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Copts in Egypt comprise the single largest body of Christians in the Middle East. Since the 1970s there have been waves of Coptic immigrants due to discrimination, persecution, and violence. In the Diaspora, their sea... more abstractCopts in Egypt comprise the single largest body of Christians in the Middle East. Since the 1970s there have been waves of Coptic immigrants due to discrimination, persecution, and violence. In the Diaspora, their search for identity—its actualization and preservation—has resulted in forms of scripturalization expressed in oral tradition, martyrology, art, architecture, language, literature, liturgy, music, monastic spirituality, and education. These and other discursive practices provide Diaspora Copts the resources with which they can integrate, construct, and preserve identities based on a complex and hybridized relationship with Egypt and their new homelands.

Diasporas, Immigration Studies, Identity (Culture), Theological Interpretation of Christian Scripture, Coptic Studies, and

More Info: This is Chapter 9 in Scripturalizing the Human edited by Vincent L. Wimbush, pp. 221-239.

Publisher: Routledge

Publication Date: 2015

Publication Name: Scripturalizing the Human: The Written as the Political

The Coptic world, which is identified by people, communities, churches, tradition, faith, art, architecture, music, language, a calendar, and a long history, has become a borderless phenomenon. Unimaginable fifty year... more abstractThe Coptic world, which is identified by people, communities, churches, tradition, faith, art, architecture, music, language, a calendar, and a long history, has become a borderless phenomenon. Unimaginable fifty years ago, today there is a living presence of Coptic civilization in most countries of the world. Exposed to an array of economic, political, social, and professional pressures in their homeland Egypt, the Copts have been immigrating in large numbers since the 1960s. In Africa, Asia, Europe, the Americas, Australia and New Zealand, the Copts have formed communities, churches and organizations. While the historical background of the immigration process and the spread of Coptic Christianity worldwide are discussed in several references, this chapter will focus on aspects of civilization and culture, especially religious culture, of the immigrant Copts. To create and sustain a civilization, individuals must make a commitment to community goals and efforts; they must dream and plan, believe and sacrifice. As they spread across the world, the Copts carried with them a wealth of Coptic art, music, architecture, language, literature, tradition, and spirituality. These treasures are being preserved and promoted by the immigrants and the second generation in various locales: homes, churches, community centers, and universities (via programs of Coptic studies). As is clear from several of the chapters in this book, the majority of Coptic civilization forms, such as art, music, language, literature and architecture, are sustained by and manifested within the Coptic Orthodox Church. Therefore, besides its spiritual mission, the church has become the medium through which many aspects of Coptic civilization are transmitted to the Diaspora.

Diasporas, Immigration Studies, Diaspora, Coptic Studies, Diaspora Studies, and

More Info: This is Chapter 21 in Coptic Civilization edited by Gawdat Gabra, pp 285-296

Publisher: American University in Cairo Press

Publication Date: 2014

Publication Name: Coptic Civilization: Two Thousand Years of Christianity in Egypt

The history of contemporary Egypt is most starkly marked by two revolutions: the army revolution in 1952 and the populist revolution in 2011. Throughout the nearly two thousand years of Christianity in Egypt, the eccl... more abstractThe history of contemporary Egypt is most starkly marked by two revolutions: the army revolution in 1952 and the populist revolution in 2011. Throughout the nearly two thousand years of Christianity in Egypt, the ecclesiastical hierarchy and the Coptic people have often been subject to forces of discrimination and persecution by both Christian and non-Christian governments. Modern history is no exception. Copts are, however, much more than an oppressed Christian minority. As this volume illustrates, they are inheritors and preservers of an ancient civilization, builders of a modern nation, and defenders of Christian orthodoxy. The popes of this era—Pope Yusab II (1946–56), Pope Kyrillos VI (1959–71), and Pope Shenouda III (1971–2012)—played a significant role in recent Coptic history, as have the activities and faith of the Coptic people, the modernization of Egypt, the rapid expansion of the Coptic Diaspora, and the spread of globalization and ecumenism. This chapter seeks to describe and analyze the flow of crucial events in Coptic history from Pope Yusab’s election in 1946 up to the present day, noting especially the internal and external challenges in the 1950s, relief and progress in the 1960s, relations between church and state under Pope Shenouda III, the achievements made despite hardships over the last four decades, and the role of the Copts in the 2011 revolution. Within this historical context, certain topics are addressed including the problematic personal status law, the evolution of Ethiopian–Coptic relations, ecumenical progress in and outside Egypt, and the development of the Coptic world and Coptic media. Other topics germane to this era, such as spirituality, monasticism, liturgical and linguistic revivalism, theological developments, music, and art, are covered in their respective chapters.

