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
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
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
Page 3 of 13 President Hosni Mubarak and, according to the Berkley Centre for Religion, Peace and World Affairs at Georgetown University, the pope gradually became a supporter of the Mubarak regime.25
Holy Synod The highest authority in the church is known as the Holy Synod. The Holy Synod deals with spiritual, ecclesiastical, structural, management and financial matters.26 The Holy Synod has subcommittees which deal with pastoral affairs, liturgical affairs, ecumenical relations, monastic affairs, faith and ethics, and diocesan affairs.27 The Coptic Pope is the head of the Holy Synod.28
Bishops Bishops are drawn from monks, and so must be celibate and not have been married. A Metropolitan is the leader of a group of bishops and the bishop of a large city.29
Priests There are three ranks of priesthood: Priest, Archpriest and Khoori Episcopos. The last rank was revived by Pope Shenouda III to work as assistants to Bishops. According to the BBC, Coptic Priests must be married.30
Deacons Deacons help priests and bishops in their ministry. There are five ranks of deacon: Epsaltos (hymnist), Ognostis (reader), Epideacon (subdeacon), Deacon (full deacon) and Archdeacon (leader of deacons).31
The role of a deacon in the Coptic Orthodox Church is described in a 2003 paper written by Richard Rymarz and Marian de Souza of the Australian Catholic University, who argue that a significant feature of Coptic life is the incorporation of young males into the Church through formalised roles such as that of a deacon:
Deacons are part of the ordained ministry and play an important role in the liturgical, life of the Church. Deacons are ordained by the bishop, thereby giving them status and dignity…It is not unusual for a young Coptic male to be a deacon of the Church. There are a number of grades of diaconate to accommodate different levels of maturity and
25 „Coptic Orthodox Church‟ 2009, BBC Religions, 25 June
Page 4 of 13 commitment but all of these give the young Copts a sense that they are part of the Church in a clear and absolute way.32
Consultative Assembly Ordinary Copts can take part in church affairs through the Consultative Assembly of Lay Copts.33
Monks/Monasticism A BBC article notes „one of the Coptic Church‟s greatest contributions to Christianity was the development of monasticism‟.34 Egypt was the birthplace of Christian monasteries with Saint Anthony (c. 251-356 CE) credited with inspiring the first monastic community.35 According to the BBC, there has been a revival of monasticism in the last few decades and significant numbers of Copts have chosen the monastic life, not only living within monasteries but as hermits.36
3.2. Church services
The Bible is the basic scripture of the Coptic Church.37 The Coptic Church has three main liturgies: the liturgies of St. Basil, used throughout the year; the liturgy of St. Gregory, used at Christmas, Epiphany and Easter; and the liturgy of St. Cyril (or St. Mark).38 Father Tadros Malaty of St. George‟s Church in Alexandria notes that all church liturgies include readings from the Old and New Testaments, particularly from the Book of Psalms, the Epistles of St. Paul, the Catholic Epistles and from the four Gospels.39
Sunday is the main day for Coptic Church services, which can last more than four hours.40 A typical service is composed of several parts. A US Copts Association report, cited by the BBC, describes the service as follows:
The first is the preparation prayer, called in Arabic the early morning prayer. This lasts only 30 minutes...the alter boys go around with incenses while chanting in the Coptic language.
The second part is for offering, at which point a prayer is said over the holy bread. This lasts for 20 to 30 minutes.
32 Rymarz, R. and de Souza, M. 2003, Maintaining Identity: An Examination of Coptic Orthodox Young Adults, Hartford Institute for Religion Research, 15 August
Page 5 of 13 The third part consists of the preaching mass. Here, the priests read sections of the Old and New Testament, as well as giving a sermon.
The fourth part is the reconciliation prayer. This only lasts for 10 minutes when the priests give the people Christ‟s forgiveness and the people do so to each other.
