Coptic Orthodox Church

Archdeacon Habeeb Girgis and the Renaissance of the Coptic Orthodox Church

Fr. Moses Samaan
| Thursday, August 5, 2010 | No comments.

Few would dispute that the Coptic Church, which was founded by St. Mark the evangelist, began its modern renaissance towards the latter half of the nineteenth century, after many centuries of darkness. A darkness which was forced upon her by two major historical events. The first of which were the woeful decisions of the Council of Chalcedon (451 A.D.) which separated her from the rest of Christiandom. The second was the Arab conquest of Egypt (641 A.D.), as a result of which the church’s major preoccupation was sheer survival. Indeed the survival of the Copts till this day is a miracle and a witness for thirteen centuries of unwavering faith.

The renaissance of the church is due to three important developments:

Diocese Welcomes His Grace Bishop Youssef to speak about "Egyptian Christians in America"

Fr. Moses Samaan
| Saturday, October 31, 2009 | No comments.

Saint Mark and the Church of Alexandria

An Excerpt from the book, "Saint Mark the Evangelist" by His Holiness Pope Shenouda III, Chapter 6

His Holiness Pope Shenouda III
| Thursday, April 30, 2009 | No comments.

The Greatness of Alexandria

The Copts and Christian Civilization

Aziz S. Atiya
| Wednesday, February 18, 2009 | No comments.

Introduction

Occasionally, the Copts have been described as a schismatic eastern Christian minority, a lonely community in the land of their forebears. They have been forgotten since they chose living in oblivion after the tragedy of Chalcedon (451 A.D.) which was followed by a new wave of persecution inflicted upon them by fellow Christians and Byzantine rulers.

Copts Throughout the Ages

Aziz S. Atiya
| Thursday, May 1, 2008 | No comments.

The word Copt is derived from the Greek word Aigyptos, which was, in turn, derived from "Hikaptah", one of the names for Memphis, the first capital of Ancient Egypt. Following the Arab conquest of Egypt in 640 A.D., the land of Egypt has been called "dar al-Gibt" (home of the Egyptians) and since Christianity was the official religion of Egypt at the time, the word "Gibt" came to refer to the practitioners of Christianity as well as to the inhabitants of the Nile valley. The modern use of the term "Coptic" describes Egyptian Christians, as well as the last stage of the ancient Egyptian language script and liturgy. It describes also the distinctive art and architecture that developed as an early expression of the new faith.

The Pope in a Series of Meetings

El Keraza Magazine
| Monday, December 11, 2006 | No comments.

On Wednesday, December 6, the Pope went to the Monastery, whereas the problem was not yet resolved. And there, a delegate of Assiout Priests and Lay members met with the Pope, they presented Him a report, and then they met HH the next week where they presented Him another detailed report signed by the Clergy of Assiout, Deyrout, Manful, Quesada and other regions. Then the Bishop of Manfalot arrived there to meet with HH and presented Him a report, he then arrived later after some days and presented to HH another report…

Then meetings continued since Saturday December 12; over 300 of Cairo Priests arrived, then those of Alexandria accompanied by their Lay Council, the Priests of Behera, Shobra Al Kheima, Fayoum, Almenya then the Priests of Helwan, Ismaelia, Qena, Luxor and Sharqeya… the Pope received hundreds everyday with their problems and reports…

Dialogue with the Assyrian Church of the East and its effect on the Dialogue with the Roman Catholic

His Eminence Metropolitan Bishoy
| Sunday, July 9, 2000 | No comments.

A paper presented in the name of His Eminence Metropolitan Bishoy at the Orientale Lumen conference in Melbourne, Australia, July 9th - 12th 2000.

The Coptic Orthodox Church participated in the theological dialogue with the Assyrian Church of the East decided by the Fourth general assembly of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) in Cyprus 1986.

The long process of this dialogue continued until the Sixth (6th) General Assembly of the Council in November 1994, when His Holiness Pope Shenouda III agreed to invite a delegation from the Assyrian Church of the East to attend a theological dialogue with the Coptic Orthodox Church in which he himself would lead the Coptic members, and with representatives from the Syrian Orthodox Church of Antioch and the MECC.