History of Religion, Egyptian History, Coptic Studies, Egypt, Church History, and

More Info: This is Chapter 6 in book edited by Lois Farag

Publisher: Routledge

Publication Date: 2014

Publication Name: The Coptic Christian Heritage: History, Faith, and Culture

In recent decades, Coptic Egyptian immigrants have steadily adopted new homelands throughout the world, most significantly in Europe, North America, and Australia. Their efforts perpetuate their religious and cultural... more abstractIn recent decades, Coptic Egyptian immigrants have steadily adopted new homelands throughout the world, most significantly in Europe, North America, and Australia. Their efforts perpetuate their religious and cultural identity and connect diaspora communities and experiences to the mother church as well as to the realities of marginalization and persecution of their co-religionists in Egypt. However, relatively little research has been carried out on the virtual or digital presences of diaspora Copts, all the more significant in the wake of the so-called Arab Spring. Focusing on religious identity, this article fills a lacuna by analyzing three case studies of electronic identity mediation and preservation in the Coptic diaspora: (1) the online ecclesiastical-pastoral and educational presence of Bishop Suriel of Melbourne, (2) the spiritual-social-cultural mission of the Los Angeles-based Coptic television station LogosTV, and (3) the global collaborative academic project of the digital Claremont Coptic Encyclopedia. These are part of an emerging electronic Coptic diaspora (e-diaspora)—a form of borderless territoriality—that functions to compensate for the loss of territorial and socio-religious-cultural-political control in Egypt and provide Copts with virtual territorial gains and borderless space for community and consciousness raising.

Coptic Studies, Diaspora Studies, Territoriality, Coptic Orthodox, Copts, and

More Info: Print ISSN 1488-3473 / Online ISSN 1874-6365

Publisher: Springer

Journal Name: Journal of International Migration and Integration

Publication Date: Feb 10, 2016

In 1960, Ernest Tune moved to California to earn his Doctor of Theology from Claremont School of Theology (CST) and later serving as CST Library Director. Soon after, he was heavily involved in the translation of the ... more abstractIn 1960, Ernest Tune moved to California to earn his Doctor of Theology from Claremont School of Theology (CST) and later serving as CST Library Director. Soon after, he was heavily involved in the translation of the Nag Hammadi Codices at Claremont Graduate School under the leadership of Professor James Robinson. In the years 1989-2005, Dr. Tune participated in the Coptic Texts Seminar and became an Advisory Board member of the Institute for Antiquity and Christianity (IAC) and its bibliographer. In 1996, Dr. Tune donated his extensive personal research library to the IAC. This voluminous Tune collection, later moved to a larger home at CST Library, contains materials covering the languages, literatures, history and archeology of the Nile Valley cultures from the early Hellenistic period through the early medieval period of Coptic and Nubian Christianity.

Coptic Studies, Coptic (Languages And Linguistics), Religious Studies, Coptology, and Nubian studies

Location: Cairo, Egypt

Publisher: Watani

Journal Name: Watani International

Publication Date: Sep 24, 2006

The present state of the Coptic Orthodox Church in America could not have been imagined fifty years ago. As an integral part of the Coptic Orthodox Church of Egypt, the young archdiocese in America evolved from non-ex... more abstractThe present state of the Coptic Orthodox Church in America could not have been imagined fifty years ago. As an integral part of the Coptic Orthodox Church of Egypt, the young archdiocese in America evolved from non-existence to a formidable 151 parishes, two monasteries, three seminaries and many benevolent, educational and media organisations. Waves of immigration from Egypt brought not only Copts, but also a wealth of Coptic art, music, architecture, literature and spirituality. These treasures are being preserved and promoted by the immigrants and the second generation; in the homes, churches and community centers; and also at American universities via programs of Coptic studies. This article covers the above topics and discusses a few of the challenges that come with immigration and assimilation, especially when the community desires to maintain the depth and versatility of an ancient religious culture.

Immigration Studies, Diaspora, Coptic Studies, Diaspora Studies, Diaspora and transnationalism, and

More Info: by Saad Michael Saad, Studies in World Christianity. Vol. 16, pp. 207-225, Edinburgh University Press, in hard copy and online PDF, December 2010.

