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Introduction

Coptic Orthodox Church

Pope Shenouda III during a 2007 visit to New York. Photo: Michael Sleman ©

The Coptic Orthodox Church is the main Christian Church in Egypt, where it has between 6 and 11 million members.

While most Copts live in Egypt, the Church has around a million members outside Egypt; there are over 100 churches in the USA and a cathedral in the UK.

Copts believe that their Church dates back to around 50 AD, when the Apostle Mark is said to have visited Egypt. Mark is regarded as the first Pope of Alexandria. This makes it one of the earliest Christian groups outside the Holy Land.

The early Church suffered persecution under the Roman Empire, and there were intermittent persecutions after Egypt became a Muslim country.

Modern Copts claim that they are still disadvantaged and play a lesser part in Egyptian public life than their numbers justify. There are still occasional violent clashes between Copts and Muslims.

Firsts for the Coptic Church include the first specifically Christian educational establishment in the School of Alexandria and the start of Christian monasticism.

St Antony's Monastery, Eastern Desert, Egypt

The Church separated from other Christian denominations at the Council of Chalcedon (451 AD) in a theological dispute over the human and divine nature of Jesus Christ. This dispute has been reassessed in modern times, and the differences between Churches are much less severe.

The Coptic Church is led by the Pope of Alexandria, who is based in Cairo. The current Pope, Tawadros II, succeeded Pope Shenouda III and is 118th in succession to Mark.

Coptic services take place in the very ancient Coptic language (which is based on the language used in the time of the Pharaohs), together with local languages. The liturgy and hymns remain similar to those of the early Church.

The Church is ecumenical in outlook, and was a founder member of the World Council of Churches in 1948. The word 'Copt' comes from the Greek word 'Aigyptos', meaning Egyptian.

NB: The word Coptic is often used to refer to all Egyptian Christians, not just members of the Coptic Church. This site uses the narrow meaning.

Statistics

Statistics

Father Irenaeus of St Macarius Monastery, Wadi Natrun, Egypt

The Coptic Church is one of the Oriental Orthodox Churches, a group which includes the Ethiopian Church, the Syrian Jacobite Church, the Syrian Church of India, and the Armenian Church. The Oriental Orthodox Group has around 60 million members worldwide.

The Church in Egypt

At the end of the twentieth century Egypt's Copts were the largest Christian minority of any country in the Middle East; estimates ranged from 6 to 11 million; 6% (official estimate) to 20% (Church estimate) of the population , the majority living in the Upper Egyptian provincial capitals of Assiut and Minya, and in Cairo.

These numbers are partly the result of a Church revival in the 1940s and 50s in the form of the Coptic Sunday School Movement.

Despite their numbers, Copts play little part in the running of Egypt;

Copts in Egypt complain that they still suffer discrimination in the workplace and restrictions on church construction. They are concerned that new electoral rules are benefiting Islamist parties but not increasing Coptic political representation.

An Ethiopian Copt ©

The Church outside Egypt

The Coptic Church has expanded worldwide during the last 40 years and now has a million members outside Egypt.

There are over 100 churches in the United States. There are two Coptic bishops in Australia and more than 50 priests to serve the congregation. There are four bishops in the UK and the first Coptic Cathedral in Britain was inaugurated at the Coptic Orthodox Church Centre at Shephalbury Manor in Stevenage in 2007.

There are churches in Switzerland and Japan, and four in Black Africa. In Libya there are three churches, in Sudan two bishops, as well as churches in Lebanon, Jordan, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates and Iraq.

Coptic monasteries have been opened in Ireland, Texas, California, Sydney, and Jerusalem, and new monasteries have opened in Egypt.

Organisation, priesthood

Organisation

Pope Shenouda III during a 2007 visit to New York. Photo: Michael Sleman ©

Pope

The Coptic Church is led by His Holiness Tawadros II (1952 - ), who was consecrated the 118th Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of the See of St. Mark in November 2012.

The Pope is based in Cairo.

The Coptic Pope is not regarded as infallible or supreme.

The Pope is elected by a complicated process. Candidates must be at least 40 years old and have been monks for at least 15 years. Following election, the names of the three candidates with most votes are written on pieces of paper and one of them is picked by a child.

