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Coptic Christianity began in Egypt in the 1st century AD. The Coptic artistic tradition includes beautiful wall paintings, textiles, illuminated manuscripts, and metalwork, much of which...
An ancient church with spectacular wall paintings in one of the world's first monasteries. American Research Center In Egypt (ARCE) . Coptic Church Bells Tolling. 00:00. Located in the...
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The Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria is the official name for the largest Christian church in Egypt.The Church belongs to the Oriental Orthodox family of churches, which has been a distinct church body since the Council of Chalcedon in 451 C.E., when it took a different position over Christological theology from that of the Eastern Orthodox and Western churches, then still in union.
Apr 29, 2024 · Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria, Oriental Orthodox church and principal Christian church in predominantly Muslim Egypt. The people of Egypt before the Arab conquest in the 7th century identified themselves and their language in Greek as Aigyptios (Arabic qibṭ , Westernized as Copt).
- The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica
- Worship and Spiritual Practice
- Churches
- Music
- Liturgies
- Sacraments
- Fasting
Coptic Church rituals use very ancient words and music. Local languages are also used, in order to allow the congregation to play a full part in the worship. Sunday is the main day for services, which can last for over four hours.
Coptic churches are built facing East so that the congregation faces East in prayer. The sanctuary of the church, where the altar is found, is divided from the nave by an iconostasis – a screen made of icons. Only priests, and deacons assisting at a service, are allowed through the iconostasis. The nave of a Coptic church is usually in two parts: t...
Music is almost entirely vocal; the only musical instruments used are the cymbals and the triangle (other instruments are sometimes used in non-liturgical Coptic events). The music of the church has been transmitted orally over the centuries because the church didn't use any system of music notation. 300 hymns have survived and are still in use.
There are three main liturgies: The liturgies of St. Basil, used throughout the year; St. Gregory, used at Christmas, Epiphany and Easter; and St. Cyril (or St. Mark).
There are seven sacraments in the Coptic Church. 1. Baptism 1.1. The Church baptises babies and adults 1.2. Baptism is by total immersion three times - regardless of age 1.3. The Church teaches that baptism is essential for salvation 2. Confirmation/Chrismation 2.1. This sacrament takes place immediately after Baptism. The person is anointed with o...
Fasting is an important spiritual element of Coptic life. While it is regarded as an important spiritual practice, it is a voluntary spiritual sacrifice and the Church does not insist that people fast. Fasting is excused for those who are unwell. Fasting requires not eating at all for a period, and then abstaining from meat, fish, dairy products an...
Jul 11, 2019 · Updated Jul 11, 2019. Coptic Christians are an ethnoreligious group indigenous to Northeast Africa who predominantly reside in the region of modern Egypt, where they are the biggest Christian denomination in the nation. Learn about the origin and significance of Coptic traditions in Christianity as well as the worldwide membership of Copts today.
00:00. According to tradition, the founder of the Coptic Church was the apostle St. Mark, who brought Christianity to Egypt in the 1st century. In 451 AD, they split with the larger Christian...
