1. & An Introduction to the History and Life of the Coptic Orthodox Church

2. 2 Presentation Outline Definitions of “Coptic” and “Orthodox” Definitions of “Coptic” and “Orthodox” History of the Coptic Orthodox Church History of the Coptic Orthodox Church Contributions to Christianity Contributions to Christianity The Life & Practice of the Coptic Church The Life & Practice of the Coptic Church

3. Isaiah 19:19-22 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. And it will be for a sign and for a witness to the Lord of hosts in the land of Egypt; for they will cry to the Lord because of the oppressors, and He will send them a Savior and a Mighty One, and He will deliver them. Then the Lord will be known to Egypt, and the Egyptians will know the Lord in that day, and will make sacrifice and offering; yes, they will make a vow to the Lord and perform it. And the Lord will strike Egypt, He will strike and heal it; they will return to the Lord, and He will be entreated by them and heal them. 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. And it will be for a sign and for a witness to the Lord of hosts in the land of Egypt; for they will cry to the Lord because of the oppressors, and He will send them a Savior and a Mighty One, and He will deliver them. Then the Lord will be known to Egypt, and the Egyptians will know the Lord in that day, and will make sacrifice and offering; yes, they will make a vow to the Lord and perform it. And the Lord will strike Egypt, He will strike and heal it; they will return to the Lord, and He will be entreated by them and heal them. 3

4. Prophecy about Church of Egypt 4 In the Midst of Egypt there a monastery named after St. Mary the mother of God, known as “Al Moharaq” due to many times of being burned down.

5. DefinitionsHistoryContributionsLife and Practice5 Definition of “Coptic” Hikuptah (House of the Energy of Ptah) Pharaonic Name Ptah = religious name for Memphis, the capital city of ancient Egypt Aigyptos Greek Name Gypt or Qibt EgyptCopt Arabic Name

6. DefinitionsHistoryContributionsLife and Practice6 Definition of “Coptic” “Copt” and “Egyptian” are synonymous “Copt” and “Egyptian” are synonymous Since the Arab conquest, the terms “Coptic” and “Christian” have been interchangeable Since the Arab conquest, the terms “Coptic” and “Christian” have been interchangeable Coptic Christians are considered the descendants of the ancient Egyptians Coptic Christians are considered the descendants of the ancient Egyptians

7. DefinitionsHistoryContributionsLife and Practice7 Definition of “Orthodox” orthos = straight, right doxa = judgment, opinion; glory

8. DefinitionsHistoryContributionsLife and Practice8 Definition of “Orthodox” The Coptic Orthodox Church is marked by conservatism in doctrine and ritual The Coptic Orthodox Church is marked by conservatism in doctrine and ritual The sources of Orthodox Doctrine (teaching) have been passed from one generation to the next through oral and written Tradition since the time of Jesus Christ and His apostles (Succession) The sources of Orthodox Doctrine (teaching) have been passed from one generation to the next through oral and written Tradition since the time of Jesus Christ and His apostles (Succession)

9. DefinitionsHistoryContributionsLife and Practice9 Definition of “Orthodox” Sources of Orthodox Teaching Sources of Orthodox Teaching – The Holy Scriptures – Canons of the Holy Apostles – Symbols of the Faith (Creeds) – Ancient Divine Liturgies, Rites, Rituals, and Prayers – Acts of the Christian Martyrs and Saints – Ancient Records of History – The Writings and Homilies of the Church Fathers – The Very Spirit of the Church’s Life

10. DefinitionsHistoryContributionsLife and Practice10 Pre-Christian Egypt The Age of the Pharaohs The Age of the Pharaohs – Greek historian Herodotus (5 th century B.C.) described the Egyptians as “excessively religious, more so than any other people in the world.” – Ancient Egyptian civilization centered around religion in all its activity – Ancient Egypt was characterized by its optimistic view of the world and its belief in the afterlife

11. DefinitionsHistoryContributionsLife and Practice11 Pre-Christian Egypt The Religion of Egypt The Religion of Egypt – Although polytheistic, the religion of the ancient Egyptians came to identify Amun, the great god of Thebes, as the most important – Osiris, the Egyptian god of the underworld, was murdered by his violent, jealous twin brother, Set; Osiris was resurrected and blessed with eternal life – The stage was set for Christianity to flourish in Egypt

12. DefinitionsHistoryContributionsLife and Practice12 The Visit of the Holy Family Jesus and His family found refuge in Egypt as they fled from persecution at the hands of Herod the Great, king of Judea as mentioned in Matt. 2 Jesus and His family found refuge in Egypt as they fled from persecution at the hands of Herod the Great, king of Judea as mentioned in Matt. 2 The Holy Family made a number of stops long the Nile Valley The Holy Family made a number of stops long the Nile Valley

