The Coptic Orthodox Faith

The Coptic Orthodox Church is more than nineteen centuries old, and as such, is one of the oldest apostolic churches in the world and the largest Christian denomination in Africa and the Middle East. It is based on the teachings of the apostle Mark, who brought Christianity to Egypt during the reign of the Roman emperor Nero in the first century A.D, a couple of decades after the resurrection and ascension of Jesus Christ. Saint Mark was one of the four evangelists who wrote the gospels in the New Testament of the Bible. Christianity spread throughout Egypt within half a century of the Apostle Mark’s arrival in Alexandria, Egypt.

The Coptic Orthodox Church

The word Copt is derived from the Greek work ‘Agyptos’ which in turn, was derived from ‘Hikaptah’, one of the names for Mempis, the first capital of Ancient Egypt. The modern use of the term ‘Coptic’ describes Egyptian Christians.

Although fully integrated into the body of the modern Egyptian nation, the Copts have survived as a strong religious entity who pride themselves on their contribution to the Christian world. The Coptic Orthodox Church regards itself as a strong defendant of Christian faith. From the beginning, it played a central role in Christian theology, and accordingly, has produced thousands of texts, biblical and theological studies. Many of these studies, including the Bible, were translated to the Coptic language in the early centuries A.D. Now libraries, museums and universities throughout the world possess thousands of Coptic Manuscripts, which are important sources for research and archaeology.

But the greatest gift the Coptic Church of Egypt offered the world was the concept and practice of the monastic order. All Christian monasticism stems, either directly or indirectly, from the Egyptian example.

The Coptic Orthodox Church Today…

The Holy Synod of the Coptic Orthodox Church is headed by the Pope of Alexandria, who is His Holiness Pope Tawadros II, and comprises over 100 Bishops who oversee the clergy and pastoral care in their dioceses – both in Egypt and the rest of the world.

The Coptic Orthodox Church is an active member of the World Council of Churches, and was the founding member of the Middle East Council of Churches in 1974.

Today, there are over 10 million Copts in Egypt (out of a population of approximately 60 million Egyptians). And in addition, there are over 2 million Copts who have migrated out of Egypt and who practice their faith in hundreds of churches in the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Great Britain, France, Germany, Austria, Holland, Brazil, and many other countries in Africa and Asia.

There are over 80 churches in North and South America, including Canada, more than 50 churches throughout the European continent, more than 15 churches across Central and South Africa, and more than 40 churches in Australia and New Zealand.

And most recently, the last decade has seen the expansion of the Coptic Orthodox Church into North and South East Asia, through professional Copts who have taken up residency in the region.

Accordingly, in June 2002, His Holiness Pope Shenouda III officially ordained and appointed His Grace Bishop Daniel, to be the first bishop with jurisdiction of New South Wales, Queensland, and the Northern Territory, as well as South and North East Asia. Bishop Daniel has responsibility for the pastoral services and activities of the Coptic Orthodox Church in these regions.

Statement of Faith - The Nicene Creed

Truly we believe in one God, the Almighty, Maker of Heaven and Earth, and all things visible and invisible.

We believe in one Lord Jesus Christ, the Only-Begotten Son of God, born of the Father before all ages; Light of Light, true God of true God, begotten not made, consubstantial with the Father, through whom all things came into being.

He descended from Heaven for us and for our salvation, and was incarnated of the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary and became Man. He was crucified for us at the time of Pontius Pilate, suffered and was buried. Arose from the dead on the third day in accordance with the scriptures, ascended to the heavens; and sat at the right hand of his Father. He shall also come back in His glory to judge the living and the dead, of whose Kingdom there will be no end.

We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Life-Giving Lord, who proceeds from the Father, Who with the Father and the Son is worshipped and glorified, who spoke by the prophets.

And in one holy, universal and apostolic church. We confess one baptism for the remission of sins. We look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the coming age. Amen.

Definition of a Church Sacrament

The Church Sacrament is an invisible grace we receive by practicing a visible rite, and a visible sign or substance performed by a priest.

In the Baptism the substance is water by which we receive the second birth from Water and Spirit.
In the Confirmation the substance is the oil of Myron, by which the Holy Spirit dwells in us.
The sign of the Sacrament of Confession is the confessing person, who accepts the prayer of absolution at the end of Confession to gain forgiveness of sins.
The substance of the Sacrament of Communion is the bread and wine, by which we eat the Holy Body and Precious Blood of Emmanuel our God.
The substance of the Sacrament of Unction of sick is oil, by which we receive physical and psychological remedy.
The sign of the Sacrament of Matrimony is the bride and groom who receive the prayers, so the Holy Spirit dwells upon them and unites them in body and spirit.
The sign of the Sacrament of Priesthood is the ordained person, who accepts the prayers of the Sacrament of Priesthood and the laying of hands for a certain priestly rank, to gain the grace for starting church services – whether Sacraments or authority for various church matters and management.

Redemptive and Non-Redemptive Sacraments

There are four redemptive Sacraments out of the Seven Sacraments. They are necessary for eternal salvation, and every believer should practice them in order to gain eternal salvation. These are:

1- Baptism 2- Confirmation

3- Confession 4- Communion

The other three Sacraments are non-redemptive and unnecessary for eternal salvation.

