Coptic Orthodox Church

Oriental Orthodox Christian church

"Coptic Church" redirects here. For the architectural style, see Coptic architecture. For church buildings, see List of Coptic churches. For an Eastern Catholic particular church, see Coptic Catholic Church.

File:Coptic cross.svg
Coptic Orthodox Patriarchate of Alexandria

ϯⲉⲕ̀ⲕⲗⲏⲥⲓⲁ ⲛ̀ⲣⲉⲙⲛ̀ⲭⲏⲙⲓ ⲛ̀ⲟⲣⲑⲟⲇⲟⲝⲟⲥ (Coptic)
الكنيسة القبطية الأرثوذكسية (Arabic)
File:CairoAbbasiyaMarkEntrance.jpg

Saint Mark's Coptic Orthodox Cathedral, Cairo, Egypt

Classification| Eastern Christian
Orientation| Oriental Orthodox
Scripture| Bible
Theology| Miaphysitism
Polity| Episcopal
Governance| Holy Synod of the Coptic Orthodox Church
Head| Pope Tawadros II
Region| Egypt, Libya, Sudan, South Sudan, Middle East, and diaspora
Language| Coptic, Arabic
Liturgy| Coptic Rite
Headquarters| Saint Mark's Coptic Orthodox Cathedral, Cairo, Egypt
Founder| St. Mark the Evangelist (Traditional)
Origin| AD 42
Alexandria, Egypt
Separations| Coptic Catholic Church (1895)
British Orthodox Church (2015)
Members| 15 million[1][2][3][4][5][6][7]
Other name(s)| Coptic Church
Coptic Orthodox Church
Official website| https://copticorthodox.church/en

File:CopticLetters.svg

This article contains Coptic text. Without proper rendering support, you may see question marks, boxes, or other symbols instead of Coptic letters.

The Coptic Orthodox Church (Coptic: Ϯⲉⲕ̀ⲕⲗⲏⲥⲓⲁ ⲛ̀ⲣⲉⲙⲛ̀ⲭⲏⲙⲓ ⲛ̀ⲟⲣⲑⲟⲇⲟⲝⲟⲥ, romanized: Ti.eklyseya en.remenkimi en.orthodoxos, lit. 'the Egyptian Orthodox Church'; Arabic: الكنيسة القبطية الأرثوذكسية, romanized: al-Kanīsa al-Qibṭiyya al-ʾUrṯūḏuksiyya), also known as the Coptic Orthodox Patriarchate of Alexandria, is an Oriental Orthodox Christian church based in Egypt, servicing Africa and the Middle East. The head of the church and the See of Alexandria is the Pope of Alexandria on the Holy Apostolic See of Saint Mark, who also carries the title of Father of fathers, Shepherd of Shepherds, Ecumenical Judge and the thirteenth among the Apostles. The See of Alexandria is titular, and today, the Coptic Pope presides from Saint Mark's Coptic Orthodox Cathedral in the Abbassia District in Cairo. The church follows the Coptic Rite for its liturgy, prayer and devotional patrimony. With approximately 25 million members worldwide, it is the country's largest Christian denomination.[1][2][3][4][5][6][7]

According to its tradition, the Coptic Church was established by Mark, an apostle and evangelist, during the middle of the 1st century (c. AD 42).[8] Due to disputes concerning the nature of Christ, the Oriental Orthodox Churches and the Eastern Orthodox Church schismed after the Council of Chalcedon in AD 451, resulting in a rivalry with the Greek Orthodox Church of Alexandria. In the 4th to 7th centuries, the Coptic Church gradually expanded due to the Christianization of the Aksumite Empire and of two of the three Nubian kingdoms, Nobatia and Alodia, while the third Nubian kingdom, Makuria, recognized the authority of the Coptic Pope after initially being aligned to the State church of the Roman Empire.

After AD 639, Egypt was ruled by its Islamic conquerors from Arabia, and the treatment of the Coptic Christians ranged from tolerance to open persecution. In the 12th century, the church relocated its seat from Alexandria to Cairo. The same century also saw the Copts become a religious minority. During the 14th and 15th centuries, Nubian Christianity was supplanted by Islam. In 1959, the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church was granted autocephaly. This was extended to the Eritrean Orthodox Tewahedo Church in 1998 following the successful Eritrean War of Independence from Ethiopia. Since the Arab Spring in 2011, the Copts have been suffering increased religious discrimination and violence.[9]

## Contents

* 1 History
* 1.1 Apostolic foundation
* 1.1.1 Coptic language in the Church
* 1.2 Contributions to Christianity
* 1.2.1 Catechetical School of Alexandria
* 1.2.2 Cradle of monasticism and its missionary work
* 1.3 Role and participation in the Ecumenical Councils
* 1.3.1 Council of Nicaea
* 1.3.2 Council of Constantinople
* 1.3.3 Council of Ephesus
* 1.3.4 Council of Chalcedon
* 1.4 From Chalcedon to the Arab conquest of Egypt
* 1.5 Muslim conquest of Egypt
* 1.6 Under Islamic rule (640–1800)
* 1.7 From the 19th century to the 1952 revolution
* 1.8 Present day
* 2 Fasting, liturgy and canonical hours
* 3 Demographics
* 3.1 Persecution
* 4 Jurisdiction outside Egypt
* 4.1 Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church
* 4.2 Eritrean Orthodox Tewahedo Church
* 4.3 Episcopal titles
* 5 Consolidation of Papal control
* 6 Modern issues
* 6.1 Internal church disputes
* 6.1.1 Pope Shenouda and Father Matta El Meskeen
* 6.1.2 Father Reweis Aziz Khalil child sexual abuse case
* 7 Administration
* 8 See also
* 9 References
* 10 Bibliography
* 11 External links

## History[edit | edit source]

Part of a series on

Oriental Orthodoxy
Coptic icon of Jesus Christ
Oriental Orthodox churches

* Coptic
* Orthodox Tewahedo
* Ethiopian
* Eritrean
* Armenian
* Cilicia
* Syriac
* Indian

Subdivisions

* Autonomous churches grouped by tradition:
* Armenian: Constantinople, Jerusalem
* Syriac: Malankara Jacobite

Noncanonical/Independent churches

* Independent churches grouped by tradition:
* Coptic: British
* Syriac: Malabar Independent

History and theology

* Coptic history
* Tewahedo history
* Syriac history
* Saint Thomas Christians

* Ecumenical Councils:

* First
* Second
* Third

* Historical topics and events:

* Peshitta
* Tur Abdin
* Miaphysitism
* 2nd Council of Ephesus
* 3rd Council of Ephesus
* 1st Council of Dvin
* 2nd Council of Dvin
* 3rd Council of Dvin
* Council of Manzikert
* Council of Capharthutha
* Coonan Cross Oath

Liturgy and practices

* Apostolic Church-Ordinance
* Armenian calendar
* Coptic calendar
* Ethiopian calendar
* Coptic fasting
* Coptic monasticism
* Coptic saints
* Debtera
* Ethiopian chant
* Fast of Nineveh
* Holy Qurbana
* Tabot
* Tewahedo fasting
* Timkat

Major figures

* Abgar V
* Nine Saints of Ethiopia
* Gregory the Illuminator
* Tiridates III
* Mar Awgin
* Athanasius of Alexandria
* Ephrem the Syrian
* Ezana of Axum
* Frumentius
* Shenoute
* Mesrop Mashtots
* Cyril of Alexandria
* Dioscorus of Alexandria
* Severus of Antioch
* Abraham of Farshut
* Yared
* Simon the Tanner
* Gregory of Narek
* Nerses IV
* Michael the Syrian
* Bar Hebraeus
* Tekle Haymanot
* Giyorgis of Segla
* Mar Thoma I
* Gregorios Abdal Jaleel
* Geevarghese Gregorios

Related topics

* Abuna
* Catholicos
* Coptic cross
* Cross of St. Thomas
* Ethiopian cross
* Ethiopian titles
* Maphrian
* Tewahedo biblical canon

* v
* t
* e

Part of a series on the

Copts

File:Coptic cross.svg

Culture

* Architecture
* Art
* Calendar
* Coptology
* Cross
* Fasting
* History
* Identity
* Toponymy
* Language
* Literature
* Coptic
* Arabic
* Music
* Monasticism
* Nationalism
* Persecution
* Philosophy
* Writing system

Regions

* Egypt
* Sudan
* Libya
* United States (churches)
* Canada (churches)
* Australia (churches)
* Africa
* Asia
* Europe
* North America
* South America
* Diaspora

Denominations

* Coptic Orthodox Church
* Coptic Catholic Church
* Protestantism
* Evangelical Church

* v
* t
* e

### Apostolic foundation[edit | edit source]

The Egyptian Church is traditionally believed to be founded by Mark the Evangelist around AD 42,[8] and regards itself as the subject of many prophecies in the Old Testament. Isaiah the prophet, in Chapter 19, Verse 19 says "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". The first Christians in Egypt were common people who spoke Egyptian Coptic.[10] There were also Alexandrian Jewish people such as Theophilus, whom Luke the Evangelist addresses in the introductory chapter of his gospel. When the church was founded by Mark during the reign of the Roman emperor Nero, a great multitude of native Egyptians (as opposed to Greeks or Jews) embraced the Christian faith.[10][11]

Christianity spread throughout Egypt within half a century of Mark's arrival in Alexandria, as is clear from the New Testament writings found in Bahnasa, in Middle Egypt, which date around the year AD 200, and a fragment of the Gospel of John, written in Coptic, which was found in Upper Egypt and can be dated to the first half of the 2nd century. In the 2nd century, Christianity began to spread to the rural areas, and scriptures were translated into the local languages, namely Coptic.

