Why is Coptic linked with Orthodox?

CF is primarily (WRT Christians) a Protestant board. To the Protestant eye, EO & Coptic faiths are identical and as such would be lumped together. And practically, where would we put the Coptics, at least until there are enough members to warrant a separate forum for them. In a way, they would be in the same boat as the Anglicans, who having many differences with 'Protestants' are somewhat without a home here at CF. Lastly, the goal of CF is to unite all Christians and while the Orthodox here do not subscribe to the ecumenical vision of changing the Orthodox faith to comprimise in any way, we do believe in a presence to show the rest of the community The Way to the fullness of Chistianity. The best way to do this IMO would be to allow the Coptic community (et. al.) to fellowship with us.

This forum is for both Eastern Orthodox and Oriental Orthodox.

Notice also the fact that, while the Eastern and the Oriental Orthodox have been separated from each other from 600 years before the Great Schism, the Eastern and Oriental Orthodox are far more similar in both doctrine and praxis than the Eastern and Catholic churches ever have been or are ever likely to be. This, in my humble opinion, speaks volumes about the nature of the Great Schism.

It was actually through talks along this line with a Coptic Orthodox friend of mine that convinced me to become Orthodox (Antiochian). The fact that the Eastern and the Oriental Orthodox churches are so similar whereas the Catholic Church is so different, said to me that in the Great Schism, the Eastern Orthodox were the ones upholding Apostolic truth.

St. Tikon said:

Since I am new to this forum, and as I am an Orthodox theologian, I would like to ask a question: Why are Eastern Orthodox and Coptic Faiths linked on this board?

The Coptic Church REJECTED Chalcedon, and they are monophysites, and are NOT in communion with any of the major Patriarchates, nor are they canonical.


I do not ask this to be rude, or contentious, but simply in the spirit that this section is reserved for Eastern Orthodoxy.

Thanks,

JC+

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http://www.orthodoxunity.org/state13.html
It would seem that Antioch is. And I have seen Met ANTHONY of San Francisco commune an Ethiopian parish. The Coptic Church is here is because they are us.
Jeff the Finn

St. Tikon said:

I agree that we are so much closer to them than the Latins, but since they deny the two natures of Our Lord, to me at least, that is a huge difference.

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Actually, that's somewhat inaccurate. They are more accurately described as miaphysites, if I'm not mistaken. They believe our Lord has two natures but that His human nature is dissolved in or overtaken by the divine. This still differs from Chalcedonian Orthodox dogma but in this light, the difference is much less pronounced if you ask me.

Oh My God not again we are desribed heretics and we have to defend ourselves again and then debate with Maximus
By the way where is Maximus i didnt find him speaking in this thread?
Here is the old thread http://www.christianforums.com/t92689

Matrona said:

They believe our Lord has two natures but that His human nature is dissolved in or overtaken by the divine.

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We believe that Lord Jesus Christ has complete divine nature and complete human nature united together forming one nature like the union of iron and fire in the ironforge the iron is still iron and fire is still fire not His human nature is dissolved in or overtaken by the divine like Matrona said
What Matrona said is actually the heresy of Eutyches he is considered heretic by the non chalcedonian churches (miaphyists)

Super Mickey said:

We believe that Lord Jesus Christ has complete divine nature and complete human nature united together forming one nature like the union of iron and fire in the ironforge the iron is still iron and fire is still fire not His human nature is dissolved in or overtaken by the divine like Matrona said
What Matrona said is actually the heresy of Eutyches he is considered heretic by the non chalcedonian churches (miaphyists)

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I'm sorry Mickey, I must have been mistaken. I thought I read that on a Coptic website but perhaps it was a heretical group and not really Coptic Orthodox. From what you say, the split between us looks rather more like semantics than anything. But we must look rather Nestorian in your eyes.

