M.E.C.A Middle East Christian Association The persecuted Middle East Christian Association http://www.meca-me.org Email: [email protected] Special Thanks Thanks are due to the following organizations,, The MECA would like so much to thank the following Associations and organizations for volunteering to bring this work to light: . Mr. Ezzat Andrawes............ The author of the Coptic Encyclopedia . Dr. Mouneer Dawoud........ Chairman of the I.C.U organization. Dr. Seleem Naguib.......... Chairman of the Canadian Coptic Organization . Mr. Milad Eskandar........... Chairman of the American Coptic Organization . Mr Mouneer Bishay............. Chairman of Californian Coptic Association . Mr. Sami Atwaan............ Owner of "Sawtu Almohajer" (Immigrant's Voice) newspaper. The organization also offer heartily and deep thanks to everyone who shared in this work with work, effort, or financial support. Introduction Since its establishment, the Middle East Christian Association was carefully keen that the Middle Eastern Christians get their human rights as set out under the United Nations Charter. These human rights and all other wishes as well, were always blocked by the rock of Islamic sharia (law), although Christians' demands were so simple that they surprised the world. As Christians, we have not sought after the power or extra privileges but all what we want two things, firstly, equality among different sects. Secondly, an unreligious constitution, written by the lay men of law not by religious ones…Regarding Egypt, it has been always ahead of these countries, since it enjoys some available characteristics made it distinguished: x The total number of Egypt Copts exceeds the all Middle Eastern Christians. x The radicalism of Islam in Egypt and affected by the extreme Wahhabism. x All extreme Islamic movements come out of Egypt like The Moslems Ikhwan organization, Al- Jihad group, The Islamic group, even Alkaada Base include a lot of Egyptians like Ayman Elzawahry, the most important one and the mind for this organization. x The police and governmental protection for all these previous extreme groups especially in cases of the compulsory is lamalization or under-aged girls kidnapping. x The increasing number of attacks against the Egyptian Christians in an unbearable way. x More than 80 members of the extreme Moslem groups are, now in the greatest legislative assembly in Egypt. x The extreme mass media and education create new generations saturated with the hatred toward non Moslems. For all these reasons, we have this book written about Egypt and what is going on in it, so that the world may have an idea about its people who miss secure and protection in the 21st century. This book is just a cry for help to be heard by the liberal world with all its sects, asking the immediate interference to save the innocent who have been stripped of their lawful rights, having confidence that after reading the book you will have a clear idea about what happens in Egypt. And as a free man, your conscience will not allow you to be silenced or just watching everyday crimes happening against guiltless people whose only guilt, they are not Moslems. Nader The Middle East Christian Association Chairman 1 Chapter One Introduction Who are the Copts? The word Copt is an abbreviation of the word Aegyptos. This is a name called on to the people of Egypt from the Byzants. It is derived from the Pharonic word Het-Ke- Ptah or Ha-Ka-Ptah or the house of Ka (soul) Path. This is the name of a Pharonic temple in the city of Menf (Memphis) which was the capital of Ancient Egypt. The Greeks and the Byzants to follow have changed the way this word is pronounced “He-Ge-Benu” then they added the letter “S” which is equal to the Dama in their language. The letter “S” was always added to the end of the names. This developed through the years so they called “Hegebtous” or “Egyptous”. Professor Dr. Zahi Hawass1 says: “I think that the Greek scientists have given the name Egyptous to Egypt since this name is derived from the name “Agby”. This name is affiliated with the eternal water or to the Nile and the flood.” From this word came “Egypt” in the English language and the rest of the European languages like the French language “L’Egypte”, the Italian language, “L’Egitto” and the German language, “Aegypte”. The encyclopedia Wikipedia says: “The Arab word Copt is the Egyptian meaning for the Coptic word Coptus. In the Greek language, Eceptos ǹ۞ȖȪʌIJȚȠȢ meaning Egyptian from Ecetos ǹ۞ȖȪʌIJȚȠȢ, the Greek name for Egypt. The name is derived from an old Egyptian name for Egypt, maybe Kemet.” The word Copt was very famous when Egypt was under the Byzantine rule. This word is only a meaning for the word Egyptian. This