Egyptian Christians
a people of Faith
Coptic Christians are the indigenous Christians of Egypt, tracing their faith back to the first century when the Apostle Mark brought Christianity to Alexandria. The Coptic Orthodox Church is one of the world’s oldest Christian communities, known for its deep spiritual heritage, strong sense of faith amid hardship, and enduring witness to Christ throughout centuries of challenge and persecution.
21 Christian Martyrs in Libya
21 Martyrs in Libya - 7 were Alumni or Leaders with Stephen’s Children. Twenty of the 21 men were Egyptian Coptic Christians working in Libya, and one man was from Ghana. The men were abducted in the months leading up to their deaths and given multiple opportunities to deny Jesus and convert to Islam. They were subjected to torture, sleep deprivation, and beatings, yet none of them denied Christ. In the end they were faithful to their Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
Holy Family
As told in the Bible, the Holy Family, Joseph, Mary and the baby Jesus Christ fled from Palestine to Egypt to seek refuge from the persecution of the Jewish King Herod the Great. As they stayed in Egypt for three years, they lived a nomadic life, traveling through a total of 11 of Egypt’s modern-day governorates, starting from North Sinai going all the way south to Assiut.
During their time in Old Cairo, the Holy Family rested in a cave for three months, and like many other holy sites, a church was built on the site; the Church of Abu Serga. Coptic Cairo in Old Cairo is also home three other significant and ancient churches, the Hanging Church, Church of St. George, and Church of St. Barbara.
The Coptic Church was established in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ by St. Mark the Evangelist in the city of Alexandria around 43 A.D.
Saint Simon the Tanner - "If you have faith of a mustard seed," Matthew 17:20
The story of Christianity in Egypt is filled with men and women like Stephen. Ever since St. Mark brought the Gospel of Jesus Christ to Alexandria in the first century, Egyptian Christians have experienced difficulties. For this reason, Egyptian (Coptic) Christians honor the lives of faithful martyrs in every generation.
St. Athanasius (296-373 A.D.), the twentieth Pope of the Coptic Church, effectively defended the Doctrine of the Lord Jesus Christ’s Divinity at the Council of Nicea in 325 A.D. His affirmation of the doctrine earned him the title; “Father of Orthodoxy” and St. Athanasius “the Apostolic”.