Super Mickey said:

Oh My God not again we are desribed heretics and we have to defend ourselves again and then debate with Maximus
By the way where is Maximus i didnt find him speaking in this thread?
Here is the old thread http://www.christianforums.com/t92689

We believe that Lord Jesus Christ has complete divine nature and complete human nature united together forming one nature like the union of iron and fire in the ironforge the iron is still iron and fire is still fire not His human nature is dissolved in or overtaken by the divine like Matrona said
What Matrona said is actually the heresy of Eutyches he is considered heretic by the non chalcedonian churches (miaphyists)

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Super Mickey,

Well, I for one, hope this schism will soon be healed. I also do not think this board should be used for arguing the differences between the OO and EO Churches. We have TOO much in common to do that.

Tikon -

You are absolutely right.

The Non-Chalcedonians reject councils 4 -7 and were repeatedly condemned by the Orthodox Fathers.

The Nestorians rejected councils 3 - 7 and were also condemned by the Fathers.

One wonders why they are not included on our board, since the Non-Chalcedonians are.

There is more to being Orthodox than beards, incense, candles, and icons.

Maximus said:

Tikon -

You are absolutely right.

The Non-Chalcedonians reject councils 4 -7 and were repeatedly condemned by the Orthodox Fathers.

The Nestorians rejected councils 3 - 7 and were also condemned by the Fathers.

One wonders why they are not included on our board, since the Non-Chalcedonians are.

There is more to being Orthodox than beards, incense, candles, and icons.

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Dear Maximus:

I visited a Nestorian Church here in the Los Angeles area as a representative of an Orthodox-Oriental group of laity and clergy. It was scary. They were very angry - I didn't feel too welcomed.

one - we were bombing Iraq at that time and most of them were from Iraq.
two - they are iconoclastic and only have plain wooden crosses -- no statues and no icons.
three - they wouldn't step foot in our churches with our icons.

So they would feel uncomfortable in our forum with our icons.

We must pray for them as they believe that we hate them. This is what their church council members told me.

Your sister in Christ our God,
Elizabeth

P.S. I joined them for lunch at their church on three occasions to meet with their parishioners. The women were wonderful cooks and I enjoyed chatting with them, but the men told us not to come back as they were not interested in joining the Orthodox-Oriental coalition, such as we have here on this forum.

It's Lent guys. You know, love - charity -repentance - forgiveness. Don't we have enough of our own sins to deal with during this time without dragging up what we see to be the sins of others?

This is a subject that tends to inflame the passions of a few members here. I think that is enough of a reason to leave it until after Pascha.

My poor opinion anyway.

John.

prodromos said:

It's Lent guys. You know, love - charity -repentance - forgiveness. Don't we have enough of our own sins to deal with during this time without dragging up what we see to be the sins of others?

This is a subject that tends to inflame the passions of a few members here. I think that is enough of a reason to leave it until after Pascha.

My poor opinion anyway.

John.

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John,
I couldn't agree more. Personally, I'm happy to leave all these issues until the Afterlife. None of us on these message boards has shown ourselves to be wise enough to govern our own lives with complete holiness, much less try to influence the life of the Church .... we may enjoy discussing theology, or whatnot, but is that enough to recommend us as "wise"? Personally,not me....I can't even get a Sears card....

St. Tikon said:

When I hear you say that the COPTS are us, it drives me to distraction, because they are NOT.

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My point is that nobody said that until you brought up the subject and considering what it does to you I should think you would be wanting to avoid such things during Lent

God bless.

John.

If Antioch is in communion with the Syriacs, then I am in communion with the Syriacs, because I am in communion with Antioch. Now are you telling all of us that Antioch is also out? I follow the Bishops in this, and being that I witnessed with my own eyes the communing of an Ethiopean parish by a Greek Metropolitan, with Russians and Antiochians as well in attendence, the conclusion is simple, the Oriental Orthodox are us. Now you may have problems with our bishops, and feel they are leading us down a path you do not want to go, but that is another matter.
Jeff the Finn