#### Coptic language in the Church[edit | edit source]

The Coptic language is a universal language used in Coptic churches in every country. It descends from Ancient Egyptian and uses the Coptic alphabet, a script descended from the Greek alphabet with added characters derived from the Demotic script. Today, Coptic is used primarily for liturgical purposes. Many of the hymns in the liturgy are in Coptic and have been passed down for several thousand years. The language is used to preserve Egypt's original language, which was banned by the Arab invaders, who ordered Arabic to be used instead.[12] Some examples of these hymns are Coptic: Ⲡ̀ⲟⲩⲣⲟ, romanized: ep.ouro, lit. 'the king', Coptic: Ⲕ̀ⲥ̀ⲙⲁⲣⲱⲟⲩⲧ, romanized: ek.esmaro'oot, lit. '(thou) blessed', Coptic: Ⲧⲁⲓϣⲟⲩⲣⲏ, romanized: tai.shouri, lit. 'this censer', and many more.

### Contributions to Christianity[edit | edit source]

#### Catechetical School of Alexandria[edit | edit source]

The Catechetical School of Alexandria is the oldest catechetical school in the world. Jerome records that the Christian School of Alexandria was founded by Mark himself.[13] Around AD 42, under the leadership of the scholar Pantanaeus, the school of Alexandria became an important institution of religious learning, where students were taught by scholars such as Athenagoras, Clement, Didymus, and the native Egyptian Origen, who was considered the father of theology and who was also active in the field of commentary and comparative Biblical studies.

The theological college of the catechetical school was re-established in 1893.[14]

#### Cradle of monasticism and its missionary work[edit | edit source]

Main article: Coptic monasticism

Many Egyptian Christians went to the desert during the 3rd century, and remained there to pray and work and dedicate their lives to seclusion and worship of God. This was the beginning of the monastic movement, which was organized by Anthony the Great, Paul of Thebes, the world's first anchorite, Macarius the Great and Pachomius the Cenobite in the 4th century.

Christian monasticism was born in Egypt and was instrumental in the formation of the Coptic Orthodox Church character of submission, simplicity and humility, thanks to the teachings and writings of the Great Fathers of Egypt's Deserts. By the end of the 5th century, there were hundreds of monasteries, and thousands of cells and caves scattered throughout the Egyptian desert. A great number of these monasteries are still flourishing and have new vocations to this day.

All Christian monasticism stems, either directly or indirectly, from the Egyptian example: Basil the Great Archbishop of Caesarea of Cappadocia, founder and organizer of the monastic movement in Asia Minor, visited Egypt around AD 357 and his rule is followed by the Eastern Orthodox churches; Jerome who translated the Bible into Latin, came to Egypt, while en route to Jerusalem, around AD 400 and left details of his experiences in his letters; Benedict founded the Benedictine Order in the 6th century on the model of Pachomius, but in a stricter form. Countless pilgrims have visited the Desert Fathers to emulate their spiritual, disciplined lives.

### Role and participation in the Ecumenical Councils[edit | edit source]

#### Council of Nicaea[edit | edit source]

Main article: First Council of Nicaea

In the 4th century, an Alexandrian presbyter named Arius began a theological dispute about the nature of Christ that spread throughout the Christian world and is now known as Arianism. The Ecumenical Council of Nicea AD 325 was convened by Constantine after the Pope Alexander I of Alexandria requested to hold a Council to respond to heresies,[15] under the presidency of Hosius of Cordova to resolve the dispute. This eventually led to the formulation of the Symbol of Faith, also known as the Nicene Creed.[16] The Creed was based largely on the teaching put forth by a man who eventually would become Athanasius of Alexandria, the chief opponent of Arius, and 20th bishop of Alexandria and therefore a Pope according to Coptic Christians.

#### Council of Constantinople[edit | edit source]

Main article: First Council of Constantinople

In the year AD 381, Pope Timothy I of Alexandria presided over the second ecumenical council known as the Ecumenical Council of Constantinople, to judge Macedonius, who denied the Divinity of the Holy Spirit. This council completed the Nicene Creed with this confirmation of the divinity of the Holy Spirit:

> We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the Giver of Life, who proceeds from the Father, who with the Father and the Son is worshiped and glorified who spoke by the Prophets and in One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic church. We confess one Baptism for the remission of sins and we look for the resurrection of the dead and the life of the coming age, Amen.

#### Council of Ephesus[edit | edit source]

Main article: Council of Ephesus

File:CopticAltar.jpg

Coptic Icon in the Coptic Altar of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, Jerusalem

Another theological dispute in the 5th century occurred over the teachings of Nestorius, the Patriarch of Constantinople who taught that God the Word was not hypostatically joined with human nature, but rather dwelt in the man Jesus. As a consequence of this, he denied the title "Mother of God" (Theotokos) to the Virgin Mary, declaring her instead to be "Mother of Christ" Christotokos.

The Council confirmed the teachings of Athanasius and confirmed the title of Mary as "Mother of God". It also clearly stated that anyone who separated Christ into two hypostases was anathema, as Cyril had said that there is "One Nature [or One Hypostasis] for God the Word Incarnate" (Mia Physis tou Theou Logou Sesarkōmenē). The introduction to the creed, still recited in the church, is formulated as follows:

> We magnify you O Mother of the True Light and we glorify you O saint and Mother of God (Theotokos) for you have borne unto us the Saviour of the world. Glory to you O our Master and King: Christ, the pride of the Apostles, the crown of the martyrs, the rejoicing of the righteous, firmness of the churches and the forgiveness of sins. We proclaim the Holy Trinity in One Godhead: we worship Him, we glorify Him, Lord have mercy, Lord have mercy, Lord bless us, Amen. [not dissimilar to the "Axion Estin" Chant still used in Orthodoxy]

#### Council of Chalcedon[edit | edit source]

Main article: Council of Chalcedon

File:StMarkCathAlex.jpg

St. Mark Coptic Cathedral in Alexandria

When in AD 451 Emperor Marcian attempted to heal divisions in the Church, the response of Pope Dioscorus–the Pope of Alexandria who was later exiled–was that the emperor should not intervene in the affairs of the Church. It was at Chalcedon that the emperor, through the imperial delegates, enforced harsh disciplinary measures against Pope Dioscorus in response to his boldness. In AD 449, Pope Dioscorus headed the 2nd Council of Ephesus, called the "Robber Council" by Chalcedonian historians. It held to the Miaphysite formula which upheld the Christology of "One Incarnate Nature of God the Word" (Greek: μία φύσις Θεοῦ Λόγου σεσαρκωμένη (mia physis Theou Logou sesarkōmenē)),[17] and upheld Eutyches, now considered a heretic by the Coptic Orthodox Church, claiming that he was orthodox.

The Council of Chalcedon summoned Dioscorus three times to appear at the council, after which he was deposed. The Council of Chalcedon further deposed him for his support of Eutyches, but not necessarily for Eutychian Monophysitism. Dioscorus appealed to the conciliar fathers to allow for a more Miaphysite interpretation of Christology at the council, but was denied. Following his being deposed, the Coptic Church and its faithful felt unfairly underrepresented at the council and oppressed politically by the Byzantine Empire. After the Byzantines appointed Proterius of Alexandria as Patriarch to represent the Chalcedonian Church, the Coptic Church appointed their own Patriarch Timothy Aelurus and broke from the State church of the Roman Empire.