The fifth part is the Believer‟s mass and it lasts for the rest of the service. This is when the congregation has communion, and is supposed to be only attended by those who have been baptized and who have confessed. This strict rule is now more often found in small villages in Upper Egypt, but in Cairo, one must only hear the Bible reading to be able to have communion, meaning that one cannot enter very late to the service.41
Hymns are widely used in Coptic services.42 According to a journal article published in Islam and Muslim-Christian Relations, Coptic hymns have a „sparse style‟ and usually do not allow musical accompaniment, except hand cymbals.43
Like Muslims, Copts pray five times a day.44 Coptic women, although not required to do so, often wear headscarves and both men and women remove their shoes before entering the church.45 During the service women and men sit separately on each side of the church and during communion go to different chambers on the sides of the altar.46
Coptic churches are built facing eastwards.47 In his work on Comparative Theology, Pope Shenouda III noted that Copts pray toward the East „because the East has become a symbol to us since it directs our hearts to many precious contemplation. It also has an important place in God‟s thought‟.48
3.3. Sacraments
Copts observe the same seven sacraments as Catholics: Baptism, Confirmation, Eucharist, Confession (Repentance), the Unction of the Sick, Matrimony and Priesthood.49 Bishop Mettaous, Abbot of El-Syrian Monastery, explains that the seven sacraments of the Coptic
41 Iskander, L. and Dunn, J in „Coptic Orthodox Church‟ 2009, BBC: Religions, 25 June
Page 6 of 13 Church „are the channels by which we receive the graces and blessings of the Holy Spirit‟.50 The sacrament is „an invisible grace we receive by practicing a visible rite, and a visible sign or substance performed by a priest‟.51
Bishop Mettaous provides the following information concerning the seven sacraments:
1- In the Baptism the substance is water by which we receive the second birth from Water and Spirit.
2- In the Confirmation the substance is the oil of Myron, by which the Holy Spirit dwells in us.
3- The sign of the Sacrament of Confession is the confessing person, who accepts the prayer of absolution at the end of Confession to gain forgiveness of sins.
4- The substance of the Sacrament of Communion is the bread and wine, by which we eat the Holy Body and Precious Blood of Emmanuel our God.
5- The substance of the Sacrament of Unction of sick is oil, by which we receive physical and psychological remedy.
6- The sign of the Sacrament of Matrimony is the bride and groom who receive the prayers, so the Holy Spirit dwells upon them and unites them in body and spirit.
7- The sign of the Sacrament of Priesthood is the ordained person, who accepts the prayers of the Sacrament of Priesthood and the laying of hands for a certain priestly rank, to gain the grace for starting church services – whether Sacraments or authority for various church matters and management.52
For Coptic Christians, four of the sacraments (baptism, confirmation, confession and communion) are necessary for obtaining eternal salvation and every believer is expected to practice them.53 The other sacraments are not required to achieve eternal salvation. The sacrament of priesthood is reserved for those who are ordained as a deacon, priest or bishop.54
In 1988 Pope Shenouda III released his Comparative Theology manual which provides further information on the sacrament of baptism in the Coptic Church. Shenouda stated that baptism is required to receive salvation, purification, justification, renewal of life and membership in the Body of Christ.55 The clergy administer the sacrament of baptism in the Coptic Church.56
50 His Grace Bishop Mettaous n.d, Sacramental rites in the Coptic Orthodox Church, 2nd edition, Coptic Orthodox Church Network
Page 7 of 13 The rite involves immersion in water, as opposed to sprinkling with water.57 The Coptic Church baptises followers as infants and it is reportedly common for large groups of babies to be baptised together.58
3.4. Fasting
The Coptic Church requests that believers fast for over six months a year.59 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 (3 days), and Lent (55 days).60 Many Copts also fast on Wednesdays and Fridays.61 While fasting is regarded as an important spiritual practice, it is voluntary.62 Fasting requires not eating at all or abstaining from meat, fish, dairy products and cooking fats or oil derived from animals.63
3.5. Coptic calendar
The Coptic calendar is possibly the oldest in the world, being based on the calendar of the ancient Egyptians.64 It has 13 months and is divided into three seasons: Inundation, Sowing and Harvest. The Coptic Christmas is celebrated on 7 January (or 29 Kiahk – the fourth month of the Coptic calendar) and is an official holiday in Egypt.65
