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In 1959, the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church was granted autocephaly. This was extended to the Eritrean Orthodox Tewahedo Church in 1998 following the successful Eritrean War of Independence from Ethiopia. Since the 2011 Egyptian revolution, Coptic Christians have suffered increased religious discrimination and violence.
- 10 million
- St. Mark the Evangelist (Traditional)
Coptic icon of St. Mark. The Copts are one of the oldest Christian communities in the Middle East. Although integrated in the larger Egyptian nation state, the Copts have survived as a distinct religious community forming around 5 to 20 percent of the population, [49] [39] [50] [51] though estimates vary.
- 3,000
- c. 10,000
- 1,000 (2014)
- 25,000 – 30,000 (2006)
People also ask
Who founded the Coptic Church?
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Dec 18, 2014 · The Coptic Church of Egypt is the earliest Christian church in the world, going back to around 42 AD. According to Bishop Eusebius of Caesarea, as well as Coptic traditions, Saint Mark the evangelist, who wrote the earliest of the four New Testament gospels, was the founder and first bishop of the Church of Alexandria, even before the Church of Rome was established.
Apr 19, 2019 · According to Coptic tradition, the Christian church in Egypt was founded in Alexandria by St. Mark in the mid-first century A.D. Author of the second gospel in the New Testament, Mark became ...
- 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...
Apr 17, 2017 · Pope Tawadros II, the 118th pope of the Coptic Church of Egypt, leads a mass for the Egyptian Christians who were killed in Libya, at St. Mark’s Cathedral in Cairo, Egypt, Feb. 17, 2015.
Sep 13, 2012 · Here are nine things you should know about Coptic Christians. 1. The word Copt is derived from the Greek word for Egyptian. After the Muslim conquest of Egypt, it became restricted to those Egyptians adhering to Christianity. 2. Approximately 12 percent of the Egyptian population—roughly 12 million people—are Christians.
