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{{Mergefrom|Coptic identity|discuss=Talk:Coptic identity|date=December 2009}} |
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{{contains Coptic text}} |
{{contains Coptic text}} |
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{{Infobox Religious group| |
{{Infobox Religious group| |
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| group = Copts<br>{{Coptic|ⲛⲓⲣⲉⲙ'ⲛⲭⲏⲙⲓ}}<br>{{Coptic|'ⲛ'Ⲭⲣⲏⲥⲧⲓ'ⲁⲛⲟⲥ}} |
| group = <font size=4>Copts<br>{{Coptic|ⲛⲓⲣⲉⲙ'ⲛⲭⲏⲙⲓ}}<br>{{Coptic|'ⲛ'Ⲭⲣⲏⲥⲧⲓ'ⲁⲛⲟⲥ}}</font> |
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|image = [[ |
|image = [[Image:CoptsCollage.jpg|300px]] |
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|image_caption = <small>Top row (left to right)<br/>[[Mary of Egypt|Saint Mary of Egypt]] • [[Boutros Boutros Ghali]] • [[Ester Fanous]] • [[Saint Maurice]]<br/> Bottom row (left to right)<br/>[[Makram Ebeid|Makram Pasha Ebeid]] • [[Meriam George]] • [[Paul the Hermit|Saint Paul the Hermit]] and [[Anthony the Great|Saint Anthony the Great]] • [[Pope Cyril VI]]</small> |
|image_caption = <small>Top row (left to right)<br/>[[Mary of Egypt|Saint Mary of Egypt]] • [[Boutros Boutros Ghali]] • [[Ester Fanous]] • [[Saint Maurice]]<br/> Bottom row (left to right)<br/>[[Makram Ebeid|Makram Pasha Ebeid]] • [[Meriam George]] • [[Paul the Hermit|Saint Paul the Hermit]] and [[Anthony the Great|Saint Anthony the Great]] • [[Pope Cyril VI]]</small> |
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|population = |
|population = 4,600,000 to 18,000,000 (estimates vary) |
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|founder = [[Saint Mark the Evangelist]] |
|founder = [[Saint Mark the Evangelist]] |
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|region1 = {{flagcountry|Egypt}} |
|region1 = {{flagcountry|Egypt}} |
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|pop1 = estimations range between |
|pop1 = estimations range between 4,600,000 to 12,000,000<br>(see [[Religion in Egypt]]) |
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|ref1 = {{lower|<ref> |
|ref1 = {{lower|<ref>Official population counts put the number of Copts at around 6-10% of the population, while some Coptic voices claim figures as high as 15 to 20%. Some scholars defend the soundness of the official population census (cf. E.J.Chitham, The Coptic Community in Egypt. Spatial and Social Change, Durham 1986). Most independent estimates fall within range between 5% and 10%, for example the CIA World Factbook [https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/eg.html], or the Washington Institute [http://www.washingtoninstitute.org/templateC05.php?CID=2386].</ref> The 2009 American Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life<ref>[http://pewforum.org/newassets/images/reports/Muslimpopulation/Muslimpopulation.pdf The 2009 American Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life]</ref> asserted that Egypt is home to roughly 78,513,000 Muslims, roughly 94.6 percent of the population, with Coptic Orthodox and Protestant Christians, Baha’i, agnostic, etc., making up the remaining 5 percent. For a projected 83,000,000+ Egyptians in 2009, this assumption yields the above figures.<br>In 2008, [[Pope Shenouda III]] and Bishop Morkos, bishop of [[Shubra]], declared that the number of Copts in Egypt is more than 12 million, though this figure has not been independently verified.}} |
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|region2 = {{flagcountry|USA}} |
|region2 = {{flagcountry|USA}} |
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|pop2 = 700,000 - 1,000,000 (2007) |
|pop2 = 700,000 - 1,000,000 (2007) |
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|region3 = {{flagcountry|Australia}} |
|region3 = {{flagcountry|Australia}} |
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|pop3 = 70,000+ (2003) |
|pop3 = 70,000+ (2003) |
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|ref3 = {{lower|<ref>In the year 2003, there was an estimated 70,000 Copts in New South Wales alone: - {{cite hansard | url=http://www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/prod/parlment/hansart.nsf/V3Key/LC20031112040 | house=Parliament of NSW - Legislative Council | date= 12 November 2003| page=Page: 4772: - ''Coptic Orthodox Church (NSW) Property Trust Amendment Bill''}}</ref>}} {{lower|<ref>[http://www.coptic.org.au/modules/diocese_bodies The Coptic Orthodox Diocese of Sydney & its Affiliated Regions - Under the Guidance of His Grace Bishop Daniel<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>}} |
|ref3 = {{lower|<ref> In the year 2003, there was an estimated 70,000 Copts in New South Wales alone: - {{cite hansard | url=http://www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/prod/parlment/hansart.nsf/V3Key/LC20031112040 | house=Parliament of NSW - Legislative Council | date= 12 November 2003| page=Page: 4772: - ''Coptic Orthodox Church (NSW) Property Trust Amendment Bill''}}</ref>}} {{lower|<ref>[http://www.coptic.org.au/modules/diocese_bodies The Coptic Orthodox Diocese of Sydney & its Affiliated Regions - Under the Guidance of His Grace Bishop Daniel<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>}} |
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|region4 = {{flagcountry|Kuwait}} |
|region4 = {{flagcountry|Kuwait}} |
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|pop4 = 65,000 |
|pop4 = 65,000 |
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| scrips = [[Bible]] |
| scrips = [[Bible]] |
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| langs = Liturgical: [[Coptic language|Coptic]]<br>In Egypt: [[Egyptian Arabic]]<br>In the diaspora: [[English language|English]], [[French language|French]], [[German language|German]] and others}} |
| langs = Liturgical: [[Coptic language|Coptic]]<br>In Egypt: [[Egyptian Arabic]]<br>In the diaspora: [[English language|English]], [[French language|French]], [[German language|German]] and others}} |
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A '''Copt''' ([[Coptic language|Coptic]]: <font size = 4><span lang="cop-Copt" xml:lang="cop-Copt" style="font-size:100%;font-family:'New Athena Unicode', 'MPH 2B Damase', 'Arial Coptic', 'Quivira', 'Analecta';">ⲟⲩⲣⲉⲙ'ⲛⲭⲏⲙⲓ 'ⲛ'Ⲭⲣⲏⲥⲧⲓ'ⲁⲛⲟⲥ</span></font> ''ou.Remenkīmi en.Ekhristianos'', literally: ''Egyptian Christian'') is a native [[Egyptian people|Egyptian]] [[Christianity|Christian]]. Copts form a major [[ |
A '''Copt''' ([[Coptic language|Coptic]]: <font size = 4><span lang="cop-Copt" xml:lang="cop-Copt" style="font-size:100%;font-family:'New Athena Unicode', 'MPH 2B Damase', 'Arial Coptic', 'Quivira', 'Analecta';">ⲟⲩⲣⲉⲙ'ⲛⲭⲏⲙⲓ 'ⲛ'Ⲭⲣⲏⲥⲧⲓ'ⲁⲛⲟⲥ</span></font> ''ou.Remenkīmi en.Ekhristianos'', literally: ''Egyptian Christian'') is a native [[Egyptian people|Egyptian]] [[Christianity|Christian]]. Copts form a major [[ethno-religious]] group that has ancient origins. Copts are [[Egyptians]] whose ancestors embraced [[Christianity]] in the first century. The word "Coptic" was originally used in [[Classical Arabic]] to refer to [[Egyptians]] in general (see [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Copt#Etymology|etymology section]), but it has undergone a [[semantic shift]] over the centuries to mean more specifically Egyptian Christian. This semantic shift dates back to the time when Christians became an Egyptian [[minority group|minority]], after the bulk of the Egyptian population converted to Islam following the [[Muslim conquest of Egypt]] in the 7th century.<ref> "The people of Egypt before the Arab conquest in the 7th century identified themselves and their language in Greek as Aigyptios (Arabic qibt, Westernized as Copt); when Egyptian Muslims later ceased to call themselves Aigyptioi, the term became the distinctive name of the Christian minority." [http://www.britannica.com/eb/article-9026216 Coptic Orthodox Church]. ''Encyclopædia Britannica Online''. 2007</ref> |
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The '''Coptic Christian''' population in [[Egypt]] is the largest Christian community in the [[Middle East]].<ref name="Christian-Muslim Gap">{{cite web | last = Cole | first = Ethan| title=Egypt's Christian-Muslim Gap Growing Bigger | publisher= [[The Christian Post]] | date=July 8, 2008 | url = http://www.christianpost.com/article/20080708/egypt-s-christian-muslim-gap-growing-bigger.htm | accessdate=2008-10-02}}</ref> Christians represent between |
The '''Coptic Christian''' population in [[Egypt]] is the largest Christian community in the [[Middle East]].<ref name="Christian-Muslim Gap">{{cite web | last = Cole | first = Ethan| title=Egypt's Christian-Muslim Gap Growing Bigger | publisher= [[The Christian Post]] | date=July 8, 2008 | url = http://www.christianpost.com/article/20080708/egypt-s-christian-muslim-gap-growing-bigger.htm | accessdate=2008-10-02}}</ref> Christians represent between 5% and 10% of a population of over 80 million Egyptians,<ref>[http://pewforum.org/newassets/images/reports/Muslimpopulation/Muslimpopulation.pdf The 2009 American Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life]</ref><ref>http://www.asharqalawsat.com/leader.asp?section=3&article=157751&issueno=8872 "Institut National Etudes Démographiques" - Research in population and demography of France estimates the coptic population to be</ref><ref name="The world factbook/Egypt/">{{cite web|url=https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/eg.html|title=Egypt from “The World Factbook”|date=September 4, 2008|publisher=[[Central Intelligence Agency|American Central Intelligence Agency (CIA)]]}}</ref><ref name="IPS News">[http://www.ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews=32988 IPS News] (retrieved 09-27-2008)</ref><ref>[http://www.washington-report.org/backissues/1097/9710087.html]. ''The Washington Post''. "Estimates of the size of Egypt's Christian population vary from government figures of 6 to 7 million to the 12 million reported by some Christian leaders, though these claims have not been independently verified. Numbers may be in the 9 to 9.5 million range, out of an Egyptian population of more than 60 million." Retrieved 10-10-2008</ref><ref>Ibrahim, Youssef M. |
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"[http://www.nytimes.com/1993/03/15/world/muslims-fury-falls-on-egypt-s-christians.html Muslims' Fury Falls on Egypt's Christians]". ''[[The New York Times]]'', March 15, 1993. Retrieved 10-10-2008 |
