as Monophysitic (denying the two natures of Christ), but rather "Miaphysitic" (believing in one composite/conjoined nature from two). Some believe that perhaps the council understood the church correctly, but wanted to exile the church for its refusal to take part in politics or due to the rivalry between the bishops of Alexandria and Rome. To this day, 95 percent of Christians in Alexandria are members of the Coptic Orthodox Church. The tradition says that when John Mark arrived on a missionary journey to Egypt, the Coptic form of religion of that day was god-centered worship, but focused upon the pyramids.

However, John Mark and the Gospel message were well received by the Coptic people as they also believed in “eternal life.” The Coptic people, under Roman rule and societal influence, consisted of Greeks, Jews, and Egyptians; therefore, Christianity had to take into account the different cultural, language, and religious backgrounds when evangelizing and in establishing its church. The Coptic Christians were originally well founded in theology, and other churches in cities throughout the Roman Empire looked up to them with great admiration and respect, willingly following their lead in doctrinal like-mindedness and unity. It is interesting to note that when the Coptics were under the rule of the Roman Empire, they suffered severe persecution and death for their steadfast faith and beliefs in Christ while refusing to worship emperors. However, by A.D. 641, yet another tribulation began when the Arab conquest took place, overthrowing the Romans’ rule in Egypt and, at first, relieving the Coptic Church from persecution. What appeared to be their liberty and freedom became yet again bondage. The societal strength and control of the Arabs caused the Coptics to endure a major language and culture change as well as confront the Islamic faith.

Unfortunately, over the centuries, Christianity lost foothold and most Coptics converted to Islam. Today, there is a small population of Coptic Christians remaining in Alexandria, but most are located elsewhere. Estimates of the current population of the Coptic Church range from 10 million to 60 million members worldwide. Theologically, Coptic Christianity is very similar to Roman Catholicism and Eastern Orthodoxy. They profess to be genuine followers of Jesus Christ and a part of His worldwide Church. But, as with Catholicism, they tend to emphasize meritorious works in salvation along with liturgical ritual rather than salvation through a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. Number of Coptic Christians in Egypt Is Far Less Than Media Estimates, Report Says Number of Coptic Christians in Egypt Is Far Less Than Media Estimates, Report Says By Elizabeth Harrington | December 19, 2011 | 5:30 PM EST Pope Shenouda III, the head of Egypt's Coptic Orthodox church, leads prayers at the Coptic Cathedral in Cairo on Thursday, Jan. 7, 2010.

(AP Photo/Ahmed Gomaa) (CNSNews.com) – The number of Coptic Christians in Egypt widely reported by the media is more than twice the nation’s actual Christian population, according to a new study by the Pew Research Center’s Forum on Religion and Public Life. “In Egypt, the Christian population is only half the size that media accounts typically claim,” said Luis Lugo, director of the Pew Center’s Forum, during a conference call to highlight the center’s new report, “Global Christianity: A report on the Size and Distribution of the World's Christian Population.” (Read the full report here .) The study revealed the Christian population is 5.3 percent (4.3 million out of 80 million), as opposed to the widely used media figure of 10 percent. Researchers arrived at the number from Egypt’s 2006 Census data, rather than the 2010 World Religion database used for traditional estimates. Although the number is less than half of previous estimates, the 4.3 million Christians in Egypt are “more than in Lebanon, Saudi Arabia and Syria combined,” the report found.

“What’s typically reported in the news is that the Coptic Christian population in Egypt is 10, or even 15 and sometimes 20 percent of the Egyptian population,” said Conrad Hackett, demographer at the Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life. “These estimates seem to be based upon claims primarily from the Coptic Orthodox Church, that they have this number of members. “However, religion has been measured in the Egyptian Census going back over a hundred years, and we also have many high quality demographic surveys measuring religion. And what these Census and survey data points indicate is that for decades the Christian population in Egypt has been less than 10 percent of the population,” Hackett said. Though there may be some converts in Egypt from Islam to Christianity, “it’s unlikely that that number is very large,” Hackett said.

After speaking to experts to assess if Christians are undercounted by the Census, Hackett said it is unlikely, given that Coptic Christians, as a general rule, are “very proud and want to be identified as Christians.” “Based on the demographic evidence,” he concluded, “it seems to us that the actual statistic is about one in 20, or 5 percent of the country is Christian.” The report also found that “Census and demographic survey data suggest that the Christian share of Egypt’s total population has been declining,” due to lower fertility rates for Christians. “The highest share reported in the past century was in 1927, when the census found that 8.3 percent of Egyptians were Christian,” the report states. “In each of the eight subsequent censuses, the Christian share of the population gradually shrank.” “For decades, Christian fertility in Egypt has been lower than Muslim fertility,” according to the report. According to a Pew Forum’s report this year, 95 percent of the Egyptian population is Muslim.

