Firstly, what is the Coptic Orthodox Church?
The Coptic Orthodox Church is the Christian Church of Egypt, established in the first century AD by the Apostle of Christ, Saint Mark.
The term Coptic
The word Coptic basically means Egyptian. It is derived from the Greek word “Aigyptos.” By removing the first and last two letters, we have the word, “gypt” which in turn becomes the English ‘Egypt’ and ‘Copt.’
So basically the Coptic Orthodox Church is the Egyptian Church that has existed from the time of the apostles until our present time, hence an APOSTOLIC church.
The question is though, what is so special about the Coptic Orthodox Church?
Well firstly, what is so special about Egypt?
Egypt is a land so rich in history, a civilization that began more than three thousand years before Christ. From the times of the Pharaohs and the great monuments that still stand today, Egypt has been blessed.
Abraham the father of fathers visited Egypt and Joseph the Righteous became a leader in Egypt. Jacob migrated to Egypt and many fathers have found refuge in Egypt. Above them all, Christ Himself found refuge in Egypt and blessed it from top to bottom. “Arise, take the young Child and His mother, flee to Egypt, and stay there until I bring you word,” Matthew 2:13 in turn fulfilling the prophecy, “Out of Egypt I called My Son.” Hosea 11:1
God Himself said through the prophets, “In that day there will be an altar to the Lord in the midst of the land of Egypt.” Isaiah 19:19 at a time when there was no other altar except in Jerusalem. Finally, God blessed the Egyptian people from early times by saying, “Blessed is Egypt My people” Isaiah 19:25 (place brackets to indicate the source)
As we can see, Egypt is a land so blessed, even before Christianity entered Egypt.
An Apostolic Church
As mentioned above, Christianity was found in Egypt when the apostle of Christ, Saint Mark walked into the capital of Egypt, Alexandria around 55 AD. Hence, the Coptic (Egyptian) Orthodox Church is one of the oldest churches in the world, spanning 20 centuries of history.
Saint Mark, the great apostle and evangelist is regarded as the first of an unbroken chain of 117 popes. At the martyrdom of Saint Mark, the Egyptian people began to build, follow and live by the teaching that was handed down by the disciples and apostles which was handed to them by Jesus Christ Himself. The Christian faith spread throughout of Egypt and in a short time, Egypt becomes Christ’s.
So what makes the Copts so Special?
Blessed Church
The Coptic Orthodox Church was blessed from the Old Testament by God and all the prophesies relating to Egypt and its people have been fulfilled.
Church of the Educators and Teachers
Great Egyptian men rose from the church as true leaders, teachers and scholars that made the Coptic Church in the first few centuries renowned for there education, theology and understanding in all Christian faith and belief. They were called to teach and preach around the globe, and were given positions in the church into priesthood, bishops and even popes. Great teachers were those of Pantaenus, Clement and Didymus the blind.
Church of the Martyrs
After Saint Mark’s death in 68 AD up to our present day, the Coptic Church has faced great persecutions. No greater than the Roman Emperor Diocletian (284 – 305 AD), whose reign inflamed the most severe persecution in the history of mankind and is considered by the Copts as the ‘age of persecution.’ So profound was the impression of these persecutions on the Coptic Church that they decided to reset the ancient Egyptian calendar starting with the beginning of Diocletian’s reign in 284 AD, called the calendar of the martyrs, the “Anno Martyri,” now called the Coptic Calendar.
Church of Monasticism
It was in Egypt that the first men and women walked into the desert to lead a life of complete solitary, renouncing all livelihood and worldly lusts. The Egyptian Saint Anthony, the father of all monasticism began his journey when heard the gospel verse, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.” Matthew 19:21 Many followed in his footsteps and in the famous words of Saint Athanasius, “turned the desert into a city.” Many great monastic fathers are world renowned for their way of life, their fatherhood and leadership, as Saint Macarius, Saint Pachomius and Saint Shenouda. Over time monastic rules were laid down and community life was established. Many books were written about the lives and sayings of the desert monks of Egypt. Monasticism is considered the greatest gift Egypt gave the world.
Church of the Defenders
When many people rose to teach heretical teachings against the church, it was the world who approached the Egyptian fathers of the church to defend the faith as they were considered great teachers and spent a lot of time studying the Christian faith and theology at (no suggestion just try to fix it cause it doesn’t make sense) the great theological college that was based in the capital of Egypt and where the Pope of the church resided. So great Coptic men stood against the world so that not a word of the truth would change, they stood at the councils and defended the faith and risked there lives so that the world may continue to know and believe in Christ. Some of the great men who defended the faith and are today considered one of the greatest Christian leaders of all time are Saint Athanasius, Saint Cyril and Saint Discoros.
Church of the Endurers
The Coptic people are considered true endurers for they kept going even through the most difficult times, times of martyrdom, times of pagan philosophy, time of attacks against the Christian faith, times of church splits and times of violence. During the first few centuries, the Coptic Orthodox Church was extremely famous and loved by the world and their leaders were called to lead, defend, teach and represent the universal church, yet later in history they were forgotten, as they were overruled by the Arab world. Only recently, in the 20th Century), the Coptic Church has grown and a lot have come back after a great silence in history. They have endured long and will continue to endure as the church is growing strong in our present time. Through the leadership of His Holiness Pope Shenouda the Third, the Coptic Church has seen great revival and brought back the early centuries of the Egyptian Church.
Church of Doctrine, Tradition and Spirituality
As mentioned above, the Coptic Orthodox Church is a holy APOSTOLIC Church established by the apostle of Christ, Saint Mark and therefore the Coptic Church hasn’t changed or deviated in its teachings, faith and doctrine that had been handed down to her by the founding fathers, the disciples and apostles from the first century AD. The Coptic Orthodox Church is a very spiritual church, in all its rites and worships, its liturgies and many hymns that date back to the first few centuries.
A church based on the teachings of the Holy Bible, the sacraments, the fasts and the creed which is the anthem of our faith. The Coptic Orthodox Church is a church of prayer and intercession, were the church deepens its relationship of love with the Lord Christ and asks for the prayers of the Saints.
The Coptic Orthodox Church is truly a special Church, for it is because of this apostolic church, based on its teachings, the Christian faith today is standing strong no matter what Christian denomination. It is because of the blood of the martyrs, the teachings of the theologians, the defenses of the church leaders, the spirituality of the desert fathers, the church is still standing today. Christ stood with these people and through Christ these people have suffered to keep for us the faith we have today. Truly the Coptic Orthodox Church, its leaders and its people are special.
Many thanks to Bishoy Attia this Article.
