Different Forms Of Durga

Name and origin:

Copts are Egyptians, and the word "Coptic" comes from the Greek word "Aegyptus" which means Egypt. Copts are the descendants of the ancient Egyptians. They are regarded as one of the most anthropologically pure races in the world.

The Coptic Era:

When people think of Egypt, they usually think of ancient Egypt with its pyramids. Then go to the Islamic period represented by the forest of minarets, which a person sees in Cairo today. But between these two extremes there is a small bridge. This bridge does not pass through a valley of darkness where the Copts resided in isolation. On the contrary, this era is considered one of the luminous periods in the national and ecclesiastical history of Egypt.

Strictly speaking, the purely Coptic Christian period extends over six centuries, at the dawn of the Christian era. In the history of Egypt, this is a small fraction, but not negligible. From a cultural standpoint, expansion card era in the development of ideas and ideals in Egypt. In fact, constitute what is called "Coptic Civilization".

The Coptic Orthodox Church

Founder:

St. Mark, a disciple of African origin, and author of the earliest Gospel, came to Egypt begins at the dawn of the Christian faith. Year of his arrival at the famous Capital of Egypt, Alexandria, can not be determined with certainty. Some sources put the entry into Egypt from 48 AD. Others put in 55, 58 and even as late as 61 AD, however, consensus opinion puts the date of his martyrdom in Alexandria in 68 AD. In that short period St. Mark was able to win many converts and establish churches in Egypt. Since then, there Christianity spread like fire throughout the country. The main reason for this was that the Egyptian has always been religiously inclined. The ancient Egyptians mind always seeks to explore the area of religion, and finally came to certain principles and beliefs which were later identified with the theory and sublime teaching of the Christian religion.

Church's identity through the chase:

Egyptians or the Copts accepted Christianity very quickly to the extent that the Romans had to meet a number of pursuits in an attempt to suppress the growth of a religion that openly defied the divinity of the emperor. Edict in 202 AD decreed that Christian conversion should be stopped at any cost. Edict in 250 AD decreed that every citizen should carry at all times a certificate issued by local authorities that he had offered sacrifice to the gods. Those who refused to comply were tortured with unprecedented ferocity. Some were beheaded, others were thrown to the lions and others were burned alive. All were tortured, self-renewal true regardless of age or sex. Catechetical School of Alexandria was closed by order of the authorities, although its members continued to meet in secret places. At one time, the number of bishops by the state limited to three. The execution of an age of persecution is considered by the Copts under the Emperor Diocletian (284-305). So serious was the mass executions and the cruel torture of the Copts, who took the day Emperor Diocletian's military election to usher in a new era of Coptic martyrs. The same day marked the beginning of the Coptic Calendar known in the Western world as Anno Martyrum (AM) or years of Martyrs.

It was in the midst of this cruel execution and torture that Egypt's Church flourished beyond recognition until it assumed its final form during the second century. In other words, as the third century the Coptic Church with a great hierarchy ranging from the Patriarch of Alexandria to the modest priest and the monks who lived in eastern and western deserts. The emergence of this great hierarchy conterminously with Roman persecution resulted in the identification of the Copts in their own church in Alexandria. This tradition continued and became even clearer when, in a later age and other reasons, the Byzantines resuscitated Coptic persecution.