Holy Synod

The highest authority in the church is the Holy Synod, a body made up of the Patriarch, metropolitans, bishops, khoori episcopos, abbots, and stewards of the Patriarchate.

The Holy Synod deals with spiritual, ecclesiastical, structural, management and financial matters. There are seven subcommittees which deal with pastoral affairs, liturgical affairs, ecumenical relations, monastic affairs, faith and ethics, and diocesan affairs.

Consultative Assembly

Ordinary Copts can take part in church affairs through the Consultative Assembly of Lay Copts.

Priesthood

There are three ranks in the Coptic priesthood: Deacons, Priests and Bishops.

Deacons

Deacons help priests and bishops in their ministry. There are five ranks of deacon: Epsaltos (hymnist), Ognostis (reader), Epideacon (subdeacon), Deacon (full deacon), Archdeacon (leader of deacons).

Priests

There are three ranks of priesthood: Priest, Archpriest (hegomen) and Khoori Episcopos. Priests must be married.

Bishops

Bishops are drawn from monks, and so must be celibate and not have been married. A Metropolitan is the leader of group of bishops and the bishop of a large city.

The Patriarch (Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of the See of St. Mark) is the highest rank in the church.

Women in the church

The Coptic Church does not permit women to be priests.

The role of women is somewhat restricted: they don't read scripture aloud in church, and they can teach children or other women or girls in Sunday School, but they do not teach men.

Besides being teachers of Christian Education in the Sunday School, women can be nuns, members of parish councils, counsellors, administrators, and contribute to church publications.

The early Church had women deacons but abandoned this in the 13th century. The Church resumed the ordination of women as deaconesses in 1981 and there are now at least 400 consecrated deaconesses in the Coptic church. Traditionally, a deaconess is either a virgin or a widow.

Beliefs and schism

Beliefs and schism

The Coptic Church is one of the Eastern Orthodox churches and shares their general beliefs.

In 451 the Church split from other Christian churches in a major schism at the Council of Chalcedon over the nature of Christ. The Coptic Church now forms part of the 'Non-Chalcedonian Orthodox Churches'.

In the last 50 years scholars on both sides of the dispute have worked hard to achieve a common understanding of the nature of Christ.

Icon of Jesus feeding the multitude ©

Monophysitism/Miaphytism

The Coptic belief which defined the church at an early stage is called monophytism (technically it would be better called miaphytism, but most documents use the former word).

To put it simply this is the belief that Jesus Christ has only one nature; that his divine nature and his human nature are composite and totally united - the nature of the incarnated Word, as opposed to two natures united in one person.

This single nature was formed 'from the first moment of Holy Pregnancy in the Virgin's womb' (Shenouda III). The dispute over monophytism at the Council of Chalcedon (451 AD) caused the Coptic Church to separate from other Churches. Other Churches also split, and became known as the 'Monophysite Churches' or 'Non-Chalcedonian Churches'. Nowadays these churches are usually called the 'Oriental Orthodox Churches'.

In modern times Christian Churches have come to a much closer understanding of the nature of Christ, and this dispute is no longer so divisive.

Holy book and language

Holy books

The Bible is, as you would expect, the basic scripture of the Coptic Church. The first translation of the Bible into Coptic script is thought have been around the 2nd century, although few early manuscripts survive.

Page from the Mudil Psalter, discovered in the Coptic cemetery of Al-Mudil in 1984 - the earliest complete psalter in the Coptic language ©

But the Bible isn't the only source of faith for Copts:

Copts don't believe that God actually wrote the Bible, but that God and the Holy Spirit inspired the men who wrote down the words.

Pope Shenouda III also said that 'the Holy Bible does not mention everything'. For example, not everything Christ taught was in the form of words - much of his teaching was contained in his actions and his life.

Tradition is particularly important because it guided humanity from the time of Adam, long before the first texts of the Bible.

Page from the Mudil Psalter ©

The language

The original language of Christians in Egypt was Coptic, which itself is a development of the language of the ancient Egyptians.

Coptic was the main language of the Church until the 11th century.

Coptic is written with a mix of the Greek alphabet and Egyptian characters. Coptic is no longer used in everyday life, but still has a place in Coptic liturgy, although Arabic has become widely used. Coptic churches outside Egypt incorporate their local languages as appropriate.