The Pew Forum gathered from 2,400 data sources and worked with demographers at the International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA) in Laxenburg, Austria, to determine there are 2.18 billion Christians in the world. Overall, the Middle East and North Africa region accounts for only 0.6 percent (12.8 million) of the global Christian population, as of 2010, according to the study that analyzed the geographical distribution of the religion throughout the world as compared to a century ago. “Today we describe how Christianity has spread far from its historical origins,” said Lugo during the conference call. “Christianity began in the Middle East and North Africa region of the world, but today less than one out of every one hundred Christians in the world live in the Middle East and North Africa region. In fact, there are actually more Christians in Indonesia, a Muslim majority country, than in all 20 countries in the Middle East North Africa region combined,” he said. Copyright 1998-2017 CNSNews.com. CNSNews.com is a division of the Media Research Center.

The mission of the Media Research Center is to create a media culture in America where truth and liberty flourish. The MRC is a research and education organization operating under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, and contributions to the MRC are tax-deductible. Copyright © 2014, Media Research Center. All Rights Reserved. Federal employees and military personnel can donate to the Media Research Center through the Combined Federal Campaign or CFC. To donate to the MRC, use CFC #12489. Visit the CFC website for more information about giving opportunities in your workplace. Who are the Coptic Christians and what do they believe? | 89.3 KPCC Who are the Coptic Christians and what do they believe? AP with Mike Roe Caption Worshippers attend a service as Coptic priest Father Samaan Ibrahim reads his sermon on July 26, 2012 at the St Samaans (Simon) Church also known as the Cave Church in the Mokattam village, nicknamed as "Garbage City," in Cairo.

Gianluigi Guercia/AFP/Getty Images Share on Facebook The California man suspected of making " Innocence of Muslims," the controversial film denigrating Islam and the Prophet Muhammad , is a Coptic Christian. The film has sparked protests in the Middle East and may be implicated in an attack that killed the U.S. ambassador to Libya and other Americans. So who are the Coptic Christians? What do they believe? The Los Angeles area is home to one of the nation’s largest Coptic Christian communities. Here’s a look at the religion and reaction to the film. What do Coptic Christians believe? Coptic Christians belong to the Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria, the largest Christian church in Egypt They trace their founding to St.

Mark, who has traditionally been believed to be the author of the Gospel of Mark; Mark is credited with converting the Copts, who were native Egyptians, to Christianity The church believes much of the same theology as other Christian denominations, including a belief in one God made up of Father, Son and Holy Spirit; that the Bible is the word of God; that Jesus took human form, died and rose again for the salvation of humanity; that Jesus will come again to judge both the living and the dead The church belongs to the Oriental Orthodox family of churches, which has been a distinct church body since the Council of Chalcedon in 451; it was the first major church split, before the split between the Eastern and Western church and a thousand years before the Protestant Reformation Coptic Christians split when they took a different position over Christological theology from that of the Eastern Orthodox Church (Christology is the study of Jesus within Christian theology) Coptic Christians differed over Jesus’s human and divine nature from a Christian perspective; they argued that Jesus came from two different natures (human and divine) but is only of one nature himself, rather than of two natures, fully human and fully divine Who are the Coptic Christians?

"Coptic" is a traditional term for native Egyptians Coptic Christian history dates back 19 centuries, and the language used in their liturgy can be traced to the speech of Egypt’s pharaohs Once a majority in Egypt, Coptic Christians now make up about 10 percent of the country’s 85 million people They are the largest Christian community in the Middle East Many Egyptian Christians fled to the U.S. to escape what they say is religious discrimination in the majority Muslim nation Since the ouster of Egyptian ruler Hosni Mubarak, a series of anti-Christian attacks has heightened tensions The U.S. expatriate community numbers about 300,000, with the largest concentrations in New York and northern New Jersey, Boston, Los Angeles, Chicago, Detroit, Houston and Cleveland What’s their reaction to the film? His Grace Bishop Serapion of the Coptic Orthodox Diocese of Los Angeles, Southern California and Hawaii said Thursday he doesn’t support the views portrayed in the movie. He also condemned the murders of the U.S. ambassador and three others.

Serapion said in a statement that the diocese "strongly rejects dragging the respectable Copts of the Diaspora in the latest production of an inflammatory movie about the prophet of Islam. The producers of this movie should be responsible for their actions. The name of our blessed parishioners should not be associated with the efforts of individuals who have ulterior motives." Serapion added: "Holistically blaming the Copts for the production of this movie is equivalent to holistically blaming Muslims for the actions of a few fanatics. Even though Christians often face persecution, injustice and calls for open attacks over the airwaves, we reject violence in all its forms." The Rev. Joseph Boules, a priest at St. Mary and St. Verena Church in Anaheim, said no one in the Coptic Orthodox community knows the filmmaker, and the church had nothing to do with the movie. The filmmaker could be an Egyptian Catholic or Egyptian evangelical, he said, noting that the word "Coptic" is often used to denote Egyptian Christians from any Christian denomination.

