Coptic orthodox Church Among more than 20,000 Christian sects and denominations exist today, the Coptic Orthodox Church, along with very few other Orthodox Churches, can faithfully proclaim that it kept the original teachings of Christianity, from its inception (start)until this day without changes. However, in regards to spirituality, it stands out with its own unique spirituality that is strongly felt in its current liturgies, prayers, and worship. Its practical faith was once put to test in the tenth century. Faced by either genocide (killing) or moving of a mountain near Cairo, Egypt, the Coptic Church fasted and prayed for three days, and was able afterwards to move the Mountain of Al- Mukattam. Therefore, it is the church that has the faith to move the mountains. BLESSED IS EGYPT MY PEOPLE Isa. 19:25 God's promise to His people is always fulfilled; He foretold(beforehand) that He would ride on a light and upon a swift cloud and come to Egypt (Isa 19:1); and 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 (Isa 19:19) . This promise was fulfilled by the flight of the Holy Family from the face of the tyrant Herod to find refuge among the Gentiles. Thus Jesus Christ came during His childhood to Egypt to lay by Himself the foundation stone of His Church in Egypt which has become one of the four primary "Sees" in the world, among the churches of Jerusalem, Antioch and Rome, joined later by the "See" of Constantinople. History of the Coptic Church Nicaea year 325 ONE CHURCH Constantinople year 381 Ephesus year 431 CHURCH SPILT Non Caledonian Chalcedon year 451 Chalcedonian Catholic 7 Oriental Orthodox 14 Eastern Orthodox (Byzantine) Year 1054 Primacy of the Pope The Catholic Added “the Holy Spirit Greek Orthodox proceeds from the son“ Coptic Orthodox Russian Orthodox Eritrean Orthodox Jerusalem Orthodox Ethiopian Orthodox Antioch Orthodox Protestant (Martin Antioch Orthodox Yugoslavia Orthodox Year 1521Luther) Indian Orthodox Romanian Orthodox Adventist Syrian Orthodox Bulgarian Orthodox Many Others Armenian Orthodox Checkuzluvakian Opposed Orders & Ceremonials Orthodox Particularly confession Georgia Orthodox Poland Orthodox Cyprus Orthodox Year 1538 Anglican (Episcopal) Serbian Orthodox Finland Orthodox King Henry the Albania Orthodox eight Divorce Story to Catherine of Roman Catholic Aragon The Coptic Church is: An Ancient Christian Church, it is one of the most ancient Churches in the world, having been founded by Saint Mark the Apostle, the writer of the second gospel, in the first century. The word "Coptic" comes from the Greek Work "Aigyptus" meaning "Egypt," and thus "Coptic" merely means "Egyptian." As a conservative Church, the Coptic Church has carefully preserved the Orthodox Christian faith in its earliest and purest form, handing it down from generation to generation, unaltered and true to the apostolic doctrines and patterns of worship. The Term Copt Pharaonic Name: Hak-ka-Ptah which means the house of the God Ptah Greek Name: Aigyptos gypt Egypt gibt or qibt Copt History of the Coptic Church 1. The Coptic Church is a direct establishment as an Apostolic church, whose founder is St. Mark, one of the 70 Apostles of Christ. 2. St. Mark came to Alexandria in 48 AD, and was martyred in 68 AD. 3. During this time he established the church of Alexandria, ordained the first Bishop (Anianus), who later became the second Patriarch of the Coptic church. 4. Late Pope Shenouda III, the 117th Patriarch succeeding St. Mark, is the Pope of the Coptic Church succeeded by Pope Tawdrous II the 118th Who is St. Mark? His name was John, as the Holy Bible says: "He came to the house of Mary, the mother of John whose surname was Mark, where many were gathered together praying" (Acts 12:12). He was the one that the Lord Christ, to Whom is the glory, meant when He said: "Go into the city to a certain man, and say to him, The Teacher says, My time is at hand; I will keep the Passover at your house with My disciples" (Matthew 26:18). His house was the first Christian church, where they ate the Passover, hid after the death of the Lord Christ, and in its upper room the Holy Spirit came upon them This Saint was born in Cyrene (One of the Five Western cities, Pentapolis - in North Africa). His father's name was Aristopolus and his mother's name was Mary. They were Jewish in faith, rich and of great honor. They educated him with the Greek and Hebrew cultures. He was called Mark after they emigrated to Jerusalem, where St. Peter had become a disciple to the Lord Christ. St. Peter was married to the cousin of Aristopolus. Mark visited St. Peter's house often, and from him he learned the Christian teachings. Once Aristopolus and his son Mark were walking near the Jordan river, close by the desert, they encountered a raving lion and a lioness. It was evident to Aristopolus that it would be his end and the end of his Son, Mark. His compassion for his son compelled him to order him to escape to save himself. Mark answered, "Christ, in whose hands our lives are committed, will not let them prey on us.