The Coptic Motherland of Egypt

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Interesting Holy Bible Facts

The Coptic Church is the only church that has been prophesied about in the Old Testament.

"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).

Egypt is the only country besides Israel that has been blessed by the visit of our Lord Jesus Christ and the Holy Family.

"Arise, take the young Child and His mother, flee to Egypt, and stay there until I bring you word; for Herod will seek the young Child to destroy Him" (Matthew 2:13).

Egypt has been blessed by many Biblical prophets: Moses the Prophet was born in the land of Egypt; Abraham journeyed to Egypt during the time of the great famine; and Jacob along with all his children resided in the land of Egypt.

"Then Jacob arose from Beersheba; and the sons of Israel carried their father Jacob, their little ones, and their wives, in the carts which Pharaoh had sent to carry him. So they took their livestock and their goods, which they had acquired in the land of Canaan and went to Egypt, Jacob and all his descendants with him. His sons and his son's sons', his daughters and his sons' daughters, and all his descendants he brought with him to Egypt" (Genesis 46:5-7).

Egypt gave rise to many early Church fathers such as St. Clement of Alexandria, Bishop Alexander of Alexandria, Bishop Dionysius of Alexandria, and Bishop Theonas of Alexandria.

"The Egyptians were the first to introduce astrology among men...The Egyptians first invented the burning of lamps. They were first to divide the year into twelve months...to invent geometry" (St. Clement of Alexandria c. 195).

Egypt also gave rise to the heroes of faith that boldly wrote the Orthodox Creed: St. Athanasius and St. Cyril.

"We believe in One God, God the Father, the Pantocrator, Who created Heaven and earth and all things, seen and unseen..." (Coptic Orthodox Creed).

Egyptian monasticism was founded by St. Anthony the Great who is considered the Father of Monasticism throughout the world.

"St. Anthony was born about 251 AD of well-to-do parents in Coma (Kemn-el-Arouse) in the middle of Egypt" (Coptic Orthodox Book of Saints).

Christianity was brought to Egypt by the Holy Gospel writer St. Mark whose first Christian convert was a Jewish shoemaker in Alexandria, Egypt, named Anianos, who would later be ordained a bishop.

"St. Mark is regarded by the Coptic Hierarchy as the first of the unbroken chain of 117 patriarchs and the first of multitudes of Egyptian martyrs. St. Mark was of Jewish descent that belonged to the tribe of Levi" (Coptic Book of Saints, Volume I).

May we never forget the blessings the Land of Egypt has brought forth for all Christians world-wide,

Bishop Youssef
Bishop, Coptic Orthodox Diocese of the Southern United States

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