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Coptic Christianity in Egypt: What you need to know to discover it on your trip

The weight of Coptic Christianity in Egypt The weight of Coptic Christianity is very remarkable. In fact, it is the other great current religion of the country, although notably behind Islam. However, it is considered the third great religion in historical terms: the first to emerge was the Egyptian religion, which we develop extensively on this page. It was followed by the Christian faith, which ended up prevailing when it also did throughout the Roman Empire. And the last, Islam , is currently the majority in the country, as well as the religion that sets the pace of Egyptian society, as we explain on this other page.

Therefore, the term ‘great religion’ has nothing to do with the number of practitioners or the number of temples that can be seen on the street. We use it for its long history and for the devotion shown by its faithful, as well as for the appeal it awakens for travelers from other countries, especially Christians. In these lines we give you some keys to understand the Coptic Christianity of Egypt, about which our agency can organize a thematic trip if you wish.

Table of Contents

What does the term 'Coptic' mean?

The term Coptic generally refers to Egyptians who profess Christianity in Egypt, which they do with a series of particularities that we show on this page. The word ‘Coptic’ is, like many others, a derivation of other ancient words: in this case, from the Greek aegyptios, which the Copts themselves converted into kuptios and the Arabs simplified into qubṭ

Therefore, there was a time when all Egyptians were Copts and the name that is used in the West to designate the country (Egypt) is closely related to it. It is worth remembering that, on the other hand, in the Arab world different words are used to designate this country and its inhabitants: Misr and misriin, respectively.

History of Coptic Christianity in Egypt

Egypt’s relationship with the Christian tradition is very old. In fact, this country is mentioned on several occasions in the Holy Scriptures, being the place where some biblical episodes took place, both from the Old and New Testaments.

One of the examples of this is the welcome received by Joseph (Yussef), son of Jacob. He was forcibly brought here, sold as a slave by his brothers, who envied and hated him. He was accused of adultery and imprisoned, but was later released by a pharaoh of the XV dynasty, about which there is no unanimity. The monarch appointed him chaty in gratitude for the interpretation of one of his dreams.

More famous for Christians, and also for Jews, was the long journey that the prophet Moses made in the Sinai Peninsula, a period in which episodes occurred that still drive numerous pilgrimage trips today. This is the case of the delivery of the Tablets of the Law on Mount Sinai or the miraculous fire on the burning bush, today in the Monastery of Saint Catherine.

But for the Coptic Christians of Egypt and for those of the rest of the world, one of the most inspiring chapters was the Flight to Egypt, when the Holy Family (the Virgin Mary, Saint Joseph and the Child Jesus) was forced to stop in this country for a time, as related in the New Testament. Some places that tradition directly relates to that stay are now important sacred places for the Coptic Christianity in Egypt, as we show below.

Christian Churches in Egypt

Coptic Christianity in Egypt, after the death of Christ

Egypt was one of the first countries in which Christianity penetrated, very shortly after the death of Jesus Christ (around the year 33). According to tradition, Saint Mark (or Mark the Evangelist), a native of Cyrene (present-day territory of Libya), was already preaching the new faith in Alexandria in the year 45. However, knowledge of this new religion, then clandestine and persecuted by the Romans, could have arrived directly from Palestine.

In the early days of Coptic Christianity in Egypt tense debates were unleashed around the very dogmas of faith of this religion. In addition, some elements of Ancient Egypt could have influenced the development of general Christian doctrine. For example, a certain assimilation of the Virgin Mary with the goddess Isis, since both conceived their children by divine intercession. Or the exaltation of the cross as a symbol of life (Christ’s victory over death), as was precisely done everywhere with the Anj in the ancient Egyptian religion, with which it bears an undeniable resemblance. Or even the layout of the primitive Christian temples, with an area to which the faithful could not have access, such as the altar or the iconostasis in Orthodox churches.