word was called especially on the Christian Egyptians who lived in the area of Giza until Upper Egypt. It was also used to point out the last stage in the Egyptian “Coptic” language. It was also called on the art and architecture, which appeared with the entrance of Egypt in the Christian age. 1 Professor Dr. Zahi Hawass is one of the most famous Egyptian Egyptologists all over the world. He is a very experienced man – Article for Dr. Zahi Hawass in Al Akhbar Newspaper issued in Cairo dated 10/12/2005 – Year 130, issue no. 43468 - 2 - Chapter One Section 1 Historical Panorama Ptolemaist Age: from 30-330 B.C. After the Pharaohs ruled Egypt for a few thousands of years before history, Arabs and Persian Empires ruled Egypt. They did not leave a noticeable influence on the Egyptian culture. Then Alexander the Great conquered Egypt in the year 332 B.C. and founded the city of Alexandria on the Greek style. Meanwhile, the Ptolemaeous Macedonians controlled the country after Alexander the Great. During 300 years of their ruling, many Greeks lived and settled in the city of Alexandria, which became a center for the spread of the Hellenic culture including Philosophy, arts and trade. While the Greeks were the ruling class, the Egyptians had a very important role in the public life and arts. The Roman rulers encouraged this very much. Romanian Empire: From 30 B.C to 395 A.C. Egypt had an economical independence during the Ptolemaeous rule. When Romans conquered Egypt in the year 30 B.C., this independence was cut off since the Romanians have announced Egypt as a Roman district. Its agricultural crops were taken away and taxes were forced upon the people. These economical disasters were a major reason for the increased spiritual life in the Egyptians. Their belief in life after death “resurrection” increased as a religious belief that Egypt knew from the old days. The Romans persecuted some religions in the Third and Forth century and especially Christianity. The time of Deklidianos was the climax for the persecution faced by the Christians. The Coptic calendar started in his days “The Beginning of the age of martyrs”. Deklidianos started his ruling in the year 284. This year was considered the 1st year for the Coptic calendar. The history of the Romans persecution to Christianity goes back to a misunderstanding where it was though that there was a contradiction between Caesar and the Christian religion, especially that Copts used to hold the leading positions in the country and the army. Byzantine Age: from 395 to 641 The Emperor Constantine ended the persecution against the Christians in the year 313 by issuing Edict of Milan, which proclaimed general religious toleration. Afterwards, Emperor Constantine announced the Christian religion as the main official religion of the country and the emperor. - 3 - By the middle of the fourth century, the Christian church was well organized in Egypt, and much of the scripture and other literature were written in Coptic. The Coptic language was the vernacular Egyptian, written in the Greek alphabet with a few additional Egyptian letters. The Coptic Church depends on the teachings delivered from St. Mark the disciple. He is one of the four bible disciples, after the crucifixion of our Lord Jesus Christ and his resurrection with a few years. Christianity spread in Egypt in a period of half a century since St. Mark arrived Alexandria. A copy of the New Testament was found in Behnasa in Egypt that goes back to the year 200. Other parts of the bible according to St. John written in the Coptic language were found in Upper Egypt that go back to the first half of the second century. The Coptic Church was the source of many prophecies in the Old Testament. Egypt was mentioned in the Holy Bible many times. Egypt also met the Holy family in addition to many prophets and God’s people who visited it. As for the prophecy in Isaiah, 19:19 says: “In that day there will be an altar to the LORD in the heart of Egypt, and a monument to the LORD at its border.” The Copts held strongly to their religious identity in the Christian world. The Copts also had strong rooted history in keeping their faith. The Nicene Creed, which is recited in all churches throughout the world, has been authored by one of its favorite sons, Saint Athanasius, the Pope of Alexandria for 46 years, from 327 A.D. to 373 A.D. Egypt was the refuge that the Holy Family sought in its flight from Judea that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying, "Out of Egypt I called My Son". (Hosea 11:1) The contributions of the Coptic Church to Christendom are many. From the beginning, it played a central role in Christian theology---and especially to protect it from the Gnostics heresies.