13. DefinitionsHistoryContributionsLife and Practice13 The Visit of the Holy Family Monasteries and churches have since been established at places where the Holy Family lived for 3 ¾ years

14. DefinitionsHistoryContributionsLife and Practice14 The First Church in Alexandria Saint Mark, the evangelist, founded the church of Alexandria and wrote the gospel to the Egyptians. Saint Mark, the evangelist, founded the church of Alexandria and wrote the gospel to the Egyptians. Saint Mark came in 48 A.D. and later ordained Annianus as bishop of Alexandria Saint Mark came in 48 A.D. and later ordained Annianus as bishop of Alexandria Saint Mark was martyred on Easter Day in 68 A.D. by the worshipers of the pagan god, Serapis Saint Mark was martyred on Easter Day in 68 A.D. by the worshipers of the pagan god, Serapis

15. DefinitionsHistoryContributionsLife and Practice15 The First Church in Alexandria Pope Twadrows II, the current leader of the Coptic Church, is the 118 th patriarch successor of Saint Mark Pope Twadrows II, the current leader of the Coptic Church, is the 118 th patriarch successor of Saint Mark

16. DefinitionsHistoryContributionsLife and Practice16 The Early Church Until the 5 th Century, the Christian Church was one, undivided Church with five major centers Until the 5 th Century, the Christian Church was one, undivided Church with five major centers – Rome – Constantinople – Antioch – Jerusalem – Alexandria

17. DefinitionsHistoryContributionsLife and Practice17 The History of the Church One Church Assyrian Church of the East 431 A.D. 451 A.D. Council of Chalcedon Chalcedonian ChurchesOriental Orthodox (Non Chalcedonian) Coptic Eritrean Ethiopian Indian Syrian Armenian Roman Catholic Eastern Orthodox (Chalcedonian) Greek Russian Jerusalem Antiochian Serbian Romanian 1054 A.D. Protestant Reformation Anglican 1521 A.D. 1538 A.D.

18. DefinitionsHistoryContributionsLife and Practice18 The Coptic Church Today The Coptic Church in Egypt and Abroad The Coptic Church in Egypt and Abroad – Churches – Monasteries – Mission

19. DefinitionsHistoryContributionsLife and Practice19 The School of Alexandria Alexandria as a center of learning Alexandria as a center of learning – The “Museum” – The Library  200,000 – 500,000 books and manuscripts The School of Alexandria The School of Alexandria – Founded by Saint Mark – Disciplines included theology, the humanities, science and mathematics

20. DefinitionsHistoryContributionsLife and Practice20 The School of Alexandria The Influence of the School of Alexandria The Influence of the School of Alexandria – Gave rise to numerous spiritual leaders within Egypt and abroad – Brought many to Christianity – Served as a model for future seminaries and theological institutes all over the world

21. DefinitionsHistoryContributionsLife and Practice21 Preservation of the Faith The example of Saint Athanasius The example of Saint Athanasius – Champion of the First Ecumenical Council at Nicea (325 A.D.) – Author of the Nicene Creed – Banished five times – Spent more than 17 years in exile – “Athanasius against the world, and the world against Athanasius”

22. DefinitionsHistoryContributionsLife and Practice22 The Church of Martyrs 68 A.D. – 202 A.D.: A Period of Peace 68 A.D. – 202 A.D.: A Period of Peace 202 A.D. – 642 A.D.: Twenty-one persecutions 202 A.D. – 642 A.D.: Twenty-one persecutions 284 A.D. – 305 A.D.: Emperor Diocletion 284 A.D. – 305 A.D.: Emperor Diocletion

23. DefinitionsHistoryContributionsLife and Practice23 The Church of Martyrs “If the martyrs of the whole world were put on one arm of the balance and the martyrs of Egypt on the other, the balance would tilt in favor of the Egyptians.” + Tertullian (3 rd Century)

24. DefinitionsHistoryContributionsLife and Practice24 The Church of Martyrs “The more you cut us down, the more in number we grow. The blood of Christians is seed of the Church.” + Tertullian (3 rd Century)

25. DefinitionsHistoryContributionsLife and Practice25 The Church of Martyrs “The blood of martyrs nourishes the Church.” + Saint John Chrysostom (4th Century) + Saint John Chrysostom (4th Century) And the church continues to offer martyrs. In Feb 2015 21+ young people were killed in Lybia in the name of Christ. They were killed because they were Christian Copts.

