Questions about Oriental Orthodox

[Agapatos]

Dear Friends in Christ,
Could you point out which website is best to learn about the OO CHurch, specifically the Coptic Orthodox? I have tried several that you have posted and some of them are mostly in Arabic, a language I do not speak. I did find a good Q & A section on the Southern Region Coptic Orthodox site.
Also are Coptic Orthodox allowed to marry outside the Church? What happens if they want to marry a Catholic(Latin Rite)? Are there any articles online that speak about the differences between these 2 Churches?
Thank you so much for any help you could give. Peace and joy to you in the Spirit.
In Christ and the Theotokos,
Marie

 

[CopticGirl]

http://www.coptic.net/EncyclopediaCoptica/
http://www.copticchurch.net/topics/thecopticchurch/index.html
http://www.coptichymns.net/index.html
http://www.coptic.org/

Hope these sites help.

Within the Coptic Church, one can only marry another Oriental Orthodox Christian, and in some situations an Eastern Orthodox Christian.

If you're aware of the difference between the Catholic and EO church than it's basically the same for the Catholic and OO church.

I do have a link listing the differences between us, but I'm catious to post it b/c the author refers to Catholic's as "Papists", which understandably can be offensive. I think the information on the site is good, but his attitude and presentation is poor. If you are interested in the link, pm me.

Feel free to ask any more questions you have!

God Bless,
Eliizabeth

 

[Agapatos]

Dear Elizabeth,

Thank you for responding to my questions and for the websites.

When I viewed one of them I did find a link to the differences between OO and Catholicisim. But when I clicked on the URL it took me to an EO site that showed the differences between the EO and CAtholicism so I was unsure if this was valid or not. So thanks for clearing that up!

Peace and joy to you in the Holy Spirit,

Marie

 

[erinipassi]

Hi Marie,

Welcome to the Oriental and Coptic Orthodox Forum! Elizabeth has posted really good sites and other useful websites which explain Coptic Orthodox beliefs are is this website:
http://www.suscopts.org/literature/orthodoxfaith.html

To Learn about the History of the Coptic Orthodox Church, please go to the website:
http://www.suscopts.org/coptic.html

To understand about the type of worship in the Coptic Orthodox Church, please visit this website:
http://www.copticchurch.org/Texts/Spirituals/Spirituality%20of%20the%20Liturgy.pdf
http://www.copticchurch.org/Texts/Spirituals/berfctwarsheE.pdf
http://www.suscopts.org/literature/churchworship.php

As to Marriage, a Coptic Orthodox can only marry within the Oriental Orthodox Family at this stage because the theology and doctrine are the same. So when a marriage occurs, it is a holy sacrament where two people are established on the foundations of the teachings of the Church. So both the husband and the spouse must be united, not only in body, emotions and mind, but also be united in the same spiritual foundations.

Having said that, there are many non-oriental Orthodox, such as Catholic or protestant who convert and then marry to a coptic Orthodox. So basically for a person who is Catholic, they will need to convert first before marriage. This is because there are major differences also and these differences are essential doctrinal differences and that is why we are unable to have communion with the Catholics nor are the Catholics allowed to have communion in the Coptic Church. We have a great respect for the Catholic Church but for any Coptic Orthodox person to have communion in the Catholic Church, the Orthodox person is declaring to the Orthodox Church that there are no differences between the Catholic and Orthodox..


Where we are different:

-the Pope
http://www.suscopts.org/messages/lectures/eccleslecture5.pdf
http://www.suscopts.org/messages/lectures/eccleslecture4.pdf

-immaculate conception of St. Mary (http://www.suscopts.org/messages/lectures/marilecture1.pdf)

-the concept of Priesthood

-purgatory
http://www.suscopts.org/messages/lectures/eschlecture7.pdf

-filoque (The Creed)

-and other issues


But having said this, we have a lot of respect for our Catholic brothers and sisters and there is a lot of dialogue happening between the Coptic Church and the Catholic church.

love and blessings
erini