In terms of Christology, the Oriental Orthodox (Non-Chalcedonians) understanding is that Christ is "One Nature—the Logos Incarnate," of the full humanity and full divinity. The Chalcedonians' understanding is that Christ is recognized in two natures, full humanity and full divinity. Oriental Orthodoxy contends that such a formulation is no different from what the Nestorians teach.[18]

From that point onward, Alexandria would have two patriarchs: the non-Chalcedonian native Egyptian one, now known as the Coptic Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of All Africa on the Holy Apostolic See of St. Mark, and the Melkite or Imperial Patriarch, now known as the Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Alexandria.[19]

Almost the entire Egyptian population rejected the terms of the Council of Chalcedon and remained faithful to the native Egyptian Church (now known as the Coptic Orthodox Church).[20]

By anathematizing Pope Leo because of the tone and content of his tome, as per Alexandrine Theology perception, Pope Dioscorus was found guilty of doing so without due process; in other words, the Tome of Leo was not a subject of heresy in the first place, but it was a question of questioning the reasons behind not having it either acknowledged or read at the Second Council of Ephesus in AD 449\. Pope Dioscorus of Alexandria was never labeled as heretic by the council's canons. Copts also believe that the Pope of Alexandria was forcibly prevented from attending the third congregation of the council from which he was ousted, apparently the result of a conspiracy tailored by the Roman delegates.[21]

Before the current positive era of Eastern and Oriental Orthodox dialogues, Chalcedonians sometimes used to call the non-Chalcedonians "Monophysites", though the Coptic Orthodox Church in reality regards Monophysitism as a heresy. The Chalcedonian doctrine in turn came to be known as "Dyophysite". A term that comes closer to Coptic Orthodoxy is Miaphysite, which refers to a conjoined nature for Christ, both human and divine, united indivisibly in the Incarnate Logos.[22][23]

### From Chalcedon to the Arab conquest of Egypt[edit | edit source]

Prior to Chalcedon, the Imperial Church's main division stemmed from Nestorianism, eventually leading the Church of the East to declare its independence in AD 424\. After the Council of Chalcedon in AD 451, the Coptic Church and its hierarchy felt suspicious of what they believed were Nestorian elements within the Chalcedonian Church. As a result, the anti-Chalcedon partisan, Timotheos Aelurus, consigned himself to depose the Chalcedonian Pope of Alexandria, Proterius of Alexandria, and to set himself up as the Pope of Alexandria in opposition to the Chalcedonian Church. Copts suffered under the rule of the Byzantine Empire. The Melkite patriarchs, appointed by the emperors as both spiritual leaders and civil governors, massacred those Egyptians they considered heretics. Many were tortured and martyred in attempts to force their acceptance of the Chalcedonian terms, but the Egyptians remained loyal to the Cyrillian Miaphysitism. One of the most renowned Egyptian saints of the period is Samuel the Confessor.

### Muslim conquest of Egypt[edit | edit source]

File:Bischop of Faras.jpg

Makurian wall painting depicting a Nubian bishop and Virgin Mary (11th century)

The Muslim invasion of Egypt took place in AD 639\. Relying on eyewitness testimony, Bishop John of Nikiu in his Chronicle provides a graphic account of the invasion from a Coptic perspective. Although the Chronicle has only been preserved in an Ethiopic (Ge'ez) text, some scholars believe that it was originally written in Coptic.[24] John's account is critical of the invaders who he says "despoiled the Egyptians of their possessions and dealt cruelly with them",[25] and he vividly details the atrocities committed by the Muslims against the native population during the conquest:

> And when with great toil and exertion they had cast down the walls of the city, they forthwith made themselves masters of it, and put to the sword thousands of its inhabitants and of the soldiers, and they gained an enormous booty, and took the women and children captive and divided them amongst themselves, and they made that city a desolation.[26]

Though critical of the Muslim commander (Amr ibn al-As), who, during the campaign, he says "had no mercy on the Egyptians, and did not observe the covenant they had made with him, for he was of a barbaric race",[27] he does note that following the completion of the conquest, Amr "took none of the property of the Churches, and he committed no act of spoilation or plunder, and he preserved them throughout all his days."[28]

Despite the political upheaval, the Egyptian population remained mainly Christian. However, gradual conversions to Islam over the centuries had changed Egypt from a Christian to a largely Muslim country by the end of the 12th century.[29] Another scholar writes that a combination of "repression of Coptic revolts", Arab-Muslim immigration, and Coptic conversion to Islam resulted in the demographic decline of the Copts.[30] Egypt's Umayyad rulers taxed Christians at a higher rate than Muslims, driving merchants towards Islam and undermining the economic base of the Coptic Church.[31] Although the Coptic Church did not disappear, the Umayyad tax policies made it difficult for the church to retain the Egyptian elites.[32]

### Under Islamic rule (640–1800)[edit | edit source]

File:Coptic prayer book.png

Arabic Coptic Prayer book, 1760

In 969, Egypt entered the Fatimid dynasty (in Egypt from 969 to 1171), who adopted a largely favorable attitude toward the Christians. The major exception to this was the persecution led by Caliph al-Hakim between 1004 and 1013, which included clothing regulations, prohibition of publicly celebrating Christian festivals, and dismissal of Christian and Jewish functionaries. However, at the end of his reign al-Hakim rescinded these measures, allowing the Copts to regain privileged positions within the administration.[33]

The Coptic patriarchal residence moved from Alexandria to Cairo during the patriarchate of Cyril II (1078–92). This move was at the demand of the grand vizier Badr al-Jamali, who insisted that the pope establish himself in the capital.[33] When Saladin entered Egypt in 1163, this ushered in a government focused on defending Sunni Islam. Christians were again discriminated against, and meant to show modesty in their religious ceremonies and buildings.[33]

In 1798, the French invaded Egypt unsuccessfully and the British helped the Turks to regain power over Egypt under the Muhammad Ali dynasty.[34]

### From the 19th century to the 1952 revolution[edit | edit source]

The position of Copts began to improve early in the 19th century under the stability and tolerance of the Muhammad Ali Dynasty. The Coptic community ceased to be regarded by the state as an administrative unit. In 1855 the jizya tax was abolished by Sa'id Pasha.[35] Shortly thereafter, the Copts started to serve in the Egyptian army.[36]

File:Coptic monks.jpg

Coptic monks, between 1898 and 1914

Towards the end of the 19th century, the Coptic Church underwent phases of new development. In 1853, Pope Cyril IV established the first modern Coptic schools, including the first Egyptian school for girls. He also founded a printing press, which was only the second national press in the country. The Pope established very friendly relations with other denominations, to the extent that when the Greek Patriarch in Egypt had to absent himself from the country for a long period of time, he left his Church under the guidance of the Coptic Patriarch.[36]

The Theological College of the School of Alexandria was reestablished in 1893.[14] It began its new history with five students, one of whom was later to become its dean. Today it has campuses in Alexandria and Cairo, and in various dioceses throughout Egypt, as well as outside Egypt. It has campuses in New Jersey, Los Angeles, Sydney, Melbourne, and London, where potential clergymen and other qualified men and women study many subjects, including theology, church history, missionary studies, and the Coptic language.[36]

### Present day[edit | edit source]

Religion in Egypt

Cairo mosques
Religions in Egypt

* Islam
* Sunni
* Shia

* Christianity
* Coptic Orthodoxy
* Greek Orthodoxy
* Catholicism
* Protestantism

* Judaism

Religious institutions

* Al-Azhar University
* Dar al-Ifta al-Misriyyah
* Coptic Orthodox Church

Religious Organizations

* Al-Azhar
* Salafist Call
* Muslim Brotherhood
* al-Jama'a al-Islamiyya
* Catechetical School of Alexandria
* General Congregation Council

Unrecognized religions
& denominations

* Ahmadiyya
* Baháʼí Faith
* Hinduism

Other topics

* Irreligion in Egypt
* Secularism in Egypt
* Freedom of religion in Egypt

*   *

* v
* t
* e

File:Monastry3.jpg

A modern Coptic cathedral in Aswan.

In 1959, the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church was granted its first own Patriarch by Pope Cyril VI. Furthermore, the Eritrean Orthodox Tewahedo Church similarly became independent of the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church in 1994, when four bishops were consecrated by Pope Shenouda III of Alexandria to form the basis of a local Holy Synod of the Eritrean Church. In 1998, the Eritrean Orthodox Tewahedo Church gained its autocephaly from the Coptic Orthodox Church when its first Patriarch was enthroned by Pope Shenouda III.

These three churches remain in full communion with each other and with the other Oriental Orthodox churches. The Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church and the Eritrean Orthodox Tewahedo Church do acknowledge the Honorary Supremacy of the Coptic Orthodox Patriarch of Alexandria, since the Church of Alexandria is technically their Mother Church. Upon their selection, both Patriarchs (Ethiopian & Eritrean) must receive the approval and communion from the Holy Synod of the Apostolic See of Alexandria before their enthronement.

Since the 1980s theologians from the Oriental (non-Chalcedonian) Orthodox and Eastern (Chalcedonian) Orthodox churches have been meeting in a bid to resolve theological differences, and have concluded that many of the differences are caused by the two groups using different terminology to describe the same thing.[37]

In the summer of 2001, the Coptic Orthodox and Greek Orthodox Patriarchates of Alexandria agreed to mutually recognize baptisms performed in each other's churches, making re-baptisms unnecessary, and to recognize the sacrament of marriage as celebrated by the other.[38] Previously, if a Coptic Orthodox and Greek Orthodox wanted to get married, the marriage had to be performed twice, once in each church, for it to be recognized by both. Now it can be done in only one church and be recognized by both.