Publisher: Edinburgh University Press 22 …

Publication Date: Jan 1, 2010

Publication Name: Studies in World Christianity

From the earliest days of the Coptic Orthodox Church to the 2012 election of Pope Tawadros II, the methods of selecting 118 Coptic patriarchs have been multifarious and in some aspects unique in the history of Christe... more abstractFrom the earliest days of the Coptic Orthodox Church to the 2012 election of Pope Tawadros II, the methods of selecting 118 Coptic patriarchs have been multifarious and in some aspects unique in the history of Christendom. Existing scholarship on the traditions of Coptic patriarchal selection often includes generalizations in place of rigorous statistical analysis. This study remedies the deficiency through historical and quantifiable analysis of the methods of patriarchal selection over the nearly two thousand-year history of the Coptic Orthodox Church. The following eight methods of selection were identified in order of frequency: consensus among clergy and laity, election by the presbyters of Alexandria, appointment by predecessor, election by laity acting alone, casting of lots among final nominees, governmental interference, divine appointment or vision, and election by bishops acting alone. Despite the variety of methods — and despite the social and political trials of the Copts — a democratic thrust has continued to exert itself, with the most recent patriarchal election being no exception. The study also includes critical examination of the current patriarchal election law, decreed in Egypt in 1957, which formalized casting of lots among the top three elected candidates.

Egyptian History, Coptic Studies, Egypt, Coptic History, and Coptic Monasteries

More Info: Vol. 16, pp. 139-153

Publisher: Peeters

Journal Name: Journal of Coptic Studies

Publication Date: 2014

Over the last 40 years, Iris Habib el-Masry (1910-1994) has earned high distinction as a Coptic Church historian. While her Arabic language publications are among the most widely quoted in the historical literature... more abstractOver the last 40 years, Iris Habib el-Masry (1910-1994) has earned high distinction as a Coptic Church historian. While her Arabic language publications are among the most widely quoted in the historical literature of the Coptic Church , her impressive work as a theologian, politician, psychologist, educator, and philanthropist is not as widely known. This article presents an introduction to her contributions to certain areas of politics and theology, while exploring in more detail unique features of her writing that may offer a framework for Coptic feminine theology.

Theology, Liberation Theology, Coptic Studies, Political Theology, and Pastoral Theology

Because Egyptians are deeply rooted in religion, religion must be the foundation of any lasting political, social or legal structure. Providing a theological justification for human rights is very persuasive to the ma... more abstractBecause Egyptians are deeply rooted in religion, religion must be the foundation of any lasting political, social or legal structure. Providing a theological justification for human rights is very persuasive to the masses. Even the Muslim moderates, liberals and modernists must seek to understand human rights theologically. Like Christianity, Islam insists on God’s sovereign claim on all human beings. This implies that all human rights must be grounded in God’s right to sovereignty over human life, dignity, freedom, property and the future. Revelation positively molds the structures built on reason, natural law and human rights. By revealing humanity’s true nature, its relationship to God and its eternal worth, revelation deepens and broadens the dimensions of human existence.

Coptic Studies, Islamic Studies, Islam and Christianity: relations and exchange of ideas, Political Islam, and Copts

More Info: by Saad Michael Saad, The Christian Century, February 23, 2000, pp. 198-199.

Publisher: The Christian Century

Journal Name: The Christian Century

Publication Date: Feb 23, 2000

Publication Name: The Christian Century

As Professor of Archaeology at the University of Colorado in Boulder (1968-2009) specializing in Ancient Egypt and the Middle East, Dr. Boulos Ayad Ayad published more than 170 books, chapters, monographs and articles... more abstractAs Professor of Archaeology at the University of Colorado in Boulder (1968-2009) specializing in Ancient Egypt and the Middle East, Dr. Boulos Ayad Ayad published more than 170 books, chapters, monographs and articles on topics as varied as Ancient Egypt, Nubia and Sudan, Coptic Archaeology, the Jewish antiquities in the Nile Valley, and the ancient Semitic languages and their relationship to the ancient Egyptian languages. Ayad’s Coptology topics connected religions, cultures, languages, events and people across the Middle East and over several millennia. He explored, for example, the elements in Coptic life and worship that were influenced by ancient Egyptian music, art, architecture, spirituality, wisdom literature, science and technology.

Egyptology, Egyptian Archaeology, Coptic Studies, Coptic History, and Coptic (Archaeology)

More Info: Volume 30, Number 2, pp. 61-63, Fall/Winter 2009

Journal Name: Coptic Church Review

Publication Date: 2009