Coptic Orthodox Church


Home Coptic Orthodox Church H.H. Pope Shenouda III Office of Ecumenical Affairs Patron Saints Theological Dialogues Documents and Articles News and Events Photo Archives Links Contact Us	The Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria The Coptic Orthodox Church is one of the most ancient Churches in the world, having been founded by Saint Mark the Apostle, the writer of the second gospel, in the first Century. The word 'Coptic' simply means 'Egyptian.' The Coptic Orthodox Church is the Church of Alexandria, one of the five ancient sees of Christianity. The five sees are: Rome, Alexandria, Antioch, Jerusalem and Constantinople. The Coptic Orthodox Church has carefully preserved the Orthodox Christian Faith in its earliest and form, handing it down from generation to generation, unaltered and true to the Apostolic doctrines and patterns of worship. The Coptic Orthodox Church is one of the Oriental Orthodox Churches, which include the Syrian Orthodox Church, the Armenian Orthodox Church, the Ethiopian Orthodox Church, the Indian Orthodox Church and the Eritrean Orthodox Church. The Oriental Orthodox Family of Churches is close in faith, dogma and liturgical worship to the Eastern Orthodox Church and is engaged in active and fruitful dialogue with the Eastern Orthodox with the goal of full communion within reach after centuries of division. Saint Mark the Apostle and Evangelist, one of the seventy apostles and writer of the oldest gospel, established the Church of Alexandria in the middle of the First Century. In Alexandria, St. Mark structured the church worship; ordained one bishop and seven deacons; established the famous School of Alexandria; and was martyred there by the Romans in 68 AD. While the formal establishment of the Church of Alexandria took place with the arrival and ministry of St. Mark, it is of course important to note that Egypt has always been a religious nation and a land which received with hospitality honored patriarchs and prophets of the Old Testament such as Abraham, Joseph, Jacob and his sons, Moses as well as Jeremiah the Prophet. Egypt is also mentioned with honors in the Book of the Prophet Isaiah chapter 19. The prophesy of Isaiah foreshadows the coming of Christ himself as the child with the Holy Family in verse 1: “Behold, the LORD rides on a swift cloud, And will come into Egypt; The idols of Egypt will totter at His presence, And the heart of Egypt will melt in its midst.” Also, there is a prophesy of the establishment of the Church of Egypt, i.e., the Coptic Orthodox Church in verse 19: “In that day there will be an altar to the LORD in the midst of the land of Egypt, and a pillar to the LORD at its border. 20 And it will be for a sign and for a witness to the LORD of hosts in the land of Egypt; for they will cry to the LORD because of the oppressors, and He will send them a Savior and a Mighty One, and He will deliver them. 21 Then the LORD will be known to Egypt, and the Egyptians will know the LORD in that day, and will make sacrifice and offering; yes, they will make a vow to the LORD and perform it.” Finally, Isaiah records a divine blessing in verse 24, which is a source of pride for all Egyptians, when the Lord says, “Blessed is Egypt my people.” Thus the Old Testament prophesies and the Flight of the Holy Family into Egypt are the earliest signs of the establishment of the Coptic Orthodox Church. The sites visited by the Holy Family in their three year stay in Egypt are some of the most ancient and holy churches, monasteries and pilgrimage sites in the world. The School of Alexandria was the earliest and most important institution of theological learning in Christian antiquity. It grew tremendously in the first four centuries of the world. After the Roman Empire officially accepted Christianity in 313 AD, Alexandria became a renowned center of learning, especially in theology. The School was essential in the education of both recent converts and future patriarchs of Christianity throughout the world. Many of the great deans of the school include St. Clement of Alexandria (c. 150 - 254 AD), a gifted author; Origen (185 - 264 AD) the brilliant scholar; and St. Didymus the Blind, who formed a system of engraved writing for the blind fifteen centuries before Braille. The Ecumenical Councils As a result of this great tradition of theology, there arose a number of theologians who were well respected and recognized in the Christian world. Many of these scholars played a critical role in the development of Christian theology in the three recognized Ecumenical Councils of Nicea (325 AD), Constantinople (381 AD), and Ephesus (431 AD). While still a young deacon at Nicea, St. Athanasius, the 20th Patriarch of Alexandria, defended the Divinity of Christ and was one of the writers of the Christian Creed, which is followed by most Christians today. Another Egyptian sage was St. Cyril of Alexandria, who stressed the unity of the Divinity and Humanity of Christ in the third Council of Ephesus (431 AD). Although the Coptic Church has been unjustly labeled as being 'Monophysite' (believing in only one nature of Christ), St. Cyril explained centuries ago that the Coptic Orthodox Church believes in the "one incarnate nature of God the Word" - that is, one union of two natures - one fully human nature and one fully divine nature, without mingling, confusion or alteration, thus not monophysite, but mia-physite. The Monastic Movement The Coptic Orthodox Church is also famous for its asceticism and monasticism, a long-standing tradition founded by St. Anthony the Great, the "Father of Monasticism" (251 - 356 AD), St. Pachomios, St. Makarios and St. Shenouda the Archimandrite. This monastic order - based on principles of poverty, obedience and chastity - became the foundation from which many western orders developed from. The Church of Martyrs As Christianity grew, the attempts to quash it became fierce. The Egyptian Church is recognized as having suffered one of the most violent waves of persecution in Christian history, and thus our Coptic Calendar commences at the beginning of the reign of Roman Emperor Diocletian, at whose hands hundreds of thousands of Christians were massacred. What we believe: The Nicene-Constantinopolitan Creed is a comprehensive summary of the beliefs of the Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria. This Creed, built on the foundation of the Apostle’s Creed, defines the belief in the Holy Trinity, the incarnation of the Logos and the four pillars of the Church, i.e., that it is One, Holy, Universal and Apostolic. The Nicene Creed was drafted by the Coptic deacon, Athanasius who later became the 20th Patriarch of Alexandria and was the definition of the faith reached in the First Ecumenical Council held in Nicea in 325 AD. The creed was completed in the Second Ecumenical Council held in Constantinople in 381 AD: We believe in one God, God the Father, the Pantocrator, who created heaven and earth, and all things seen and unseen. We believe in one Lord Jesus Christ, the Only-Begotten Son of God, begotten of the Father before all ages; Light of light, true God of true God, begotten not created, of one essence with the Father, by whom all things were made; Who for us men and our salvation came down from heaven, and was incarnate of the Holy Spirit and of the Virgin Mary, and became Man. And he was crucified for us under Pontius Pilate, suffered and was buried. And the third day He rose from the dead, according to the scriptures, ascended into the heavens; he sits at the right hand of his Father, and He is coming again in his glory to judge the living and the dead, whose kingdom shall have no end. Yes, we believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the Life-Giver, who proceeds from the Father, who with the Father and the Son is worshipped and glorified, who spoke by the prophets. And in one holy, catholic and apostolic church. We confess one baptism for the remission of sins. We look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the coming age. Amen. The Seven Sacraments of the Church: Baptism, Chrismation (Confirmation), Repentance and Confession, the Eucharist (Holy Communion), Marriage, Priesthood, and Unction of the Sick. The Coptic Orthodox Church today… The Coptic Orthodox Church is the largest Church in the Middle East, with over 12 million faithful in Egypt. Under the leadership of His Holiness Pope Shenouda III, the 117th Patriarch of the See of Saint Mark, there is an increasing number of monasteries and convents in the deserts of Egypt, as well as new monasteries being established abroad in America, Europe, and Australia. The Coptic Orthodox Church is a dynamic church, always looking at the needs of her children, and trying to satisfy them to her best ability. Over the past thirty years, the Church has spread all over the world. Since his enthronement in 1971, H.H. Pope Shenouda III has established hundreds of churches abroad in Africa, the United States, Canada, Europe, Australia, South America, the Middle East, South East Asia and Oceania. The Church takes an active role in trying to restore the unity of the Christian faith. The Church is actively involved in official and unofficial dialogues with the major Christian Churches denominations. Additionally, the church is currently a member of the World Council of Churches, the Middle East Council of Churches, the All African Council of Churches, the National Council of Churches of Christ in the USA, Christian Churches Together in the USA, the Global Christian Forum and other international, regional and local bodies. At a personal level, the Church promotes the peace, love and unity taught by our Lord Jesus Christ. She teaches her children to be holy, constructive, and peaceful member of society; and to have good relations with all of its members, regardless of race, color or creed, thus enabling us to be worthy ambassadors of Jesus Christ. +Adapted from The Coptic Orthodox Church by St. Paul Brotherhood, Diocese of Los Angeles.