The legalization of Coptic Christianity in Egypt and its imposition as the official religion occurred at the same time as in the rest of the Roman Empire, since this territory was part of it. Both events occurred with the emperors Constantine I the Great (313) and with Theodosius I the Great (380), respectively. And in this country, the spiritual capital was always Alexandria, seat of the different patriarchates, of which Saint Mark is considered the founder.

Until then, Christianity in Egypt had gained much ground, although the need to pray in secret and the need to flee from persecution may have been reasons for the emergence of the monastic movement, one of the most prominent elements of this religion in the country. The previous example of pagan hermits and, undoubtedly, the extreme conditions of the natural desert landscape, which invites reflection and meditation, may also have influenced this, as can be experienced today not only by the monks of the surviving monasteries but also by the protagonists of spiritual journeys.

Some of the characters most venerated by Coptic Christianity in Egypt and by the rest of believers in general are Saint Paul the Hermit (or of Thebes) and Saint Anthony Abbot, the latter born in Heracleópolis and the true founder of the eremitic movement. Shortly after, Saint Pacomius, a native of Luxor, regulated that religious and vital experience. The latter is therefore considered the founder of cenobitic monasticism, in which monks retire to spiritual life but in a community way.

In addition to Mark the Evangelist and these precursors of the monastic movement, the Coptic Christianity of Egypt venerates as saints other characters, who were martyred for practicing their religion or who starred in some episodes considered miraculous. There are dozens of them, but these are some of them:

  • Catherine of Alexandria: she is not only one of the most venerated Egyptian saints by the Coptic Christians of Egypt, but also one of the famous ones outside this country, to which countless churches are dedicated throughout the world. She was martyred on a toothed wheel and beheaded at the beginning of the 4th century by order of the emperor Maxentius, who ordered it because of her refusal to make sacrifices to the Roman gods and marry one of his wise men. Her intact relics were discovered centuries later, in a grotto of the mountain that bears her name in the Sinai Peninsula, and were later transferred to the Monastery of Saint Catherine
  • Menas: born in Memphis at the end of the 3rd century and died in Asia Minor, after having been part of the Roman army and later become a hermit. Different miracles are attributed to him, including his own burial: his dead body was mounted on a camel bound for Egypt and, near Alexandria, the animal decided to stop definitively, which was interpreted as a divine sign. A monastery was founded there (Abu Mena). The old one is today an archaeological site in ruins, but next to it another modern and monumental one has been built
  • Shenouda: also known as Shenute, at the end of the 4th century he was one of the first abbots of the White Monastery, founded by his uncle Saint Pigol on the outskirts of Sohag, in Middle Egypt. He was a very charismatic saint at the time and is still highly venerated by the Coptic Christians of Egypt
  • Bishoi: contemporary to Saint Pigol, he was also a leading saint in the monastic movement. He founded the monastery that bears his name in Wadi Natrun and there are three others dedicated to him
  • Mauritius: he is better known outside of Egypt, but it cannot be forgotten that this character elevated to the category of saint was a native of this country. Specifically, from Thebes, like the legion he commanded at the end of the 3rd century. Of Christian faith when it was still prohibited in the Empire, they were sent to Gaul in combat against the Bagaudas. And although they fulfilled their mission, they were executed: according to some theories, for not persecuting Christian enemies and according to others, for refusing to make sacrifices to the pagan gods of Rome

Simon the Tanner: he is a local saint of the Middle Ages, who lived and died in the 9th-10th centuries, although on an undetermined date. In fact, he is not very famous outside the country, but he is a character to whom great devotion is professed in the Coptic Christianity of Egypt. His main achievement? Moving a mountain… as can be seen today. Yes, you will understand this if you visit the Monastery of Saint Simon in Cairo, a spectacular religious site that is part of our tours of this city and to which we mention below. According to local belief, this saint interceded in a dispute between the Coptic Pope and the great vizier of the Caliph of the time, who lamented that the Mokattam mountains prevented the expansion of his Empire. So this saint was determined to miraculously move the mountain on which the current monastery is located, erected in his honor and promoted by the zabaleen, garbage collectors of the city

Controversy with the Roman Empire and arrival of Islam

Although the Coptic Christianity of Egypt helped to shape a doctrine later accepted internationally, that did not prevent the rupture with the Eastern Roman Empire (Byzantine Empire), due to insurmountable differences on certain dogmas.