In Tahrir Square, Cairo, on Wednesday 2 February 2011, Coptic Christians joined hands to provide a protective cordon around their Muslim neighbors during salat (prayers) in the midst of the 2011 Egyptian Revolution.[39]

On 17 March 2012, the Coptic Orthodox Pope, Pope Shenouda III died, leaving many Copts mourning and worrying as tensions rose with Muslims. Pope Shenouda III constantly met with Muslim leaders in order to create peace. Many were worried about Muslims controlling Egypt as the Muslim Brotherhood won 70% of the parliamentary elections.[40][41]

On 4 November 2012, Bishop Tawadros was chosen as the 118th Pope. In a ritual filled with prayer, chants and incense at Abbasiya cathedral in Cairo, the 60-year-old bishop's name was picked by a blindfolded child from a glass bowl in which the names of two other candidates had also been placed. The enthronement was scheduled on 18 November 2012.

## Fasting, liturgy and canonical hours[edit | edit source]

Main articles: Coptic Rite and Coptic monasticism

File:Agpeya Breviary.jpg

The Agpeya is a breviary used in Coptic Orthodox Christianity to pray the canonical hours at seven fixed prayer times of the day, in the eastward direction.[42]

The Coptic Orthodox Church only ordains men to the priesthood and episcopate, and if they wish to be married, they must be married before they are ordained. In this respect, they follow the same practices as all other Oriental Orthodox Churches, as well as all of the Eastern Orthodox Church.

Communicants of the Coptic Orthodox Church use a breviary known as the Agpeya to pray the canonical hours at seven fixed prayer times while facing in the eastward direction, in anticipation of the Second Coming of Jesus; this Christian practice has its roots in Psalm 119:164, in which the prophet David prays to God seven times a day.[43][42][44] Church bells enjoin Christians to pray at these hours.[45] Before praying, they wash their hands and face in order to be clean before and present their best to God; shoes are removed in order to acknowledge that one is offering prayer before a holy God.[43][46] During each of the seven fixed prayer times, Coptic Orthodox Christians pray "prostrating three times in the name of the Trinity; at the end of each Psalm … while saying the 'Alleluia';" and forty-one times for each of the Kyrie eleisons present in a canonical hour.[46] In the Coptic Orthodox Church, it is customary for women to wear a Christian headcovering when praying.[47] The Coptic Orthodox Church observes days of ritual purification.[48][49] However, while meat that still contains blood after cooking is discouraged from being eaten, the Coptic Church does not forbid its members from consuming any particular type of food, unlike in Islam or Judaism.[50]

All churches of the Coptic Orthodox Church are designed to face the eastward direction of prayer and efforts are made to remodel churches obtained from other Christian denominations that are not built in this fashion.[51]

With respect to Eucharistic discipline, Coptic Orthodox Christians fast from midnight onwards (or at least nine hours) prior to receiving the sacrament of Holy Communion.[52] They fast every Wednesday and Friday of the year (Wednesdays in remembrance of the betrayal of Christ, and on Fridays in remembrance of His crucifixion and death).[52] In total, fast days in a year for Coptic Orthodox Christians numbers around 240, with the fasts for Advent and Lent being forty-three days and fifty-five days, respectively.[52] In August, before the celebration of the Dormition of the Mother of God, Coptic Christians fast fifteen days; fasting is also done before the feast of Feast of Saints Peter and Paul, starting from the day of Pentecost.[52]

## Demographics[edit | edit source]

Available Egyptian census figures and other third party survey reports have not reported more than 4 million Coptic Orthodox Christians in Egypt.[1][2] However media and other agencies, sometimes taking into account the claims of the Church itself, generally approximate the Coptic Orthodox population at 10% of the Egyptian population or 10 million people.[3][4][5][6][7] The majority of them live in Egypt under the jurisdiction of the Coptic Orthodox Church. Since 2006, Egyptian censuses have not reported on religion and church leaders have alleged that Christians were under-counted in government surveys. In 2017, a government owned newspaper Al Ahram estimated the percentage of Copts at 10 to 15% and the membership claimed by the Coptic Orthodox Church is in the range of 20 to 25 million.[53][54][55][56][57][58]

There are also significant numbers in the diaspora outside Africa in countries such as the United States, Canada, Australia, France, and Germany. The exact number of Egyptian born Coptic Orthodox Christians in the diaspora is hard to determine and is roughly estimated to be close to 1 million.[59][60][61][4][62]

There are between 150,000 and 200,000 adherents in Sudan.[63][64]

### Persecution[edit | edit source]

Main article: Persecution of Copts

While Copts have cited instances of persecution throughout their history, Human Rights Watch has noted "growing religious intolerance" and sectarian violence against Coptic Christians in recent years, and a failure by the Egyptian government to effectively investigate properly and prosecute those responsible.[65][66] Over a hundred Egyptian copts have been killed in sectarian clashes from 2011 to 2017, and many homes and businesses destroyed. In just one province (Minya), 77 cases of sectarian attacks on Copts between 2011 and 2016 have been documented by the Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights.[67] The abduction and disappearance of Coptic Christian women and girls also remains a serious ongoing problem.[68][69]

## Jurisdiction outside Egypt[edit | edit source]

File:ChristCopticArt.jpg

Jesus Christ in a Coptic icon

Besides Egypt, the Church of Alexandria has jurisdiction over all of Africa.

In addition, the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church and Eritrean Orthodox Tewahedo Church are daughter churches of the Coptic Orthodox Church. Both the Patriarchate of Addis Ababa and all Ethiopia and the Patriarchate of Asmara and all Eritrea acknowledge the supremacy of honor and dignity of the Pope of Alexandria on the basis that both patriarchates were established by the Throne of Alexandria and that they have their roots in the Apostolic Church of Alexandria, and acknowledge that Mark the Apostle is the founder of their churches through the heritage and Apostolic evangelization of the Fathers of Alexandria.

### Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church[edit | edit source]

Main article: Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church

Joseph II consecrated the first Ethiopian-born Archbishop, Abuna Basilios, as head of the Ethiopian Church on 14 January 1951. In 1959, Pope Cyril VI of Alexandria crowned Abuna Basilios as the first Patriarch of Ethiopia.

### Eritrean Orthodox Tewahedo Church[edit | edit source]

Main article: Eritrean Orthodox Tewahedo Church

Following the independence of Eritrea from Ethiopia in 1993, the newly independent Eritrean government appealed to Pope Shenouda III of Alexandria for Eritrean Orthodox autocephaly. In 1994, Pope Shenouda ordained Abune Phillipos as first Archbishop of Eritrea.

### Episcopal titles[edit | edit source]

Main article: Pope of the Coptic Orthodox Church

## Consolidation of Papal control[edit | edit source]

File:Chuck Kennedy - The Official White House Photostream - P060409CK-0199 (pd).jpg

Pope Shenouda III, the 117th Patriarch of Alexandria on the Holy Apostolic See of Saint Mark the Evangelist (1971–2012).

Under the guidance of Pope Shenouda, the church underwent a large transformation that allowed him to hold greater authority than any previous pope. Writing in 2013, the theologian Samuel Tadros stated "Today's Coptic Church as an institution is built solely on his vision".[70]

## Modern issues[edit | edit source]

### Internal church disputes[edit | edit source]

#### Pope Shenouda and Father Matta El Meskeen[edit | edit source]

Pope Shenouda III was criticized by the prominent monk Father Matta El Meskeen for the church's strong links with the Egyptian government under the dictator Hosni Mubarak. As the dispute began to grow, Shenouda explicitly denounced Matta's thoughts, labelling some of his writings "heresies". In turn, Matta promoted a radical focus upon personal faith in contrast to institutional religion and ecclesiastical authority. Shenouda, however, was heavily involved in politics and keen to extend the church's influence over the social lives of Copts.[71][72]

#### Father Reweis Aziz Khalil child sexual abuse case[edit | edit source]

On 12 July 2020, Sally Zakhari began a series of posts on Facebook and Instagram in which she accused the now defrocked Hegomen Reweis Aziz Khalil of sexual assault when she was between the ages of 11 and 12.[73][74][75] Zakhari said that church leaders were aware of several sexual assaults perpetrated by Khalil in his service as a priest across the U.S. for around 22 years, and refused to act on it.[76] The incident sparked other reports of sexual assault and generated debate among church laity, with some in the American Coptic community describing the fallout of the incident as creating a "Coptic #MeToo movement", the #copticsurvivormovement.[73]

## Administration[edit | edit source]

File:StMarkcoptic.jpg

Coptic icon of Saint Mark the Evangelist

Main articles: The Holy Synod of the Coptic Orthodox Patriarchate of Alexandria and Dioceses of the Coptic Orthodox Church

The Coptic Orthodox Patriarchate of Alexandria is governed by its Holy Synod, which is headed by the Patriarch of Alexandria. Under his authority are the metropolitan archbishops, metropolitan bishops, diocesan bishops, patriarchal exarchs, missionary bishops, auxiliary bishops, suffragan bishops, assistant bishops, chorbishops and the patriarchal vicars for the Church of Alexandria.

