Coptic Slide Show The word COPT derives from the ancient Egyptian word HI KA PTAH meaning house of spirit PTAH. According to ancient Egyptians PTAH was the god who molded people out of clay and gave them the breath of life which relates to the original creation of man. The Greeks changed the name to Aigyptios which contained the word GYPT in the middle. The Arabs called Egypt DAR EL GYPT which means house of GYPT and changing the g to q in writing. Originally all Egyptians were called GYPT or QYPT, but after Islam carne to Egypt in the seventh century the word became synonymous with Christian Egyptians. The word MISR according to tradition derives from MIZRA-IM who was the son of HAM son of NOAH, and it was MIZRA-IM and his descendants who populated the land of Egypt. The Coptic language and writing is the last form of the ancient Egyptian language, the first being Hieroglyphics, Heratic and lastly Demotic. Scribes started transliterating Egyptian signs in Greek adding seven extra letters from the Demotic alphabet to accommodate the sounds for which there were do Greek letters: Shay Phay Khay houry janja tsheema tee The emergence of this new script cannot be dated precisely but some inscriptions survived dating to the Kushite dynasty (750-656 B.C.) According to honored tradition, St. Mark brought Christianity to Egypt in the first century (61 A.D.). St. Mark's first convert was a Jewish shoemaker in Alexandria by the name of Anianos. Although Egypt before the Christian era was a pagan country, there was a stream of traditional thought and belief that prepared the way for the Christian message to spread and flourish. An Egyptian text known as the Insinger Papyrus shows a certain continuity of thought, deeply rooted in the tradition, is the belief of a world creator who was also a creator of order in nature. When people raise their hands the god knows it. He knows the impious man who thinks of evil. He knows the godly man and that he has the greatness of god in his heart He gives good judgment through the counsel which no one knows. He creates abundant value without there being a store house behind him. It is he who makes the way safe without there being a guard. It is he who gives the just law without there being a judgment The hidden work of god, he makes it known on the earth daily. He created light and darkness.... He created the earth, begetting millions... He created day, month, year.... He created summer and winter.... He created food before those who are alive, the wonder of the fields. He created the breath in the egg where is no access to it. He created sleep to end weariness. He created remedies to end illness. Great is the counsel of the god in putting one thing after another. The fate and fortune that come, it is the god who sends them. (Papyrus Insinger, Ancient Egyptian Literature, Lichtheim, M., Vol. III, P184f.) (Akhenaten's hymn is specially remarkable, it dates back to 1,355 years before Christianity). When thou dost set in the western horizon. The earth is in darkness. like to death... Every lion has come forth from his lair, All the reptiles bite. (AKHENATEN'S HYMN) Thou appointest darkness, that it may be night. In which all the beast. of the forest prowl; The young lions roaring for their prey. To seek their food from god. (PSALM 104: 20-21) How manifold m that which thou hast made. Hidden from view! Thou sole god, there is no other like thee! Thou didst create the earth according to the will being alone. (AKHENATEN'S HYMN) How manifold are thy works, O Yahweh! All of them thou hast made by wisdom. The earth is full of the creations. (PSALM 104 : 24) The first important institution of religious learning in Christian antiquity was the Catechetical School in Alexandria. It was founded by Pantaenus, a Christian scholar. The school was not only limited to theology. Science, mathematics and humanities were taught there. Some of the most famous scholars and teachers of this school were Clement and Origen. By the third century, a new thought was developed thousands of anchorites - ascetics were living either alone or in groups and a large monastic movement was in full gear. Among the first were St. Anthony and St. Paul, they were followed by others who became pillars of monasticism; among them St. Macarius, St. Pachaum, St. Moses the Black and others. Christianity was recognized as the official religion in Egypt and throughout the Roman Empire around 312 AD Several ecumenical councils took place, among them the Council of Nicea in 325, the Council of Ephesus in 431 and lastly the Council of Chalcedon in 451 which resulted in the separation of the Egyptian (Coptic Church) from both the Byzantine and the Western (Latin) Churches forever. Creating two Christian families: one called the United Orthodox family represented by Syrian, Armenian, Indian, Ethiopian and Egyptian churches and the other known as the Byzantine represented by Greek, Ukrainian, Bulgarian and Romanian churches. Egypt was conquered by the Arabs in 641 AD, the Copts deeply hostile to Byzantine rule gave support to the conquer- ors. The Arabs were at first indifferent to the Copts and tolerant of their religion. But by the eighth century, increased taxation on non-Muslims and prohibitive fees for the right to construct and rebuild churches evoked resentment. Also dur- ing that time. many of the Coptic paintings and frescoes were destroyed. Non payment of taxes was enforced by severe penalties and more Copts were forced to accept Islam. By the ninth century Islam had gained predominance. During the Al-Hakim reign, many churches and monasteries were destroyed and Christian were severely and violently persecuted. In the Fatimid period. (969 - 1171 AD). Egypt enjoyed a great era of prosperity and the Coptic church flourished. The Fatimid's sympathetic attitude toward the Copts was expressed among other things in the employment of Copts in the government and their own participation in the Christian feasts. But more significant is the reconstruction and adornment of Churches and Monasteries in Fatimid times and new heights in Coptic a artistic expression were reached, especially in monastic centers in middle and Upper Egypt. Coptic art owes a great debt to two main sources, the classical and ancient Egypt. Old Cairo was inhabited exclusively by Copts. Arabs recruited local labor from their ranks. The Copts built most of the famous mosques in Cairo as an example is "Ibn Toloun" mosque which is considered a masterpiece of Islamic Art. The Coptic artist disguised crosses and symbols from the Old and New testament on the walls and wood carvings which would only be discernible to Copts. During the Ayyubid dynasty (12th century), the situation changed and there was an erosion of good will. Christianity declined with the coming of the Mamluks and artistic expres- sion seemed drained of its strength. During medieval times, churches and monasteries were plundered and destroyed by Bedouin raids. Not until the middle of the nineteenth century under the leadership of the great reformer, educator and statesman Pope Kirollos IV (110 Pope of Alexandria) did the Copts regain a sense of prestige and position. By the twentieth century The Higher Institute of Coptic Studies was founded in an attempt to restore a sense of religious identity and to preserve the Coptic artistic heritage. Also under the enlightened leadership and spirituality of Pope Kirollos VI (116 Pope of Alexandria), the Church entered into ecumenical dialogues and took its place on boards and committees of the World Council of Churches. Pope Shenouda III (117th Pope of Alexandria) is the Coptic Church leader since 1971 until present. Pope Shenouda was born in 1923 and has pursued both an ascetic and scholarly life. He joined the monastery of Suryan at Wadi-EI Natrun (Egypt) in 1954 and subsequently lived as a hermit in several monastic centers in the western desert of Egypt. He was ordained in 1962 as Bishop of higher Theological studies. He is also the author of several books and a large number of articles on spirituality and theology. Pope Shenouda takes a special interest in social services for the cornmunity especially in the Sunday school movement.