Above all, in what refers to the nature of Jesus Christ: the leaders of the Coptic Christianity of Egypt have always defended monophysitism, that is, that Jesus Christ only has one nature, the divine. On the other hand, the vast majority of branches of Christianity are not monophysite , since it maintains that Jesus had both human and divine nature, something that the Copts consider a blasphemy.

In the beginning, the theses of Coptic Christianity in Egypt triumphed in the Council of Nicaea (325) but more than a century later there was a change of course in the Council of Chalcedon (451), rejecting the postulates led by the Patriarchate of Alexandria. At that time, a total split occurred and since then the Coptic Church has its own Pope, whose title is usually commonly known as ‘Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of all Africa‘. However, it remained under the political umbrella of the Byzantine Empire.

In this context of schism and isolation with respect to the rest of the Christian world, the country was quickly conquered by the Muslim Arab troops (639-642), in full expansion after the death of Muhammad. The prophet, by the way, had sent an emissary from Arabia to Byzantium (today Istanbul) ten years earlier to reveal a new religion, Islam, which was flatly rejected.

After the Muslim conquest of Coptic Christian Egypt, there was no total disruption with the previous situation, as it remained strong in the new capital, Cairo, and in southern territories of the Nile Valley. This includes Lower Nubia, supported by the Christian Nubian kingdoms of the south (Dongola, today Sudan). But the ruling elites, of Islamic faith, imposed taxes on the Coptic Christians of Egypt and gave benefits to converts, which progressively undermined the number of followers of Jesus.

At least since the 11th century, the tables had already turned and the Egyptian population was mostly Muslim, including the distant south. And a good part of the members of the Coptic Christianity of Egypt had decided to retire to a community life in their monasteries, seeking protection within their walls.

Only during the 20th century, in a more interconnected world than in previous centuries, these monasteries seemed to flourish again, with an increase in the number of monks and in the funds of their libraries. Currently, tourism has also given an important boost to the Coptic Christianity of Egypt, which is a help for the restoration of its buildings and the maintenance of its traditions. This is how the traveler can discover it who, with the help of our agency, visits Cairo and some cities of Middle Egypt, among other places.

The different branches of Christianity in Egypt

During your trip to Egypt you may experience some confusion when visiting churches and other places of worship, since in addition to the Coptic Church, there are other branches present in the country and that often, for simplification, are framed within the concept of ‘Coptic Christianity of Egypt’’. However, they are not the same: although all their faithful believe without reservation in Jesus Christ, they do not follow exactly the same doctrine or obey the same spiritual leaders.

These are all the existing branches in the country, with unequal presence:

  • Coptic Church: the most important and numerous, and the protagonist of this page about Coptic Christianity in Egypt. Also called the Coptic Orthodox Church, although this last term can complicate things by generating confusion with the other Christian branch of the country, which we see in the next point. It uses the Coptic language in its liturgy, the last vestige for the survival of this language that derives from the one used in Ancient Egypt. For a better understanding and communication with the faithful, Arabic is also used. As we said, it has its own Pope (‘Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of all Africa’). We review its main churches below, as well as its famous and inspiring monasteries.
  • Orthodox Church: also called the Greek Orthodox Church, as it uses this language in the liturgy. It is one of the autocephalous churches of the Orthodox Church, which separated from the Catholic Church in 1054 as a result of the East-West Schism. Its supreme authority is the primate bishop who receives the title ‘Orthodox Patriarch of Alexandria and all Africa’ (not to be confused with the title of the Pope of the Coptic Church). It has as ecumenical patriarch the one of Constantinople, although it is only an honorary title. It is, therefore, at the same level as the other fourteen Orthodox churches, such as the Russian, the Greek or the Romanian, among others. It is estimated to have 1.5 million faithful, but spread throughout Africa. Its peak in Egypt was at the beginning of the 20th century, when it had about 100,000 faithful, mostly of Greek origin, but this number was greatly reduced after the Second World War and the massive emigration of this population to other countries. Currently, its main sacred temples are the Cathedral of the Annunciation in Alexandria and the Cathedral of Saint Nicholas in Cairo.
  • Coptic Catholic Church: in this case, the term ‘Coptic’ is equivalent to ‘Egyptian’, since they have nothing to do with the Coptic Church described above. In reality, it has been part of the Catholic Church since its foundation in the 18th century and follows the Latin rite, recognizing the Pope of Rome as the supreme authority. It is estimated to have just under 200,000 followers.