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The Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria

The Coptic Orthodox Church is one of the most ancient Churches in the world, having been founded by Saint Mark the Apostle, the writer of the second gospel, in the first Century. The word 'Coptic' simply means 'Egyptian.' The Coptic Orthodox Church is the Church of Alexandria, one of the five ancient sees of Christianity. The five sees are: Rome, Alexandria, Antioch, Jerusalem and Constantinople. The Coptic Orthodox Church has carefully preserved the Orthodox Christian Faith in its earliest and form, handing it down from generation to generation, unaltered and true to the Apostolic doctrines and patterns of worship. The Coptic Orthodox Church is one of the Oriental Orthodox Churches, which include the Syrian Orthodox Church, the Armenian Orthodox Church, the Ethiopian Orthodox Church, the Indian Orthodox Church and the Eritrean Orthodox Church. The Oriental Orthodox Family of Churches is close in faith, dogma and liturgical worship to the Eastern Orthodox Church and is engaged in active and fruitful dialogue with the Eastern Orthodox with the goal of full communion within reach after centuries of division.

Saint Mark the Apostle and Evangelist, one of the seventy apostles and writer of the oldest gospel, established the Church of Alexandria in the middle of the First Century. In Alexandria, St. Mark structured the church worship; ordained one bishop and seven deacons; established the famous School of Alexandria; and was martyred there by the Romans in 68 AD.

While the formal establishment of the Church of Alexandria took place with the arrival and ministry of St. Mark, it is of course important to note that Egypt has always been a religious nation and a land which received with hospitality honored patriarchs and prophets of the Old Testament such as Abraham, Joseph, Jacob and his sons, Moses as well as Jeremiah the Prophet. Egypt is also mentioned with honors in the Book of the Prophet Isaiah chapter 19. The prophesy of Isaiah foreshadows the coming of Christ himself as the child with the Holy Family in verse 1: “Behold, the LORD rides on a swift cloud, And will come into Egypt; The idols of Egypt will totter at His presence, And the heart of Egypt will melt in its midst.” Also, there is a prophesy of the establishment of the Church of Egypt, i.e., the Coptic Orthodox Church in verse 19: “In that day there will be an altar to the LORD in the midst of the land of Egypt, and a pillar to the LORD at its border. 20 And it will be for a sign and for a witness to the LORD of hosts in the land of Egypt; for they will cry to the LORD because of the oppressors, and He will send them a Savior and a Mighty One, and He will deliver them. 21 Then the LORD will be known to Egypt, and the Egyptians will know the LORD in that day, and will make sacrifice and offering; yes, they will make a vow to the LORD and perform it.” Finally, Isaiah records a divine blessing in verse 24, which is a source of pride for all Egyptians, when the Lord says, “Blessed is Egypt my people.” Thus the Old Testament prophesies and the Flight of the Holy Family into Egypt are the earliest signs of the establishment of the Coptic Orthodox Church. The sites visited by the Holy Family in their three year stay in Egypt are some of the most ancient and holy churches, monasteries and pilgrimage sites in the world.

The School of Alexandria was the earliest and most important institution of theological learning in Christian antiquity. It grew tremendously in the first four centuries of the world. After the Roman Empire officially accepted Christianity in 313 AD, Alexandria became a renowned center of learning, especially in theology. The School was essential in the education of both recent converts and future patriarchs of Christianity throughout the world. Many of the great deans of the school include St. Clement of Alexandria (c. 150 - 254 AD), a gifted author; Origen (185 - 264 AD) the brilliant scholar; and St. Didymus the Blind, who formed a system of engraved writing for the blind fifteen centuries before Braille.

The Ecumenical Councils
As a result of this great tradition of theology, there arose a number of theologians who were well respected and recognized in the Christian world. Many of these scholars played a critical role in the development of Christian theology in the three recognized Ecumenical Councils of Nicea (325 AD), Constantinople (381 AD), and Ephesus (431 AD).