Parishioners are worried about their security, and at least one church in the nearby city of Orange on Wednesday received a visit from police officers, who advised them to keep their church locked in case of retaliation, Boules said. You care about today's news.And you're not alone. Join others who support independent journalism. Coptic Christianity - A History of Rich Traditions By Jack Zavada Coptic Christianity began in Egypt about 55 A.D., making it one of the five oldest Christian churches in the world. The others are the Roman Catholic Church , Church of Athens ( Eastern Orthodox Church ), Church of Jerusalem, and Church of Antioch. Copts say their founder was John Mark , one of the 72 apostles sent forth by Jesus Christ and author of the Gospel of Mark . Mark accompanied Paul and Mark's cousin Barnabas on their first missionary journey but left them and returned to Jerusalem. He later preached with Paul in Colosse and Rome. Mark ordained one bishop (Anianus) in Egypt and seven deacons, founded the school of Alexandria, and was martyred in Egypt in 68 A.D.

According to Coptic tradition, Mark was tied to a horse with a rope and dragged to death by a mob of pagans on Easter , 68 A.D., in Alexandria. Copts count him as the first of their chain of 118 patriarchs (popes). Spread of Coptic Christianity One of Mark's accomplishments was founding a school in Alexandria to teach orthodox Christianity. By 180 A.D., this school was an established center of secular learning but also taught theology and spirituality. It served as the cornerstone of Coptic teaching for four centuries. One of its leaders was Athanasius, who created the Athanasian Creed , still recited in Christian churches today. In the third century, a Coptic monk named Abba Antony established a tradition of asceticism , or physical denial, which is still strong in Coptic Christianity today. He became the first of the "desert fathers," a succession of hermits who practiced manual labor, fasting, and constant prayer. Abba Pacomius (292-346) is credited as founding the first cenobitic, or community monastery at Tabennesi in Egypt. He also wrote a set of rules for monks.

By his death there were nine monasteries for men and two for women. The Roman empire persecuted the Coptic Church during the third and fourth centuries. Around 302 A.D., Emperor Diocletian martyred 800,000 men, women and children in Egypt who followed Jesus Christ. Coptic Christianity's Schism from Catholicism At the Council of Chalcedon, in 451 A.D., Coptic Christians split from the Roman Catholic Church. Rome and Constantinople accused the Coptic Church of being "monophysite," or teaching only one nature of Christ. In truth, the Coptic Church is "miaphysite," meaning it recognizes both his human and divine natures "being joined inseparably in the 'One Nature of God the Logos Incarnate.' " Politics also played a major role in the Chalcedon schism, as factions from Constantinople and Rome vied for supremacy, accusing the Coptic leader of heresy . The Coptic pope was exiled and a series of Byzantine emperors were installed in Alexandria. An estimated 30,000 Copts were killed in this persecution .

Arab Conquest Aids Coptic Christianity Arabs began their conquest of Egypt in 645 A.D., but Muhammad had told his followers to be kind to the Copts, so they were permitted to practice their religion provided they paid a "jizya" tax for protection. Copts enjoyed relative peace until the Second Millennium, when further restrictions hindered their worship. Because of these strict laws, Copts began converting to Islam , until by the 12th century, Egypt was primarily a Muslim country. In 1855 the jizya tax was lifted. Copts were allowed to serve in the Egyptian army. In a 1919 revolution, Egyptian Copts' rights to worship were recognized. Modern Coptic Christianity Thrives The church's theological school at Alexandria was restored in 1893. Since then, it has established campuses in Cairo, Sydney, Melbourne, London, New Jersey, and Los Angeles. There are more than 80 Coptic Orthodox churches in the United States and 21 in Canada.

Copts number about 12 million in Egypt today, with over one million in other countries, including Australia, France, Italy, Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Great Britain, Kenya, Zambia, Zaire, Zimbabwe, Namibia, and South Africa. The Coptic Orthodox Church continues to hold talks with the Roman Catholic Church and the Eastern Orthodox Church on matters of theology and church unity. (Sources: Saint George Coptic Orthodox Church , Coptic Orthodox Church Diocese of Los Angeles , and Coptic Orthodox Church Network ) Jack Zavada, a career writer and contributor for About.com, is host to a Christian website for singles. Never married, Jack feels that the hard-won lessons he has learned may help other Christian singles make sense of their lives. His articles and ebooks offer great hope and encouragement. To contact him or for more information, visit Jack's Bio Page .

Question: What country is home to Coptic Christians?
Answer: Egypt