Holy days

Holy days

Icon of the Crucifixion ©

The Coptic calendar is possibly the oldest in the world, being based on the calendar of the ancient Egyptians. It has 13 months and is divided into 3 seasons; Inundation, Sowing, and Harvest.

The Coptic Christmas is celebrated on January 7 (or 29 Kiahk - the fourth month of the Coptic calendar), which has been declared an official holiday in Egypt.

List of festivals

This list is adapted from the Sunday School Curriculum of the Coptic Orthodox Diocese of the Southern USA. It gives dates in both the Coptic and Western Calendars for fixed festivals.

The seven Major Feasts of our Lord

• The Annunciation (Paramhat 29, c. April 7)
• The Nativity of Christ (Christmas, Kiahk 29, c. January 7)
• The Theophany or the Baptism of Christ (Tuba 11, c. January 19)
• Palm Sunday
• The Feast of the Resurrection: It is preceded by the Great Lent (55 days) and is considered by the Coptic Church as "The Feast."
• Ascension
• Pentecost

The seven Minor Feasts of our Lord

• The Circumcision of our Lord (Tuba 6, c. 14 January)
• The Entrance of our Lord into the Temple (Amshir 8, c. February 15)
• The Escape of the Holy family to Egypt (Pashans 24, c. June 1)
• The First Miracle of our Lord Jesus at Cana Galilee (Tuba 13, c. January 12)
• The Transfiguration of Christ (Messra 13; c. August 19)
• Maundy Thursday
• Thomas' Sunday: The Sunday after Easter

Monthly feasts

• The Church celebrates the commemoration of the Annunciation, Nativity and Resurrection of Christ on the 29th of every Coptic month
• The commemoration of St. Mary is celebrated on the 21st
• The feast of Archangel Michael is celebrated on the 12th of every month

Weekly feasts

Every Sunday stands as a true Sabbath (day of rest). There is no abstention from food on Sundays after the celebration of the Eucharist, even during Great Lent.

Icon of St Macarius at the monastery bearing his name

Feasts of the Saints

Every day of the year is a feast, so that the believers may live in perpetual joy and in communion with the saints. In addition there are other special fasts and occasions:

• The Feasts of St. Mary:
  • The annunciation of her birth (Messra 7, c. August 13)
  • Her Nativity (Pashans 1, c. May 9)
  • Her Presentation into the Temple (Kiahk 3, c. December 12)
  • Her Dormant (Tuba 21, c. January 29)
  • The Ascension of her body (Paona 21, c. June 28)
  • Her apparition over the Church of Zeitoon (Paramhat 24, c. April 2)
  • The apparition of her body to the Apostles (Messra 16, c. August 22)
• The Apostles' Feast (Abib 5, c. July 12)
• The Nayrouz Feast (1st of Tute, c. September 11)
• The Two Feasts of the Cross:
  • The first feast is on Tute 17 (c. September 27)
  • The second feast is on Paramhat 10 (c. March 19)

Worship, spiritual practice

Worship and spiritual practice

Coptic Church rituals use very ancient words and music. Local languages are also used, in order to allow the congregation to play a full part in the worship.

Sunday is the main day for services, which can last for over four hours.

Churches

Coptic churches are built facing East so that the congregation faces East in prayer. The sanctuary of the church, where the altar is found, is divided from the nave by an iconostasis – a screen made of icons. Only priests, and deacons assisting at a service, are allowed through the iconostasis.

The nave of a Coptic church is usually in two parts: the chancel or choir, and the nave itself. The chancel is a raised area with seats for deacons, candle stands and reading desks. Part of the nave is usually reserved for men.

Candles are used a great deal in services. Incense is used during worship.

Music

Music is almost entirely vocal; the only musical instruments used are the cymbals and the triangle (other instruments are sometimes used in non-liturgical Coptic events).

The music of the church has been transmitted orally over the centuries because the church didn't use any system of music notation. 300 hymns have survived and are still in use.

A typical service

A typical service is described below:

Liturgies

There are three main liturgies: The liturgies of St. Basil, used throughout the year; St. Gregory, used at Christmas, Epiphany and Easter; and St. Cyril (or St. Mark).

Baptism of Jesus Christ: icon from the Coptic Church of Saint Mercurius, Old Cairo ©

Sacraments

There are seven sacraments in the Coptic Church.

