We look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the coming age. The Coptic Orthodox Church brought about saints of international renown, such as St. Athanasius who helped author the Nicene creed; St. Anthony, the father of monasticism; and St.
Verena, who made Christians of the people of Switzerland. The persecution of the Coptic people continues to this day in Egypt. Another interesting fact about the Coptic Orthodox Church is that it has preserved the faith first given by St.
When you walk into one of our churches, you will feel like you traveled back in time. When the Arabs arrived in Egypt in the seventh century, they called the Egyptians " qibt ".
Thus the Arabic word " qibt " came to mean both " Egyptians " and " Christians ". The term " Orthodoxy " here refers to the preservation of the " Original Faith " by the Copts who, throughout the ages, defended the Old Creed against the numerous attacks aimed at it.
He who wants to live in a cave will have the permission to live in a cave. We have all kinds of monasticism. Coptic monks are called Father. They typically wear a full black robe with a large cross around his neck and headscarf or skullcap and sport a short or long beard.
The Monastery of St. Anthony kilometers southwest of Cairo is a desert redoubt near the Red Sea in Egypt. Regarded by many as the world's first monastery, it was founded by disciples of St.
Anthony, one of the earliest and most influential hermits, in A. Located in the Zararana mountains, St. Anthony's Monastery, was established in the 4th century near where St. Anthony spent years mediating alone in the desert. It consists of chapels, churches, monk cells, bakeries, work shops and other buildings. On a mountain about 1, feet above St. Anthony's Monastery is St. Anthony's Cave. Monks living here make a vow of poverty, obedience and chastity.
Some have lived for years in caves on nothing but bread and water. Situated in jagged barren mountains, Monastery of St. Anthony is so isolated that it receives supplies from a monthly camel caravan. Visitors used to be are pulled up by a rope in a basket over a wall there to keep out Bedouin bandits. Now there is a two-lane road that leads there and some guest houses. Visitors see churches, a flour mill, garden and spring.
Not many tourist visit monastery, which is run by the Coptic Church and reached by dirt tracks that lead off the coastal road between Cairo to Hurghada. To stay overnight in the monastery you need permission from the Coptic Church in Cairo,.
Paul 80 kilometers from the Monastery of St. Anthony was built around the same time as the Monastery of St. It too is located in Zararana mountains, and consists of chapels, churches and other building.
It is more isolated and harder to get to than St. To stay overnight you need permission from the Coptic Church in Cairo.
Simeon near Aswan on the west side of the Nile lies on the top of a barren hill near the ferry stop. It is regarded as one of best-preserved ancient Coptic monasteries in Egypt. Frescoes of the Apostle still remain in the roofless Basilica. The monastery was built in the 7th century, rebuilt in the 10th century used until the 13th century as base for missionary monks to convert Nubians to Christianity.
Its Arabic name is Dayr Amba Samaan. It can be reached by camel or a steep half-hour hike that can be difficult in the mid-day sun. In the middle of the fourth century, anchorite holy men established three monasteries here, linked by a path known as the Road of Angels. But after most of the monks abandoned them, the monasteries fell into disrepair, only to flourish again in the past two decades as part of an anchorite revival.
Bishoy, founded in a. A sanctuary of baked-mud-brick monastic quarters and churches, linked by narrow passageways and topped by earthen domes, the compound has changed little over the past 1, years. As I turned a corner, I walked into a monk wearing Ray-Ban sunglasses. He introduced himself as Father Bishoy St. Anthony and offered to serve as my guide.
Bishoy, who died in Upper Egypt at age 97 in a. We crossed a wooden drawbridge to a sixth-century fortress of thick stone walls and vaulted corridors, built for protection from periodic attacks from Berbers.
From the rooftop, we could see a huge new cathedral, guesthouse and cafeteria complex built on the orders of Pope Shenouda after his release. Today St. Bishoy comprises a community of monks from as far away as Australia, Canada, Germany and Eritrea. All commit themselves to remain here for life. Anthony, 51, turned to the spiritual life after a secular upbringing in Egypt. Born in Alexandria, he moved to New York City in his 20s to study veterinary medicine but found himself yearning for something deeper.
He spent two years there, serving a mix of Eritreans, Egyptians and Sudanese, then lived in Sydney for four years. In , he returned to Egypt. Anthony follows a daily routine nearly as ascetic and unvaried as that of his fourth-century predecessors: The monks wake before dawn; recite the Psalms, sing hymns and celebrate the liturgy until 10; take a short nap; then eat a simple meal at 1.
In the evening, they return to their cells for a second meal of yogurt, jam and crackers, read the Bible and wash their clothes. During the fasting periods that precede both Christmas and Easter, the monks eat one meal a day; meat and fish are stricken from their diet.
Anthony acknowledged that not all of the monks here dwell in complete isolation. It has 13 months and is divided into 3 seasons; Inundation, Sowing, and Harvest.
The Coptic Christmas is celebrated on January 7 or 29 Kiahk - the fourth month of the Coptic calendar , which has been declared an official holiday in Egypt. It gives dates in both the Coptic and Western Calendars for fixed festivals. January 12 The Transfiguration of Christ Messra 13; c. Mary is celebrated on the 21st The feast of Archangel Michael is celebrated on the 12th of every month There is no abstention from food on Sundays after the celebration of the Eucharist, even during Great Lent.
Religious icon of St Macarius among plants and carrying a tall two-headed staff Icon of St Macarius at the monastery bearing his name Feasts of the Saints In addition there are other special fasts and occasions: The Feasts of St. Mary: The annunciation of her birth Messra 7, c. August 13 Her Nativity Pashans 1, c. May 9 Her Presentation into the Temple Kiahk 3, c. December 12 Her Dormant Tuba 21, c.
January 29 The Ascension of her body Paona 21, c. June 28 Her apparition over the Church of Zeitoon Paramhat 24, c. April 2 The apparition of her body to the Apostles Messra 16, c. August 22 The Apostles' Feast Abib 5, c. The Coptic Church diverged from other Christians during the 5th century in part due to differing beliefs about the nature of Christ.
Coptic Christians trace their founding to the apostle St. Tradition holds that Mark brought Christianity to Egypt and founded the Coptic church during the first century. It is one of the oldest Christian churches in the Middle East and was the first founded in Africa. They comprise the largest Christian community in the Middle East. There are some 12 million members worldwide, according to the World Council of Churches.
Like Catholics, Coptic Christians believe in the Ten Commandments, and they practice the sacraments of baptism, confession and confirmation. And Coptic priests can marry. Copts have their own pope. The current leader is Pope Tawadros II, a trained pharmacist who studied theology and was ordained a priest and later a bishop.
His papacy began in
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