"[http://www.nytimes.com/1993/03/15/world/muslims-fury-falls-on-egypt-s-christians.html Muslims' Fury Falls on Egypt's Christians]". ''[[The New York Times]]'', March 15, 1993. Retrieved 10-10-2008.</ref><ref name="U.S.Dept of State/Egypt">{{cite web|url=http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/5309.htm|title= Egypt from “U.S. Department of State/Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs”|date=September 30, 2008 |publisher= [[United States Department of State]]}}</ref><ref name="FCO/Egypt/">{{cite web|url=http://www.fco.gov.uk/en/about-the-fco/country-profiles/middle-east-north-africa/egypt|title=Egypt from “Foreign and Commonwealth Office”|date=August 15, 2008|publisher=[[Foreign and Commonwealth Office|Foreign and Commonwealth Office -UK Ministry of Foreign Affairs]]}}</ref><ref name="LOOKLEX Encyclopedia/Egypt/Religions&Peoples">{{cite web|url=http://lexicorient.com/e.o/egypt_4.htm|title=Egypt Religions & Peoples from “LOOKLEX Encyclopedia”|date=September 30, 2008|publisher= LookLex Ltd.}}</ref><ref name="msn encarta/Egypt">{{cite web|url= http://encarta.msn.com/encyclopedia_761557408_3/Egypt.html|title=Egypt from “msn encarta”|date=September 30, 2008 |publisher= [[Microsoft Encarta|Encarta]]|archiveurl=http://www.webcitation.org/query?id=1257013931677776|archivedate=2009-10-31|deadurl=yes}}</ref> though estimates vary (see [[Religion in Egypt]]). Around 95% of them belong to the native [[Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria]].<ref name="U.S.Dept of State/Egypt"/><ref name="FCO/Egypt/"/><ref>{{cite book|url=http://books.google.com/books?id=xrGL7o69KBIC&pg=PA145&lpg=PA145&dq=coptic+orthodox&source=bl&ots=0ROIHZ4FFm&sig=DcEAaveJzQsCeS1tQK-liQc54cM&hl=en&ei=es46SqsUiP61A9ufrOUK&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=1|title="Who are the Christians in the Middle East?"|date=June 18, 2009|publisher=Betty Jane Bailey}}</ref> The remaining (around 800,000<ref name="LOOKLEX Encyclopedia/Egypt/Religions&Peoples"/>) are divided between the [[Coptic Catholic Church|Coptic Catholic]] and the Coptic [[Protestantism|Protestant]] churches. |
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While the number of Copts continues to increase, their percentage within [[Egypt]] may be very slowly declining due to lower birth rates and higher emigration rates, in comparison with Egyptian Muslims.{{Citation needed|date=October 2009}} |
While the number of Copts continues to increase, their percentage within [[Egypt]] may be very slowly declining due to lower birth rates and higher emigration rates, in comparison with Egyptian Muslims.{{Citation needed|date=October 2009}} |
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{{Hiero | ''Hut-ka-Ptah'' | <hiero>p:t-H-Hwt-t:pr-kA:Z1-t:niwt</hiero> | align=left| era=default}} |
{{Hiero | ''Hut-ka-Ptah'' | <hiero>p:t-H-Hwt-t:pr-kA:Z1-t:niwt</hiero> | align=left| era=default}} |
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The Greek term for "Egypt" has a long history. It goes back to the [[Mycenaean language]] (an early form of Greek) where the word ''a<sub>3</sub>-ku-pi-ti-jo'' (lit. "Egyptian"; used here as a man's name) was written in [[Linear B]]. This Mycenaean form is likely from [[Egyptian language|Egyptian]] {{Unicode|''ḥwt-k3-ptḥ''}} ("Hut-ka-Ptah"), literally "Estate (or 'House') of the |
The Greek term for "Egypt" has a long history. It goes back to the [[Mycenaean language]] (an early form of Greek) where the word ''a<sub>3</sub>-ku-pi-ti-jo'' (lit. "Egyptian"; used here as a man's name) was written in [[Linear B]]. This Mycenaean form is likely from [[Egyptian language|Egyptian]] {{Unicode|''ḥwt-k3-ptḥ''}} ("Hut-ka-Ptah"), literally "Estate (or 'House') of the Spirit of [[Ptah]]" (cf. [[Akkadian language|Akkadian]] {{Unicode|''<sup>ālu</sup>ḫi-ku-up-ta-aḫ''}}), the name of the temple complex of the god [[Ptah]] at [[Memphis, Egypt|Memphis]]. As the chief temple precinct of the capital of [[Egypt]], the name was applied to the entire city of Memphis and ultimately to the country as a whole. |
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Therefore, the word ''Copt'' simply means Egyptian<ref>http://books.google.com/books?id=sq2f0eU7vSgC&pg=PA198</ref> |
Therefore, the word ''Copt'' simply means Egyptian<ref>http://books.google.com/books?id=sq2f0eU7vSgC&pg=PA198</ref> |
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A similar situation is observed in the name ''Memphis'' [Greek Μέμφις], which comes from the Egyptian name of the [[Egyptian pyramids|pyramid]] complex of [[Pharaoh|king]] [[Pepi II Neferkare|Pepi II]], ''mn nfr ppy'' (lit. "Established in Perfection or 'Beauty' is Pepy") at [[Saqqara]] but which was applied to the nearby capital city. Interestingly, this usage survived in Sahidic as ''Gupton'' and ''Kupton'', meaning "Memphis". In modern [[Egyptian Arabic]], [[Cairo]] is usually called ''Masr'', which is also the name of Egypt. |
A similar situation is observed in the name ''Memphis'' [Greek Μέμφις], which comes from the Egyptian name of the [[Egyptian pyramids|pyramid]] complex of [[Pharaoh|king]] [[Pepi II Neferkare|Pepi II]], ''mn nfr ppy'' (lit. "Established in Perfection or 'Beauty' is Pepy") at [[Saqqara]] but which was applied to the nearby capital city. Interestingly, this usage survived in Sahidic as ''Gupton'' and ''Kupton'', meaning "Memphis". In modern [[Egyptian Arabic]], [[Cairo]] is usually called ''Masr'', which is also the name of Egypt. |
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There is another theory which states that the Arabic word {{Unicode|''qibṭ''}} "Copt" was an Arabisation of the Greek name of the town of Κόπτος ''[[Coptos]]'' (modern day {{Unicode|''Qifṭ''}}; Coptic ''Kebt'' and ''Keft''), but is generally no longer accepted. |
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References to ''Copts'' in the [[Coptic language]] are both Greek and Coptic in origin. The words ''kuptaion'' (Sahidic) and ''kubti'' (Bohairic) are attested, but are used in the surviving texts to refer to the language, rather than the people; these both derive from Greek Αἴγύπτιος ''aiguptios'' "Egyptian". The Coptic term for the word "Egyptian" is ''rem en kēme'' (Sahidic) {{Coptic|ⲣⲙⲛⲕⲏⲙⲉ}}, ''lem en kēmi'' ([[Coptic language#Fayyumic|Fayyumic]]), ''rem en khēmi'' (Bohairic) {{Coptic|ⲣⲉⲙ'ⲛⲭⲏⲙⲓ}} , etc., literally "people of Egypt"; cf. [[Egyptian language|Egyptian]] ''{{Unicode|rmṯ}} n [[Kemet|kmt]]'', [[Demotic Egyptian|Demotic]] ''rmt n kmỉ''. |
References to ''Copts'' in the [[Coptic language]] are both Greek and Coptic in origin. The words ''kuptaion'' (Sahidic) and ''kubti'' (Bohairic) are attested, but are used in the surviving texts to refer to the language, rather than the people; these both derive from Greek Αἴγύπτιος ''aiguptios'' "Egyptian". The Coptic term for the word "Egyptian" is ''rem en kēme'' (Sahidic) {{Coptic|ⲣⲙⲛⲕⲏⲙⲉ}}, ''lem en kēmi'' ([[Coptic language#Fayyumic|Fayyumic]]), ''rem en khēmi'' (Bohairic) {{Coptic|ⲣⲉⲙ'ⲛⲭⲏⲙⲓ}} , etc., literally "people of Egypt"; cf. [[Egyptian language|Egyptian]] ''{{Unicode|rmṯ}} n [[Kemet|kmt]]'', [[Demotic Egyptian|Demotic]] ''rmt n kmỉ''. |
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The [[ |
The [[etymology|etymological]] meaning of the word therefore pertains to all people of Egyptian origins, not only those who profess Coptic Orthodoxy. Medieval writers before the [[Mamluk]] period often used the words ''Copts'' and ''Egyptians'' interchangeably to describe all the people of Egypt whether Christian or Muslim. After the bulk of the Egyptian population was prosecuted and was pushed to convert to islam by the islamic swards as with the rest of the world, the word Copt came to be associated with Egyptians who retained their Christianity. In the 20th century, some Egyptian nationalists and intellectuals began using the term Copts in the historical sense. For example, Markos Pasha Semeika, founder of the [[Coptic Museum]], addressed a group of Egyptian students in these words: "All of you are Copts. Some of you are Muslim Copts, others are Christian Copts, but all of you are descended from the Ancient Egyptians".<ref>qtd. in M. Hussein. ''el Ittigahat el Wataneyya fil Adab el {{Unicode|Muʻaṣir}}'' [National Trends in Modern Literature]. Vol. 2. Cairo, 1954</ref> |
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==History== |
==History== |
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{{Main|Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria}} |
{{Main|Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria}} |
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[[ |
[[Image:StMarkcoptic.jpg|280px|thumb|left|Coptic icon of [[Mark the Evangelist|St. Mark]]]] |
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The Copts are one of the oldest Christian communities in the [[Middle East]]. Although integrated in the larger Egyptian nation, the Copts have survived as a distinct religious community forming around |
The Copts are one of the oldest Christian communities in the [[Middle East]]. Although integrated in the larger Egyptian nation, the Copts have survived as a distinct religious community forming around 5-10% of the population,<ref>[http://pewforum.org/newassets/images/reports/Muslimpopulation/Muslimpopulation.pdf The 2009 American Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life]</ref><ref name="The world factbook/Egypt/"/><ref name="IPS News"/><ref name="U.S.Dept of State/Egypt"/><ref name="LOOKLEX Encyclopedia/Egypt/Religions&Peoples"/><ref name="msn encarta/Egypt"/> though estimates vary (see [[Religion in Egypt]]). They pride themselves on the apostolicity of the Egyptian Church whose founder was the first in an unbroken chain of patriarchs. |
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===Foundation of the Egyptian Christian Church=== |
===Foundation of the Egyptian Christian Church=== |
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According to ancient tradition, [[Christianity]] was introduced to the [[Egyptians]] by [[Mark the Evangelist|Saint Mark]] in [[Alexandria]], shortly after the ascension of [[Christ]] and during the reign of the [[Roman Empire|Roman]] [[emperor]] [[Claudius]] around 42 A.D.<ref>[[Eusebius of Caesarea]], the author of Ecclesiastical History in the fourth century, states that st. Mark came to Egypt in the first or third year of the reign of Emperor Claudius, i.e. 41 or 43 A.D. "Two Thousand years of Coptic Christianity" Otto F.A. Meinardus p28.</ref> The legacy that [[Mark the Evangelist|Saint Mark]] left in [[Egypt]] was a considerable [[Christian]] community in [[Alexandria]]. From Alexandria, [[Christianity]] spread throughout [[Egypt]] within half a century of [[Mark the Evangelist|Saint Mark]]'s arrival in [[Alexandria]], as is clear from a fragment of the [[Gospel of John]], written in [[Coptic language|Coptic]], which was found in [[Upper Egypt]] and can be dated to the first half of the second century, and the [[New Testament]] writings found in [[Oxyrhynchus]], in [[Middle Egypt]], which date around the year 200 A.D. In the second century, [[Christianity]] began to spread to the rural areas, and scriptures were translated into the local language, today known as the [[Coptic language]] (which was called ''the Egyptian language'' at the time). By the beginning of the 3rd century A.D., [[Christian]]s constituted the majority of [[Egypt]]’s population, and the [[Church of Alexandria]] was recognized as one of [[Christendom]]'s four Apostolic Sees, second in honor only to the [[Roman Catholic Church|Church of Rome]]. The [[Church of Alexandria]] is therefore the oldest church in [[Africa]]. |
