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Background Paper Coptic Christianity in Egypt Background Paper Coptic Christianity in Egypt 23 October 2012 1. OVERVIEW ................................................................................................................................ 1 2. CHRISTIANS IN EGYPT .......................................................................................................... 1 3. BELIEFS AND PRACTICES OF THE COPTIC CHURCH ..................................................... 2 3.1. Church authorities .............................................................................................................. 3 3.2. Church services .................................................................................................................. 5 3.3. Sacraments ......................................................................................................................... 6 3.4. Fasting ................................................................................................................................ 8 3.5. Coptic calendar .................................................................................................................. 8 3.6. Marriage in the Coptic Church........................................................................................... 9 3.7. Converting to the Coptic Church ..................................................................................... 11 REFERENCES ............................................................................................................................... 11 1. OVERVIEW This Background Paper provides information about the beliefs and practices of Coptic Christians in Egypt. The paper includes an overview of Christian demography in Egypt and elucidates the main beliefs and practices of the Coptic Orthodox Church, including church services, sacraments, fasting practices and marriage. This paper does not cover the treatment of Coptic Christians in Egypt. Please see the December 2012 Treatment of Coptic Christians in Egypt Issues Paper for such information. 2. CHRISTIANS IN EGYPT The Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria (hereafter the Coptic Church) is the main Christian Church in Egypt.1 Due to a lack of publically available census data, the size of the Coptic population in Egypt is a matter of dispute.2 The US Department of State (USDOS) reports that Christians in Egypt comprise 8–12 per cent (6–10 million) of the country‟s population of 83 million, the majority belonging to the Coptic Church.3 According to the 2012 1 „Coptic Orthodox Church‟ 2009, BBC Religions, 25 June <http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/christianity/subdivisions/coptic_1.shtml> Accessed 12 October 2012 2 Ferrecchia, J 2011, Coptic population figures in English print media, 11 March, The Center for Intercultural Dialogue and Translations, Arab West Report, p.2 <http://arabwestreport.info/sites/default/files/pdfs/AWRpapers/paper37.pdf> Accessed 17 October 2012; Al Sherbini, R 2012, „Egyptian riddle: How many Christians are there?‟, Gulfnews, 30 September <http://gulfnews.com/news/region/egypt/egyptian-riddle-how-many-christians-are-there-1.1082736> Accessed 15 October 2012 3 US Department of State 2012, International Religious Freedom Report 2011 – Egypt, 30 July, sec.1 <http://www.state.gov/j/drl/rls/irf/2011/nea/192881.htm> Accessed 19 October 2012 Page 1 of 13 CIA World Factbook, 10 per cent of Egypt‟s population is Christian (9 per cent Coptic).4 The rest of Egypt‟s population is primarily Sunni Muslim.5 Coptic Christians reside throughout the country, although the percentage of Christians is higher in Upper Egypt (the southern part of the country) and in some parts of Cairo and Alexandria.6 Other Christian communities are present in Egypt, including the Armenian Apostolic, Catholic (Armenian, Chaldean, Greek, Melkite, Roman, and Syrian), Maronite and Orthodox (Greek and Syrian).7 Their congregations range from several thousand to hundreds of thousands of members.8 There is also a protestant community (known as ingili, meaning evangelical) in Egypt.9 3. BELIEFS AND PRACTICES OF THE COPTIC CHURCH The Apostle St. Mark is considered the founder of the Coptic Church.10 In an Introduction to the Coptic Orthodox Church, Father Tadros Malaty of St. George‟s Church in Alexandria notes that St. Mark is regarded by the Copts as the first of their patriarchs (Popes) and also the first of the Egyptian martyrs.11 Copts believe their church dates back to around 50 CE when Apostle St. Mark is said to have visited Egypt.12 A central belief of the Coptic Church is monophysitism, meaning Jesus Christ had both a divine and a human nature and these were composite and totally united.13 This conception of the nature of Jesus Christ diverges from other Christian traditions. An article published in the Islam and Christian-Muslim Relations journal