## See also[edit | edit source]

* Pope of Alexandria
* General Congregation Council
* List of Coptic Orthodox churches in Egypt
* Copts
* Coptic atheists
* Coptic saints
* Coptic Orthodox churches
* Institute of Coptic Studies
* Coptic Orphans
* Oriental Orthodoxy
* Christianity in Africa
* Holy Family in Egypt
* Zabbaleen
* 2011 Alexandria bombing
* Nag Hammadi massacre
* Persecution of Copts

## References[edit | edit source]

1. ^ a b c "How many Christians are there in Egypt?". Pew Research Center. 16 February 2011. "The best available census and survey data indicate that Christians now number roughly 5% of the Egyptian population, or about 4 million people."
2. ^ a b c Mohamoud, Yousra A.; Cuadros, Diego F.; Abu-Raddad, Laith J. (1 June 2013). "Characterizing the Copts in Egypt: Demographic, socioeconomic and health indicators". QScience Connect (2013): 22. doi:10.5339/connect.2013.22. ISSN 2223-506X. "Copts constitute 5.1% (95% confidence interval (CI): 4.6%–5.5%) of the population, while Muslims account for the remaining majority at 94.9%. Given that the current total Egyptian population is estimated to be 83,806,767, 21 the number of Copts in Egypt is then 4,274,145 (95% CI: 3,855,111–4,609,372)."
3. ^ a b c Harvard Divinity School, Religious literacy project. "Coptic Christianity in Egypt". RLP.HDS.harvard.edu. "The Coptic Church experienced a religious revival beginning in the 1950s, and currently claims some seven million members inside of Egypt."
4. ^ a b c d "Who are Egypt's Coptic Christians?". CNN. "The largest Christian community in the Middle East, Coptic Christians make up the majority of Egypt's roughly 9 million Christians. About 1 million more Coptic Christians are spread across Africa, Europe, the United Kingdom and the United States, according to the World Council of Churches."
5. ^ a b c "Egypt". United States Department of State. "The U.S. government estimates the population at 99.4 million (July 2018 estimate). Most experts and media sources state that approximately 90 percent of the population is officially designated as Sunni Muslims and approximately 10 percent is recognized as Christian (estimates range from 5 to 15 percent). Approximately 90 percent of Christians belong to the Coptic Orthodox Church, according to Christian leaders."
6. ^ a b c UK, Foreign & Commonwealth Office (FCO). "Country Profile: The Arab Republic of Egypt". Government of the United Kingdom. Archived from the original on 5 July 2009. Retrieved 19 April 2020.
7. ^ a b c "Excluded and Unequal". The Century Foundation. 9 May 2019. "Copts are generally understood to make up approximately 10 percent of Egypt's population." `{{cite journal}}`: Cite journal requires `|journal=` (help)
8. ^ a b Eusebius of Caesarea, the author of Ecclesiastical History in the 4th century, states that Mark came to Egypt in the first or third year of the reign of Emperor Claudius, i.e. AD 41 or 43 Otto Friedrich August Meinardus (2002). Two Thousand Years of Coptic Christianity. American Univ in Cairo Press. p. 28\. ISBN 978-977-424-757-6.
9. ^ Matt Rehbein (10 April 2017). "Who are Egypt's Coptic Christians?". CNN.
10. ^ a b "Early church missionary". Archived from the original on 22 April 2009. Retrieved 7 May 2009.
11. ^ "The Church of Alexandria". New Advent. Retrieved 17 March 2012.
12. ^ "الأقباط متحدون – اللغة القبطية".
13. ^ "The School of Alexandria – Part I – An Introduction to the School of Alexandria". Copticchurch.net. Retrieved 2 January 2011.
14. ^ a b Attia, Fr Matthew (6 July 2015). "The Catechetical School of Alexandria". Become Orthodox. Retrieved 16 September 2020.
15. ^ "مجمع نيقية المقدس 325 م. | St-Takla.org". st-takla.org.
16. ^ Carroll 1987, p. 11
17. ^ Apollinaris of Laodicea (1904). "Πρὸς Ἰοβιανόν". In Lietzmann, Hans (ed.). Apollinaris von Laodicea und seine Schule: Texte und Untersuchungen (in German and Greek). Mohr Siebeck Verlag. p. 251.
18. ^ "Split of the Byzantine and Oriental Churches". Webcitation.org. Archived from the original on 24 October 2009. Retrieved 2 January 2011.
19. ^ Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Alexandria.
20. ^ "Egypt". Berkley Center for Religion, Peace, and World Affairs. Archived from the original on 20 December 2011. Retrieved 14 December 2011. See drop-down essay on "Islamic Conquest and the Ottoman Empire"
21. ^ Romanides, John S. Leo of Rome's Support of Theodoret.
22. ^ Winkler 1997, p. 33-40.
23. ^ Brock 2016, p. 45–52.
24. ^ Pummer, Reinhard (2002). Early Christian Authors on Samaritans and Samaritanism: Texts, Translations and Commentary (Texts and Studies in Ancient Judaism). pp. 377–378.
25. ^ Charles, Robert H (1913). The Chronicle of John, Bishop of Nikiu: Translated from Zotenberg's Ethiopic Text, Chapter CXV: paragraph 7.
26. ^ Charles, Robert H (1913). The Chronicle of John, Bishop of Nikiu: Translated from Zotenberg's Ethiopic Text, Chapter CXVIII: paragraph 12.
27. ^ Charles, Robert H (1913). The Chronicle of John, Bishop of Nikiu: Translated from Zotenberg's Ethiopic Text, Chapter CXX: paragraph 36.
28. ^ Charles, Robert H (1913). The Chronicle of John, Bishop of Nikiu: Translated from Zotenberg's Ethiopic Text, Chapter CXXI: paragraph 3.
29. ^ Kamil, Jill (1997). Coptic Egypt: History and Guide. Cairo: American University in Cairo.
30. ^ O'Sullivan, Shaun (2006). "Coptic Conversion and the Islamization of Egypt" (PDF). Mamluk Studies Review: 65–79.
31. ^ Jerry Bentley, Old World Encounters: Cross-Cultural Contacts and Exchange in Pre-Modern Times (New York: Oxford University Press, 1993), 93.
32. ^ Jerry Bentley, Old World Encounters: Cross-Cultural Encounters and Exchanges in Pre-Modern Times (New York: Oxford University Press, 1993), 93.
33. ^ a b c Micheau, Françoise (2006). "Eastern Christianities (eleventh to fourteenth century): Copts, Melkites, Nestorians and Jacobites". In Angold, Michael (ed.). The Cambridge History of Christianity: Volume 5: Eastern Christianity. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. pp. 371–403. ISBN 978-0-521-81113-2. Retrieved 20 December 2021.
34. ^ Partrick, Theodore Hall (1996). Traditional Egyptian Christianity: History of the Coptic Orthodox Church. North Carolina: Fisher Park Press.
35. ^ Rowberry, Ryan; Khalil, John (2010). "A Brief History of Coptic Personal Status Law". Berkeley Journal of Middle Eastern and Islamic Law. 3: 81–139.
36. ^ a b c "Saint George Coptic Church". Suscopts.org. Retrieved 3 April 2014.
37. ^ Growth in Agreement II. Reports and Agreed Statements of Ecumenical Conversations at World Level 1982–1998, ed. Jeffrey Gros, FSC, Harding Meyer, William G. Rusch, WCC and Michigan. World Council of Churches. 2000.`{{cite book}}`: CS1 maint: others (link)
38. ^ "Pastoral Agreement between the Coptic Orthodox and Greek Orthodox Patriarchates of Alexandria". Orthodox Unity (Orthodox Joint Commission). 2001. Retrieved 14 March 2019.
39. ^ Christians protect Muslims during prayer in Cairo's dangerous Tahrir square, Nevine Zaki, 3 February 2011. Retrieved 9 February 2011
40. ^ Fahim, Kareem (20 March 2012). "Coptic Pope Shenouda III's Death Adds to Fears in Egypt". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 1 January 2022.
41. ^ "Muslim Brotherhood Sweeps Up Over One-Third of Votes in Egyptian Elections". HuffPost. 4 December 2011.
42. ^ a b Dawood, Bishoy (8 December 2013). "Stand, Bow, Prostrate: The Prayerful Body of Coptic Christianity". The Clarion Review. Retrieved 6 August 2020. "Standing facing the East is the most frequent prayer position. ... This is further emphasized in the fact that Copts pray facing the East, waiting for the return of Jesus in glory; his return as the enthroned Pantocrator is portrayed in the iconography that is placed before the worshippers."
43. ^ a b Mary Cecil, 2nd Baroness Amherst of Hackney (1906). A Sketch of Egyptian History from the Earliest Times to the Present Day. Methuen. p. 399\. "Prayers 7 times a day are enjoined, and the most strict among the Copts recite one of more of the Psalms of David each time they pray. They always wash their hands and faces before devotions, and turn to the East."
44. ^ "Prayers of the Church". Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church. Retrieved 25 July 2020.
45. ^ "What is the relationship between bells and the church? When and where did the tradition begin? Should bells ring in every church?". Coptic Orthodox Diocese of the Southern United States. 2020. Retrieved 8 August 2020.
46. ^ a b Kosloski, Philip (16 October 2017). "Did you know Muslims pray in a similar way to some Christians?". Aleteia. Retrieved 25 July 2020.
47. ^ Russell, Thomas Arthur (2010). Comparative Christianity: A Student's Guide to a Religion and Its Diverse Traditions. Universal-Publishers. p. 42\. ISBN 978-1-59942-877-2.
48. ^ Ian Bradley (2 November 2012). Water: A Spiritual History. Bloomsbury Publishing. ISBN 978-1-4411-6767-5.
49. ^ H. Bulzacchelli, Richard (2006). Judged by the Law of Freedom: A History of the Faith-works Controversy, and a Resolution in the Thought of St. Thomas Aquinas. University Press of America. p. 19\. ISBN 9780761835011. "The Ethiopian and Coptic Churches distinguishes between clean and unclean meats, observes days of ritual purification, and keeps a kind of dual Sabbath on both Saturday and Sunday."
50. ^ "Coptic Orthodox Diocese of the Southern United States - Q&A". suscopts.org. Retrieved 9 October 2022.
51. ^ Kalleeny, Tony. "Why We Face the East". Orlando: St Mary and Archangel Michael Church. Retrieved 6 August 2020.
52. ^ a b c d Farag, Lois M. (2013). The Coptic Christian Heritage: History, Faith and Culture. Routledge. ISBN 978-1-134-66684-3.
53. ^ "Egypt's Sisi meets world Evangelical churches delegation in Cairo – Politics – Egypt – Ahram Online". english.ahram.org.eg. Retrieved 26 December 2017.
54. ^ "Egypt's Coptic Bishop Morcos: We need to build 4,000 churches in next 10 years". Al Arabiya English. 2 March 2017.
55. ^ "Twenty-Three Million Coptic Christians in Egypt, Says Authority". Raymond Ibrahim. 11 December 2013. Retrieved 23 May 2019.
56. ^ Youssef, Abdel Rahman (30 September 2012). "Egyptian Copts: It's All in the Number". Al-Akhbar English. Archived from the original on 12 January 2013. Retrieved 5 April 2016.
57. ^ "Egyptian Copts reject population estimate". Ahram Online. Retrieved 5 April 2016.
58. ^ Cairo, Jared Malsin in (20 February 2015). "'We want our sons back': fears grow for Egyptians missing in Libya". The Guardian. Retrieved 6 May 2016.
59. ^ "How many Christians are there in Egypt?". Pew Research Center. 16 February 2011. "In the United States, Canada and Australia, the majority of Egyptian-born residents are Christian, but the estimated total size of the Egyptian-born Christian populations in these countries is approximately 160,000."
60. ^ Marzouki, Nadia. "The U.S. Coptic Diaspora and the Limit of Polarization" (PDF). "The exact number of Copts living in the United States is a matter of debate. Estimates range from 91,200 to 750,000." `{{cite journal}}`: Cite journal requires `|journal=` (help)
61. ^ Washington DC, The George Washington University. "General Findings: Coptic Diaspora Survey". "As with most diasporas, the Coptic diasporans estimate their numbers to be much higher than official estimates, even higher than the estimates of all Egyptian national immigrants." `{{cite journal}}`: Cite journal requires `|journal=` (help)
62. ^ El-Hennawy, Noha (24 June 2008). "EGYPT: Coptic diaspora spreads the word". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 5 April 2016.
63. ^ Hassan, Abdel Salaam (1995). "The Copts" (PDF). In Verney, Peter (ed.). Sudan: Conflict and minorities. Minority Rights Group International. p. 26. Retrieved 5 April 2016.
64. ^ "The Copts: Passive Survivors under Threat" (PDF). Africa Watch. 5 (3): 1. 10 February 1993. Retrieved 5 April 2016.
65. ^ Egypt and Libya: A Year of Serious Abuses, Human Rights Watch, 24 January 2010
66. ^ Zaki, Moheb (18 May 2010). "Egypt's Persecuted Christians". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 4 June 2010.
67. ^ Eltahawy, Mona (22 December 2016). "Egypt's Cruelty to Christians". The New York Times. Retrieved 22 December 2016.
68. ^ United States. Congress. Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe (18 July 2012). Escalating Violence Against Coptic Women and Girls: Will the New Egypt be More Dangerous than the Old? : Hearing before the Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe, One Hundred Twelfth Congress, Second Session, July 18, 2012. Washington, DC: Government Printing Office. Retrieved 8 March 2015.
69. ^ "Masress : Sectarian tensions rise in wake of crime boss death". Masress. Retrieved 2 January 2016.
70. ^ Tadros, Samuel (15 September 2013). "The Coptic Church in peril: The Islamization of Egypt and the end of Egyptian Christianity". ABC Religion & Ethics. Retrieved 5 August 2020.
71. ^ "How a bishop's murder could change Egypt's Coptic church". Middle East Eye. Retrieved 5 August 2020.
72. ^ "Fr Matta El Meskeen". The Independent. 27 June 2006. Retrieved 5 August 2020.
73. ^ a b "With ouster of priest accused of pedophilia, Coptic Church confronts sexual abuse". Los Angeles Times. 28 July 2020. Retrieved 30 July 2020.
74. ^ "Coptic Church strips alleged paedophile priest of clerical status". The National. 19 July 2020. Retrieved 28 July 2020.
75. ^ Presse, AFP-Agence France. "Coptic Pope Defrocks US-linked Priest Accused of Paedophilia". barrons.com. Retrieved 28 July 2020.
76. ^ "Egyptian Coptic Priest Defrocked Following Allegations of Sexual Abuse, Paedophilia". Egyptian Streets. 19 July 2020. Retrieved 28 July 2020.