Other branches of Christianity in Egypt: there are faithful who follow other rites different from the three previously described. These believers are difficult to quantify but could be increasing due to the emigration to Egypt of their followers, coming from other countries in the Middle East. This is the case of the churches of the Armenian, Chaldean, Syrian, Melkite or Maronite rite.

The situation of Coptic Christians in present-day Egypt

The situation of the followers of Coptic Christianity in Egypt is not easy today. They often claim to feel singled out and persecuted by the most extremist sectors of society, which have carried out some attacks in recent years. This has led many to opt for emigration to other countries, including the United States.

In any case, the Coptic Christians of Egypt are fully integrated into society and are present in all strata of the pyramid. Many of them are part of the elites, with important official positions or with a privileged economic position, which can be a source of suspicion. But there are also followers of this religion in the humblest layers of Egyptian society, as is the example of the zabbalin or garbage collectors in Cairo.

Great places of Coptic Christianity in Egypt

Due to the great significance of some sacred places of Coptic Christianity, Egypt is today an important destination for pilgrims from all over the world. And because of the beauty or historical interest of all of them, they are also stops very requested by lovers of religious tourism. It is worth mentioning reference churches in its main cities, but also important monasteries, authentic inspirers for others present in the rest of Christianity. In addition, there are other natural sacred places that exert a great power of attraction and that we cannot overlook. Below we review them.

Main churches for Christianity in Egypt

The main temples of Christianity in Egypt are located in Cairo and Alexandria. In the first case, for being the capital of the country. And in the second, for being the capital prior to the Arab conquest, that is, when in Egypt the majority faith was Christian. This is a list with the most important churches and cathedrals, whether of Coptic or Greek Orthodox doctrine: you can visit all of them for beauty or religious symbolism and you can expand information about them on the pages of both cities.

