April 2011 Philadelphia Chapter of Pax Christi U.S.A.
Coptic Christianity in Context
According to tradition the Coptic Orthodox Church is the Church of Alexandria, established by St. Mark the Apostle around A.D. 42. Christianity spread quickly throughout Egypt. Alexandria became a center of theology and the oldest catechetical school in the world, best known for Origen, considered the father of theology especially biblical theology. Then in the 3rd century the monastic movement began in the Egyptian desert and by the 5th century there were hundreds of monasteries, some still flourishing. Today many young Copts, professional people, are drawn to them. This Egyptian version of monasticism later influenced St. Benedict in the West.
During the 4th and 5th centuries the Copts were persecuted by other Christians over questions of Christology. And after the council of Chalcedon in 451, Coptic Patriarchs appointed by Rome and Constantinople tortured and murdered Egyptians, their own people, supposedly about theology but politics were involved. Just one more example from the long history of why keeping Church and State separate is so important. Then in 639 Muslims invaded Egypt and by the 12th century the country had become predominantly Muslim rather than Christian, though Christians were able to coexist without much persecution. In 1848 the Coptic Catholic Church began by unfortunately separating from the Orthodox and joining with Rome.
Today the most well known figure among Copts is the Orthodox Patriarch Shenouda III, a charismatic and beloved figure among his own people and throughout Christendom. In a very humble way he serves his people and in addition works tirelessly for unity in the universal Church, feeling this to be his life mission. His recent statement concerning the uprising in Egypt was met with interest. On February15th he said the Coptic Church supports the Egyptian youth in their peaceful revolution. He thanked the army for its restraint and endorsed this move towards a democratic country, free from poverty, corruption and unemployment.
A statement from the Coptic Catholic Church received attention when Cardinal Naguib told protestors to go home. But apparently this position has been revised (America, March 7th) and even the Catholic Church now supports the youth and its leadership has gained some credibility among young people.
Islamic fundamentalism does remain a danger to the country. Organized extremist groups like the Muslim Brotherhood are trying to take advantage of the chaos to implement a radical version of Islam, though most commentators don’t feel they will succeed. Recently a church was taken over by a Muslim mob and a sign put up that it was now a mosque. But apparently it was a local feud over a specific situation. And as reported in America (Feb.14th), according to F. Zannini, an informed and credible witness (at PISAI in Rome), “radical Islam is losing influence among the populations of the Middle East.” All seem to agree that no one, Muslim or Christian, can any longer tolerate the “appalling conditions of human degradation in which they live.”
The elephant in the room of any Egyptian household is of course women’s rights and the role of women in Arabic/Islamic society. Many faces of young women were seen in the crowds in Tahrir Square. Asmaa Mahfouz is thought to be the woman behind Egypt’s revolution with her now famous Facebook message in which she said:
“Fear none but God. God says, ‘He will not change the condition of a people until they change what is in themselves’.” Only 26, Asmaa has led a democracy movement in Egypt for the past three years. The new government recognizes her potential and has approached her for input. But commentators are saying that as life moves on, poverty and oppression will change but the role of women may not.*On a positive note a growing number of women are being ordained to the diaconate in the Coptic Orthodox Church.
Dr. Mary Hansbury Philadelphia -- CPF Member
(I met Papa Shenouda a few years ago and was stunned by his simplicity. I actually had his blessing, personally. It happened at the St. George Coptic Orthodox Church in Norristown, where every Sunday Copts come from all over the East Coast for a very beautiful and moving Liturgy, rich and poor alike. Shenouda had come there from Egypt for a pastoral visit. I go there every now and then to participate in the service. We have much to learn about Liturgy from our Orthodox brethren).
* An excellent article on the history of the women’s movement in Egypt may be found in Newsweek.com, March 6 ’11: “Feminists in the Middle of Tahrir Square.”
Coptic Orthodox Cross
Wikipedia
