Come get your blessings...

[CopticGirl]

Whoever wants some blessings here's all you have to do.

Tell me something about my Church---the Coptic Orthodox Church, and I will give you blessings.

Each post will get 10 blessings--as long as someone else didn't say it before you.

The last accepted post will be on post #40.

So, you can get your info from the Coptic and Oriental Forum on this site, or find your info via Google, or whatever.

Bonus: the single post that has the most detailed info will get an extra 50 blessings. I'll obviously be the judge of this.

Bonus Bonus: Anyone who posts something I didn't know will get 200 blessings.

Let the posting begin

God Bless,
Elizabeth

 

[RedTulipMom]

Your church has a pope!

 

[RedTulipMom]

hi copticgirl..nice to see ya!

The word Copt is derived from the Greek word Aigyptos, which was, in turn, derived from "Hikaptah", one of the names for Memphis, the first capital of Ancient Egypt. The modern use of the term "Coptic" describes Egyptian Christians, as well as the last stage of the ancient Egyptian language script. Also, it describes the distinctive art and architecture that developed as an early expression of the new faith.

 

[CopticGirl]

Hi Karenmarie!

Yep, Yep...I'm gonna add up the blessings for each person at the end and then send em out.

I'm gonna try and not comment too much unless something is incorrect. I don't wanna use up everyone else's posts!

Keep em coming!

 

[RedTulipMom]

The Coptic Church is based on the teachings of Saint Mark who brought Christianity to Egypt during the reign of the Roman emperor Nero in the first century, a dozen of years after the Lord's ascension.

 

[RedTulipMom]

look how close i am to my 10,000th post!!! yippee! i am so excited!

Monasticism was born in Egypt and was instrumental in the formation of the Coptic Church's character of submission and humbleness, thanks to the teachings and writings of the Great Fathers of Egypt's Deserts. Monasticism started in the last years of the third century and flourished in the fourth century.

 

[RedTulipMom]

The Coptic Church has never believed in monophysitism the way it was portrayed in the Council of Chalcedon! In that Council, monophysitism meant believing in one nature. Copts believe that the Lord is perfect in His divinity, and He is perfect in His humanity, but His divinity and His humanity were united in one nature called "the nature of the incarnate word", which was reiterated by Saint Cyril of Alexandria. Copts, thus, believe in two natures "human" and "divine" that are united in one "without mingling, without confusion, and without alteration" (from the declaration of faith at the end of the Coptic divine liturgy). These two natures "did not separate for a moment or the twinkling of an eye" (also from the declaration of faith at the end of the Coptic divine liturgy).

By the way..here is the website i am getting the info from..its quite interesting stuff!
http://www.coptic.net/EncyclopediaCoptica/

 

[RedTulipMom]

The Coptic Church was misunderstood in the 5th century at the Council of Chalcedon. Perhaps the Council understood the Church correctly, but they wanted to exile the Church, to isolate it and to abolish the Egyptian, independent Pope, who maintained that Church and State should be separate.

 

[RedTulipMom]

the Coptic Church has always felt a mandate to reconcile "semantic" differences between all Christian Churches.

 

[CopticGirl]

70 blessings so far Karenmarie...keep em coming.

 

[RedTulipMom]

Throughout this century, the Coptic Church has played an important role in the ecumenical movement. The Coptic Church is one of the founders of the World Council of Churches. It has remained a member of that council since 1948 A.D. The Coptic Church is a member of the all African Council of Churches (AACC) and the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC). The Church plays an important role in the Christian movement by conducting dialogues aiming at resolving the theological differences with the Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, Presbyterian, and Evangelical Churches.

 

[RedTulipMom]

70 blessings so far Karenmarie...keep em coming.

thanks! i am trying to pick out interesting tidbits!!