“ Saying this, he prayed, "O, Christ, Son of God protect us from the evil of these two beasts and terminate their offspring from this wilderness." Immediately, God granted this prayer, and the two beasts fell dead. His father marveled and asked his son to tell him about the Lord Christ. He believed in the Lord Christ at the hands of his son who baptized him. After the ascension of the Lord Christ, he accompanied Paul and Barnabas to preach the Gospel in Antioch, Seleucia, Cyprus, Salamis, and Perga Pamphylia where he left them and returned to Jerusalem. After the Apostolic Council in Jerusalem, he went with Barnabas to Cyprus After the departure of Barnabas, with the order of the Lord Christ, St. Mark went to Afrikia, Berka, and the Five Western cities. He preached the Gospel in these parts, and believed on his hands most of its people. He preached in Aalexandria and ordained St. Anianus a Bishop for Alexandria and , three priests and seven deacons Characteristics of Coptic Orthodox Church Scriptural: having as its main point of reference the Holy Bible, as depicted in current traditional translations such as, King James. Traditional: using the teachings of the early Church Fathers as well as the Nicene-Constantinopolitan Creed (325 A.D.) as its statement of faith. One God - Father, Son, and Holy Spirit; Christ who incarnated (took flesh), died and rose to save us from sin and death and in His second coming He will judge all and His Heavenly Kingdom will be forever; one universal and apostolic church and one baptism Trinitarian: believing in the Holy Trinity: Father, Son and Holy Spirit (being one God): and believing that our Lord, God and Savior Jesus Christ, the true Son of God, was incarnate, born of the Virgin Saint Mary, died for us on the Cross that He may grant us salvation Rose on the third day that he may grant us everlasting life with him, and ascended to heaving after forty days, sending the Holy Sprit to His disciples as He promised them on the day of Pentecost. Apostolic: As Saint Mark the Apostle founded it. Sacramental: the church believes in seven sacraments, which are mysteries through which the Holy Spirit imparts grace to the believers. These sacraments are: • Baptism: (Mark 16:16, John 3:5) • Chrismation: anointing of the oil (John 2:20,27) • Repentance and Confession: (1 John 1:9; James 5:16; John 20:23) • Eucharist: communion (John 6:51-58; 1Corinthians 11:23-29) • Matrimony: marriage (Mathew 19:4-6;Ephesians 5:31-33) • Priesthood: (Romans 15:16; 2 Timothy 1:6) • Unction of the sick: (James 5:14-15) Conservative: In that it does not change basic matters of Faith, Dogma or Traditions to suit current trends. This does not mean, however, that matters such as language and day-to-day practices are not changed to suite conditions of ministry and the needs of the congregations. Holding on to such matters of faith and practices not had been an easy task, as the Coptic Church has always lived persecution of one form or another since its establishment in the 1st century One nature without mingling, without confusion & without alteration The Refuge of the Holy Family in Egypt An Overview of the Coptic Church – K.K. Botros The Refuge of the Holy Family in Egypt Refuge of the Holy Family in Egypt: Mostorod Refuge of the Holy Family in Egypt: Belbais Refuge of the Holy Family in Egypt: Sakha Refuge of the Holy Family in Egypt: Well and Tree at Matareya Refuge of the Holy Family in Egypt: St. Mary Church at Zuweila Alley Refuge of the Holy Family in Egypt: St. Mary Church (Qasriet Al Rihan) Refuge of the Holy Family in Egypt: St. Mary Church - Ezbaweya Refuge of the Holy Family in Egypt: St. Mary’s Cave (Abu Serga Church) Refuge of the Holy Family in Egypt: St. Mary Church Moalaka Refuge of the Holy Family in Egypt:Babylon Fortress and Coptic Museum Refuge of the Holy Family in Egypt: Gabal El Tair - Bahnasa/Samaloat Refuge of the Holy Family in Egypt: Ashmouneen – Malawy Refuge of the Holy Family in Egypt: Doronka-Assiut Refuge of the Holy Family in Egypt: El Moharaq Monastery Contributions of the Coptic Church to Christianity and the world The Catechetical School of Alexandria and some of its brilliant teachers.