The Coptic Church, also known as the Egyptian Church, is the oldest Christian church in the world. Established by St. Mark the Evangelist in the first century of Christianity, it has a history spanning over twenty centuries. Interestingly, the Old Testament contains a prophecy about the Coptic Church. In the Book of Isaiah, Chapter 19, the prophet speaks of an altar being set up in the heart of Egypt. This begs the question: why did our Lord choose Egypt for this sacred purpose?
Egypt, a land of unparalleled civilization and rich history, has a legacy that predates Christ by more than 3,000 years. The Bible mentions several key figures who visited Egypt, enriching its cultural and intellectual landscape. Among them are Moses, the renowned prophet who possessed a deep understanding of Egyptian wisdom; Abraham, the revered father of all nations; Jacob, the patriarch of Israel; Joseph, Jacob’s son; and the twelve tribes of Israel. Notably, the visit of the Holy Family at the beginning of Christianity, during the childhood of our Lord, marked the crowning point of these sojourns.
The visit of our Lord to Egypt was a blessing for the land, and it was the only country outside His birthplace that He visited. Numerous miracles occurred during this sacred time, and many places were imbued with divine grace. As a testament to this divine presence, numerous churches have been constructed in the locations where the Holy Family resided. These holy sites attract visitors from all corners of the globe, serving as sacred places of worship and pilgrimage.
The Church of Egypt, founded by St. Mark the Evangelist in 56 AD, witnessed his martyrdom in Egypt in 68 AD. The first church was constructed in Alexandria at the beginning of the second half of the first century.
Among the four oldest churches in the world, the Church of Alexandria, also known as the Coptic Church, holds a significant place. The Church of Jerusalem, the birthplace of Christianity, is considered the mother church. The other three churches are the Church of Rome, the Church of Antioch, and the Church of Ephesus. St. John the Evangelist established the Church of Ephesus, while the Church of Constantinople was founded in the 4th century.
The School of Alexandria, established by St. Mark in the first century, played a pivotal role in shaping Christian education from the very beginning of our Coptic Church. Renowned for its expertise in theology, dogmas, history, and patrology, the school attracted numerous prominent bishops from various regions worldwide. Among its esteemed scholars were Athenagoras Pantaenus, Clement, and the illustrious Origenus, often referred to as the “father of theology.” Origenus’s contributions extended beyond theology, as he actively engaged in biblical commentary, introducing the question-and-answer method that continues to influence scholarly discourse today. It is said that Origenus authored over 6,000 commentaries on the Bible, and his Hexapla, a six-column translation of the Hebrew Old Testament, stands as a testament to his scholarly prowess. Beyond his commentaries, Origenus was also responsible for numerous translations of his time. St. Didymus the Blind, a remarkable figure associated with the School of Alexandria, held the position of headmaster during the time of St. Athanasius, the Pope of Alexandria. Remarkably, despite his blindness, Didymus mastered the art of reading and writing using carved wood, a remarkable achievement that predates Braille by fifteen centuries. St. Jerome, a renowned scholar himself, visited Didymus and expressed his desire for extensive study with him. Jerome’s words of wisdom to Didymus, “Don’t be disheartened or saddened by your loss of sight, as even animals and insects share this common experience. However, remember that you possess divine eyesight, a gift that allows you to perceive the light of divinity,” encapsulate the profound impact of Didymus’s teachings on the lives of those around him.
When St. Athanasius was a deacon, he led theological discussions at the First Ecumenical Council, Nicea I, in 325 A.D. He authored the Christian Creed and led the 318 Coptic bishops at the council. Four years later, he became the Pope of Alexandria, defending the divinity of Jesus Christ in his four-volume work, Contra Arianus. St. Jerome warned that the world would have fallen into Arianism if the work hadn’t been written. Exiled four times, Athanasius traveled to gain support from bishops and holy synods to maintain the faith. When he was exiled a fifth time, the Emperor could not carry out the order; thousands of church members protested, refusing to surrender their Pope.
Under the authority of the Eastern Roman Empire of Constantinople, the patriarchs and popes of Alexandria led Christian theology. Invited everywhere, they spoke about the faith. St. Cyril, Pope of Alexandria, presided over the Ecumenical Council in Ephesus in 430.
The Coptic Church of Alexandria’s greatest glory is its Cross. The Copts accept persecutions, hardships, and sufferings for Christ’s words, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.” (Matthew 16:24) The Church carried the Cross throughout its history from St. Mark to every generation of Christianity. It has remained steadfast and unchanging in its faith.