• Baptism
  • The Church baptises babies and adults
  • Baptism is by total immersion three times - regardless of age
  • The Church teaches that baptism is essential for salvation
• Confirmation/Chrismation
  • This sacrament takes place immediately after Baptism. The person is anointed with oil of Myron with 36 signs of the cross on their joints and sense organs. An appropriate prayer is used for each place of annointing
  • Oil of Myron is made by adding spices and perfumes (including those used to anoint Jesus after the Crucifixion) to pure olive oil
• Confession/Repentance
  • Regular confession is necessary if a person wishes to take communion
• Eucharist
  • This is the most important sacrament
  • The Church accepts the doctrine of transubstantiation
  • Children of any age can take communion
  • Women may not take communion in church during their period (nor may people of either sex who are bleeding)
  • People are expected to receive communion immediately after the sacraments of Baptism, Confession, Matrimony and Priesthood
  • Adults must fast for 9 hours before communion, should dress appropriately, and abstain from sex on the day and eve of communion
• Unction of the Sick
• Matrimony
• Priesthood

Fasting

Fasting is an important spiritual element of Coptic life. While it is regarded as an important spiritual practice, it is a voluntary spiritual sacrifice and the Church does not insist that people fast. Fasting is excused for those who are unwell.

Fasting requires not eating at all for a period, and then abstaining from meat, fish, dairy products and cooking fats or oil derived from animals.

There are 210 days of fasting each year. Fasts include the Fast of the Nativity (43 days), the Fast of the Apostles (duration varies), the Fast of the Virgin Mary (15 days), the Fast of Nineveh, and the Great Fast (Lent), which lasts 55 days. Many Copts also fast on Wednesdays and Fridays.

Monasticism

Monasticism

Approaching St Antony's Monastery, Eastern Desert, Egypt

One of the Coptic Church's greatest contributions to Christianity was the development of monasticism. Egypt was the birth place of Christian monasteries.

Saint Anthony (c. 251-356 AD), is credited with inspiring the first monastic community. He didn't intend to found a monastery: originally he set off to live a solitary spiritual life in the Egyptian desert; other men eventually came to live near him - creating the idea of religious people choosing to live close to an especially holy person.

Monasticism developed further under Saint Pachomius (died c. 346 AD), an ex-Roman soldier of Egyptian origins, who laid down the first rules for a collective community of hermits and developed the concept of combining spiritual devotion with learning and routine work.

Father Ruwais of St Antony's Monastery

The monastic movement gained extra fame through the work of members of Pachomian communities known as the Desert Fathers, whose teachings have been a source of inspiration to Christians throughout history.

Monasticism has revived in the last few decades, and significant numbers have chosen the monastic life; not only within monasteries but as hermits too.

Ethics

Ethics

Drinking

The Church bans spirits (alcoholic drinks made by distillation) and the misuse of alcohol. Wine is permitted, but not in excess.

Suicide

The former pope, Shenouda III, said suicide is a crime of murder, as people do not own their souls.

Euthanasia

The Church does not permit euthanasia.

Abortion

The Church believes that life begins at the moment of conception and regards a foetus as a living being who has the right to both life and dignity.

The Church states that "once a pregnancy has occurred, than it is a sin to abort the baby, even if its age is only one hour". However, abortion can be allowed if it is the only way to save the mother's life.

Organ transplants

The Church accepts organ transplants, whether from dead or living persons.

Contraception

The Church accepts birth control methods that don't amount to abortion.

Sexual ethics

The Church expects its members to avoid any form of sexual immorality. Any form of physical intimacy should be avoided outside marriage.

Marriage

Coptic marriages are monogamous.

Copts marry within the faith - non-Coptic partners are required to convert.

Copts undergo a ceremony of Betrothal in advance of marriage during which the couple exchange rings engraved with their partner's name; the betrothal is not a final commitment and can be renounced.

Divorce and remarriage is only permitted for the innocent party in cases of adultery or conversion, although this is currently (2008) a controversial issue after Egypt's Higher Civil Court ruled that Copts who had been through a civil divorce had the legal right to remarry.

Marriages can be annulled in cases of deceit, such as bigamy.

Homosexuality

The Church believes that homosexual acts are wrong.

In August 2003, the Coptic Orthodox Church issued a formal declaration against homosexuality and same-sex marriage.

The Church does not permit the ordination of gay priests.

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