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What in the World is the
Coptic Orthodox Church?
How
long has this church been around?
The
Coptic Orthodox Church is one of the
oldest churches in the world. It
was founded by St. Mark the Evangelist and author of the second gospel, in
Alexandria, Egypt, in the mid-first century.
What
does “Coptic” mean?
The term
“Copt” means Egyptian. Copts
are the native Christians of Egypt and the direct descendants of the ancient
Egyptians who were converted to Christianity by St. Mark.
Do
you have to be Egyptian or Greek to join the Orthodox Church?
Come
on! The Kingdom of God is “equal
opportunity”! Although the Coptic Orthodox Church was founded in Egypt,
today there are hundreds of Orthodox Churches all over the world, with millions
of members from diverse ethnic backgrounds.
Why
should I come to the Coptic Orthodox Church (or any church, for that matter)?
Christ
never intended that any of His followers should be on his or her own, but that
they should exist and worship in communion, community and fellowship with one
another, forming one body - the church.
Today,
in an age where new and strange teachings pop-up everyday, claiming to be the
truth, it is refreshing to find a church that has remained genuine and
true to the faith and spirituality of the early church, as established by Christ
and handed down to the apostles and church fathers.
This is a church whose teachings one can trust.
But
how can I be sure?
Check
out some reliable books in the history, faith and worship of the early church!
You will find that they match that of the Orthodox Church today.
So
what does the Coptic Orthodox Church believe, anyway?
First
and foremost, the church believes that the Bible is the inspired word of God, to
be followed according to the interpretation of the early church fathers.
The
church upholds all the beliefs stated in the Nicene Creed (of 325 A.D.):
One
God — Father, Son and Holy Spirit; Christ who took human flesh, died and rose
to save us from sin and death and in His second coming He will judge all and His
Heavenly Kingdom will be forever; one universal and apostolic church and one
baptism for the forgiveness of sins.
In addition, the church believes in
seven sacraments, which are mysteries through which the Holy Spirit imparts
grace to the believers. These
sacraments are:
·
Baptism
(Mark 16:16, John 3:5);
·
Chrismation
(anointing of the oil James
5:14; 1 John 2:20, 27);
·
Repentance
& Confession
(1 John 1:9; James 5:16; John 20:23);
·
Eucharist
(Communion John 6:51-58;
·
Matrimony
(Matthew 19:4-6; Ephesians 5:31-33);
·
Priesthood
·
Unction
of the Sick
(James 5:14-15).
What
are Orthodox services like?
The main worship service in the Orthodox Church is the Divine Liturgy,
celebrating the Eucharist. The
liturgy is basically the story of humanity’s redemption. It is told regularly
in order to remind the believers of Christ’s work to reconcile the world to
God, so that all may be led to repentance as they partake of His Body and Blood.
The most commonly used liturgy in the Coptic Church was written by St. Basil the
Great, in the fourth century.
The liturgy is always celebrated on Sunday (the Lord’s Day), but may
also be celebrated on any day of the week.
In
addition to the Divine Liturgy, the church
holds Bible Study
meetings, youth meetings and Sunday School classes, for all to learn and grow.
How
can I get more information?
To
experience the spirituality of the Orthodox Church first-hand, the invitation is
extended to all to “come and see”!
To
speak to a Coptic Orthodox priest, receive literature about the Orthodox Church,
or inquire about the location of the Coptic Orthodox Church nearest you, write
to:
St.
John Coptic Orthodox Church
21329 Cienega Ave.
Covina, CA 91724
Email
or
or
Visit
these online resources
Service
Times
St.
John Coptic Orthodox Christian Church:
Liturgy:
Sunday 8:30-11:00 a.m.
Sunday
School: Sunday 11:00 - Noon
Youth
Meetings: Saturday 7:45-9:00 p.m.
God
Bless You
And
Glory Be to God Forever.
“In that day there will be
an altar to the Lord in the midst of the land of Egypt, and a pillar to the Lord
at its border” (Isaiah 19:19).
“. . . on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it” (Matthew 16:18).