The Coptic year starts on 11 September in the Gregorian calendar or on the 12th in the year preceding a leap year.66 The names of the months of the Coptic calendar and their starting dates are as follows:
Coptic Modern Arabic Start Date Start Date Month Name Pronunciation Pronunciation Leap Year
57 H.H Pope Shenouda III 1988, Comparative Theology, 1st edition, p.19
Page 8 of 13 Sept 12 Sept 11 توت wout Tout: Oct 12 Oct 11 بابو Paopi Baba Nov 11 Nov 10 ىاتور A;or Hator Dec 11 Dec 10 كييك oiak Kiahk> Jan 10 Jan 9 طوبو Twbi Toba Feb 9 Feb 8 أمشير Mesir Amshir - Mar 10 برمهات Paremhat Baramhat - Apr 9 برموده Varmo;i Baramouda - May 9 بشنس Pasanc Bashans - Jun 8 بوؤنه Pa`wni Paona - Jul 8 أبيب Epyp Epep` - Aug 7 مسرى Mecwry Mesra - Sep 6 الشير الصغير Pikouji `n`abot Nasie Table 1: The Egyptian Coptic Calendar.67
3.6. Marriage in the Coptic Church
Egyptian family law, including marriage, divorce, alimony, child custody and burial, is based on an individual‟s religion.68 Islamic law is applied for Muslim families, canon law for Christians and Jewish law for Jewish families.69 In cases of family law disputes involving a marriage between a Christian woman and a Muslim man, the courts apply Islamic law.70 The government does not recognise the marriages of citizens adhering to religions other than Christianity, Judaism, or Islam.71
Egyptian law states that a religious certification issued by one of the three main faiths is mandatory for a marriage to be recognised by civil authorities.72 An article published in the Middle East Review of International Affairs (MERIA) noted that marriage procedures are both “religious” and “civilian” in nature. The Christian priest (or the ma’zoun for Muslims), performs the religious ceremony and also acts as an agent for the state.73 The article notes:
The priest issues a formal Act of Marriage and also completes a state register, which provides detailed information and lists witnesses. It is this formal registration that is
67 Deacon Dr. Medhat R. Wassef n.d, The Coptic Calendar of Martyrs, Coptic Orthodox Church Network
Page 9 of 13 of importance to the state, whereas the religious ceremony is considered a personal matter.74
According to the official Coptic Church website, for a marriage to be performed in the Coptic Church, the bride and groom „must be of the same denomination‟ (bold text from the original source).75 Divorce is not permitted in the Coptic Church except in the case of adultery, conversion or other extreme circumstances, which must be reviewed by a special council of Bishops.76 After becoming pope in 1971, Shenouda III reportedly took measures to restrict divorce to only cases involving adultery.77 Reporting in 2011 on the Coptic pro-divorce movement “Right to Life”, The Media Line78 noted the view of one Copt that „the church and the court make it almost impossible to prove adultery‟.79 According to Ishaq Ibrahim, an expert on religious freedom at the Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights, the exact number of Copts prevented from obtaining a divorce is unknown, but is estimated to be a few thousand cases.80 According to a 2010 article in The Economist, while Christians can get a civil divorce, the church will not remarry them, so the state cannot recognise a new marriage.81 The aforementioned MERIA piece notes:
… thousands of spouses who were divorced by the civil courts are attempting to obtain permission to remarry within the Coptic Orthodox Church. Media sources have reported some 50,000 cases of civil divorce, while a knowledgeable family status lawyer has estimated that there are approximately 12,000 cases pending of those seeking permission … to remarry.82
The inability to obtain a divorce has reportedly led members of the Coptic Church to convert to other Christian denominations or to Islam. In 2010, The Economist reported that „a steady trickle of Orthodox Copts has joined the evangelicals, who are seen as less laden with heavy
74 Guindy, A. 2007, „Family Status Issues Among Egypt‟s Copts: A Brief Overview‟, Middle East Review of International Affairs, Vol. 11, No. 3, September, p.2
Page 10 of 13 ritual, more generous with welfare and more flexible over marriage and divorce‟.83 Additionally, Ahram Online, an English language news website majority owned by the Egyptian government, reported in April 2010 that the Coptic Church‟s strict prohibitions on divorce „led many unhappily married Copts to convert to other Christian denominations or abandon Christianity altogether and embrace Islam, which allows divorce‟.84 According to a law professor quoted by Ahram Online, there are 1,200 cases of Coptic Christians converting to Islam in order to obtain a divorce.85
3.7. Converting to the Coptic Church
The Coptic Church reportedly allows conversion to their church.86 However, the Egyptian government does not recognise conversions of Muslim-born citizens to other religions.87 The issue of converting from one religion to another has been a source of societal tension in Egypt (please see the September 2012 or later versions of the Treatment of Coptic Christians in Egypt Issues Paper).