5- Sacrament of Unction of the Sick

Given for the remedy of those who are physically or psychologically unwell only.

6- Sacrament of Matrimony

For those who want to marry for the purpose of sharing lives and bearing children. However, there are many monks and nuns, and those who live celibate lives who gain eternal life with merit.

7- Sacrament of Priesthood

Reserved only for those who are ordained as a deacon, priest or bishop. However, the majority of the Congregation has no priestly ranks, but is called for redemption and eternal life.

An Imperishable Feature

Certain Church Sacraments are performed with an imperishable feature, so must not be repeated again at any time. Sacraments which are imperishable are as follows:

Baptism: we are made children of God our Father
Chrism: we are made soldiers of our great King
Priesthood: we are made servants and priests of the great High Priest.

But the rest of the Sacraments are performed repeatedly as needed.

Sacraments

Written by Bishop Mettaous, Bishop and Abbot of El-Syrian Monastery

The seven Sacraments of the Church are the channels by which we receive the graces and blessings of the Holy Spirit.

The Holy Spirit has existed in the church since the day of Pentecost, when He dwelt in it according to the Lord’s promise: “I will pray to the Father, and He will give you another Comforter, that He may abide with you forever, even the Spirit of Truth when the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him, but you know Him for He dwells with you, and will be in you” (John 14:16, 17).

The Holy Spirit works in the church through the Sacraments, giving us His gifts, blessings and comfort, and teaches us and guides us to the way of truth. “But the Comforter, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you” (John 14:26).

The Lord Christ instituted all these Sacraments, and the Holy Bible mentions them in detail.

1. Sacrament of Baptism

Instituted by the Lord Jesus by His Baptism in the River Jordan and by His words to Nicodemus saying: “Most assuredly I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God… Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God” (John 3), and by saying to our fathers the Apostles, “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit” (Matthew 28:19).

2. Sacrament of Confirmation

Instituted by Lord Jesus when He said: “If anyone thirsts let him come to Me and drink. He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water”. But this He spoke concerning the Spirit whom those believing in Him would receive; for the Holy Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified” (John 7:37-39). About the Sacrament of Confirmation, in the Book of Acts it is mentioned: “Now when the Apostles who were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the Word of God, they sent Peter and John to them, who, when they had come down, prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit. For as yet He had fallen upon none of them. They had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. Then they laid hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit” (Acts 8:14-17).

The Holy Spirit was received by the laying of hands, but when the number of believers increased, the Apostles were unable to keep track of each individual to lay upon them their hands in order to receive the Holy Spirit. So they made the Myron out of certain oils mixed with spices; the same spices which were brought to the tomb to embalm the shrouded Christ. It was approved for the dwelling of the Holy Spirit, and allowed the priests to anoint the newly baptized by the Myron to receive the gift of the Holy Spirit, to dwell in them, in order to become temples of the Holy Spirit.

3. Sacrament of Confession

Instituted by the Lord Jesus when He said to His pure disciples: “Assuredly I say to you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven” (Matthew: 18:18), and after Resurrection He said, “As the Father has sent me, I also send you and when He had said this, He breathed on them, and said to them “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them, if you retain the sins of any, they are retained” (John 20: 21-22).

4. Sacrament of the Eucharist

Instituted by the Lord Jesus in the upper room in Zion, on the night of His passion when He took bread, blessed it and broke it, and gave it to His disciples saying, “Take eat, this is My Body. Then He took the cup, and when He had given thanks He gave it to them, and they all drank from it and He said to them “This is My Blood of the new covenant which is shed for many” (Mark 14: 22-24).

5. Sacrament of Unction of the Sick

Instituted by the Lord Jesus when He said to His disciples, “Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers” (Matthew 10:8), and, “Whatever city you enter … heal the sick who are there” (Luke 10:8). The Apostles then put the Lord’s words into practice: “They anointed with oil many who were sick and healed them” (Mark 6:13). Our teacher St. James the Apostle advised believers to practice it, by saying, “Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the Church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up, and if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven” (James 5:14-15).

6. Sacrament of Matrimony

Instituted by the Lord Jesus who blessed the Sacrament of Matrimony by attending the wedding of Cana of Galilee, where, “He manifested His glory and His disciples believed in Him” (John 2: 1-11). Also, teacher St. Paul says, “This is a great mystery, but I speak concerning Christ and the Churches” (Ephesians 5:32). This means that the physical union between a man and his wife is a sign and symbol of a greater spiritual matter, that is, of the unity of heart and soul, resembling the unity of Christ and the Church.

7. Sacrament of Priesthood

Instituted by the Lord Jesus when He chose His twelve disciples among many of His followers, and called them Apostles. The selection was accomplished after a whole night of prayer, when the Lord Jesus went out to the mountain to pray (Luke 6: 12-13), and then sent them to preach saying, “The Kingdom of Heaven is at hand” (Matthew 10:7). The Lord said to them, “I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain” (John 15:16). He gave them the authority saying, “Assuredly I say to you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven” (Matthew 18:18). After the resurrection, the Lord, “Breathed on them and said to them: “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them. If you retain the sins of any, they are retained” (John 2:23), and to them only, He said, “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you” (Matthew: 28:19-20). He gave the mystery of His Holy Body and Blood only to them saying, “Do this in remembrance of Me” (Luke 22:19).