According to ancient tradition, [[Christianity]] was introduced to the [[Egyptians]] by [[Mark the Evangelist|Saint Mark]] in [[Alexandria]], shortly after the ascension of [[Christ]] and during the reign of the [[Roman Empire|Roman]] [[emperor]] [[Claudius]] around 42 A.D.<ref> [[Eusebius of Caesarea]], the author of Ecclesiastical History in the fourth century, states that st. Mark came to Egypt in the first or third year of the reign of Emperor Claudius, i.e. 41 or 43 A.D. "Two Thousand years of Coptic Christianity" Otto F.A. Meinardus p28.</ref> The legacy that [[Mark the Evangelist|Saint Mark]] left in [[Egypt]] was a considerable [[Christian]] community in [[Alexandria]]. From Alexandria, [[Christianity]] spread throughout [[Egypt]] within half a century of [[Mark the Evangelist|Saint Mark]]'s arrival in [[Alexandria]], as is clear from a fragment of the [[Gospel of John]], written in [[Coptic language|Coptic]], which was found in [[Upper Egypt]] and can be dated to the first half of the second century, and the [[New Testament]] writings found in [[Oxyrhynchus]], in [[Middle Egypt]], which date around the year 200 A.D. In the second century, [[Christianity]] began to spread to the rural areas, and scriptures were translated into the local language, today known as the [[Coptic language]] (which was called ''the Egyptian language'' at the time). By the beginning of the 3rd century A.D., [[Christian]]s constituted the majority of [[Egypt]]’s population, and the [[Church of Alexandria]] was recognized as one of [[Christendom]]'s four Apostolic Sees, second in honor only to the [[Roman Catholic Church|Church of Rome]]. The [[Church of Alexandria]] is therefore the oldest church in [[Africa]]. |
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===Contributions to Christianity=== |
===Contributions to Christianity=== |
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In 451 A.D., following the [[Council of Chalcedon]], the [[Church of Alexandria]] was divided into two branches. Those who accepted the terms of the Council became known as [[Chalcedonian]]s or [[Melkites]]. Those who did not abide by the Council's terms were labeled [[non-Chalcedonian]]s or [[Monophysites]] (and later ''Jacobites'' after [[Jacob Baradaeus]]). The [[non-Chalcedonian]]s, however, rejected the term [[Monophysites]] as erroneous and insisted on being called [[Miaphysitism|Miaphysites]]. The majority of the [[Egyptians]] belonged to the [[Miaphysitism|Miaphysite]] branch, which led to their persecution by the [[Byzantines]] in [[Egypt]]. |
In 451 A.D., following the [[Council of Chalcedon]], the [[Church of Alexandria]] was divided into two branches. Those who accepted the terms of the Council became known as [[Chalcedonian]]s or [[Melkites]]. Those who did not abide by the Council's terms were labeled [[non-Chalcedonian]]s or [[Monophysites]] (and later ''Jacobites'' after [[Jacob Baradaeus]]). The [[non-Chalcedonian]]s, however, rejected the term [[Monophysites]] as erroneous and insisted on being called [[Miaphysitism|Miaphysites]]. The majority of the [[Egyptians]] belonged to the [[Miaphysitism|Miaphysite]] branch, which led to their persecution by the [[Byzantines]] in [[Egypt]]. |
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===The Arab-Muslim |
===The Arab-Muslim Emancipation of Egypt=== |
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[[ |
[[Image:Cairo, Old Cairo, Hanging Church, Egypt, Oct 2004.jpg|thumb|right|upright|More than 12 million [[Egyptians]] follow the [[Christianity|Christian]] faith as members of the [[Coptic Church]].]] |
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In 641 A.D., [[Egypt]] |
In 641 A.D., [[Egypt]] the [[Arabs]] faced off with the [[Byzantine]] army, but found little to no resistance from the native Egyptian population. Local resistance by the Egyptians however began to materialize shortly thereafter and would last until at least the ninth century.<ref>Mawaiz wa al-'i'tibar bi dhikr al-khitat wa al-'athar (2 vols., Bulaq, 1854), by [[Al-Maqrizi]]</ref><ref>Chronicles, by [[John of Nikiû]]</ref> |
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The [[Arabs]] imposed a special tax, known as [[Jizya]], on the [[Christians]] who acquired the status of [[dhimmis]], and all native Egyptians were prohibited from joining the army. Egyptian converts to Islam in turn were |
The [[Arabs]] imposed a special tax, known as [[Jizya]], on the [[Christians]] who acquired the status of [[dhimmis]], and all native Egyptians were prohibited from joining the army. Egyptian converts to Islam in turn were granted the status of [[mawali]]. Mawalis were in turn subject to the Zakat taxation, as well as their obligation to serve in the Muslim armies. |
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The [[Arabs]] in the 7th century seldom used the term ''Egyptian'', and used instead the term ''Copt'' to describe the people of Egypt. Thus, [[Egyptians]] became known as ''Copts'', and the non-Chalcedonian Egyptian Church became known as the [[Coptic Church]]. The Chalcedonian Church remained known as the [[Melkite|Melkite Church]]. In their own native language, [[Egyptians]] referred to themselves as ''rem-en-kimi'', which translates into ''those of Egypt''. Religious life remained largely undisturbed following the Arab occupation, as evidence by the rich output of Coptic arts in monastic centers in Old Cairo ([[Fustat]]) and throughout Egypt. Conditions, however, worsened shortly after that, and in the eighth and ninth centuries, during the period of the great national resistance against the Arabs, Muslim rulers banned the use of human forms in art (taking advantage of an iconoclastic conflict in [[Byzantium]]) and consequently destroyed many Coptic paintings and frescoes in churches.<ref>Kamil, p. 41</ref> |
The [[Arabs]] in the 7th century seldom used the term ''Egyptian'', and used instead the term ''Copt'' to describe the people of Egypt. Thus, [[Egyptians]] became known as ''Copts'', and the non-Chalcedonian Egyptian Church became known as the [[Coptic Church]]. The Chalcedonian Church remained known as the [[Melkite|Melkite Church]]. In their own native language, [[Egyptians]] referred to themselves as ''rem-en-kimi'', which translates into ''those of Egypt''. Religious life remained largely undisturbed following the Arab occupation, as evidence by the rich output of Coptic arts in monastic centers in Old Cairo ([[Fustat]]) and throughout Egypt. Conditions, however, worsened shortly after that, and in the eighth and ninth centuries, during the period of the great national resistance against the Arabs, Muslim rulers banned the use of human forms in art (taking advantage of an iconoclastic conflict in [[Byzantium]]) and consequently destroyed many Coptic paintings and frescoes in churches.<ref>Kamil, p. 41</ref> |
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The [[Fatimid]] period of Islamic rule in Egypt was tolerant with the exception of the |
The [[Fatimid]] period of Islamic rule in Egypt was tolerant with the exception of the eccentricities of caliph [[Al-Hakim]]. The Fatimid rulers employed Copts in the government and participated in Coptic and local Egyptian feasts. Major renovation and reconstruction of churches and monasteries were also undertaken. Coptic arts flourished, reaching new heights in Middle and Upper Egypt.<ref>Kamil, op cit.</ref> Persecution of Egyptian Christians, however, reached a peak in the early [[Mamluk]] period following the [[Crusades|Crusader wars]]. Many forced conversions of Christians took place. Monasteries were occasionally raided and destroyed by marauding Bedouin, but were rebuilt and reopened. |
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===Copts in modern Egypt=== |
===Copts in modern Egypt=== |
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[[ |
[[Image:WorldCopts.jpg|thumb|right|Copts Around the world]] |
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The position of the Copts did not begin to improve until the rule of [[Muhammad Ali of Egypt|Muhammad Ali]] in the early 19th century, who abolished the [[Jizya]] and allowed Egyptians (Copts as well as Muslims) to enroll in the army. Conditions continued to improve throughout the nineteenth century under the leadership of the great reformer Pope [[Pope Cyril IV of Alexandria|Cyril IV]], and in the first half of the twentieth century (known as the ''Golden Age'' by the Copts) during Egypt's liberal period. Copts participated in the Egyptian national movement for independence and occupied many influential positions. Two significant cultural achievements include the founding of the [[Coptic Museum]] in 1910 and the Higher Institute of Coptic Studies in 1954. Some prominent Coptic thinkers from this period are [[Salama Moussa]], [[Louis Awad]] and Secretary General of the [[Wafd Party]] [[Makram Ebeid]]. Following the 1952 coup d'état by the [[Free Officers Movement|Free Officers]], the conditions of the Copts have been slowly deteriorating and their human rights are often violated. |
The position of the Copts did not begin to improve until the rule of [[Muhammad Ali of Egypt|Muhammad Ali]] in the early 19th century, who abolished the [[Jizya]] and allowed Egyptians (Copts as well as Muslims) to enroll in the army. Conditions continued to improve throughout the nineteenth century under the leadership of the great reformer Pope [[Pope Cyril IV of Alexandria|Cyril IV]], and in the first half of the twentieth century (known as the ''Golden Age'' by the Copts) during Egypt's liberal period. Copts participated in the Egyptian national movement for independence and occupied many influential positions. Two significant cultural achievements include the founding of the [[Coptic Museum]] in 1910 and the Higher Institute of Coptic Studies in 1954. Some prominent Coptic thinkers from this period are [[Salama Moussa]], [[Louis Awad]] and Secretary General of the [[Wafd Party]] [[Makram Ebeid]]. Following the 1952 coup d'état by the [[Free Officers Movement|Free Officers]], the conditions of the Copts have been slowly deteriorating and their human rights are often violated. |
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In 1952, [[Nasser]] led some army officers in a [[coup d'état]] against [[Farouk of Egypt|King Farouk]], which overthrew the Kingdom of Egypt and established a republic. [[Nasser]]'s mainstream policy was [[pan-Arab]] nationalism and socialism. |
In 1952, [[Nasser]] led some army officers in a [[coup d'état]] against [[Farouk of Egypt|King Farouk]], which overthrew the Kingdom of Egypt and established a republic. [[Nasser]]'s mainstream policy was [[pan-Arab]] nationalism and socialism. |
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[[File:StMarkCopticOrthodoxChurchBellaireTX0.JPG|thumb|St. Mark Coptic Orthodox Church in [[Bellaire, Texas]]. There are about 4 million Copts living outside of Egypt, and are known as the ''Diaspora Copts''.]] |
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Today, members of the [[non-Chalcedonian]] [[Coptic Orthodox Church]] constitute the majority of the Egyptian Christian population. Mainly through emigration and partly through [[Europe]]an, [[United States of America|American]], and other missionary work and conversions, the Egyptian Christian community now also includes other [[Christian]] denominations such as [[Protestants]] (known in Arabic as Evangelicals), [[Roman Catholic|Roman]] and [[Eastern Rite Catholic]]s, and other [[Christian Orthodox|Orthodox]] congregations. The term ''Coptic'' remains exclusive however to the Egyptian natives, as opposed to the Christians of non-Egyptian origins. Some Protestant churches for instance are called "Coptic Evangelical Church", thus helping differentiate their native Egyptian congregations from churches attended by non-Egyptian immigrant communities such as Europeans or Americans. |
