What is Coptic Orthodoxy?
What is Orthodoxy?
Orthodox Christianity, meaning ‘right belief’, is faith grounded in Scripture, Tradition, the Sacraments, and liturgical rites. Orthodox Christians trace their lineage to the early Christian communities established by the apostles. The Oriental Orthodox family includes the Ethiopian, Coptic, Armenian, Syrian, Indian, and Eritrean Churches, with doctrine based on the teachings of the first 3 Ecumenical Councils: Nicea (325 AD), Constantinople (381 AD), and Ephesus (431 AD).
The History of the Coptic Orthodox Church
The Coptic Orthodox Church is one of the oldest Christian churches in the world. From its earliest years, the Coptic Church flourished as a center of theology, biblical scholarship, and monasticism, producing influential figures such as St. Athanasius and St. Anthony. Despite persecution, the Church endured and grew, remaining a living witness to Christ in Egypt and beyond. It continues its mission as a global church rooted in deep faith, worship, and tradition.
Our Apostolic Succession
The Coptic Orthodox Church is an Apostolic Church founded in the first century by St. Mark the Evangelist, who preached in Egypt in 48 AD and established the Church of Alexandria. St. Mark is the first Pope of Alexandria, and the Coptic Orthodox Church preserves the apostolic faith through an unbroken succession of bishops through the continuous laying on of hands from one generation of bishops to the next, with each Pope safeguarding Christ’s teachings, sacraments, and authority. Today, the Pope of the Coptic Orthodox Church is the 118th successor of St. Mark, continuing the Church’s apostolic mission of the See of Alexandria.
What is "Coptic"?
The Copts are the direct descendants of the ancient Egyptians. The word “Copt” is derived from the Greek word “Aegyptus”, meaning “Egypt.” While the term means Egyptian, over time it referred to the Christian Egyptians who preserved the faith, language, and traditions of the early Church through centuries of persecution and cultural change. While deeply rooted in Egyptian history and identity, the Coptic Orthodox Church is not limited to any ethnicity or nationality.
What We Believe
“Orthodoxy is what Christ taught, the apostles preached, and the Fathers kept.” – St Athanasius.
We believe in one God, one in nature, 3 in person: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. We confess the divinity of our Lord Jesus Christ, who became incarnate for our salvation, was crucified, rose from the dead, and will come again in glory. We uphold the faith as expressed in the Nicene Creed, and live according to Holy Scripture, Tradition and the Sacraments.
Our Creed
We believe in one God, God the Father the Pantocrator who created heaven and earth, and all things seen and unseen.
We believe in one Lord Jesus Christ, the Only-Begotten Son of God, begotten of the Father before all ages; Light of Light, true God of true God, begotten not created, of one essence with the Father, by whom all things were made; Who for us men and for our salvation came down from heaven, and was incarnate of the Holy spirit and the Virgin Mary and became Man. And He was crucified for us under Pontius Pilate, suffered and was buried. And on the third day He rose from the dead, according to the scriptures, ascended to the heavens; He sits at the right hand of his Father, and He is coming again in His glory to judge the living and the dead, Whose kingdom shall have no end.
Yes, we believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the Life-Giver, 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, catholic 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.