Discovering Coptic Egypt: The Beginning
Ezz Al-Turkey
Established in the first century under the name of Jesus, the Coptic Orthodox Church of Egypt continues to proclaim the name of its Lord. "Coptic Church" refers to its ethnicity, while "Orthodox" refers to its beliefs. "Original Faith" is what the compound term "Orthodox" (Ortho Doxa) denotes. The Coptic Church was granted this designation as a result of its defence of the ancient dogma against several challenges throughout the ensuing centuries. Nowadays, Christians in Ethiopia, Sudan, and Egypt adhere to the Coptic Church's doctrine.
One of the first nations to be evangelized was Egypt when San Marcos arrived in Alexandria in 60 AD to preach the gospel. He was murdered in 68 AD during a pagan invasion. Many Greek-Egyptians adopted a new faith based on redemption and fraternity after being negatively impacted by the Roman occupation, ongoing Greek-Jewish civil wars, the rise of the Greco-Egyptian class, and the emergence of the nationalist spirit with the Egyptian revolutions in Delta. They readily embraced the new faith, believing it to be similar to their Holy Trinity and its core principles of equality among people, redemption, salvation, and resurrection.
The emergence of Christianity under Diocletian's rule created challenges for his plans to bring the Empire back to life. Christianity first appeared among the Greco-Egyptians in the Delta and progressively made its way to Alexandria. The year of Diocletian's coronation is remembered as the year of the martyrs and the start of the Egyptian Coptic Calendar because he commanded the persecution of Christians and killed thousands of them. Churches were demolished, Christian literature was destroyed, Holy Scriptures were set ablaze, Christians were barred from all state functions, Christian property was seized, and they were denied their national rights by allowing unbelievers to persecute and torture them. The persecution went on almost nonstop.
Alexandrine Christianity rose to prominence globally. The establishment of the new faith was greatly aided by the venerable Fathers of the Coptic Church, the great theologians of the Catechetical School of Alexandria, the Coptic Saints and heretics, the founders of monasticism, the ecumenical movement, and many other notable categories of Coptic illustrious people.
The Copts take great pleasure in the apostolicity of their national church, which was founded by St. Mark, one of the four evangelists and the author of the oldest canonical Gospel utilized by St. Matthew, St. Luke, and most likely St. John. Mark was crucified during Nero's reign [54–68 A.D.], in 68. The Coptic hierarchy considers Saint Mark to be the first in their continuous line of 116 patriarchs. He is also the first in a long line of saints and beautiful martyrs from Egypt.
In actuality, the angry pagan crowd spontaneously committed an act of violence that resulted in St. Mark's martyrdom. His remains were taken by the believers and interred in the Church of Bucalia, which is located near Alexandria's shore – Egypt's first church to be established.