Today, members of the [[non-Chalcedonian]] [[Coptic Orthodox Church]] constitute the majority of the Egyptian Christian population. Mainly through emigration and partly through [[Europe]]an, [[United States of America|American]], and other missionary work and conversions, the Egyptian Christian community now also includes other [[Christian]] denominations such as [[Protestants]] (known in Arabic as Evangelicals), [[Roman Catholic|Roman]] and [[Eastern Rite Catholic]]s, and other [[Christian Orthodox|Orthodox]] congregations. The term ''Coptic'' remains exclusive however to the Egyptian natives, as opposed to the Christians of non-Egyptian origins. Some Protestant churches for instance are called "Coptic Evangelical Church", thus helping differentiate their native Egyptian congregations from churches attended by non-Egyptian immigrant communities such as Europeans or Americans. |
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In 2005 a group of Coptic activists created a [[Coptic flag|flag]] to represent Copts worldwide.<ref>[http://freecopts.net/english/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=14&Itemid=38 The Free Copts - The Coptic Flag, Meanings and Colors<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> |
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The current head of the Coptic Orthodox Church is [[Pope Shenouda III]]. |
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{{Copts}} |
{{Copts}} |
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== Human rights == |
== Human rights == |
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<!-- Deleted image removed: [[Image:CopticCenser.jpg|thumb|right|Coptic priests and deacons during prayer]] ...replace with a free image if available. Thank you, ~Troy --> |
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{{Main |
{{Main|Religion in Egypt}} |
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[[Freedom of religion|Religious freedom]] in Egypt is hampered to varying degrees by discriminatory and restrictive government policies. Coptic Christians, being the largest religious minority in Egypt, are also negatively affected. Copts have faced increasing marginalization after the 1952 [[coup d'état]] led by [[Gamal Abdel Nasser]]. Until recently, [[Christians]] were required to obtain presidential approval for even minor repairs in churches. Although the law was eased in 2005 by handing down the authority of approval to the governors, Copts continue to face many obstacles and restrictions in building new churches. These restrictions do not apply for building mosques.<ref>WorldWide Religious News. [http://www.wwrn.org/article.php?idd=19813&sec=36&cont=3 Church Building Regulations Eased]. December 13, 2005.</ref><ref>Compass Direct News. [http://www.compassdirect.org/en/newslongen.php?idelement=4132&id=17&critere=&countryname=&rowcur=25 Church Building Regulations Eased]. December 13, 2005.</ref> |
[[Freedom of religion|Religious freedom]] in Egypt is hampered to varying degrees by discriminatory and restrictive government policies. Coptic Christians, being the largest religious minority in Egypt, are also negatively affected. Copts have faced increasing marginalization after the 1952 [[coup d'état]] led by [[Gamal Abdel Nasser]]. Until recently, [[Christians]] were required to obtain presidential approval for even minor repairs in churches. Although the law was eased in 2005 by handing down the authority of approval to the governors, Copts continue to face many obstacles and restrictions in building new churches. These restrictions do not apply for building mosques.<ref>WorldWide Religious News. [http://www.wwrn.org/article.php?idd=19813&sec=36&cont=3 Church Building Regulations Eased]. December 13, 2005.</ref><ref>Compass Direct News. [http://www.compassdirect.org/en/newslongen.php?idelement=4132&id=17&critere=&countryname=&rowcur=25 Church Building Regulations Eased]. December 13, 2005.</ref> |
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Coptic community has been targeted by hate crimes and physical assaults. The most significant was the 2000-2001 El Kosheh attacks, in which Muslims and Christians were involved in bloody inter-religious clashes following a dispute between a Muslim and a Christian. "Twenty Christians and one Muslim were killed after violence broke out in the town of el-Kosheh, 440 kilometres (275 miles) south of Cairo".<ref name="Egyptian court orders clashes retrial">{{cite web|url= http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/1465023.stm|title= “Egyptian court orders clashes retrial”|date=July 30, 2001|publisher=[[BBC News]]}}</ref> In 2006, one person who was claimed to be both drunk and mad, attacked three churches in [[Alexandria]], left one dead and from 5 to 16 injured, although the attacker was not linked to any organisation.<ref name="Coptic Christians attacked in churches">{{cite web | last = Miles | first = Hugh| title= Coptic Christians attacked in churches| publisher= [[The Daily Telegraph|The Telegraph]] | date=April 15, 2006 | url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/africaandindianocean/egypt/1515829/Coptic-Christians-attacked-in-churches.html|accessdate=2008-10-07}}</ref><ref name=<ref>BBC. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/4911346.stm Egypt church attacks spark anger], April 15, 2006.</ref> |
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[[Boutros Boutros-Ghali]] is a Copt who served as [[Egypt]]'s ''acting'' foreign minister twice under President [[Anwar Sadat]] (1977 and |
[[Boutros Boutros-Ghali]] is a Copt who served as [[Egypt]]'s ''acting'' foreign minister twice under President [[Anwar Sadat]] (1977 and 1978 - 1979). Although [[Boutros Boutros-Ghali]] later became the [[United Nations Secretary-General]], his appointment as an only ''acting'' foreign minister depicted [[Egypt]]'s systematic elimination of [[Copts]] from all governmental influential positions. Today, only two Copts are on [[Egypt]]'s governmental cabinet: Finance Minister [[Youssef Boutros Ghali]] and Environment Minister Magued George. There is also currently one Coptic governor out of 25, that of the [[Upper Egypt]]ian governorate of [[Qena]], and the first Coptic governor in a few decades. In addition, [[Naguib Sawiris]], an extremely successful businessman and one of the world's 100 wealthiest people, is a Copt. In 2002, under the [[Mubarak]] government, [[Coptic calendar|Coptic Christmas]] (January the 7th) was recognized as an official holiday.<ref>ArabicNews.com. [http://www.arabicnews.com/ansub/Daily/Day/021220/2002122025.html Copts welcome Presidential announcement on Eastern Christmas Holiday]. December 20, 2002.</ref> However, many [[Copts]] continue to complain of being minimally represented in law enforcement, state security and public office, and of being discriminated against in the workforce on the basis of their religion.<ref>Freedom House. [http://www.freedomhouse.org/religion/publications/endangered Egypt's Endangered Christians.]</ref><ref>Human Rights Watch. [http://hrw.org/english/docs/2006/01/18/egypt12212.htm Egypt: Overview of human rights issues in Egypt]. 2005</ref> Most Copts do not support independence or separation movement from other Egyptians.<ref>[http://www.cpr-government.org/index_English.htm Coptic Pharaonic Republic]</ref> |
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While freedom of religion is guaranteed by the Egyptian constitution, according to [[Human Rights Watch]], "Egyptians are able to [[Religious conversion|convert]] to Islam generally without difficulty, but Muslims who convert to Christianity face difficulties in getting new identity papers and some have been arrested for allegedly forging such documents.<ref>[http://hrw.org/englishwr2k7/docs/2007/01/11/egypt14701.htm Human Rights Watch. World report 2007: Egypt].</ref> The Coptic community, however, takes pains to prevent conversions from Christianity to Islam due to the ease with which Christians can often become Muslim.<ref>[http://www.ahram.org.eg/acpss/eng/ahram/2004/7/5/ARAB43.HTM EGYPT: NATIONAL UNITY AND THE COPTIC ISSUE]. 2004</ref> Public officials, being conservative themselves, intensify the complexity of the legal procedures required to recognize the religion change as required by law. Security agencies will sometimes claim that such conversions from [[Islam]] to [[Christianity]] (or occasionally vice versa) may stir social unrest, and thereby justify themselves in wrongfully detaining the subjects, insisting that they are simply taking steps to prevent likely social troubles from happening.<ref>[http://www.comeandsee.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=502 Egypt: Egypt Arrests 22 Muslim converts to Christianity]. November 03, 2003</ref> In 2007, a Cairo administrative court denied 45 citizens the right to obtain identity papers documenting their reversion to Christianity after converting to Islam.<ref>Shahine, Gihan. [http://weekly.ahram.org.eg/2007/843/eg8.htm "Fraud, not Freedom".] Ahram Weekly, 3 - May 9, 2007</ref> However, in February 2008 the Supreme Administrative Court overturned the decision, allowing 12 citizens who had reverted back to Christianity to re-list their religion on identity cards,<ref name="Egyptian Court Allows Return to Christianity">{{cite news | last = Audi | first = Nadim | title= Egyptian Court Allows Return to Christianity | work= [[The New York Times]] | date= February 11, 2008 | url = http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/11/world/africa/11egypt.html?ex=1360386000&en=03faf391c4592600&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss | accessdate=2008-10-07}}</ref><ref>[[Associated Press]]. [http://www.pr-inside.com/egypt-court-upholds-right-of-converted-r430320.htm Egypt court upholds right of converted Muslims to return to Christianity]. 2008-02-09.</ref> but they will specify that they had adopted Islam for a brief period of time.<ref>AFP. [http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5g8Ro5sk6sChDNUGMQTIMBj6HsHQQ Egypt allows converts to revert to Christianity on ID]. February, 2008.</ref> |
