the coptic contribution to christian civilisation - Fatherjacob.org

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H.H. Pope Shenouda III, 117th Pope ofAlexandria and the See of St. Mark3
The Coptic Contribution toChristian CivilisationBy the late Prof. Aziz Surial AtteyaINTRODUCTIONThe Copts occasionally have been described as a schismaticeastern Christian minority, a lonely community in the land oftheir forebears. They have been forgotten since they choseliving in oblivion after the tragedy of Chalcedon (451AD),which was followed by a new wave of persecution inflictedupon them by fellow Christians and Byzantine rulers. Thoughnot unknown to medieval and early modern travellers fromEurope, Western Christendom appeared to have lost sight ofthe Copts until 1860, when a Presbyterian mission came toconvert them to Christianity and the Coptic Archbishop of Asiutasked them the rhetorical question: “We have been living withChrist for more than 1800 years, how long have you been livingwith him?”However, since the rediscovery of the Copts and theirChristianity, interest has been intensified in the attempt toexplore the religious traditions and the historical background ofthis most ancient form of primitive faith. Scholars of all creedswere stunned as the pages of Coptic history began to reveal themassive contributions of the Copts to Christian civilisation in itsformative centuries. This brief essay is intended to outline themajor segments of these contributions and show the need forthe rewriting of numerous chapters of early Christian history.But let me first define the term ‘Copt’ and introduce you to4
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