Coptic Christianity

The Copts are the native Christians in Egypt. By true record, Christianity was the religion of the majority of Egyptians from 4th to 8th century Ad.  This record continued till mid 10th century even after Muslim conquest when it reduced to the faith of minority population.

The early Egyptians spoke Coptic language that was culled from Demotic Egyptian language which was spoken during Roman era.  This language has been near extinct and presently replaced by Arabic.

Coptic Christianity made up the largest Christian community in the middle East.  Majority of Copts are members of Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria while the rest are divided between Coptic Catholic and various Coptic Protestant Churches.

Origin Of The Sect

According to historic facts, Yahosheanism was introduced to Egyptians by Saint Mark at Alexandria by 42Ad.  This occurred shortly after the ascension of Yahoshea Meshiyach and ascension to throne by Roman Emperor Claudius.

Yahosheanism in Alexandria was a foot-print of the Saint by which it spread to other parts of Egypt.

The assembly of Yashoshea Meshiyach at Alexandria was recognized as one of the four Apostolic SEEs and second in the hierarchy after the assembly at Rome.  The assembly of Yahoshea at Egypt was therefore the first or oldest station of the sect in Africa.

There were numerous evidences that Egypt played pivot role towards the activities of the early Assemblies of Yahoshea and equally helped during its transformation to Christendom.  For instance, a fragment of the Book of John were written in Coptic language known then as Egyptian language.

During 3rd century Ad, Egypt was dominated by the apostolic faith of Yahosheans which progressed along Roman captainship and it contributed towards the twist of the doctrines of Yahoshea.

For instance, during 321Ad, the church convolted the Council of Nicaea to streamline some of the doctrines of the new state religion thereby called Christianity.  The Church at Alexandria produced key players in the council.  The Church at Alexandia produced Presbyter Athanasius (the conceiver of Athanesian creed of Trinity) and Deacon Arius of wide known Unitarian concept.  Both men dominated the discussions and debates during the Council of Nicaea.

Contribution To Christology

Egypt contributed immensely towards development of Christianity and its tradition.  The Catechetical school in Alexandria that was founded in 190Ad was the oldest of its kind in the entire world. At that age, Egypt was the foremost centre of learning as students were taught by scholars as Clement and Origin who were viewed as fathers of theology.

The school at Egypt was not limited to theological subjects but extended to science, mathematics and humanities.  History bore that the scholarly method of questions and answers started in Egypt.

The level of scholarly fitness in Egypt in those days was marvelous.  In that early age of scholarly works, Egypt has developed a wood carving techniques in which the blind scholars used for reading and writing.

Egypt was father of monasticism. Many monastic movements or their stems copied from Egypt by the end of 5th century Ad.  There were hundred of monasteries and thousands of caves and cells scattered across Egypt.

For example, Saint Basil the Great – Archbishop of Caesarea who was the founder of Monastic movement in Asia minor visited Egypt in 357 Ad. Again, Saint Jerome who translated the scriptures into Latin (Vulgate) came to Egypt around 400Ad. Saint Benedict who founded Benedictine Order in 6th century copied from Egyptian Saint Pachonius.

Yahosheanism or later Christianity was strongly influenced by Egyptian scholars and practices.  The Council of Necea in 321 was presided by St. Alexander – the Patriach of Alexandria.  At this Council, the Church at Alexandia was entrusted with the calculation and announcing of annual dates of Easter to the rest of Christian Churches.

Likewise, the follow-up Council of Constantinople was presided by Patriach Timothy of Alexandria while  the next council being at Ephesus in 431 Ad was presided also by Cyril of Alexandria.

Decline Of The Sect

The Coptic Christianity became divided and weak following the Council of Chalcedon.  Some faithfuls rejected the outcome of the council and were labeled as Non-Chalcedonians or monophysites and later Jacobites after Jacob Beradoeus.  Those who accepted the council’s outcome became identified as Chalcedonians or Melkites.

Majority of the Copts belonged to the Non-Chalcedonians and were persecuted Byzantines  in Egypt.

In 641Ad, the Arabs invaded Egypt and confronted the Byzantine army.  Egypt fall under full control of Arab by 9th century. Under the Arabs, the Copts were relegated to the position of second class citizens in Egypt.  They were forced to pay heavy taxes and were restricted to access to political power.  Since the Copts had cut off from Mainstream Christianity, they were defenseless from Muslim control.  Although they were allowed to practice their religion without molestation, but such glory was cut short in later centuries.

Many Copts believe that their culture was pre-Christian era or known as a “Pharaonism” culture that was not indebted to Creece. As both Copts and Muslims held to same view of Pharoism, they were more friendly or related on such behalf.

Towards the end of 19th century, Madhist rule introduced harsh Muslim laws in Egypt that were unfavourable to the Coptics.  But after the Anglo – Egyptian invasion of 1898, allowed Copts greater religious and economic freedom.

This freedom received set back in 1960 when the militant Islam demanded for Islamic constitution which changed the order of governance in Egypt.  This made Copts to seek for migration into many nations.

Under the militant military rule by Gamal Abdel Nasser, Copts were required to obtain presidential approval for even a minor repairs in churches.  These laws were not applied for building of Mosques.  Copts became target of hate, assaults, forced conversion to Islam and force marriage to Muslim men.

According to Human Rights watch, - “Egyptians are able to convert to Islam generally without difficulty, but Muslims who converts to Christianity face difficulties in getting new identity papers and some have been arrested for allegedly forging such documents”.

Conclusion

Truly, the Coptic orthodox Christianity are battling against mainstream Christianity at one edge and Muslims on the other side.

Though, the sect was founded by early Yahosheans and made impressive impact towards promotion of the Yahoshean ministry but it failed in its responsibility of maintaining the doctrines and traditions of Yahoshea Meshiyach and his early followers.

The Copts did not hold firm to the scriptural doctrines of Yahoshea but engrossed with Roman Paganism which it contributed toward its growth.

Though Copts claim to retain the true flavour of Yahoshea's ministry but such cannot be substantiated  because they are not led by the comforter who is invested with the power to maintain the tradition and creeds of true apostolic faith.