 

[RedTulipMom]

Perhaps the greatest glory of the Coptic Church is its Cross. Copts take pride in the persecution they have sustained as early as May 8, 68 A.D., when their Patron Saint Mark was slain on Easter Monday after being dragged from his feet by Roman soldiers all over Alexandria's streets and alleys. The Copts have been persecuted by almost every ruler of Egypt. Their Clergymen have been tortured and exiled even by their Christian brothers after the schism of Chalcedon in 451 A.D. and until the Arab's conquest of Egypt in 641 A.D. To emphasize their pride in their cross, Copts adopted a calendar, called the Calendar of the Martyrs, which begins its era on August 29, 284 A.D., in commemoration of those who died for their faith during the rule of Diocletian the Roman Emperor. This calendar is still in use all over Egypt by farmers to keep track of the various agricultural seasons and in the Coptic Church Lectionary.

 

[RedTulipMom]

For the four centuries that followed the Arab's conquest of Egypt, the Coptic Church generally flourished and Egypt remained basically Christian.

 

[RedTulipMom]

The Christian face of Egypt started to change by the beginning of the second millennium A.D., when Copts, in addition to the "Gezya" tax, suffered from specific disabilities, some of which were serious and interfered with their freedom of worship. For example, there were restrictions on repairing old Churches and building new ones, on testifying in court, on public behavior, on adoption, on inheritance, on public religious activities, and on dress codes.

 

[RedTulipMom]

The position of the Copts began to improve early in the 19th century under the stability and tolerance of Muhammad Ali's dynasty.

 

[RedTulipMom]

Despite persecution, the Coptic Church as a religious institution has never been controlled or allowed itself to control the governments in Egypt. This long-held position of the Church concerning the separation between State and Religion stems from the words of the Lord Jesus Christ himself, when he asked his followers to submit to their rulers: ``Render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's.'' [Mathew 22:21].

 

[CopticGirl]

Throughout this century, the Coptic Church has played an important role in the ecumenical movement. The Coptic Church is one of the founders of the World Council of Churches. It has remained a member of that council since 1948 A.D. The Coptic Church is a member of the all African Council of Churches (AACC) and the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC). The Church plays an important role in the Christian movement by conducting dialogues aiming at resolving the theological differences with the Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, Presbyterian, and Evangelical Churches.

I didn't know my church was one of the founders of the WCC. I thought we were just a member. That's an extra 200 blessings for you.

(That bonus is not a one time thing, so if anyone posts more stuff I don't know they'll still get 200 blessings as well).

God Bless.

 

[RedTulipMom]

Copts observe seven canonical sacraments: Baptism, Christmation (Confirmation), Eucharist, Confession (Penance), Orders, Matrimony, and Unction of the sick. Baptism is performed few weeks after birth by immersing the whole body of the newborn into especially consecrated water three times. Confirmation is performed immediately after Baptism. Regular confession with a personal priest, called the father of confession, is necessary to receive the Eucharist. It is customary for a whole family to pick the same priest as a father of confession, thus, making of that priest a family counselor. Of all seven sacrements, only Matrimony cannot be performed during a fasting season. Polygamy is illegal, even if recognized by the civil law of the land. Divorce is not allowed except in the case of adultery, annulment due to bigamy, or other extreme circumstances, which must be reviewed by a special council of Bishops. Divorce can be requested by either husband or wife. Civil divorce is not recognized by the Church. The Coptic Orthodox Church does not have and does not mind any civil law of the land as long as it does not interfere with the Church's sacraments. The Church does not have (and actually refuses to canonize) an official position vis-a-vis some controversial issues (e.g. abortion). While the church has clear teachings about such matters (e.g. abortion interfers with God's will), it is the position of the Church that such matters are better resolved on a case-by-case basis by the father of confession, as opposed to having a blanket canon that makes a sin of such practices.

 

[RedTulipMom]

I didn't know my church was one of the founders of the WCC. I thought we were just a member. That's an extra 200 blessings for you.

(That bonus is not a one time thing, so if anyone posts more stuff I don't know they'll still get 200 blessings as well).

God Bless.

woo hoo! thanks!! see, we are both learning something!