## Bibliography[edit | edit source]

* Betts, Robert B. (1978). Christians in the Arab East: A Political Study (2nd rev. ed.). Athens: Lycabettus Press. ISBN 978-0-8042-0796-6.
* Brock, Sebastian P. (2016). "Miaphysite, not Monophysite!". Cristianesimo Nella Storia. 37 (1): 45–52. ISBN 9788815261687.
* Carroll, Warren (1 March 1987), The Building of Christendom, Front Royal: Christendom College Press, ISBN 978-0-931888-24-3, retrieved 30 May 2018
* Cannuyer, Christian (2001). Coptic Egypt: The Christians of the Nile. "Abrams Discoveries" series. Translated by Hawkes, Sophie. New York: Harry N. Abrams, Inc. ISBN 978-0-810-92979-1.
* Charles, Robert H. (2007) [1916]. The Chronicle of John, Bishop of Nikiu: Translated from Zotenberg's Ethiopic Text. Merchantville, NJ: Evolution Publishing. ISBN 978-1-889758-87-9.
* Grillmeier, Aloys (1975) [1965]. Christ in Christian Tradition: From the Apostolic Age to Chalcedon (451). Vol. 1 (2nd revised ed.). Atlanta: John Knox Press. ISBN 9780664223014.
* Grillmeier, Aloys; Hainthaler, Theresia (1996). Christ in Christian Tradition: The Church of Alexandria with Nubia and Ethiopia after 451. Vol. 2/4. Louisville: Westminster John Knox Press. ISBN 9780664223007.
* Meinardus, Otto (1 October 2002). Two Thousand Years of Coptic Christianity. Cairo: American University in Cairo Press. ISBN 978-977-424-757-6. Archived from the original on 20 May 2008.
* Meyendorff, John (1989). Imperial unity and Christian divisions: The Church 450–680 A.D. The Church in history. Vol. 2\. Crestwood, NY: St. Vladimir's Seminary Press. ISBN 978-0-88141-055-6.
* Morgan, Robert (2016). History of the Coptic Orthodox People and the Church of Egypt. FriesnPress. ISBN 978-1-4602-8027-0.
* Ostrogorsky, George (1956). History of the Byzantine State. Oxford: Basil Blackwell.
* Partrick, Theodore (June 1996). Traditional Egyptian Christianity: A History of the Coptic Orthodox Church. Greensboro, NC: Fisher Park Press. ISBN 978-0-9652396-0-8.
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* Iskandar, Adel; Hakem Rustom (January 2006). "From Paris to Cairo: Resistance of the Unacculturated". The Ambassadors Online Magazine. Retrieved 9 June 2007.
* Wolfgang Kosack, Novum Testamentum Coptice. Neues Testament, Bohairisch, ediert von Wolfgang Kosack. Novum Testamentum, Bohairice, curavit Wolfgang Kosack. / Wolfgang Kosack. neue Ausgabe, Christoph Brunner, Basel 2014. ISBN 978-3-906206-04-2.
* Winkler, Dietmar W. (1997). "Miaphysitism: A New Term for Use in the History of Dogma and in Ecumenical Theology". The Harp. 10 (3): 33–40.

