Coptic Orthodoxy?
About Our Faith
WHAT IS THE COPTIC ORTHODOX CHURCH
The Coptic Orthodox Church is the ancient Christian Church of Egypt. It is one-part of the worldwide Orthodox Church, established by the Apostles in the first century. The word ‘Coptic’ derives from the Greek word for ‘Egyptian’. It is a Christian community which has its roots in Egypt, where over ten million members are found. Although the Coptic Orthodox Church may appear to be a recent presence in the West, it represents the earliest and original Apostolic Christianity. Far from being something new and alien, the Orthodox Faith is ancient and universal (catholic), and has a great deal of wealth to offer all those seeking a true and genuine relationship with God.
Our History
The Coptic Orthodox Church can trace its history back to the first century, and to the preaching of the Christian faith by St. Mark, the Evangelist and Apostle. St. Mark is celebrated in the Coptic Orthodox Church as the great Evangelist, the Martyr, and the ‘Beholder of God’. We recognize him as the Patron Patriarch of the Church as he is the one who brought the message of salvation to Alexandria and thus established the Church there before receiving the crown of martyrdom. This small community of Orthodox Christians, established by the preaching of St. Mark in the first century, has continued to grow. The present senior bishop is Patriarch Tawadros II, and he is the 118th such leader of the Church of Alexandria, in a direct and unbroken continuity through almost two thousand years.
A Church of Tradition
The Coptic Orthodox Church holds to the importance of Holy Tradition. Holy Tradition is the work of the Holy Spirit experienced in the entire life of the Church from the time of Christ, the apostles, even until today. Holy Tradition is established on the Holy Scriptures, also found within the sacramental life of the Church, the Patristic teachings of the early Church Fathers, the documented lives of the saints, the three Holy Ecumenical Councils confessed by all Oriental Orthodox Christians, as well as many other texts and sources that are used in the liturgical life of the Church. And so Holy Tradition is expressed both in the expression of oral and written tradition over the centuries. We see it expressed first and foremost in the Holy Bible, which is understood to be the divinely inspired written account of God’s revelation to humanity.
