The Coptic Orthodox Church

St.Mark | The Copts | Contribution Of Coptic Christianity | The Copts Today | Doctrinal Basis | H.H.Pope Shenouda III
The Church of Alexandria

It is one of the oldest Apostolic Churches in the world which was founded by St. Mark the Evangelist.

There are four ancient Apostolic Churches, the Church of Jerusalem (where Christianity began) , the Church of Alexandria, the Church of Rome, and the Church of Antioch.

St. Mark the Evangelist.

It was at his house that Jesus Christ had His Last Supper; also where the disciples used to gather for prayer after the resurrection, and tradition has it that Pentecost took place there (Acts 2:1). His Gospel is the oldest of the four in the Bible. He started writing it in Rome and completed it in Egypt.

He was African in origin, and established the first Christian African Church in 42 AD. He went to Egypt in about 50 AD to teach Christianity. He was martyred in Alexandria (Egypt) in 68 AD. At that time Anianos had already been Bishop and the Church was then 26 years old and well established.

The COPTS

The term "Copt"" is derived from the Greek word " Aigyptos meaning Egyptian. The Copts are the native Christians of Egypt and the direct descendants of the Ancient Egyptians who became Christians through by St. Mark. The Coptic Church has now been in existence for twenty centuries. The Coptic Language is still used today in the Church services and prayers. Nowadays the Coptic language is making a revival through the Sunday school movement in the Church.

The Coptic Calendar

The Coptic Church started its calendar in 284 AD the year in which Diocletian was chosen emperor. During his reign many thousands were martyred. The Copts considered this as the beginning of a new era in the Old Egyptian Calendar, hence called "Anno Maryrii".

The "Nayrouz Feast" is the feast of the Coptic martyrs.

Contribution of Coptic Christianity

Academic

St. Mark established the School of Alexandria in the first century, and thus our Coptic Church was concerned with Christian education from the beginning of its foundation. The school soon became a famous centre of intensive study and a stronghold of the faith. It produced scholars such as Athenagoras, Pentaenus, Clement, Didymus the Blind and Origen, who was considered the father of theology. It was said that Origen composed more than 6000 commentaries on the Bible. Others from the Christian world came to School of Alexandria like St. Basil the Great, St. Gregory Thaumaturgus and St. John Chrysostom.

Doctrinal

St. Athanasius was the Egyptian hero of faith who defended the divinity of Our Lord, Jesus Christ. He contributed most of the Nicene Creed (325 AD) which all Christians in the world believe. Abba Timotheos worded the part of the Creed referring to the Holy Spirit at the Second Council at Constantinople (381 AD) St. Cyril was the head of the Third Ecumenical Council which was held in Effuses (431 AD). He wrote the introduction to the Creed, "We honor you, Mother of True Light…"

Missionary

Egyptian missionaries in the early days of Christianity traveled to Ethiopia, India, North Africa, Mesopotamia and Persia. St. Athanasius was exiled to Belgium, started a church there and taught the west monasticism to the west. Also the Copts spread the Christian faith in Switzerland, Zurich and Ireland.

Monasticism

The church of Alexandria was the source of monasticism, which began during the third century and flourished in the fourth century. St. Anthony, the world's first monk, was a Copt from Upper Egypt. ST. Pachomus who established the rules of monasticism was also a Copt. The world's first anchorite was St. Paul, the Egyptian Hermit. To Egypt came many hermits to learn about monastic life and they spread the teachings to their native lands. One of these was John Cassian who introduced Egyptian Monasticism to France.

The Copts Today

The Copts today number about 10 million. There are some Churches and Monasteries which go back to the first and second centuries. The head of the Coptic Orthodox Church is His Holiness Pope Shenouda III, the 117^th successor of St. Mark.

When His Holiness Pope Shenouda was enthroned on the Patriarchal throne (14/11/71), there were only two Coptic Churches in Canada, the United States, Australia and one in England. Despite numerous commitments, His Holiness has taken direct responsibility for the pastoral care on the growing Coptic Churches outside Egypt. Owing to His Holiness tireless efforts, the Churches throughout the Diaspora have grown and flourished in a remarkable way.

Today there are 48 Churches in the United States, two Theological Colleges and St. Anthony's monastery in California. In Canada, there are 9 Churches and a large Coptic Centre in Toronto. In Australia, there are 17 Churches, a Theological College, a Primary School and a Monastery. In Europe, there are 9 Churches in Britain, including a large Coptic Centre in Birmingham and a Theological College in Stevenage. In Germany we have 7 Churches including a Monastery in Frankfurt. In addition there are 4 churches in France, 3 in Austria, 2 in Holland and one in Belgium, Denmark, Greece, Italy, Sweden and Switzerland.

In 1994 the British Orthodox Church was received into the Patriarchate of Alexandria. In November 1991, the first Coptic Churches in South America were established, one in Brazil and another in Argentina.

As well as the above the Coptic Church has grown through it missionary work in Africa. As Head of the oldest Church in Africa, Pope Shenouda has been very keen to extend the Apostolic Mission of St. Mark across all Africa. In June 1976, His Holiness ordained Bishop Antonious Markos to commence Missionary work among the African tribes in Kenya. In 1979, Pope Shenouda made a pastoral visit to Kenya, Zaire and Congo, where he was received very enthusiastically as the spiritual leader of the Mother Church of Africa, which was established by the African Apostle St. Mark.

Today there are 14 Coptic Churches in Kenya, Zimbabwe, Namibia and South Africa.

Doctrinal Basis

We believe in: -

• The Divine Inspiration of Holy Scripture and, consequently, its supreme trustworthiness and authority in all matters of faith and conduct.
• The authority of the Holy Apostles, the Canons of the first three Ecumenical Councils and the traditions of the early Church which are in agreement with Holy Scripture.
• The sovereignty and grace of God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit in creation, revelation and final judgment.
• The universal sinfulness and guilt of fallen man, which made him, subject to God's wrath and condemnation.
• The Deity of Our Lord Jesus Christ: His virgin birth, the unique and sinless nature of His manhood, His work of atonement through his suffering and death on our behalf, His resurrection, ascension and priestly intercession for the people of God.
• The sacrifice on our behalf of the incarnate Son of God as the once and for all means of redemption from the guilt and power of sin and its eternal consequences.
• The justification of the sinner by the grace of God through faith in Christ crucified and risen from the dead as demonstrated by good behavior and deeds - the fruits of the Holy Spirit.
• The illuminating, regenerating indwelling, sanctifying and empowering work of God the Holy Spirit.
• The seven sacraments, the channels of God's grace: Baptism, Anointing with Chrism (Confirmation), repentance (Confession), the Holy Eucharist (Communion), Holy Matrimony, Holy Unction (Anointment of the Sick) and Ordination.
• The expectation of the personal, visible return of the Lord Jesus Christ in power and glory.
• The eternal blessedness prepared for all true believers and the eternal punishment of the wicked and unrepentant.

H.H. Pope Shenouda III :

His Holiness Pope Shenouda III
The 117^th Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria
And the See of St. Mark

An eminent writer, poet and journalist, Pope Shenouda III is recognized for his great skills in style and simplicity as well as for his attention to profound details in his inspired interpretation of the Holy Scriptures. Also His Holiness has written over 100 books covering all areas of Christian life, church history, patristic theology and stories of Saints.

About 7000 attend his regular lectures every Wednesday in St. Mark's cathedral in Cairo.