While still a young deacon at Nicea, St. Athanasius, the 20th Patriarch of Alexandria, defended the Divinity of Christ and was one of the writers of the Christian Creed, which is followed by most Christians today. Another Egyptian sage was St. Cyril of Alexandria, who stressed the unity of the Divinity and Humanity of Christ in the third Council of Ephesus (431 AD). Although the Coptic Church has been unjustly labeled as being 'Monophysite' (believing in only one nature of Christ), St. Cyril explained centuries ago that the Coptic Orthodox Church believes in the "one incarnate nature of God the Word" - that is, one union of two natures - one fully human nature and one fully divine nature, without mingling, confusion or alteration, thus not monophysite, but mia-physite.

The Monastic Movement
The Coptic Orthodox Church is also famous for its asceticism and monasticism, a long-standing tradition founded by St. Anthony the Great, the "Father of Monasticism" (251 - 356 AD), St. Pachomios, St. Makarios and St. Shenouda the Archimandrite. This monastic order - based on principles of poverty, obedience and chastity - became the foundation from which many western orders developed from.

The Church of Martyrs
As Christianity grew, the attempts to quash it became fierce. The Egyptian Church is recognized as having suffered one of the most violent waves of persecution in Christian history, and thus our Coptic Calendar commences at the beginning of the reign of Roman Emperor Diocletian, at whose hands hundreds of thousands of Christians were massacred.

What we believe:

The Nicene-Constantinopolitan Creed is a comprehensive summary of the beliefs of the Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria. This Creed, built on the foundation of the Apostle’s Creed, defines the belief in the Holy Trinity, the incarnation of the Logos and the four pillars of the Church, i.e., that it is One, Holy, Universal and Apostolic. The Nicene Creed was drafted by the Coptic deacon, Athanasius who later became the 20th Patriarch of Alexandria and was the definition of the faith reached in the First Ecumenical Council held in Nicea in 325 AD. The creed was completed in the Second Ecumenical Council held in Constantinople in 381 AD:

We believe in one God, God the Father, the Pantocrator, who created heaven and earth, and all things seen and unseen. We believe in one Lord Jesus Christ, the Only-Begotten Son of God, begotten of the Father before all ages; Light of light, true God of true God, begotten not created, of one essence with the Father, by whom all things were made; Who for us men and our salvation came down from heaven, and was incarnate of the Holy Spirit and of the Virgin Mary, and became Man. And he was crucified for us under Pontius Pilate, suffered and was buried. And the third day He rose from the dead, according to the scriptures, ascended into the heavens; he sits at the right hand of his Father, and He is coming again in his glory to judge the living and the dead, whose kingdom shall have no end.

Yes, we believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the Life-Giver, who proceeds from the Father, who with the Father and the Son is worshipped and glorified, who spoke by the prophets. And in one holy, catholic and apostolic church. We confess one baptism for the remission of sins. We look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the coming age. Amen.

The Seven Sacraments of the Church: Baptism, Chrismation (Confirmation), Repentance and Confession, the Eucharist (Holy Communion), Marriage, Priesthood, and Unction of the Sick.

The Coptic Orthodox Church today…

The Coptic Orthodox Church is the largest Church in the Middle East, with over 12 million faithful in Egypt. Under the leadership of His Holiness Pope Shenouda III, the 117th Patriarch of the See of Saint Mark, there is an increasing number of monasteries and convents in the deserts of Egypt, as well as new monasteries being established abroad in America, Europe, and Australia.

The Coptic Orthodox Church is a dynamic church, always looking at the needs of her children, and trying to satisfy them to her best ability. Over the past thirty years, the Church has spread all over the world. Since his enthronement in 1971, H.H. Pope Shenouda III has established hundreds of churches abroad in Africa, the United States, Canada, Europe, Australia, South America, the Middle East, South East Asia and Oceania.

The Church takes an active role in trying to restore the unity of the Christian faith. The Church is actively involved in official and unofficial dialogues with the major Christian Churches denominations. Additionally, the church is currently a member of the World Council of Churches, the Middle East Council of Churches, the All African Council of Churches, the National Council of Churches of Christ in the USA, Christian Churches Together in the USA, the Global Christian Forum and other international, regional and local bodies.

At a personal level, the Church promotes the peace, love and unity taught by our Lord Jesus Christ. She teaches her children to be holy, constructive, and peaceful member of society; and to have good relations with all of its members, regardless of race, color or creed, thus enabling us to be worthy ambassadors of Jesus Christ.

+Adapted from The Coptic Orthodox Church by St. Paul Brotherhood, Diocese of Los Angeles.