Coptic Church - a national church Christians in Egypt.According to legend, it was founded by Mark the Evangelist and now belongs to the so-called eastern branch of Orthodox Christianity.Copts themselves prefer to call themselves followers of the ancient Apostolic Church.
Who are the Copts?
Copts considered direct descendants of the ancient Egyptians.Their language has many similarities with the language of ancient Egypt, and Louis Champollion successfully used it during the initial deciphering hieroglyphics.Today the Coptic language is almost out of use, and preserved only in church services.
Currently, the Copts are called all the followers of the Christian doctrine, living on the territory of Egypt and Ethiopia.Very often Copt can be distinguished from a Muslim on the tattoo of a cross on his wrist.It is not mandatory, but is present in the majority of Egyptian Christians.
History of the Coptic Church
According to legend, the first Christian community in Egypt, founded St. Mark, who first visited Alexandria about 47-48 ADHe became its first bishop, and twenty years later was killed by the Romans.Some of his relics are still kept in the Coptic church in Alexandria.
Officially the Coptic Orthodox Church appeared in the year 451, after the schism at the IV Ecumenical Council of Chalcedon.Then the Patriarch of Alexandria refused to condemn Monophysitism heresy and was forced to declare the separation of their church.After that, all the while Egypt remained a part of the Byzantine Empire, the Copts were persecuted as heretics.
After the conquest of the country by the Arabs and later by the Ottoman Empire for many centuries the Coptic Church suffered brutal oppression of Muslims who ruined temples and persecuted priests and parishioners.
beliefs and rites
At the heart of the Coptic Church doctrine is moderate Monophysitism.Monophysites recognize only the divine nature of Jesus Christ, and deny that he ever was a man.They believed that human nature inherited from his mother, disappeared in his divine nature "as a drop of honey in the ocean."The Orthodox Church claims that Christ had a dual nature, that is, was a true man, while remaining God.These are purely theological differences and resulted in due time to the split between the Eastern Church.
rites and celebrations of the Egyptian Church in many ways similar to the Orthodox.Celebrate the Lord's 7 big and 7 small celebrations.
Copts deeply venerated Virgin.In her honor in the church calendar there is a 32 holiday, the most important of which are considered the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin, the Presentation in the Temple, and the Assumption.
religious Copts fast for most of the year.They have a 4 large number of small and fast.Besides Lenten days are always Wednesdays and Fridays.
Church liturgy has retained a lot of the monastic life since the early Christianity.And due to the fact that Coptic is almost out of use and incomprehensible more parishioners, it is usually carried out in two languages - Arabic and Coptic.Services are held seven times a day.
Coptic churches
main temple of the Coptic Church today is the huge Cathedral of St.Mark in Alexandria.In the same city is ancient and, miraculously preserved temple of Peter and Paul.
addition, Coptic churches exist in other cities of Egypt.Of particular note is the magnificent Coptic Church in Hurghada, which is one of the main attractions of the city.The architecture of the temple combines the features of the Christian and Muslim art and the big iconostasis is decorated with three rows of ancient icons brought from the Catholic cathedrals of Europe.To avoid clashes with Muslim religious fanatics, the church surrounded by a fairly high wall.Nevertheless, it is open to tourists, but its ministers are very friendly to the representatives of all Christian denominations.
decoration of Coptic churches, as a rule, does not differ excessive pomp.The walls are just plastered, and the frescoes are extremely rare.The iconostasis is made of carved wood panels, a top decorated with icons.Coptic religious painting also has a number of significant features.Human figures are depicted plane and disproportionate, and the details are written very poorly.In general, it reminds drawing made by hand of the child.
Inside the temple there are rows of benches - in contrast to the Orthodox churches where parishioners always listen to the service of standing.
cross on the dome of the church, as a rule, is focused on two fronts, and therefore always visible, from whatever side of the temple nor the observer.
At the entrance to the temple to take off your shoes.Men pray separately from women.
structure of the Coptic Church
Today Coptic Church in Egypt consists of 26 dioceses.She manages her Most Holy Pope, Patriarch of Alexandria.He is elected by the general meeting of bishops, which are also present and lay people, who are invited by 12 people from each diocese.Prior to his election to the patriarch does not need to have a bishop, he may even be a simple monk.The final selection of the head of the Church of the candidates provide a very destiny, that is, they cast lots.So elected patriarch can not be removed, and only he has the right to ordain new bishops.
Coptic Church has its own school, and recently there began to revive monastic institute.Today in Egypt, there are 12 male and 6 female Coptic monasteries.Most of them are located in the oasis of Wadi Natrun en, a hundred kilometers from Cairo.There are quite tiny monastery where monks live only 3-4.
Another difference from other Coptic Church are preserved until now hermits leading a lonely ascetic life far into the desert.
Home Coptic Theological Seminary is located in the capital of Egypt, near the Cathedral of St.Mark.Since 1954, the Coptic Church also has its Institute of Higher Studies, who studies the Egyptian Christian culture.
Church today
Followers of the church live mainly in Egypt.According to the data of 1995, their number more than 8 million people, and about 2 million account for the Coptic diaspora around the world.
Church maintains close relations with other churches Monophysite persuasion - Armenian, Ethiopian, Syrian, Malankara and Eritrean.
Not long ago, the Patriarch of Alexandria, visited Russia, which is a sure sign of good relations between the two branches of Christianity and attempts to approach.Its initiator acts is Coptic Church.In Moscow, the head of Egyptian Christians met with Patriarch Kirill and visited several churches and monasteries of the capital.
Coptic Orthodox Church in its history has never known light times.It still remains a small island in the middle of the Muslim world Christianity.But in spite of everything, it continues to exist and develop, carefully preserving traditions and instilling confidence in the hearts of his parishioners.