As a result of this faith, countless martyrs have come from the Coptic Church. Among them are St. George, St. Mina, St. Moses the Strong, St. Abanoub, St. Anastasia, St. Catherine of Alexandria and thousands more.
The Coptic Church was misunderstood at the Council of Chalcedon in the 5th century. Accused of monophysitism, the Church believed in the unity of the Lord’s divine and human natures in one nature called “the nature of the incarnate word.” St. Cyril of Alexandria reiterated this belief. Faith was more important to the Copts than semantics, and St. Dioscorus of Alexandria was exiled due to political motives. Emperor Marcianus interfered with matters of faith in the church, revealing the Council’s true intentions. Dioscorus told the Emperor, “You have nothing to do with the Church.” In 451, the Coptic Church established independence but remained steadfast in its faith.
Egyptians were persecuted for believing in Christ’s two natures from 451 to 641, when Islam entered Egypt. Thousands were killed, and popes were exiled to strengthen the faith. When Islam arrived, the 38th Pope of Alexandria, Benjamin the First, had been in exile for 13 years. Many popes were forbidden from praying in churches and persecuted for being monophysites.
Egyptian monasticism involves prayer, contemplation, solitude, worship, and purity of heart. Monks live a calm and quiet life, detached from worldly concerns, all devoted to God.
The Church of Alexandria pioneered monasticism in the late 3rd and early 4th centuries. St. Anthony (251-356 AD), the world’s first monk, was a Copt from Upper Egypt. St. Bachomius (292-348), the founder of the cenobitical system, was also a Copt. He was an Egyptian soldier who converted to Christianity after receiving compassionate treatment from Christians in Diospolis (modern-day Esna). He became a disciple of St. Palemon and established many monasteries with over 8000 disciples.
The development of monasticism occurred in the following stages:
1. In the Apostolic age, many believers practiced asceticism, seeking the perfection of the Gospel without withdrawing from their families or communities.
2. The church’s eschatological attitude reflected believers’ eager longing for their Bridegroom’s advent, leading them to live in virginity and devote themselves to worship as a spiritual preparation for the heavenly wedding feast.
3. Some felt the need for a spiritual atmosphere and left cities to live in simple huts in villages, known as ‘devotees’ since the word ‘monk’ was unknown. They lived according to their own orders.
4. St. Anthony outlined the pattern of the anchoretic life.
Monasticism flourished in Egypt, with hundreds of monasteries and thousands of cells and caves scattered across the deserts.
St. Macanus of Egypt (300-390 AD) and St. Shenouti the Archmandrite (348-466 AD) were among its founders. They accompanied St. Cyril of Alexandria to the third Ecumenical Council of Ephesus. St. Pishoy, born in 320 AD, became a monk at twenty and departed in 417 AD. John Cassian, the founder of monastic life in France, reported hearing monks, hermits, and anchorites praying and singing hymns along the Alexandria-Luxorin route.
St. Paul, the Egyptian hermit, was the world’s first anchorite, living without seeing a human face for about eighty years.
Their spiritual life sought a true homeland in Heaven. We inherit this from our fathers: the first church in Alexandria inherited the glory of ancient Egypt, and we inherit the glory of our Church.
The church has faced challenges but experienced a revival in the last century. This revival was due to the re-establishment of the Theological College in 1893, which began with five students, one of whom became its president. Additionally, the active Sunday Schools provide pastoral care for children from birth. We have tens of thousands of volunteer Sunday School teachers, regardless of age, who teach classes or lead groups.
Post-1967, facing challenges in Egypt, many Copts sought new opportunities abroad. The mother church provided pastoral care, establishing churches in America and Canada, Tripoli and Benghazi, Libya, Algeria, Nigeria, East Africa, Europe, Australia, Asia, Jerusalem, Palestine, Kuwait, Baghdad, Oman, Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sudan, and more.
We strive to witness for the Lord wherever possible, but acknowledge God’s help in sustaining our efforts, achieving goals, and meeting our people’s needs.
The Coptic Church also plays a role in the ecumenical movement during this century.
The Coptic Church is an active member in all the councils of the world today. To name a few:
WCC World Council of Churches
AACC All African Council of Churches
MECC Middle East Council of Churches
NACC National American Council of Churches
The church plays an active role in the Christian movement by exchanging visits between Patriarchs, and by conducting dialogues with the Catholics, the Greeks, the Presbyterians, and the Evangelicals.
The blessings of God, granted to Egypt thousands of years ago, were and still are the source of flourishing, that nourishes the life of the Copts, from generation to generation, and throughout the ages to come.