Church History

Come learn about the rich Coptic history of Egypt and hear stories that begin with the introduction of Christianity in Egypt in the 1st century AD to the present day!
St. Mark, one of the twelve apostles appointed by Jesus, brought Christianity to Egypt in the year 42 AD.

Saint Mark The Apostle

St. Mark first preached to Anianos, a shoemaker, who pierced his hand while repairing St. Mark’s sandal. Anianos and his family became the first converts, and Christianity spread and became widely accepted among Egyptians. St. Mark ordained Anianos as Bishop and ordained priests and deacons. The substantial success of St. Mark’s evangelism led to persecution of Christians by the people of the city, and eventually to St. Mark’s own martyrdom. Today, the Coptic Church treasures and keeps the apostolic teachings and traditions of the Early Church and continues to offer martyrs in the face of persecution.

The Coptic Orthodox Church is an Apostolic Church, not only because her founder is St. Mark the Apostle who ministered in Egypt, ordained a bishop, priests, and deacons to aid him in his ministry and was martyred in Alexandria, and not only because her first Patriarch is St. Mark’s successor through an unbroken chain of popes since the apostolic age, but also because she preserves the apostolic thought in her life, spirituality, liturgies and dogmas. She is actually a living extension of the apostolic church without deviation.

Coptic Apostolic Church

The Coptic Church is sometimes accused of exaggerated conservatism. As a matter of fact she is not stagnant or stolid but faithful and conservative, preserving the apostolic life, and desiring to offer the gift of faith in all its aspects throughout the ages.

Source: https://www.suscopts.org/coptic-orthodox/church/history/