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* Peter V
* Mark IV
* John X
* Gabriel IV
* Matthew I
* Gabriel V
* John XI
* Matthew II
* Gabriel VI
* Michael VI
* John XII
* John XIII
* Gabriel VII
* John XIV
* Gabriel VIII
* Mark V
* John XV
* Matthew III
* Mark VI
* Matthew IV
* John XVI
* Peter VI
* John XVII
* Mark VII
* John XVIII
* Mark VIII
* Peter VII
* Cyril IV
* Demetrius II
* Cyril V
* John XIX
* Macarius III
* Joseph II
* Cyril VI
* Shenouda III
* Tawadros II (current)

Greek Orthodox
Popes and Patriarchs
(451–present)|

* Proterius
* Timothy II
* Timothy III
* John I
* Peter III
* Athanasius II
* John II
* John III
* Dioscorus II
* Timothy IV
* Theodosius I
* Gainas
* Paul
* Zoilus
* Apollinarius
* John IV
* Eulogius
* Theodore I
* John V
* George I
* Cyrus
* Peter IV
* Peter V
* Peter VI
* Cosmas I
* Politianus
* Eustatius
* Christopher I
* Sophronius I
* Michael I
* Michael II
* Christodoulos
* Eutychius
* Sophronius II
* Isaac
* Job
* Elias I
* Arsenius
* Theophilus II
* George II
* Leontius
* Alexander II
* John VI
* Cyril II
* Sabbas
* Sophronius III
* Elias II
* Eleutherius
* Mark III*
* Nicholas I
* Gregory I
* Nicholas II
* Athanasius III
* Gregory II
* Gregory III
* Niphon
* Mark IV
* Nicholas III
* Gregory IV
* Nicholas IV
* Athanasius IV
* Mark V
* Philotheus
* Mark VI
* Gregory V
* Joachim I
* Silvester
* Meletius I Pegas
* Cyril III
* Gerasimus I
* Metrophanes
* Nicephorus
* Joannicius
* Paisius
* Parthenius I
* Gerasimus II
* Samuel
* Cosmas II
* Cosmas III
* Matthew
* Cyprian
* Gerasimus III
* Parthenius II
* Theophilus III
* Hierotheus I
* Artemius
* Hierotheus II
* Callinicus
* Jacob
* Nicanor
* Sophronius IV
* Photius
* Meletius II
* Nicholas V
* Christopher II
* Nicholas VI
* Parthenius III
* Peter VII
* Theodore II (current)

Latin Catholic
(1276 –1954)|

* Atanasio (Athanasius)
* Egidio da Ferrara (Giles)
* ?Humbert II, Dauphin of Vienne
* Juan (John)
* Guillaume de Chanac
* Arnaud Bernard du Pouget (Arnaldo Bernardi)
* uncanonical Jean de Cardaillac
* Pietro Amely di Brunac
* ? Johannes Walteri von Sinten
* uncanonical Simon of Cramaud
* Pietro Amely di Brunac
* Leonardo Dolfin
* Ugo Roberti
* Pietro Amaury di Lordat
* Lancelotus de Navarra
* Giovanni Contarini
* Pietro
* Vitalis di Mauléon
* Giovanni Vitelleschi
* Marco Condulmer
* Jean d’Harcourt
* Arnaldo Rogerii de Palas
* Pedro de Urrea
* Pedro González de Mendoza
* Diego Hurtado de Mendoza
* Alonso de Fonseca y Acevedo
* Bernardino Carafa
* Cesare Riario
* Guido Ascanio Sforza di Santa Fiora
* Ottaviano Maria Sforza
* Julius Gonzaga
* Cristoforo Guidalotti Ciocchi del Monte
* Jacques Cortès
* Tommaso
* Alessandro Riario
* Enrico Caetani
* Giovanni Battista Albani
* Camillo Caetani
* Séraphin Olivier-Razali
* Alessandro di Sangro
* Honoratus Caetani
* Federico Borromeo
* Allesandro Crescenzi
* Aloysius Bevilacqua
* Petrus Draghi Bartoli
* Gregorio Giuseppe Gaetani de Aragonia
* Carlo Ambrosio Mezzabarba
* Filippo Carlo Spada
* Girolamo Crispi
* Giuseppe Antonio Davanzati
* Lodovico Agnello Anastasi
* Francisco Mattei
* Augustus Foscolo
* Paolo Angelo Ballerini
* Domenico Marinangeli
* Paolo de Huyn
* Luca Ermenegildo Pasetto

Melkite Catholic
(1724–present)|

* Cyril VI Tanas
* Athanasius IV Jawhar
* Maximos II Hakim
* Theodosius V Dahan
* Athanasius IV Jawhar
* Cyril VII Siaj
* Agapius II Matar
* Ignatius IV Sarrouf
* Athanasius V Matar
* Macarius IV Tawil
* Ignatius V Qattan
* Maximos III Mazloum
* Clement Bahouth
* Gregory II Youssef-Sayur
* Peter IV Geraigiry
* Cyril VIII Geha
* Demetrius I Qadi
* Cyril IX Moghabghab
* Maximos IV Sayegh
* Maximos V Hakim
* Gregory III Laham
* Youssef I Absi

Coptic Catholic
(1824–present)|

* Maximos Jouwed
* Kyrillos Makarios
* Stéphanos I Sidarouss
* Stéphanos II Ghattas
* Antonios I Naguib
* Ibrahim Isaac Sidrak

* *Markianos is considered Mark II on the Greek side of the subsequent schism, hence this numbering of Mark III.
* Category
* Commons

* v
* t
* e

Patriarchates in Christianity

Traditional ecclesiastical jurisdictions of primates in Christianity, sorted according to earliest apostolic legacy and branched where multiple denominational claimants:
bold blue = Catholic Church, light blue = Eastern Orthodox Church, bold/light green = Oriental Orthodoxy, italic blue = Nestorianism

Early
Christianity
(Antiquity)
(30–325/476)|

| Pentarchy
(five
apostolic
sees)|

| Patriarch of Rome (1st cent.)|

* Holy See (since 1st cent.)

|

Patriarch of Constantinople
(451)|

* Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople (since 330)
* Latin Patriarchate of Constantinople (1204–1964)
* Armenian Patriarchate of Constantinople (since 1461)

Patriarch of Antioch
(1st cent.)|

* Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Antioch (since 518)
* Syriac Orthodox Patriarchate of Antioch (since 518)
* Maronite Patriarchate (since 685)
* Syriac Catholic Patriarchate of Antioch (since 1668)
* Melkite Catholic Patriarchate of Antioch (since 1724)
* Latin Patriarchate of Antioch (1099–1964)

Patriarch of Alexandria
(1st cent.)|

* Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Alexandria (since 451)
* Coptic Orthodox Patriarchate of Alexandria (since 451)
* Latin Patriarchate of Alexandria (1219–1964)
* Coptic Catholic Patriarchate of Alexandria (since 1824)

Patriarch of Jerusalem (451)|

* Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem (since 451)
* Armenian Patriarchate of Jerusalem (since 638)
* Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem (since 1099)

Other|

| Patriarch of Carthage (2nd cent.–1076)|

* Latin Catholic titular episcopate (1518–1964)
* Archbishop of Tunis (since 1884)

|

Patriarch of Seleucia-Ctesiphon
(280–1552)|

* Chaldean Catholic Patriarchate of Baghdad (since 1553)
* Assyrian Church of the East Patriarchate of Seleucia-Ctesiphon (since 1830)
* Ancient Church of the East Patriarchate of Seleucia-Ctesiphon (since 1968)

Patriarch of Cilicia (294)|

* Patriarchate of Cilicia (since 1742)

Middle Ages
(476–1517)|

* Patriarchate of Aquileia (568–1751)
* Patriarchate of Grado (725–1451)
* Patriarchate of Bulgaria (since 919)
* Patriarchate of Georgia (since 1010)
* Serbian Orthodox Patriarchate of Peć (since 1346)
* Patriarchate of Venice (since 1451)

Early Modern era
(1517–1789) |

* Patriarchate of the West Indies (since 1524)
* Latin Patriarchate of Ethiopia (1555–1663)
* Patriarchate of the East Indies (since 1572)
* Patriarchate of Moscow (since 1589)
* Patriarchate of Lisbon (since 1716)

