About The Coptic Orthodox Faith

The Coptic Church was established in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ by St. Mark the Evangelist in the city of Alexandria around 43 A.D. The church adheres to the Nicene Creed. St. Athanasius (296-373 A.D.), the twentieth Pope of the Coptic Church effectively defended the Doctrine of the Lord Jesus Christ’s Divinity at the Council of Nicea in 325 A.D. His affirmation of the doctrine earned him the title; “Father of Orthodoxy” and St. Athanasius “the Apostolic”.

The term “Coptic” is derived from the Greek “Aigyptos” meaning “Egyptian”. When the Arabs arrived in Egypt in the seventh century, they called the Egyptians “qibt”. Since the majority of the country were Christians, the Arabic word “qibt” came to mean both “Egyptians” and “Christians”. The term “Orthodoxy” refers to the preservation of the “Original Faith” by the Copts who, throughout the ages, defended the Old Creed against the numerous attacks aimed at it. The Coptic Orthodox Church believes that the Holy Trinity: God The Father, God The Son, and God The Holy Spirit, are equal to each other in one unity; and that the Lord Jesus Christ is the only Savior of the world. Fewer changes have taken place in the Coptic Church than in any other church whether in the liturgical practices or the ritual and doctrinal aspects. The Church is also well known for her numerous saints: ascetics, clergymen and laymen. She offered many saints throughout ages and is still offering the same today. Our Church is ancient and new at the same time: ancient in being apostolic, founded by St. Mark the Evangelist and traditional in holding fast to the original apostolic faith without modification. She is also new through her Living Messiah who never becomes old and through the Spirit of God who renews her youth (Psalm 103:5). The Coptic Church is rich with her evangelistic and ascetic life, her genuine patriotic inheritance, her heavenly worship, her spiritual rituals, her effective and living hymns, and her beautiful icons. She attracts the heart towards heaven without ignoring actual daily life. We can say that she is an apostolic, contemporary church that carries life and thought to the contemporary man without deviation. One finds in her life, sweetness and power of Spirit, with appreciation to and sanctification of arts, literature and human culture.

For more information on the Coptic Orthodox faith, please visit our Diocese website at http://suscopts.org/coptic-orthodox/church

 

 

 

The Creed of The Coptic Orthodox Church

 

The Nicene Creed (“Orthodox Creed”) is the statement of faith of the Coptic Orthodox Church, written in the early fourth century by one of the Coptic Church’s most important figures, St. Athanasius the Apostolic.

The Orthodox Creed reads as follows below:

(From the Ecumenical Council of Nicea 325 AD, the Ecumenical Council of Constantinople 381 AD and the Ecumenical Council of Ephesus 431 AD)

Truly we believe in one God; God the Father the Almighty; creator of heaven and earth, and all things visible and invisible.

And in one Lord; Jesus Christ, the Only-begotten Son of God, begotten of the Father before all ages; Light of light, true God of true God, Begotten not created. Who, for us humans and for our salvation, came down from heaven and was incarnated of the Holy Spirit and of the Virgin Mary, and became man. He was crucified for us under Pontius Pilate, suffered and was buried, and on the third day, He rose from the dead according to the Scriptures. He ascended into heaven, and sat at the right hand of the Father, and He shall come again with glory to judge the living and the dead, whose kingdom shall have no end.

We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord the Life Giver, who proceeds from the Father, who with the Father and the Son is worshipped and glorified, who spoke by the prophets. And in One, Holy, Universal and Apostolic Church. We acknowledge one Baptism for the remission of sins. We look for the resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come. Amen.

1. Believe in the Trinity – One God, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit;
2. Believe in One God the Father Almighty, Creator of all things visible and invisible;

3. Believe in Jesus Christ, God’s One and Only Begotten Son:

    • Who was born Jesus of Nazareth, both fully human and fully divine, Who was incarnate of the Holy Spirit and of the Holy Virgin Mary,
    • Who suffered and was crucified under Pontius Pilate,
    • Who died on the Cross for our sins and was buried, and Who rose from the dead on the third day,
    • Who ascended into the Heavens and now sits at the right hand of His Father, and
    • Who will return again to earth to judge both the living and the dead

4. Believe in the Holy Spirit, Who is the third Hypostasis of the Holy Trinity of the Trinity and;

5. Believe in the Bible – God’s Holy Word, scripture; teaches that man, created by God, willfully sinned against God and is consequently lost and without hope apart from Jesus Christ, but he is restored and saved through the Blood of the Lord Jesus Christ.