While freedom of religion is guaranteed by the Egyptian constitution, according to [[Human Rights Watch]], "Egyptians are able to [[Religious conversion|convert]] to Islam generally without difficulty, but Muslims who convert to Christianity face difficulties in getting new identity papers and some have been arrested for allegedly forging such documents.<ref>[http://hrw.org/englishwr2k7/docs/2007/01/11/egypt14701.htm Human Rights Watch. World report 2007: Egypt].</ref> The Coptic community, however, takes pains to prevent conversions from Christianity to Islam due to the ease with which Christians can often become Muslim.<ref>[http://www.ahram.org.eg/acpss/eng/ahram/2004/7/5/ARAB43.HTM EGYPT: NATIONAL UNITY AND THE COPTIC ISSUE]. 2004</ref> Public officials, being conservative themselves, intensify the complexity of the legal procedures required to recognize the religion change as required by law. Security agencies will sometimes claim that such conversions from [[Islam]] to [[Christianity]] (or occasionally vice versa) may stir social unrest, and thereby justify themselves in wrongfully detaining the subjects, insisting that they are simply taking steps to prevent likely social troubles from happening.<ref>[http://www.comeandsee.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=502 Egypt: Egypt Arrests 22 Muslim converts to Christianity]. November 03, 2003</ref> In 2007, a Cairo administrative court denied 45 citizens the right to obtain identity papers documenting their reversion to Christianity after converting to Islam.<ref>Shahine, Gihan. [http://weekly.ahram.org.eg/2007/843/eg8.htm "Fraud, not Freedom".] Ahram Weekly, 3 - May 9, 2007</ref> However, in February 2008 the Supreme Administrative Court overturned the decision, allowing 12 citizens who had reverted back to Christianity to re-list their religion on identity cards,<ref name="Egyptian Court Allows Return to Christianity">{{cite news | last = Audi | first = Nadim | title= Egyptian Court Allows Return to Christianity | work= [[The New York Times]] | date= February 11, 2008 | url = http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/11/world/africa/11egypt.html?ex=1360386000&en=03faf391c4592600&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss | accessdate=2008-10-07}}</ref><ref>[[Associated Press]]. [http://www.pr-inside.com/egypt-court-upholds-right-of-converted-r430320.htm Egypt court upholds right of converted Muslims to return to Christianity]. 2008-02-09.</ref> but they will specify that they had adopted Islam for a brief period of time.<ref>AFP. [http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5g8Ro5sk6sChDNUGMQTIMBj6HsHQQ Egypt allows converts to revert to Christianity on ID]. February, 2008.</ref> |
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==== Coptic year ==== |
==== Coptic year ==== |
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[[ |
[[Image:Coptic Cross Large.png|left|219px|Coptic Orthodox Cross with traditional Coptic script reading: 'Jesus Christ, the Son of God']] |
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The Coptic year is the extension of the ancient Egyptian civil year, retaining its subdivision into the three seasons, four months each. The three seasons are commemorated by special prayers in the Coptic Liturgy. This calendar is still in use all over Egypt by farmers to keep track of the various agricultural seasons. The Coptic calendar has 13 months, 12 of 30 days each and an intercalary month at the end of the year of 5 or 6 days, depending whether the year is a leap year or not. The year starts on 29 August in the [[Julian Calendar]] or on the 30th in the year before (Julian) Leap Years. The Coptic Leap Year follows the same rules as the Julian Calendar so that the extra month always has six days in the year before a Julian Leap Year. |
The Coptic year is the extension of the ancient Egyptian civil year, retaining its subdivision into the three seasons, four months each. The three seasons are commemorated by special prayers in the Coptic Liturgy. This calendar is still in use all over Egypt by farmers to keep track of the various agricultural seasons. The Coptic calendar has 13 months, 12 of 30 days each and an intercalary month at the end of the year of 5 or 6 days, depending whether the year is a leap year or not. The year starts on 29 August in the [[Julian Calendar]] or on the 30th in the year before (Julian) Leap Years. The Coptic Leap Year follows the same rules as the Julian Calendar so that the extra month always has six days in the year before a Julian Leap Year. |
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The Feast of [[Neyrouz]] marks the first day of the Coptic year. |
The Feast of [[Neyrouz]] marks the first day of the Coptic year. The misnomer remains today, and the celebrations of the Egyptian new year on the first day of the month of Thout are known as the Neyrouz. Its celebration falls on the 1st day of the month of [[Thout]], the first month of the Egyptian year, which for AD 1901 to 2098 usually coincides with 11 September, except before a Gregorian leap year when it's September 12. Coptic years are counted from AD 284, the year [[Diocletian]] became Roman Emperor, whose reign was marked by tortures and mass executions of Christians, especially in Egypt. Hence, the Coptic year is identified by the abbreviation A.M. (for ''Anno Martyrum'' or "Year of the Martyrs"). The A.M. abbreviation is also used for the unrelated Jewish year (''Anno Mundi''). |
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Every fourth Coptic year is a leap year ''without exception'', as in the Julian calendar, so the above mentioned new year dates apply only between AD 1900 and 2099 inclusive in the Gregorian Calendar. In the Julian Calendar, the new year is ''always'' 29 August, except before a Julian leap year when it's August 30. [[Easter]] is reckoned by the Julian Calendar in the Old Calendarist way. |
Every fourth Coptic year is a leap year ''without exception'', as in the Julian calendar, so the above mentioned new year dates apply only between AD 1900 and 2099 inclusive in the Gregorian Calendar. In the Julian Calendar, the new year is ''always'' 29 August, except before a Julian leap year when it's August 30. [[Easter]] is reckoned by the Julian Calendar in the Old Calendarist way. |
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{{Main|List of prominent Copts}} |
{{Main|List of prominent Copts}} |
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Many Copts are internationally renowned. Some of the most well known Copts include [[Boutros Boutros-Ghali]] the sixth [[United Nations Secretary-General|Secretary-General]] of the [[United Nations]], [[Sir Magdi Yacoub]] an internationally renowned heart surgeon, [[Hani Azer]], a world leading civil engineer, and billionaire [[Fayez Sarofim]], one of the richest men in the world. |
Many Copts are internationally renowned. Some of the most well known Copts include [[Boutros Boutros-Ghali]] the sixth [[United Nations Secretary-General|Secretary-General]] of the [[United Nations]], [[Sir Magdi Yacoub]] an internationally renowned heart surgeon, [[Hani Azer]], a world leading civil engineer, Fayed Azouz, dental surgeon and billionaire [[Fayez Sarofim]], one of the richest men in America and the world. |
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== Related words == |
== Related words == |
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<!-- Unsourced image removed: [[ |
<!-- Unsourced image removed: [[Image:AncientCopticPriest.jpg|thumb|right|Coptic priest from the 19th century]] --> |
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* From the Greek word Αίγυπτος "Aiguptos" or "Aigyptos", the name for ''Egypt'' in many [[Europe]]an languages was derived. |
* From the Greek word Αίγυπτος "Aiguptos" or "Aigyptos", the name for ''Egypt'' in many [[Europe]]an languages was derived. |
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== External links == |
== External links == |
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* [http://www.copts.com/ Copts] |
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* [http://www.coptsunited.com/ Copts United] |
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* [http://www.freecopts.net Free Copts] |
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* [http://www.copticbook.com/ Coptic Book] |
* [http://www.copticbook.com/ Coptic Book] |
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* [http://www.coptic-cairo.com/ Coptic Cairo] |
* [http://www.coptic-cairo.com/ Coptic Cairo] |
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* [http://www.copticchurch.net/ Coptic Orthodox Church Network] |
* [http://www.copticchurch.net/ Coptic Orthodox Church Network] |
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* [http://www.pscopts.org/ Coptic Diocese In Port-Said] |
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* [http://www.copticmuseum.gov.eg/English/default.htm Coptic Museum] |
* [http://www.copticmuseum.gov.eg/English/default.htm Coptic Museum] |
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* [http://www.stpeterandstpaul.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=42&Itemid=30 In Search of the Lost Egyptian Identity] |
* [http://www.stpeterandstpaul.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=42&Itemid=30 In Search of the Lost Egyptian Identity] |
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* [http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/irf/2001/5636.htm International Religious Freedom Report: Egypt] |
* [http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/irf/2001/5636.htm International Religious Freedom Report: Egypt] |
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* [http://www.unitedcopts.org/ United Copts of Great Britain] |
* [http://www.unitedcopts.org/ United Copts of Great Britain] |
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* [http://koptisk.dk/ Coptic Orthodox Church in Denmark] |
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* [http://www.coptipedia.com/ Coptic Orthodox Church French texts] |
* [http://www.coptipedia.com/ Coptic Orthodox Church French texts] |
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* [http://www.amcoptic.com |
* [http://www.amcoptic.com AM Coptic Association] |
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* [http://www.copteseurope.info/ |
* [http://www.copteseurope.info/ Association des Coptes d'Europe] Coptic Association of Europe. |
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* [http://www.freeegypt.de/ Coptic Christians of Egypt- German Site] |
* [http://www.freeegypt.de/ Coptic Christians of Egypt- German Site] |
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* [http://bc.ub.leidenuniv.nl/bc/tentoonstelling/Coptic_manuscript/index.html Coptic texts and manuscripts at Leiden University Library] |
* [http://bc.ub.leidenuniv.nl/bc/tentoonstelling/Coptic_manuscript/index.html Coptic texts and manuscripts at Leiden University Library] |
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[[Category:Ethnoreligious groups]] |
[[Category:Ethnoreligious groups]] |
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[[Category:Ethnic groups in Egypt]] |
[[Category:Ethnic groups in Egypt]] |
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[[Category:Christian terms]] |
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[[als:Koptisch]] |
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[[ar:أقباط]] |
[[ar:أقباط]] |
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[[ca:Copte]] |
[[ca:Copte]] |
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[[es:Copto]] |
[[es:Copto]] |
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[[eo:Kopto]] |
[[eo:Kopto]] |
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[[fa:قبطی]] |
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[[fr:Coptes]] |
[[fr:Coptes]] |
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[[hr:Kopti]] |
[[hr:Kopti]] |
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[[he:קופטים]] |
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[[arz:اقباط]] |
[[arz:اقباط]] |
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[[lt:Koptai]] |