REFERENCES
„Coptic Christians call for divorce law relaxation‟ 2012, Ahram Online, 23 April
„Coptic Orthodox Church‟ 2009, BBC Religions, 25 June
„Copts and marriage: you can‟t just marry anyone‟ 2010, Economist, 3 June
„Coptic Church issues first conversion certificate‟ 2009, Compass Direct News, 13 April
83 „Copts and marriage: you can‟t just marry anyone‟ 2010, The Economist, 3 June
Page 11 of 13
„Egypt‟s Coptic Christian Pope Shenouda III dies‟ 2012, BBC News, 17 March
„New Coptic pope to be chosen on 2 December: Church spokesman‟ 2012, Ahram Online, 12 September
„Pope Shenouda warns Copts that marriage with Jehovah‟s Witnesses is ground for excommunication, divorce‟ 2002, Associated Press, source: Worldwide Religious News website, 19 July
Al Sherbini, Ramadan 2012, „Egyptian riddle: How many Christians are there?‟, Gulfnews, 30 September
Blair, Edmund 2012, „Egypt‟s Coptic Orthodox Church to choose new pope in December‟ Reuters, 13 September
CIA 2012, The World Factbook – Egypt, 10 September
DIAC Country Information Service 2010, Country Information Report No. 10/35- CIS Request No. EGY10290: Evangelical Churches in Egypt, 21 June (CISNET Egypt CX245250)
Ferrecchia, Jenna 2011, Coptic population figures in English print media, 11 March, The Center for Intercultural Dialogue and Translations, Arab West Report
Fr. Tadros Y. Malaty 1993, Introduction to the Coptic Orthodox Church, Coptic Orthodox Church Network
Fr. Tadros Y. Malaty 1993, Introduction to the Coptic Orthodox Church, Coptic Orthodox Church Network
Guindy, A. 2007, „Family Status Issues Among Egypt‟s Copts: A Brief Overview‟, Middle East Review of International Affairs, Vol. 11, No. 3, September
H.H Pope Shenouda III 1988, Comparative Theology, 1st edition
Page 12 of 13
Henderson, Randall. P 2005, „The Egyptian Coptic Christians: the conflict between identity and equality‟, Islam and Christian-Muslim Relations, vol. 16. No.2
His Grace Bishop Mettaous, „Sacramental Rites in the Coptic Orthodox Church‟, Coptic Orthodox Church Network website, 2nd edition
Miller, David. E. 2011 „Egyptian Copts demand right to divorce‟, The Media Line, source: The Jerusalem Post, 17 August
Rymarz, R. and de Souza, M. 2003, „Maintaining Identity: An Examination of Coptic Orthodox Young Adults‟, Hartford Institute for Religion Research website, 15 August
The Berkley Centre for Religion, Peace, & World Affairs (undated), Pope Shenouda III, Georgetown University
The Christian Coptic Orthodox Church of Egypt 2006, Encyclopedia Coptica, January
US Department of State 2012, International Religious Freedom Report 2011 – Egypt, 30 July
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