Introducing our Coptic Sisters and Brothers

In today's post, I would like to introduce you to the Coptic Orthodox Church. According to St. Gregory the Theologian Coptic Orthodox Church in America, the Coptic Church is ancient. The Coptic Orthodox Church was founded in Alexandria, Egypt by Saint Mark, the Apostle of Christ. Mark preached to the Egyptians between 60-70 AD. The word "Coptic" comes from the ancient Egyptian word hekaptah which meant "Egypt" and so "Coptic" just means "Egyptian." The Coptic Church is the Egyptian Church. The Coptic Church claims to have preserved the orthodox Christian Faith in "its earliest and purest form." This Faith has been handed down through the generations and is "unaltered and true to the Apostolic doctrines and patterns or worship" (St. Gregory). The word "orthodox" means "correct belief." Thus, the Coptic Church believes it possesses the purest and most true form of Christian belief. The Coptic Church in America, which consists mainly of Coptic Christians who immigrated to the United States, uses the Bible as its central focus. Literal translations are preferred whether that be the KJV, NKJV, or RSV (St. Gregory).

The Coptic Church also has seven sacraments called "Mysteries." These mysteries are Baptism, Chrismation, Confession, the Eucharist, Marriage, Priesthood, and the Anointing of the Sick  (St. Gregory). For those of you familiar with Roman Catholic or Eastern Orthodox Sacraments, these are mostly the same with those.  The Coptic Church in Alexandria still uses Coptic throughout its worship (WCC). In total, the Coptic Church serves about 12 million individuals. It is the largest Christian church in the Middle East (WCC). The Church in Alexandria has had 117 Patriarchs with the current patriarch being His Holiness Pope Shenouda III. Sometimes you will hear that the Coptic Orthodox follow their own pope. This is true. The Coptic Church is led by one pope, Pope Shenouda III. This pope is different from the Catholic Pope and does not have as much power. However, the Coptic has a great deal of authority in leading and guiding Coptic Christians. The Coptic Church under the current pope has been spreading throughout the world and is extremely involved in ecumenical affairs (CODLA). 

A final important issue to mention is that the Copts place a strong emphasis on monasticism. Monasticism started in the Egyptian desert with those who came to be known as the Desert Mothers and Fathers. The Coptic Church relies on the writings of these holy monastics and has great respect for those who enter into the monastic life (CODLA). When it comes to theology, the Coptic Church is most similar with Eastern Orthodoxy except for its rejection of the Council of Chalcedon. Check where you live. You may find a Coptic Church near you. If not near you, there will probably be one somewhere in your state. Peace!


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