Late Modern era
(since 1789)|

* Patriarchate of Romania (since 1925)
* Ethiopian Orthodox Patriarchate of Ethiopia (since 1959)
* Patriarchate of Kyiv (1992–2018; since 2019)
* Eritrean Orthodox Patriarchate of Eritrea (since 1994)

Related|

* Apostolic Throne
* Episcopal see

* v
* t
* e

History of Christianity

* Early Christianity
* Spread

Centuries|

* 1st
* 2nd
* 3rd
* 4th
* 5th
* 6th
* 7th
* 8th
* 9th
* 10th
* 11th
* 12th
* 13th
* 14th
* 15th
* 16th
* 17th
* 18th
* 19th
* 20th
* 21st

Origins and
Apostolic Age|

* Background
* Jesus
* Baptism
* Ministry
* Crucifixion
* Resurrection
* Great Commission
* Holy Spirit
* Apostles in the New Testament
* Jewish Christians
* Paul the Apostle
* Council of Jerusalem
* Split with Judaism
* New Testament
* Gospels
* Acts
* Pauline epistles
* General epistles
* Revelation

Ante-Nicene
period|

* Diversity
* Adoptionism
* Arianism
* Docetism
* Donatism
* Gnosticism
* Marcionism
* Montanism
* Canon development
* Persecution
* Church / Apostolic Fathers
* Clement of Rome
* Polycarp
* Ignatius
* Irenaeus
* Justin Martyr
* Tertullian
* Origen
* Early African

Late antiquity
(Great Church)|

* Constantine
* Constantinian shift
* Monasticism
* Councils
* Nicaea I
* Nicene Creed
* Athanasius
* Jerome
* Augustine
* Constantinople I
* Ephesus I
* Chalcedon
* Chalcedonian / Non-Chalcedonian
* Biblical canon

Catholicism|

* Papacy
* Development of primacy
* Eastern Orthodox opposition
* Crusading movement
* Lateran IV
* Art patronage of Julius II
* Leo X
* Counter-Reformation
* Trent
* Art
* Catholic Reformation
* Jesuits
* Xavier
* Thomas More
* Monastery dissolution
* Wars
* Mass rocks and priest holes
* Guadalupe
* Jansenists
* Molinists
* Neo-Scholasticism
* Teresa
* Modernism
* Independent Catholics
* Vatican I and Vatican II
* Ecclesial community
* Timeline

Eastern
Christianity|

* Eastern Orthodoxy
* Church of the East
* Oriental Orthodoxy
* Chrysostom
* Nestorianism
* Icons
* Iconodulism
* Iconoclasm
* Great Schism
* Fall of Constantinople
* Armenia
* Georgia
* Greece
* Egypt
* Syriac
* Serbian
* Ethiopia
* Ottoman Empire
* Russia
* America

Middle Ages|

* Pelagianism
* Gregory I
* Celtic
* Germanic
* Anglo-Saxon
* Franks
* Gothic
* Scandinavian
* Iceland
* Slavs
* Bohemia
* Bulgaria
* Kievan Rus'
* Moravia
* Poland
* Pomerania
* Investiture
* Anselm
* Abelard
* Bernard
* Bogomils
* Bosnian
* Cathars
* Apostolic Brethren
* Dulcinian
* Crusades
* Waldensians
* Inquisition
* Early Scholasticism
* Christian mysticism
* Dominic
* Francis
* Bonaventure
* Aquinas
* Five Ways
* Wycliffe
* Avignon
* Papal Schism
* Bohemian Reformation
* Hus
* Conciliarism
* Synods

Reformation
and
Protestantism|

* Erasmus
* Eucharist
* Calvinist–Arminian debate
* Arminianism
* Wars
* Resistance theories
* Separation of church and state
* Nicodemites
* Hymnody of continental Europe
* Formal and material principles
* Literature
* Protestant work ethic

| Lutheranism|

* Luther
* 95 Theses
* Diet of Worms
* Theology
* Bible
* Melanchthon
* Book of Concord
* Orthodoxy
* Scholasticism
* Eucharist
* Art

|

Calvinism|

* Zwingli
* Calvin
* Huguenots
* Presbyterianism
* Scotland
* Knox
* TULIP
* Baptism
* Law and Gospel
* Dort
* Three Forms of Unity
* Westminster
* Scholasticism
* Metrical psalters

Anglicanism|

* Timeline
* Henry VIII
* Cranmer
* Elizabethan
* 39 Articles
* Puritans
* Civil War
* Church music
* Book of Common Prayer
* King James Version

Anabaptism|

* Theology
* Radical Reformation
* Grebel
* Swiss Brethren
* Müntzer
* Martyrs' Synod
* Menno Simons
* Smyth
* Martyrs Mirror
* Ausbund

1640–1789|

* Revivalism
* Missionaries
* Baptists
* Separation of church and state
* Edicts of toleration
* Congregationalism
* First Great Awakening
* Methodism
* Millerism
* Pietism
* Fostering of early experimental science
* Neo- and Old Lutherans

1789–present|

* Camp meeting
* Holiness movement
* Second Great Awakening
* Restorationists
* Jehovah's Witnesses
* Mormonism
* Seventh-day Adventist
* Adventism
* Oxford Movement
* Laestadianism
* Finnish Awakening
* Christian existentialism
* Third Great Awakening
* Azusa Revival
* Gospel music
* Fundamentalist –
Modernist controversy
* Pacifism
* Ecumenism
* Five solae
* Jesus movement
* Pentecostalism
* Charismatics
* Liberation theology
* Reformed epistemology
* Fourth Great Awakening
* Evangelical and Mainline Protestants
* Christian right and left
* Political influence of Evangelicalism in Latin America

* Timeline
* Missions
* Martyrs
* Theology
* Eastern Orthodoxy
* Oriental Orthodoxy
* Protestantism
* Catholicism

* v
* t
* e

Christianity

* Index
* Outline
* Glossary
* Prophets
* People
* Lists of Christians
* By country

Bible
(Scriptures)|

* Canon
* Old Testament
* New Testament

Foundations|

* Church
* Creed
* Gospel
* New Covenant
* Christian tradition
* Worship

History
(timeline)
(spread)

| Early
Christianity|

* Jesus
* in Christianity
* Nativity
* Baptism
* Ministry
* Sermon on the Mount
* Crucifixion
* Resurrection
* Great Commission
* Apostles
* Church fathers
* Apostolic fathers

|

Great Church|

* Ante-Nicene period
* Late antiquity
* Constantine
* First seven ecumenical councils
* Nicaea I
* Chalcedon
* State church of the Roman Empire
* Biblical canon

Middle Ages|

* Monasticism
* Papal States
* East–West Schism
* Investiture Controversy
* Crusades
* Age of Discovery

Modern era|

* Protestant Reformation
* Catholic Reformation
* Thirty Years' War
* Enlightenment
* French Revolution
* Persecution:
* Communism
* Islam
* Influences

Denominations
(list, members)|

| Western|

* Catholic
* Protestant
* Adventist
* Anabaptist
* Anglican
* Baptist
* Calvinist
* Charismatic
* Evangelical
* Holiness
* Lutheran
* Methodist
* Pentecostal
* Quakers
* Western Rite Orthodoxy

|

Eastern|

* Eastern Orthodox
* Oriental Orthodox (Miaphysite)
* Church of the East (Nestorian)
* Eastern Catholic

Restorationist|

* Jehovah's Witnesses
* Latter Day Saint movement
* Iglesia ni Cristo

Theology|

* God
* Trinity
* Father
* Son
* Holy Spirit
* Christology
* Nicene Creed
* Tradition
* Original sin
* Salvation
* Born again
* Liturgy
* Worship
* Mariology
* Theotokos
* Saints
* Angel
* Ecclesiology
* Four marks
* Body of Christ
* One true church
* People of God
* Canon law
* Sacraments
* Baptism
* Eucharist
* Marriage
* Confirmation
* Penance
* Anointing of the Sick
* Holy orders
* Mission
* Ablution
* Hygiene

Philosophy|

* Natural law
* Ethics
* Science
* Evolution
* Politics
* Views on poverty and wealth

Other
Features|

| Culture|

* Architecture
* Architecture of cathedrals and great churches
* Art
* Jesus
* Mary
* Education
* Catechism
* Flag
* Literature
* Music
* Mythology
* Pilgrimage
* Popular piety
* Church buildings
* Cathedrals
* Role in civilization
* See also:
* Other religions
* Cultural Christians
* Criticism
* Persecution

|

Movements|

* Crusading movement
* Anarchism
* Charismatic
* Democracy
* Environmentalism
* Existentialism
* Fundamentalism
* Liberation
* Left/Right
* Mysticism
* Pacifism
* Prosperity

Cooperation|

* Christendom
* Ecumenism
* Charta Oecumenica
* World Council of Churches
* World Evangelical Alliance
* Nondenominationalism

*   * Category

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