  • Cairo:
    • Cathedral of Saint Mark (Coptic worship): in the Azbakeya neighborhood. At a hierarchical level, it is the most important, as it is the seat of the Coptic Papacy, whose supreme authority is the ‘Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of all Africa’. At an artistic and architectural level, it is a very recent building, as it was inaugurated in the mid-twentieth century. At that time, the Pope of Rome of then, Paul VI, returned to his Coptic counterpart Tawadros II part of the relics of Saint Mark, in a gesture of friendship and closeness. Let us remember that the body of this saint, called The Evangelist, was found by Venetian merchants in Alexandria in the 9th century, who took it with them to Venice, remaining since then in the Basilica of Saint Mark of that Italian city.
    • Hanging Church (Coptic worship): for history and artistic beauty, the Hanging Church is perhaps more famous. Its origins go back to the 3rd century, although its main architectural elements were probably built in the 13th century, with important renovations in the 19th century. It is called that because it was attached to the Roman fortress of Babylon.
    • Church of Saints Sergius and Bacchus (Coptic worship): its origins go back to the 4th or 5th century and it was built in honor of these two martyrs of Roman times. But the main reason for devotion on the part of the Coptic Christians of Egypt is that it is believed that the Holy Family took refuge in the space of its crypt for three weeks. At an artistic level it is also one of the most interesting, for the beautiful combination of wood, red granite and marble.
    • Church of Saint Barbara (Coptic worship): from the 4th century, rebuilt in medieval times. It contains relics of this saint originally from Asia Minor.
    • Church of Saint George (Greek Orthodox worship): another historical church, in this case with origins in the 10th century, although rebuilt in the 20th century. Its most important element is a well already sealed that, according to the temple, gave service to the Holy Family during their stay in the country, within the framework of the Flight to Egypt.
    • Cathedral of Saint Nicholas (Greek Orthodox worship): it is one of the seats of the Orthodox Patriarch of Alexandria, originally built in the 17th century.
    • Church of Saint Simon the Tanner: all the churches and cathedrals that we have mentioned in this list stand out for their history or their relevance in their respective Churches. However, we must add one that is acquiring great popularity for the Coptic Christianity in Egypt. We are talking about the church of Saint Simon the Tanner. It is a fascinating temple located in the Mokattam mountains, in the eastern part of the capital. In fact, its interior enters in an unlikely way into the rock, excavated for this purpose at the end of the last century and the beginning of the present. There is located the altar, while the parishioners sit in a grandstand as an auditorium or hemicycle, which can accommodate about 10,000 believers during the mass, placing it as one of the largest in the entire Middle East. At an artistic level, the reliefs engraved directly on the rock of the mountain stand out, showing scenes from the life of the Virgin and this local saint.
  • Alexandria:
    • Coptic Cathedral of Saint Mark (Coptic worship): its importance lies in being one of the seats of the Coptic Pope. This cathedral has suffered different destructions, so its current appearance is very recent, from the mid-twentieth century. It preserves, according to Coptic belief, the head of the evangelist Saint Mark, which the Venetian merchants would never have taken with them to that Italian city in the 9th century.
    • Cathedral of the Annunciation (Greek Orthodox worship): it is the seat of the ‘Orthodox Patriarch of Alexandria and all Africa’, so it is one of the most important places within Christianity in Egypt. It stands out for its monumentality and elegance, amplified by its recent restoration at the beginning of the 20th century.
    • Cathedral of Saint Catherine (Catholic worship): another temple of great elegance, with a supposedly Roman style (neo-baroque). It was built in the mid-nineteenth century and is dedicated to the local martyr saint, although it does not preserve her relics, as they rest in the Monastery of Saint Catherine of Sinai. However, it was the burial place of the exiled Italian king Victor Manuel III, until he was repatriated to the transalpine country in 2017.

Important monasteries for Christianity in Egypt

As we have seen, the monastic movement has always had great importance in the development of Christianity in Egypt. For this reason, many of them have managed to survive for centuries and today represent visits of enormous interest for tourists interested in religious themes. Here we list the most important:

  • Monastery of Saint Anthony the Great (Coptic worship): this monastery deserves to be placed in the first place of the list, as it is considered the oldest monastery in the world. Saint Anthony the Great moved to this oasis of the Eastern Desert at the end of the 3rd century, in what is considered one of the first eremitic experiences. For all this, it is one of the most sacred places for the Coptic Christianity in Egypt and receives numerous tourists and pilgrims every year. It has several churches inside, a rich library with Coptic manuscripts and the famous cave in which this hermit took refuge.
  • Monastery of Saint Paul (Coptic worship): also in the Eastern Desert and very close to the previous one is this other complex, of enormous history. Its origins go back to the 4th century, when the complex was built on the grotto to which Saint Paul of Thebes retired in the mid-3rd century, years before Saint Anthony the Great did the same, as he in fact followed his example. It also has several churches and a cave that would preserve the remains of this hermit, the first in history, although there is no unanimity on his figure.
  • Monastery of Saint Catherine of Sinai (Greek Orthodox worship): this complex is the seat of the autonomous Church of Mount Sinai, with its abbot as archbishop. It is not dependent on the Patriarch of Alexandria, but on the one of Jerusalem. Also called of the Burning Bush because here this plant burned, in divine sign of God towards Moses, according to Jewish and Christian belief. It is also famous for containing the remains of Saint Catherine of Alexandria and an extraordinary library, not visitable.
  • White Monastery (Coptic worship): located about 4 km south of Sohag, in Middle Egypt, it is a place very venerated by the believers of the Coptic Christianity in Egypt for being dedicated to two saints of great local tradition, such as Saint Pigol and Saint Shenouda. Both promoted this complex, in the 4th and 5th centuries. Its name is due to the clarity of the color of its walls, raised to a large extent with blocks extracted from constructions of Ancient Egypt.
  • Red Monastery (Coptic worship): also on the outskirts of Sohag and founded in the same period, as it was done by Saint Bishoy (or Bishoi), disciple of Saint Shenouda, although some sources also attribute the foundation to Saint Pigol. It owes its name to the fact that, unlike the previous one, it is made with red bricks and elements built specifically for this complex.
  • Burnt Monastery (Coptic worship): about 20 km north of Asiut, in Middle Egypt. Called in Arabic Deir el-Muharraq, it is one of the oldest monasteries and remains fully operational. According to tradition, in the caves of the monastery, the Holy Family took refuge for a few months, so that the complex was built on them.
  • Monastery of the Virgin (Coptic worship): located about 10 km south of Asiut. It is also believed to have been the temporary home of the Virgin, Saint Joseph and the Child Jesus, being therefore the southernmost place that the Holy Family would reach during their stay in Egypt. It is the reason for a famous pilgrimage by many faithful of the Christianity in Egypt
  • Monastery of Saint Bishoy (Coptic worship): located in Wadi Natrun, halfway between Alexandria and Egypt, about 120 km from both. It is the main place of worship of this saint of the 4th and 5th centuries, to whom other monasteries in the country have also been dedicated. Founded by him and surrounded by a wall of the 9th century, it also has a church and gardens.
  • Syrian Monastery (Coptic worship): very close to the monastery of Saint Bishoy, in Wadi Natrun, is this other one, probably from the 8th century. It is of smaller dimensions but with beautiful domes on the outside, while inside they preserve original and historical frescoes.

Other sacred places for Christianity in Egypt

In addition to these cathedrals, churches and monasteries, those who travel with the intention of visiting sacred places for Christianity in Egypt can take note of other proposals. For example, the two sacred peaks of the Sinai Mountain Range.

The most famous is Mount Sinai, of great significance not only for Christians but also for the Jews, because according to the Bible here Moses received the Tablets of the Law with the Ten Commandments. Currently, seeing the sunrise on its summit is an experience that combines natural beauty and mystical emotion. And that is why it is one of the favorite excursions among those who spend their holidays in the Red Sea or even the final destination of religious pilgrimage trips.

Very close and similar is Mount Catherine, the highest peak in the whole country with 2,642 meters above sea level. According to Christian tradition, on this mountain, located in the vicinity of the mentioned Monastery of Saint Catherine, some angels deposited the dead and incorrupt body of this martyr saint, native of Alexandria. Although it receives much less traffic of pilgrims, reaching its summit offers views and emotions very similar to those of its neighbor Mount Sinai.

Less famous but much more accessible to all is the Tree of Mary (Shagarat Mariam), located in the Al Matariya neighborhood, in the northeast of Cairo. According to tradition, the Virgin Mary stopped to rest for a while under the shade of this sycamore tree. For this reason, it is visited by groups of Christians, as well as Muslims and people of other faiths. . Currently, only the trunk and bare branches of this tree are preserved, which adopts a peculiar twisted shape, as is common in this species. It survived the Napoleonic invasion, and some attribute healing powers to the waters that spring from a nearby fountain.

These are just some of the main places related to Christianity in Egypt., which attract the attention of numerous foreign visitors. But there are many others, scattered throughout the country, as we will help you discover during your trip. Get in touch with us and start planning an experience you will remember for a lifetime!

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