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History of Coptic Christians in Egypt

Posted on 08/20/2013 1:53:22 PM PDT by bluescape

History of the Coptic Christians


TOPICS: Other Christian; Religion & Politics
KEYWORDS: christians; coptic; copticchurch; copticchurches; copts; egypt; israel; muslim; randsconcerntrolls; waronterror
Could someone provide a link to information about the history of the Coptic Christians? What does 'Coptic' mean?

What is the history of Egypt's Muslim Brotherhood as it relates to the Coptic Christians that are being attacked currently?

I'm looking for sources that are specifically not liberal slanted.

I tried Conservapedia but didn't see what I was looking for.

Replies can also be sent to bluescape@cox.net

Thank you.

1 posted on 08/20/2013 1:53:22 PM PDT by bluescape
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To: bluescape

Copt is a greek version ofthe word ‘ Egyptian’. They are the indigenous Egyptians ho have remained christian since the invasion of Egypt by Arab Muslims in the seventh century.


2 posted on 08/20/2013 1:57:04 PM PDT by pastorbillrandles (, but you are right about the mood, tense)
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To: bluescape

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coptic_Orthodox_Church_of_Alexandria


3 posted on 08/20/2013 2:06:10 PM PDT by Honorary Serb (Kosovo is Serbia! Free Srpska! Abolish ICTY!)
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To: bluescape

Egypt was a Christian country for almost 1000 years.

Islamic armies invaded and conquered Egypt.

Conquered people have three choices:

Death
Convert to islam
Live as a 3rd class citizen in an apartheid system (Dimitude)

The Coptic Christians have endured.


4 posted on 08/20/2013 2:07:08 PM PDT by 2banana (My common ground with terrorists - they want to die for islam and we want to kill them)
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To: Honorary Serb

The Coptic Christians were in Egypt many years before Mohamed. The sons of Ishmael seem to hate anyone that is not in their group.


5 posted on 08/20/2013 2:09:15 PM PDT by mountainlion (Live well for those that did not make it back.)
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To: bluescape

There are many sources - I’m sure that Google warriors will find what they want. However, please consider that Mark the Evangelist is the one who went to Alexandria to establish the Church there.


6 posted on 08/20/2013 2:09:46 PM PDT by MarkBsnr (I would not believe in the Gospel, if the authority of the Catholic Church did not move me to do so.)
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To: bluescape

Prior to the muslim conquest of the middle east, north africa, spain; eqypt had been considered the most Christian country. The crusades were about reconquering the holy land. and GW appologized for that. When do we, Christians, get an appology from them????


7 posted on 08/20/2013 2:12:33 PM PDT by dirtymac (Now is the time for all good men to come to the aid of their country.)
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To: bluescape

bkmk


8 posted on 08/20/2013 2:24:15 PM PDT by Sergio (An object at rest cannot be stopped! - The Evil Midnight Bomber What Bombs at Midnight)
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To: dirtymac
Prior to the muslim conquest of the middle east, north africa, spain; eqypt had been considered the most Christian country. The crusades were about reconquering the holy land. and GW appologized for that. When do we, Christians, get an appology from them????

You want to be horrified? My wife graduated from Fordson High School in Dearborn. All Christian, mostly Catholic. Then.

Now? 98% Muslim. Who are you going to ask for an apology?

http://www.fordsonthemovie.com/story.php

9 posted on 08/20/2013 2:26:16 PM PDT by MarkBsnr (I would not believe in the Gospel, if the authority of the Catholic Church did not move me to do so.)
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To: bluescape
Well, here's what I know of the Coptic Christain Church.

The Coptic Christian (and Coptic is an Arab derived word that means "Egyptian") Chruch started during the life of the Apostle Mark who preached there after Christ's death.

Some will say it actually started when Joseph and MAry took the baby Jesus to Egypt to escape Herod, but there is no record of any followers from that time.

Mark taught in Egypt and was martyred by the Romans in Alexandria in 68 AD. But he had started Christ's church there and it has persisted and remained ever since.

The early Christians of Egypt suffered considerably at the hands of the early Romans, as did others prior to The rule of the Roman emperor, Constantine, who not only legalized their faith, but encouraged it as a Christian himself.

However, in 451 AD the Fourth Ecumenical Council took place, and would divide the Catholic, or "universal" Christian church.

The Chalcedonian definition states that Jesus Christ is the very Son of God "born of the Father before all ages." In His human birth through Mary, the Council declared, the Word of God took to Himself the whole of humanity, becoming a real man in every way, but without sin. Thus, according to the Chalcedonian definition, Jesus of Nazareth is one person in two natures - human and divine. He is fully human. He is fully divine.

The Coptics and some other early Christian Churches did not accept this decision. They rejected the Chalcedonian Council on the basis that the the teachings of Saint Cyril claimed that in His incarnation, Christ has but one nature. Coptics believe that the Lord is perfect in His divinity, and He is perfect in His humanity, but His divinity and His humanity were united in one nature called "the nature of the incarnate word"

The disagreement was never settled, however, and although many attempts at reunion were made in the fifth and, those who rejected that Chalcedonian council's decision remain separated from the Orthodox Church to this day.

At the time, this split ended up taking the form of persecution against the Coptic Christians of Egypt. After having survived the persecution of the Roman Empire, they were once again besieged, now by other Christians of the "Holy Roman Empire."

Then, in 641 AD, the Arabs and Muslims conquered Egypt.

After this invasion, the Coptic Christains were treated as less than equal citizens under Islamic rule. THis resulted in a steady decline in Church membership, and particularly in Church influence in Eguypt.

It was not until the middle of the twentieth century that the church experienced a revival, and when it came, it was unprecedented. This had its start in the nineteen forties and fifties in the Coptic Sunday School movements in Cairo, Giza and Asyut. Inspired by the challenges they experienced in the Sunday School classes, young men consecrated their lives to God and joined the desert fathers. Today, many of the church leaders grew from that spirited revival.

Now, to this day, the Copts have very active youth groups that emphasize religious education as well as providing social interaction. Although called Sunday schools, these gatherings are usually held on Fridays, are considered to be a very important religious element to all the Coptic families. Their children usually join at an early age and continue to participate in them throughout their adolescence.

Today, the Coptic church has spread beyond Egypt and throughout the world. There are now Coptic churches in many different countries. The Coptic church today has made and now maintains open communications with the Roman Catholic church, as well as other Christian churches as well. Today Coptic Christians seek to be fully and unequivocally accepted as orthodox Christians by other members and churches that make up the world-wide Christian community. An Excellent and far more detailed history can be found here:

COPTIC HISTORY - The Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria

10 posted on 08/20/2013 2:29:00 PM PDT by Jeff Head
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To: bluescape

bookmark


11 posted on 08/20/2013 3:42:56 PM PDT by GOP Poet
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To: MarkBsnr
Now? 98% Muslim. Who are you going to ask for an apology?

JFK and his democrat party.

12 posted on 08/20/2013 8:52:48 PM PDT by ansel12 ( The difference between libertarianism and conservatism is radical social leftism, not economics)
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