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[[nl:Kopten]] |
[[nl:Kopten]] |
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[[ja:コプト正教会]] |
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[[no:Kopter]] |
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[[pl:Koptowie]] |
[[pl:Koptowie]] |
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[[pt:Coptas]] |
[[pt:Coptas]] |
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[[ru:Копты]] |
[[ru:Копты]] |
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[[simple:Copt]] |
[[simple:Copt]] |
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[[sv:Koptisk]] |
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[[tr:Kıptiler]] |
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[[uk:Копти]] |
[[uk:Копти]] |
Revision as of 14:01, 20 February 2010
File:CoptsCollage.jpg Top row (left to right) Saint Mary of Egypt • Boutros Boutros Ghali • Ester Fanous • Saint Maurice Bottom row (left to right) Makram Pasha Ebeid • Meriam George • Saint Paul the Hermit and Saint Anthony the Great • Pope Cyril VI | |
Total population | |
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4,600,000 to 18,000,000 (estimates vary) | |
Founder | |
Saint Mark the Evangelist | |
Regions with significant populations | |
![]() | estimations range between 4,600,000 to 12,000,000 (see Religion in Egypt)[1] The 2009 American Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life[2] asserted that Egypt is home to roughly 78,513,000 Muslims, roughly 94.6 percent of the population, with Coptic Orthodox and Protestant Christians, Baha’i, agnostic, etc., making up the remaining 5 percent. For a projected 83,000,000+ Egyptians in 2009, this assumption yields the above figures. In 2008, Pope Shenouda III and Bishop Morkos, bishop of Shubra, declared that the number of Copts in Egypt is more than 12 million, though this figure has not been independently verified. |
![]() | 700,000 - 1,000,000 (2007)[3][4][5][6] |
![]() | 70,000+ (2003)[7] [8] |
![]() | 65,000[9] |
![]() | 50,000+ (2008 est.)[10] |
![]() | 25,000 - 30,000 (2006)[11] |
![]() | 15,000+[12][13] |
![]() | 8,000+[12][13] |
![]() | 8,000+ (2005)[14] |
![]() | 3,000 - 5,000 (2005)[15] |
![]() | 2,000 (2001)[16] |
![]() | 1,000 (2004)[17] |
Religions | |
Predominantly: Coptic Orthodox Christianity. Minorities include: Coptic Catholic Church; various Protestant minorities | |
Scriptures | |
Bible | |
Languages | |
Liturgical: Coptic In Egypt: Egyptian Arabic In the diaspora: English, French, German and others |
A Copt (Coptic: ⲟⲩⲣⲉⲙ'ⲛⲭⲏⲙⲓ 'ⲛ'Ⲭⲣⲏⲥⲧⲓ'ⲁⲛⲟⲥ ou.Remenkīmi en.Ekhristianos, literally: Egyptian Christian) is a native Egyptian Christian. Copts form a major ethno-religious group that has ancient origins. Copts are Egyptians whose ancestors embraced Christianity in the first century. The word "Coptic" was originally used in Classical Arabic to refer to Egyptians in general (see section), but it has undergone a semantic shift over the centuries to mean more specifically Egyptian Christian. This semantic shift dates back to the time when Christians became an Egyptian minority, after the bulk of the Egyptian population converted to Islam following the Muslim conquest of Egypt in the 7th century.[18] The Coptic Christian population in Egypt is the largest Christian community in the Middle East.[19] Christians represent between 5% and 10% of a population of over 80 million Egyptians,[20][21][22][23][24][25][26][27][28][29] though estimates vary (see Religion in Egypt). Around 95% of them belong to the native Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria.[26][27][30] The remaining (around 800,000[28]) are divided between the Coptic Catholic and the Coptic Protestant churches.
While the number of Copts continues to increase, their percentage within Egypt may be very slowly declining due to lower birth rates and higher emigration rates, in comparison with Egyptian Muslims.[citation needed]
Etymology
The English word Copt is from Coptus, which is derived from Arabic qubṭi قبطي (pl: qubṭ قبط and aqbāṭ أقباط), an Arabisation of the Coptic word kubti (Bohairic) and/or kuptaion (Sahidic). After they invaded Egypt in 641 A.D. the Arabs called the indigenous population of the country Gypt. Up until that time, the indigenous Egyptians referred to themselves as rem.en.kimi which means Egyptians in Egyptian. The Arabic word qubṭi is in turn derived from the Greek word Αἰγύπτιος, aiguptios: "Egyptian", from Αἴγυπτος, aiguptos: "Egypt".
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Hut-ka-Ptah in hieroglyphs | |||||||
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The Greek term for "Egypt" has a long history. It goes back to the Mycenaean language (an early form of Greek) where the word a3-ku-pi-ti-jo (lit. "Egyptian"; used here as a man's name) was written in Linear B. This Mycenaean form is likely from Egyptian ḥwt-k3-ptḥ ("Hut-ka-Ptah"), literally "Estate (or 'House') of the Spirit of Ptah" (cf. Akkadian āluḫi-ku-up-ta-aḫ), the name of the temple complex of the god Ptah at Memphis. As the chief temple precinct of the capital of Egypt, the name was applied to the entire city of Memphis and ultimately to the country as a whole.
Therefore, the word Copt simply means Egyptian[31] . This is why many contemporary Muslims in Egypt say they are both Muslims and Copts. However, in contemporary usage, the word Copt or Coptic refers only to the Christian population of Egypt.[32]. A similar situation is observed in the name Memphis [Greek Μέμφις], which comes from the Egyptian name of the pyramid complex of king Pepi II, mn nfr ppy (lit. "Established in Perfection or 'Beauty' is Pepy") at Saqqara but which was applied to the nearby capital city. Interestingly, this usage survived in Sahidic as Gupton and Kupton, meaning "Memphis". In modern Egyptian Arabic, Cairo is usually called Masr, which is also the name of Egypt.
There is another theory which states that the Arabic word qibṭ "Copt" was an Arabisation of the Greek name of the town of Κόπτος Coptos (modern day Qifṭ; Coptic Kebt and Keft), but is generally no longer accepted.
References to Copts in the Coptic language are both Greek and Coptic in origin. The words kuptaion (Sahidic) and kubti (Bohairic) are attested, but are used in the surviving texts to refer to the language, rather than the people; these both derive from Greek Αἴγύπτιος aiguptios "Egyptian". The Coptic term for the word "Egyptian" is rem en kēme (Sahidic) ⲣⲙⲛⲕⲏⲙⲉ, lem en kēmi (Fayyumic), rem en khēmi (Bohairic) ⲣⲉⲙ'ⲛⲭⲏⲙⲓ , etc., literally "people of Egypt"; cf. Egyptian rmṯ n kmt, Demotic rmt n kmỉ.
The etymological meaning of the word therefore pertains to all people of Egyptian origins, not only those who profess Coptic Orthodoxy. Medieval writers before the Mamluk period often used the words Copts and Egyptians interchangeably to describe all the people of Egypt whether Christian or Muslim. After the bulk of the Egyptian population was prosecuted and was pushed to convert to islam by the islamic swards as with the rest of the world, the word Copt came to be associated with Egyptians who retained their Christianity. In the 20th century, some Egyptian nationalists and intellectuals began using the term Copts in the historical sense. For example, Markos Pasha Semeika, founder of the Coptic Museum, addressed a group of Egyptian students in these words: "All of you are Copts. Some of you are Muslim Copts, others are Christian Copts, but all of you are descended from the Ancient Egyptians".[33]
History
![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/67/StMarkcoptic.jpg)
The Copts are one of the oldest Christian communities in the Middle East. Although integrated in the larger Egyptian nation, the Copts have survived as a distinct religious community forming around 5-10% of the population,[34][22][23][26][28][29] though estimates vary (see Religion in Egypt). They pride themselves on the apostolicity of the Egyptian Church whose founder was the first in an unbroken chain of patriarchs.
Foundation of the Egyptian Christian Church
According to ancient tradition, Christianity was introduced to the Egyptians by Saint Mark in Alexandria, shortly after the ascension of Christ and during the reign of the Roman emperor Claudius around 42 A.D.[35] The legacy that Saint Mark left in Egypt was a considerable Christian community in Alexandria. From Alexandria, Christianity spread throughout Egypt within half a century of Saint Mark's arrival in Alexandria, as is clear from a fragment of the Gospel of John, written in Coptic, which was found in Upper Egypt and can be dated to the first half of the second century, and the New Testament writings found in Oxyrhynchus, in Middle Egypt, which date around the year 200 A.D. In the second century, Christianity began to spread to the rural areas, and scriptures were translated into the local language, today known as the Coptic language (which was called the Egyptian language at the time). By the beginning of the 3rd century A.D., Christians constituted the majority of Egypt’s population, and the Church of Alexandria was recognized as one of Christendom's four Apostolic Sees, second in honor only to the Church of Rome. The Church of Alexandria is therefore the oldest church in Africa.
Contributions to Christianity
The Egyptians contributed immensely to the formation of the worldwide Christian mind. For example, the Catechetical School of Alexandria was the oldest catechetical school in the world. Founded around 190 A.D. by the scholar Pantanaeus, the school of Alexandria became an important institution of religious learning, where students were taught by scholars such as Athenagoras, Clement, Didymus, and the great Origen, who was considered the father of theology and who was also active in the field of commentary and comparative Biblical studies. However, the scope of this school was not limited to theological subjects; science, mathematics and humanities were also taught there. The question-and-answer method of commentary began there, and 15 centuries before Braille, wood-carving techniques were in use there by blind scholars to read and write.
Another major contribution made by the Egyptians to Christianity was the creation and organization of monasticism. The most prominent figures of the monastic movement were Anthony the Great, Paul of Thebes, Macarius the Great, Shenouda the Archimandrite and Pachomius the Cenobite. By the end of the fifth century, there were hundreds of monasteries, and thousands of cells and caves scattered throughout the Egyptian desert. Worldwide Christian monasticism stems, either directly or indirectly, from the Egyptian example. Thus, Saint Basil the Great Archbishop of Caesarea Mazaca, and the founder and organiser of the monastic movement in Asia Minor, visited Egypt around 357 A.D. and his monastic rules are followed by the Eastern Orthodox Churches; Saint Jerome, who translated the Bible into Latin, came to Egypt while en route to Jerusalem around 400 A.D. and left details of his experiences in his letters; and Saint Benedict founded the Benedictine Order in the sixth century on the model of Saint Pachomius, although in a stricter form. Countless pilgrims have visited the Egyptian Desert Fathers to emulate their spiritual, disciplined lives.
