Two Thousand Years of Coptic Christianity

by Otto F.A. Meinardus

Book Overview

Christianity arrived early in Egypt, brought according to tradition by Saint Mark the Evangelist, who became the first patriarch of Alexandria. The Coptic Orthodox Church has flourished ever since, with millions of adherents both in Egypt and in Coptic communities around the world. Since its split from the Byzantine Church in 451, the Coptic Church has proudly maintained its early traditions, and influence from outside has been minimal: the liturgy...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 9774247574
• ISBN13: 9789774247576
• Release Date: October 2010
• Publisher: American University in Cairo Press
• Length: 368 Pages
• Weight: 0.05 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 8.9" x 5.8"

Customer Reviews

A Modern Classic on Coptic Orthodoxy

This book, though small in size, is enormous in the breadth of information on the Coptic Orthodox Church it offers. I would not recommend this book as a final step in anyone's journey to knowledge of the ancient Coptic Orthodox Church of Egypt, but it is an excellent beginning or median reference work that is sure to fill in missing gaps and tie concepts together. I do, however, agree with those who fault the binding for being weak; if you use this book frequently, prepare to have it rebound.

Two Thousand Years of Coptic Christianity

The book was very interesting and well written. What Christians believed about pass events certainly does vary.

A Must for All Church Scholars

As the other reviewers said, this is absolutely a foundational compendium, worth much for its charts and appendices, alone, and for the fact that it's rather up to date (originally published in '99 and updated in '02). A word of warning -- the binding is very poorly done on this trade paperback and every page falls out as you turn it, so the book will have to be rebound, probably spiral, for the repeated reference use that it will get.

Encyclopedic Review of Two Millenia of Faith

"This fine new compendium of Coptic history and life, from the greatly admired scholar Professor Otto Meinardus, will immediately take its place as the one essential Coptic Orthodox desktop reference book in English." Dr. J. Watson, Coptic Church Review, vol. 21, no. 2, summer 2000Coptic Christianity:In the second century Christianity began to spread to the rural areas, from Alexandria. The Gospel translations into Sahidic, and Buhairic Coptic, the major two local dialects, enhanced the spread of Christianity in mainland Egypt. The monastic desert movement, started in the 3rd century, during Roman persecutions, by St. Anthony in the North and St. Pachomius in upper Egypt in early 4th century, that was carried by John Cassian to the Gaul, from where monasticism spread throughout the Christian world. The Church of Alexandria, known later as the Coptic (Egyptian) Church lead the Christians and defended Orthodoxy in theological dispute about the nature of Christ in the 4th & 5th centuries. Coptic Christians, lay and monastic, were joined by miaphysite Syrians against the decisions of the council of Chalcedon. Author, Otto Meinardus:Professor Meinardus is a well known member of the German Archaeological Society, and a Coptic expert. He spent over forty years in Egypt, taught at the American University in Cairo, and wrote more than ten books on various Coptic issues (hard and software). The Coptic Church Review, American Patristic Quarterly introduced him as; "The Revd. Dr. Otto Meinardus, who has contributed frequently to this journal, is an internationally known Coptologist who has written extensively on the Coptic and Oriental Churches." He was described by the eminent Coptologist John Watson (Among the Copts) as; "probably the greatest individual European contributor to Coptic studies in the last century".Two Millenia of Faith:In a systematic exposition, the expert author after a concise introduction elaborates on 'Coptic Software,' The Coptic church: Its history, Tradition, Theology, and Structure. He tackles Coptic traditions about the Flight of the Holy Family into Egypt, St. Mark and founding of the Church in Egypt, The Theological contribution of Alexandria, the Canons of the Coptic Church, History of Coptic theology, after Chalcedon, The Copts from 7th to 20th century. He masterfully describes 'Folk Coptic Religion,' Mulid ( Popular Festival), healing and Mystics. He end this part with the Coptic Diaspora, and African mission.Coptic Churches and Monasteries:Dr. Meinardus unparalleled expertise is evident in this second part, about which he wrote several books. He starts from early Christianity in Alxandria and utilizes 130 pages to take you in an amazing tour in space and time with plates of 24 photos.Wonderful Appendices:A. Marks of identification: Tattoos and NamesB. Patriarchs of the Coptic Church & Rulers of EgyptC. Language, architecture, and CalendarD. Feasts & Relics of the Coptic Saints

2KY of Coptic folklore, wisdom, and faith

The Book: A celestial encyclopediaThis wonderful encyclopedia of Coptic varieties was Dr. meinardus present to the Church he loved, on the eve of the third millennium, celebrating the survival of Orthodoxy of Alexandria, and piety of the Copts for two millennia, of which fifteen centuries it suffered peresecution from the Romans, Byzantines, and Moslems. Integrating information from some of his numerous books on the Copts, their monks, monastries and life, together with numerous of his recent studies.I cannot limit this book to Dr. Watson's definition "A one volume encyclopedia", since it is celestial fun to read, with lots of Baal Shem style stories, some of which are written in the memory of Christian religious thought. Stories of the Desert Fathers of Shehit, Shihet (Scetis) lies south of Nitria and SE Cellia where these monasteries and those who dwelt in them; St. Macarius, and the company of the desert fathers. Their legendary wisdom and mere Christianity are amazing. Rev.Dr.Meinardus tells his version of the charming Coptic folklore, wisdom, and myth. His selection of the cover Icon of the Three Saint Macari, and back cover of St. Anthony Monastery reveals to the expert eyes how Coptic to the bones he became, after 40 years of living, studying, and writing about the Copts. I rated this fine work at a mere 4.5 only, since the photos are not colored, though it may be the intention of the publisher to reflect how colorless became "Today's Coptic Christianity"Summary of Contents:The Coptic Church: Its history, Tradition, Theology, StructureFlight of the Holy Family into Egypt, St. Mark The Evangelist, Theology of Alexandria, Canons of the Coptic Church, History of Coptic theology, The ancient Copts, 20 Th. century renaissance, Folk Religion of the Copts, Coptic Diaspora.Coptic Churches and monasteries, ancient & Modernearly Christianity in Alexandria, the Lourdes in the desert: St. Menas, Cellia, Netria, Christianity in the Nile delta, churches of Old Cairo, Churches and monasteries of upper Egypt, Churches and monasteries of Arsenoi, Western & Eastern desertsAppendices: Tattoos and Names, Coptic Patriarchs, Language, Architecture and Calendar, Relics of Coptic Saints, Bibliography The author: Illustrative Coptologis Otto MeinardusThe Rev. Dr. Meinardus is a multitalented Anglican Church historian, theologian, he is a member of the German Archaeological society. Touring the Miditerrenian, the cradle of Christianity, fell in Knowing love with one of the most ancient Churches, the Church of Martyrs (as Copts use to call themselves) He taught at the Institute of Coptic studies, Cairo and the American U. in Cairo (AUC) that has the right to his books as of the Nobel Prize Laureate N. Mahfouz. 'A shrewd observer of the modern Coptic scene and prefers not to commit himself !? There are some carefully guarded comments which must be calculated to tickle our ribs and our minds" John WatsonGlorious synopsis of a life's study: "This fine new co