The Biblical Worldview of Humanity

Tracing its roots to the preaching of Mark in A.D. 50, as recorded by Eusebius. The Coptic Church is one of the autocephalous (self-governing) Oriental Orthodox Churches (non-Chalcedonian) and represents the largest single Christian population in the Middle East. Though strongly affected today by emigration trends, reflecting Middle Eastern political instability, Egyptian Copts still represent 11 percent to 15 percent of the population. Desert monasticism, following the rules of St. Anthony and St. Pachomeus, established Coptic Christian predominance in Egypt and enhanced African missionary successes in Nubia, Sudan, and Ethiopia. Pope Shenouda III, current patriarch of the Copts, has led the church in significant social programs and spiritual renewal in recent years.

The Coptic Church has persevered through the centuries in spite of its minority environment, demonstrating Christian stability in a predominantly Muslim society. The church is marked by the competing values of “a remnant of the faithful” mind-set, ecumenical objectives for removing schism within the worldwide Christian church, and a commitment to spiritual renewal.