provides the following concerning Coptic monophysitism: Until the Council of Chalcedon in 451 CE, the Coptic Christians were understood to be in accord with those in Rome and Constantinople. It was at this council that a wedge would be driven between Eastern and Western Christianity over the nature or, more accurately, natures of Christ. This topic was a dividing line at many points in the maturation of the Christian tradition. Its debate led to a parting of the ways, either voluntarily or by the exclusion of one group by another. In the end, the Council came to the conclusion that Christ‟s nature was dual, both divine and human, but „unmixed and unconfused‟. The Copts agreed that Christ‟s nature 4 CIA 2012, The World Factbook – Egypt, 10 September <https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world- factbook/geos/eg.html> Accessed 18 September 2012 5 CIA 2012, The World Factbook – Egypt, 10 September <https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world- factbook/geos/eg.html> Accessed 18 September 2012 6 US Department of State 2012, International Religious Freedom Report 2011 – Egypt, 30 July, sec.1 <http://www.state.gov/j/drl/rls/irf/2011/nea/192881.htm> Accessed 19 October 2012 7 US Department of State 2012, International Religious Freedom Report 2011 – Egypt, 30 July, sec.1 <http://www.state.gov/j/drl/rls/irf/2011/nea/192881.htm> Accessed 19 October 2012 8 US Department of State 2012, International Religious Freedom Report 2011 – Egypt, 30 July, sec.1 <http://www.state.gov/j/drl/rls/irf/2011/nea/192881.htm> Accessed 19 October 2012 9 US Department of State 2012, International Religious Freedom Report 2011 – Egypt, 30 July, sec.1 <http://www.state.gov/j/drl/rls/irf/2011/nea/192881.htm> Accessed 19 October 2012 10 Fr. Tadros Y. Malaty 1993, Introduction to the Coptic Orthodox Church, Coptic Orthodox Church Network, p.17 <http://www.copticchurch.net/topics/thecopticchurch/Intro_to_the_Coptic_Church_fr_yacoub_malaty.pdf> Accessed 17 October 2012 11 Fr. Tadros Y. Malaty 1993, Introduction to the Coptic Orthodox Church, Coptic Orthodox Church Network, p.18 <http://www.copticchurch.net/topics/thecopticchurch/Intro_to_the_Coptic_Church_fr_yacoub_malaty.pdf> Accessed 17 October 2012 12 „Coptic Orthodox Church‟ 2009, BBC Religions, 25 June <http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/christianity/subdivisions/coptic_1.shtml> Accessed 12 October 2012 13 „Coptic Orthodox Church‟ 2009, BBC Religions, 25 June <http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/christianity/subdivisions/coptic_1.shtml> Accessed 12 October 2012 Page 2 of 13 contained both humanity and divinity but held that his two natures were essentially one because his humanity and divinity were inseparable.14 3.1. Church authorities The structure of the Coptic Church is as follows: The Pope of Alexandria The Coptic Pope is the leader of the Coptic Church of Alexandria and is the head of the Holy Synod, the highest authority in the Coptic Church.15 The Pope is the spiritual leader of the Copts; however, he is not regarded as infallible or supreme.16 The Coptic Church was led by Pope Shenouda III from 1971 until his death on 17 March 2012, aged 88.17 Pope Shenouda, who was the 117th Coptic patriarch, acted as both spiritual leader and the main political advocate for Coptic Christians.18 Church officials have announced that a new pope will be selected on 2 December 2012.19 In the interim, the church is being led by Coptic Bishop Bakhomious.20 Candidates for pope must be at least 40 years old and have been monks for at least 15 years.21 Following an election, the names of the three candidates with the most votes are written on pieces of paper and one of those pieces of paper is picked by a child, thereby selecting the pope.22 The relationship between Pope Shenouda III and the Egyptian government prior to the 2011 revolution was complex, wavering between support and opposition.23 From 1981 to 1984 Shenouda was placed under house arrest by President Anwar Sadat due to his public opposition to Sadat‟s policy of Islamisation.24 Shenouda‟s house arrest was rescinded by 14 Henderson, R.P 2005, „The Egyptian Coptic Christians: the conflict between identity and equality‟, Islam and Christian-Muslim Relations, vol. 16. No.2, p.156 15 „Coptic Orthodox Church‟ 2009, BBC Religions, 25 June <http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/christianity/subdivisions/coptic_1.shtml> Accessed 17 October 2012 16 „New Coptic pope to be chosen on 2 December: Church spokesman‟ 2012, Ahram Online, 12 September <http://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/1/64/52719/Egypt/Politics-/New-Coptic-pope-to-be-chosen-on-- December-Church-s.aspx> Accessed 15 October 2012; „Coptic Orthodox Church‟ 2009, BBC Religions, 25 June <http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/christianity/subdivisions/coptic_1.shtml>
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