The Ecumenical Councils
![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/49/Monastery_of_Abu_Mena_%2803-2009%29.jpg/220px-Monastery_of_Abu_Mena_%2803-2009%29.jpg)
a UNESCO World Heritage Site
The Egyptians also played a major role in the first three Ecumenical councils. Thus, the Council of Nicaea (325 AD) was presided over by Pope Alexander of Alexandria, along with Saint Hosius of Córdoba. In addition, the most prominent figure of the council was the future Pope of Alexandria Athanasius, who played the major role in the formulation of the Nicene Creed, recited today in most Christian churches of different denominations. One of the council's decisions was to entrust the Pope of Alexandria with calculating and annually announcing the exact date of Easter to the rest of the Christian churches. The Council of Constantinople (381 AD) was presided over by Pope Timothy of Alexandria, while the Council of Ephesus (431 AD) was presided over by Pope Cyril of Alexandria. Undoubtedly, the fact that the first three Ecumenical councils in the history of Christianity were headed by Egyptian patriarchs attested to the major contributions that the See of Alexandria has contributed to the establishment of early Christian theology and dogma.
Council of Chalcedon
In 451 A.D., following the Council of Chalcedon, the Church of Alexandria was divided into two branches. Those who accepted the terms of the Council became known as Chalcedonians or Melkites. Those who did not abide by the Council's terms were labeled non-Chalcedonians or Monophysites (and later Jacobites after Jacob Baradaeus). The non-Chalcedonians, however, rejected the term Monophysites as erroneous and insisted on being called Miaphysites. The majority of the Egyptians belonged to the Miaphysite branch, which led to their persecution by the Byzantines in Egypt.
The Arab-Muslim Emancipation of Egypt
![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a4/Cairo%2C_Old_Cairo%2C_Hanging_Church%2C_Egypt%2C_Oct_2004.jpg/170px-Cairo%2C_Old_Cairo%2C_Hanging_Church%2C_Egypt%2C_Oct_2004.jpg)
In 641 A.D., Egypt the Arabs faced off with the Byzantine army, but found little to no resistance from the native Egyptian population. Local resistance by the Egyptians however began to materialize shortly thereafter and would last until at least the ninth century.[36][37]
The Arabs imposed a special tax, known as Jizya, on the Christians who acquired the status of dhimmis, and all native Egyptians were prohibited from joining the army. Egyptian converts to Islam in turn were granted the status of mawali. Mawalis were in turn subject to the Zakat taxation, as well as their obligation to serve in the Muslim armies.
The Arabs in the 7th century seldom used the term Egyptian, and used instead the term Copt to describe the people of Egypt. Thus, Egyptians became known as Copts, and the non-Chalcedonian Egyptian Church became known as the Coptic Church. The Chalcedonian Church remained known as the Melkite Church. In their own native language, Egyptians referred to themselves as rem-en-kimi, which translates into those of Egypt. Religious life remained largely undisturbed following the Arab occupation, as evidence by the rich output of Coptic arts in monastic centers in Old Cairo (Fustat) and throughout Egypt. Conditions, however, worsened shortly after that, and in the eighth and ninth centuries, during the period of the great national resistance against the Arabs, Muslim rulers banned the use of human forms in art (taking advantage of an iconoclastic conflict in Byzantium) and consequently destroyed many Coptic paintings and frescoes in churches.[38]
The Fatimid period of Islamic rule in Egypt was tolerant with the exception of the eccentricities of caliph Al-Hakim. The Fatimid rulers employed Copts in the government and participated in Coptic and local Egyptian feasts. Major renovation and reconstruction of churches and monasteries were also undertaken. Coptic arts flourished, reaching new heights in Middle and Upper Egypt.[39] Persecution of Egyptian Christians, however, reached a peak in the early Mamluk period following the Crusader wars. Many forced conversions of Christians took place. Monasteries were occasionally raided and destroyed by marauding Bedouin, but were rebuilt and reopened.
Copts in modern Egypt
![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b9/Copts_around_the_world.jpg/220px-Copts_around_the_world.jpg)
The position of the Copts did not begin to improve until the rule of Muhammad Ali in the early 19th century, who abolished the Jizya and allowed Egyptians (Copts as well as Muslims) to enroll in the army. Conditions continued to improve throughout the nineteenth century under the leadership of the great reformer Pope Cyril IV, and in the first half of the twentieth century (known as the Golden Age by the Copts) during Egypt's liberal period. Copts participated in the Egyptian national movement for independence and occupied many influential positions. Two significant cultural achievements include the founding of the Coptic Museum in 1910 and the Higher Institute of Coptic Studies in 1954. Some prominent Coptic thinkers from this period are Salama Moussa, Louis Awad and Secretary General of the Wafd Party Makram Ebeid. Following the 1952 coup d'état by the Free Officers, the conditions of the Copts have been slowly deteriorating and their human rights are often violated.
In 1952, Nasser led some army officers in a coup d'état against King Farouk, which overthrew the Kingdom of Egypt and established a republic. Nasser's mainstream policy was pan-Arab nationalism and socialism.
Today, members of the non-Chalcedonian Coptic Orthodox Church constitute the majority of the Egyptian Christian population. Mainly through emigration and partly through European, American, and other missionary work and conversions, the Egyptian Christian community now also includes other Christian denominations such as Protestants (known in Arabic as Evangelicals), Roman and Eastern Rite Catholics, and other Orthodox congregations. The term Coptic remains exclusive however to the Egyptian natives, as opposed to the Christians of non-Egyptian origins. Some Protestant churches for instance are called "Coptic Evangelical Church", thus helping differentiate their native Egyptian congregations from churches attended by non-Egyptian immigrant communities such as Europeans or Americans.
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Human rights
Religious freedom in Egypt is hampered to varying degrees by discriminatory and restrictive government policies. Coptic Christians, being the largest religious minority in Egypt, are also negatively affected. Copts have faced increasing marginalization after the 1952 coup d'état led by Gamal Abdel Nasser. Until recently, Christians were required to obtain presidential approval for even minor repairs in churches. Although the law was eased in 2005 by handing down the authority of approval to the governors, Copts continue to face many obstacles and restrictions in building new churches. These restrictions do not apply for building mosques.[40][41]
Coptic community has been targeted by hate crimes and physical assaults. The most significant was the 2000-2001 El Kosheh attacks, in which Muslims and Christians were involved in bloody inter-religious clashes following a dispute between a Muslim and a Christian. "Twenty Christians and one Muslim were killed after violence broke out in the town of el-Kosheh, 440 kilometres (275 miles) south of Cairo".[42] In 2006, one person who was claimed to be both drunk and mad, attacked three churches in Alexandria, left one dead and from 5 to 16 injured, although the attacker was not linked to any organisation.[43][44]
Boutros Boutros-Ghali is a Copt who served as Egypt's acting foreign minister twice under President Anwar Sadat (1977 and 1978 - 1979). Although Boutros Boutros-Ghali later became the United Nations Secretary-General, his appointment as an only acting foreign minister depicted Egypt's systematic elimination of Copts from all governmental influential positions. Today, only two Copts are on Egypt's governmental cabinet: Finance Minister Youssef Boutros Ghali and Environment Minister Magued George. There is also currently one Coptic governor out of 25, that of the Upper Egyptian governorate of Qena, and the first Coptic governor in a few decades. In addition, Naguib Sawiris, an extremely successful businessman and one of the world's 100 wealthiest people, is a Copt. In 2002, under the Mubarak government, Coptic Christmas (January the 7th) was recognized as an official holiday.[45] However, many Copts continue to complain of being minimally represented in law enforcement, state security and public office, and of being discriminated against in the workforce on the basis of their religion.[46][47] Most Copts do not support independence or separation movement from other Egyptians.[48]
While freedom of religion is guaranteed by the Egyptian constitution, according to Human Rights Watch, "Egyptians are able to convert to Islam generally without difficulty, but Muslims who convert to Christianity face difficulties in getting new identity papers and some have been arrested for allegedly forging such documents.[49] The Coptic community, however, takes pains to prevent conversions from Christianity to Islam due to the ease with which Christians can often become Muslim.[50] Public officials, being conservative themselves, intensify the complexity of the legal procedures required to recognize the religion change as required by law. Security agencies will sometimes claim that such conversions from Islam to Christianity (or occasionally vice versa) may stir social unrest, and thereby justify themselves in wrongfully detaining the subjects, insisting that they are simply taking steps to prevent likely social troubles from happening.[51] In 2007, a Cairo administrative court denied 45 citizens the right to obtain identity papers documenting their reversion to Christianity after converting to Islam.[52] However, in February 2008 the Supreme Administrative Court overturned the decision, allowing 12 citizens who had reverted back to Christianity to re-list their religion on identity cards,[53][54] but they will specify that they had adopted Islam for a brief period of time.[55]
Language
The Coptic language is the last stage of the Egyptian language.
Coptic should more correctly be used to refer to the script rather than the language itself. Even though this script was introduced as far back as the 1st century BC, it is usually applied to the writing of the Egyptian language from the first century AD to the present day.[56]
Today, Coptic is the liturgical language of the Egyptian Church and is also taught in Egypt and worldwide in many prestigious institutions.
Dialects of Coptic language:
- Sahidic: Theban or Upper Egyptian.
- Bohairic: The dialect of the Nile Delta and of the medieval and modern Coptic Church.
- Akhmimic
- Lycopolitan (also known as Subakhmimic)
- Fayyumic
- Oxyrhynchite
Calendar
The Coptic calendar, also called the Alexandrian calendar, is used by the Coptic Orthodox Church and also by Ethiopia as its official calendar (with different names). This calendar is based on the ancient Egyptian calendar. To avoid the calendar creep of the latter, a reform of the ancient Egyptian calendar was introduced at the time of Ptolemy III (Decree of Canopus, in 238 BC) which consisted of the intercalation of a sixth epagomenal day every fourth year. However, this reform was opposed by the Egyptian priests, and the idea was not adopted until 25 BC, when the Roman Emperor Augustus formally reformed the calendar of Egypt, keeping it forever synchronized with the newly introduced Julian calendar. To distinguish it from the Ancient Egyptian calendar, which remained in use by some astronomers until medieval times, this reformed calendar is known as the Coptic calendar. Its years and months coincide with those of the Ethiopian calendar but have different numbers and names.
Coptic year
![Coptic Orthodox Cross with traditional Coptic script reading: 'Jesus Christ, the Son of God'](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/11/Coptic_Cross_Large.png)
The Coptic year is the extension of the ancient Egyptian civil year, retaining its subdivision into the three seasons, four months each. The three seasons are commemorated by special prayers in the Coptic Liturgy. This calendar is still in use all over Egypt by farmers to keep track of the various agricultural seasons. The Coptic calendar has 13 months, 12 of 30 days each and an intercalary month at the end of the year of 5 or 6 days, depending whether the year is a leap year or not. The year starts on 29 August in the Julian Calendar or on the 30th in the year before (Julian) Leap Years. The Coptic Leap Year follows the same rules as the Julian Calendar so that the extra month always has six days in the year before a Julian Leap Year.