26. DefinitionsHistoryContributionsLife and Practice26 The Church of Martyrs The Coptic Calendar is based on the year of the martyrs (anno martyri) AM The Coptic Calendar is based on the year of the martyrs (anno martyri) AM 1732 AM vs 2015 AD 1732 AM vs 2015 AD Where this will explain the difference in time of celebrating Christmas Where this will explain the difference in time of celebrating Christmas

27. DefinitionsHistoryContributionsLife and Practice27Monasticism The Origins of Monasticism The Origins of Monasticism – Saint Paul the First Hermit – Saint Antony the Great – Saint Pachomius Types of monasticism Types of monasticism – Anchoritic (Solitary) – Semi-eremitic – Cenobitic (Communal)

28. DefinitionsHistoryContributionsLife and Practice28 The Coptic Language The Coptic Language Today The Coptic Language Today Two Dialects Two Dialects – Bohairic (used in worship) – Sahidic (used in many ancient writings/manuscripts) The Evolution of the Coptic Language from Hieroglyphs The Evolution of the Coptic Language from Hieroglyphs The Coptic Alphabet The Coptic Alphabet – 24 Greek Letters + 7 Letters Derived from Hieroglyphs/Demotic

29. DefinitionsHistoryContributionsLife and Practice29 The Coptic Calendar Based on the year of the martyrs Based on the year of the martyrs The year starts on September 11 or 12 The year starts on September 11 or 12 Comprised of thirteen months Comprised of thirteen months – 12 months of 30 days + 1 month of 5 or 6 days Divided into three agricultural seasons Divided into three agricultural seasons Still used today in Coptic worship Still used today in Coptic worship

30. DefinitionsHistoryContributionsLife and Practice30 Coptic Feasts and Fasts Feasts Feasts – Seven Major Feasts of the Lord – Seven Minor Feasts of the Lord – Monthly Commemorations for Saint Mary and Archangel Michael – Other feasts include the Feast of Nayrouz (the Coptic New Year), the Feast of the Cross, and the Feast of the Apostles

31. DefinitionsHistoryContributionsLife and Practice31 Coptic Feasts and Fasts Fasts Fasts – Fasting is an important element of Coptic spirituality – Includes abstinence from food and a vegan diet – Wednesdays and Fridays – Fasts include Advent, the Fast of Nineveh, Great Lent, the Fast of the Apostles, and the Virgin Saint Mary’s Fast – The church spends more than half the year fasting

32. DefinitionsHistoryContributionsLife and Practice32 Liturgical & Personal Prayer The Divine Liturgy is the form of communal prayer The Divine Liturgy is the form of communal prayer The term “liturgy” comes from two Greek words The term “liturgy” comes from two Greek words – Laos = people – Ergon = work Two main parts Two main parts – The Liturgy of the Word – The Liturgy of the Faithful

33. DefinitionsHistoryContributionsLife and Practice33 Liturgical & Personal Prayer The Book of Hours (Agpeya) The Book of Hours (Agpeya) – Comprised of seven hours throughout the day – Each hour commemorates an event in the life of Jesus Christ and His church – Used both in the Divine Liturgy and for personal prayer

34. DefinitionsHistoryContributionsLife and Practice34 Coptic Music All worship services are chanted All worship services are chanted Coptic chant is completely monophonic (single melodic line) and often melismatic (melodic extension of a vowel) Coptic chant is completely monophonic (single melodic line) and often melismatic (melodic extension of a vowel) Coptic Music inherited from the ancient Egyptians; some hymns have strong Byzantine influence Coptic Music inherited from the ancient Egyptians; some hymns have strong Byzantine influence

35. DefinitionsHistoryContributionsLife and Practice35 Coptic Music Instruments Instruments – Hand Cymbals – Triangle

36. DefinitionsHistoryContributionsLife and Practice36 Coptic Art & Iconography Icons are images used in worship that depict Jesus Christ and the saints Icons are images used in worship that depict Jesus Christ and the saints Used for instruction Used for instruction Not intended to depict the natural image of the person, but the spirituality Not intended to depict the natural image of the person, but the spirituality

37. Diocese of Los Angeles One Bishop One Bishop 63 priests (4 celibates) 63 priests (4 celibates) 12 deacons and Archdeacons 12 deacons and Archdeacons 45 churches 45 churches 1 monastery (around 15 monks) 1 monastery (around 15 monks) 2 retreat centers (Big Bear and Temecula) 2 retreat centers (Big Bear and Temecula) DefinitionsHistoryContributionsLife and Practice37

38. DefinitionsHistoryContributionsLife and Practice38 Suggested Reading Coptic Egypt: The Christians of the Nile by Christian Cannuyer Two Thousand Years of Coptic Christianity by Otto Meinardus Journey Back to Eden: My Life and Times among the Desert Fathers by Mark Gruber, O.S.B.

39. Questions and Discussion