Definition of Coptic Orthodox Church

In the first centuries after Christ the religion Christianity was consolidated in Egypt. In this territory Christians founded the Coptic Orthodox Church. The orthodox term means "the straight path" and Coptic means "Christian Of Egipt". This church is based on the first doctrines and teachings of Christianity that appear in the Bible, in the tradition orally and in the writings of the first church fathers.

In the religiosity of Ancient Egypt there was a favorable substrate for the expansion of the Christian faith

In the Egypt of the pharaohs polytheism was practiced, but despite this the god Amun-Ra had a higher rank than the other gods. Furthermore, the ancient Egyptians believed that the god of the underworld, Osiris, was killed by his violent brother, the god Seth.

However, Osiris was resurrected and became an immortal being. On the other hand, in the Gospel of Saint Matthew the story of the flight from the Sacred Family to Egypt to escape the persecution of the king of Judea, Herod the Great.

All these circumstances favored the spread of Christianity in the territory of the Nile Valley. It can be affirmed that the religious tradition of Ancient Egypt had a predisposition to accept the doctrine Christian.

It should be noted that after his resurrection, Jesus Christ ordered his apostles to travel the world to spread the Christian faith. In this sense, Saint Mark preached in the city of Alexandria and in the 1st century AD. C founded a church and for this reason the Coptic Orthodox Church considers him the first pope and the bishops and priests carry out their evangelical activity following the teachings of Saint Mark.

In the year 284 d. C begins the Coptic church calendar

The Coptic Orthodox Church has its main headquarters in Egypt, but it has also spread to other nations (in the United States, Australia, and several European countries). This church begins its calendar in the year 284 AD. C, the first year of government of the Roman Emperor Diocletian, who started a harsh campaign against the Christian Copts of Egypt and thousands of martyrs were killed.

In Coptic terminology, the acronym A.M means precisely "year of the martyrs"

Like other faithful belonging to some Christian tradition, the Copts follow the teachings of Jesus Christ, practice prayer and fasting, and propose an ideal of life based on holiness. In the liturgy readings from the Bible are carried out and the main liturgical acts are the following: the sanctification of bread and wine (the symbol of the body and blood of Jesus Christ) and communion.

The Coptic Orthodox Church is integrated into a more general denomination, the Churches Eastern Orthodox (these Christian churches are found in countries such as Syria, Ethiopia, Eritrea or India).

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