The Feast of Neyrouz marks the first day of the Coptic year. The misnomer remains today, and the celebrations of the Egyptian new year on the first day of the month of Thout are known as the Neyrouz. Its celebration falls on the 1st day of the month of Thout, the first month of the Egyptian year, which for AD 1901 to 2098 usually coincides with 11 September, except before a Gregorian leap year when it's September 12. Coptic years are counted from AD 284, the year Diocletian became Roman Emperor, whose reign was marked by tortures and mass executions of Christians, especially in Egypt. Hence, the Coptic year is identified by the abbreviation A.M. (for Anno Martyrum or "Year of the Martyrs"). The A.M. abbreviation is also used for the unrelated Jewish year (Anno Mundi).
Every fourth Coptic year is a leap year without exception, as in the Julian calendar, so the above mentioned new year dates apply only between AD 1900 and 2099 inclusive in the Gregorian Calendar. In the Julian Calendar, the new year is always 29 August, except before a Julian leap year when it's August 30. Easter is reckoned by the Julian Calendar in the Old Calendarist way.
To obtain the Coptic year number, subtract from the Julian year number either 283 (before the Julian new year) or 284 (after it).
More Information on the Coptic Calendar
Prominent Copts
Many Copts are internationally renowned. Some of the most well known Copts include Boutros Boutros-Ghali the sixth Secretary-General of the United Nations, Sir Magdi Yacoub an internationally renowned heart surgeon, Hani Azer, a world leading civil engineer, Fayed Azouz, dental surgeon and billionaire Fayez Sarofim, one of the richest men in America and the world.
Related words
- From the Greek word Αίγυπτος "Aiguptos" or "Aigyptos", the name for Egypt in many European languages was derived.
- The word qabāṭī قباطي, a kind of textile import from Egypt and which was used to cover the Kaaba since before Islam, is derived from Arabic قبط qubṭ.
- The English word gypsy is derived from the Middle English egypcien meaning "Egyptian". Likewise, the Spanish word gitano, also meaning gypsy, derives from a common Latin source. This is due to the mistaken belief that Gypsies were of Egyptian origin. Gypsy and the (probably) related term, gyp ("to swindle or cheat") are generally viewed as being pejorative; see the article Romani (people).
- Medieval sources mention one of the sons of Mitzrayim, who in turn descended from the Biblical Noah, as a possible source for the word 'Copt'.
See also
- Coptic Orthodox Church
- Coptic Catholic Church
- Coptic art
- Coptic flag
- Coptic identity
- Coptic language
- Coptic Museum
- Coptic Saints
- Coptology
- Egypt
- Egyptians
- Egyptian diaspora
- List of prominent Copts
- Aigyptos, in Greek mythology
- Coptic Wikipedia, currently in incubator stage
References
- Courbage, Youssef and Phillipe Fargues. Judy Mabro (Translator) Christians and Jews Under Islam, 1997.
- Denis, E. (2000). Cent ans de localisation de la population chrétienne égyptienne. Astrolabe(2).
- Kamil, Jill. Coptic Egypt: History and a Guide. Revised Ed. American University in Cairo Press, 1990.
- The Coptic Calendar by Bishoy K. R. Dawood (1.29MB pdf file – historical development and technical discussion)
- An introduction to the Coptic calendar (Gregorian equivalents are valid only between 1900 and 2099)
- The Orthodox Ecclesiastical Calendar
- Ancient Egyptian Calendar and Coptic Calendar
Footnotes
- ^ Official population counts put the number of Copts at around 6-10% of the population, while some Coptic voices claim figures as high as 15 to 20%. Some scholars defend the soundness of the official population census (cf. E.J.Chitham, The Coptic Community in Egypt. Spatial and Social Change, Durham 1986). Most independent estimates fall within range between 5% and 10%, for example the CIA World Factbook [1], or the Washington Institute [2].
- ^ The 2009 American Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life
- ^ According to published accounts and several Coptic/US sources (including the US-Coptic Association), the Coptic Orthodox Church has between 700,000 and one million members in the United States (c. 2005-2007). ^^"Why CCU?". Coptic Credit Union. Accessed June 21, 2009.
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(help) - ^ "Coptics flock to welcome 'Baba' at Pittsburgh airport". Pittsburgh Tribune (2007). Accessed June 21, 2009.
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(help) - ^ "State's first Coptic Orthodox church is a vessel of faith". JS Online (2005). Accessed June 21, 2009.
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(help) - ^ "Coptic Diaspora". US-Copts Association (2007). Accessed June 21, 2009.
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(help) - ^ In the year 2003, there was an estimated 70,000 Copts in New South Wales alone: - http://www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/prod/parlment/hansart.nsf/V3Key/LC20031112040. Parliamentary Debates (Hansard). Parliament of NSW - Legislative Council. 12 November 2003. p. Page: 4772: - Coptic Orthodox Church (NSW) Property Trust Amendment Bill.
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missing title (help) - ^ The Coptic Orthodox Diocese of Sydney & its Affiliated Regions - Under the Guidance of His Grace Bishop Daniel
- ^ Kuwait
- ^ Canada Free Press: According to the Canadian Coptic Association, there are approximately 50,000 Orthodox Copts in Canada.
- ^ Copts number at least 20,000 in Britain [3] plus another 5,000 - 10,000 Copts who are directly under the British Orthodox Church (1999 figures)
- ^ a b Come Across And Help Us Book 2
- ^ a b CopticMission
- ^ King commends Coptic Church's role in promoting coexistence
- ^ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Religion_in_Germany#Orthodoxy
- ^ Austria 2004 Religious Freedom news
- ^ Orthodox Copts open church in Switzerland
- ^ "The people of Egypt before the Arab conquest in the 7th century identified themselves and their language in Greek as Aigyptios (Arabic qibt, Westernized as Copt); when Egyptian Muslims later ceased to call themselves Aigyptioi, the term became the distinctive name of the Christian minority." Coptic Orthodox Church. Encyclopædia Britannica Online. 2007
- ^ Cole, Ethan (July 8, 2008). "Egypt's Christian-Muslim Gap Growing Bigger". The Christian Post. Retrieved 2008-10-02.
- ^ The 2009 American Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life
- ^ http://www.asharqalawsat.com/leader.asp?section=3&article=157751&issueno=8872 "Institut National Etudes Démographiques" - Research in population and demography of France estimates the coptic population to be
- ^ a b "Egypt from "The World Factbook"". American Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). September 4, 2008.
- ^ a b IPS News (retrieved 09-27-2008)
- ^ [4]. The Washington Post. "Estimates of the size of Egypt's Christian population vary from government figures of 6 to 7 million to the 12 million reported by some Christian leaders, though these claims have not been independently verified. Numbers may be in the 9 to 9.5 million range, out of an Egyptian population of more than 60 million." Retrieved 10-10-2008
- ^ Ibrahim, Youssef M. "Muslims' Fury Falls on Egypt's Christians". The New York Times, March 15, 1993. Retrieved 10-10-2008.
- ^ a b c "Egypt from "U.S. Department of State/Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs"". United States Department of State. September 30, 2008.
- ^ a b "Egypt from "Foreign and Commonwealth Office"". Foreign and Commonwealth Office -UK Ministry of Foreign Affairs. August 15, 2008.
- ^ a b c "Egypt Religions & Peoples from "LOOKLEX Encyclopedia"". LookLex Ltd. September 30, 2008.
- ^ a b "Egypt from "msn encarta"". Encarta. September 30, 2008. Archived from the original on 2009-10-31.
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suggested) (help) - ^ "Who are the Christians in the Middle East?". Betty Jane Bailey. June 18, 2009.
- ^ http://books.google.com/books?id=sq2f0eU7vSgC&pg=PA198
- ^ http://www.copts.net/history.asp
- ^ qtd. in M. Hussein. el Ittigahat el Wataneyya fil Adab el Muʻaṣir [National Trends in Modern Literature]. Vol. 2. Cairo, 1954
- ^ The 2009 American Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life
- ^ Eusebius of Caesarea, the author of Ecclesiastical History in the fourth century, states that st. Mark came to Egypt in the first or third year of the reign of Emperor Claudius, i.e. 41 or 43 A.D. "Two Thousand years of Coptic Christianity" Otto F.A. Meinardus p28.
- ^ Mawaiz wa al-'i'tibar bi dhikr al-khitat wa al-'athar (2 vols., Bulaq, 1854), by Al-Maqrizi
- ^ Chronicles, by John of Nikiû
- ^ Kamil, p. 41
- ^ Kamil, op cit.
- ^ WorldWide Religious News. Church Building Regulations Eased. December 13, 2005.
- ^ Compass Direct News. Church Building Regulations Eased. December 13, 2005.
- ^ ""Egyptian court orders clashes retrial"". BBC News. July 30, 2001.
- ^ Miles, Hugh (April 15, 2006). "Coptic Christians attacked in churches". The Telegraph. Retrieved 2008-10-07.
- ^ BBC. Egypt church attacks spark anger, April 15, 2006.
- ^ ArabicNews.com. Copts welcome Presidential announcement on Eastern Christmas Holiday. December 20, 2002.
- ^ Freedom House. Egypt's Endangered Christians.
- ^ Human Rights Watch. Egypt: Overview of human rights issues in Egypt. 2005
- ^ Coptic Pharaonic Republic
- ^ Human Rights Watch. World report 2007: Egypt.
- ^ EGYPT: NATIONAL UNITY AND THE COPTIC ISSUE. 2004
- ^ Egypt: Egypt Arrests 22 Muslim converts to Christianity. November 03, 2003
- ^ Shahine, Gihan. "Fraud, not Freedom". Ahram Weekly, 3 - May 9, 2007
- ^ Audi, Nadim (February 11, 2008). "Egyptian Court Allows Return to Christianity". The New York Times. Retrieved 2008-10-07.
- ^ Associated Press. Egypt court upholds right of converted Muslims to return to Christianity. 2008-02-09.
- ^ AFP. Egypt allows converts to revert to Christianity on ID. February, 2008.
- ^ Hany N. Takla, History of Coptic Language
External links
- Coptic Book
- Coptic Cairo
- Coptic Orthodox Church Network
- Coptic Diocese In Port-Said
- Coptic Museum
- In Search of the Lost Egyptian Identity
- Egypt's Copts After Kosheh
- Egypt: Minorities and the State
- International Religious Freedom Report: Egypt
- United Copts of Great Britain
- Coptic Orthodox Church in Denmark
- Coptic Orthodox Church French texts
- AM Coptic Association
- Association des Coptes d'Europe Coptic Association of Europe.
- Coptic Christians of Egypt- German Site
- Coptic texts and manuscripts at Leiden University Library